'Final' Volume coming very soon!
By thorgrym
@thorgrym (675)
United States
October 18, 2009 10:19am CST
Today, I got an email from Amazon.com regarding the 'final' volume in the Wheel of Time series...
A Memory of Light was intended to be the 12th and final book in the series. However, Robert Jordan died before its completion. Brandon Sanderson was hired by Tor - the publisher - and Harriet McDougal - the editor (and Jordan's wife) - to finish what finish what Jordan had started. Well, what should have been one volume will now be released in three, separate books. The first of this concluding trilogy (can the last three books of what will end up being a 14 book series really be called a trilogy?) will be released on October 27th and is called The Gathering Storm.
My feelings are mixed... On the one hand, I am excited by this confirmation that the series will finally be brought to its conclusion. On the other hand, while the architect of the final installment(s) is the same, the builder is different.
Personally, though I have not read any of his books,I hope that Sanderson brings his own voice to the new volumes. I don't want an imitation of Jordan's writing style. Apparently, though, his style is very similar to that of Jordan - one reason why he was selected to finish the series.
I think that I am going to go to the library and check out one or two of Sanderson's books (I refuse to buy them prior to evaluating them) and see what he writes like first hand. I should be able to polish off one or two books prior to the release of The Gathering Storm.
2 responses
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
29 Oct 09
That email (or one like it!) has only appeared in my inbox today,and was the first indication I had the series was finally getting a conclusion,announcing that the book is currently available in stock..I haven't read Sanderson's prior work as Yet,but I'd be interested in seeing how He's approached the Telling of Jordan's story..there are a few critiques on Amazon so far,mentioning some awkwardness with a Character's personality (Mat),but on the whole being impressed with the result.
So,How did your Sanderson Bookfest go?
@thorgrym (675)
• United States
29 Oct 09
Actually, I opted out of reading any Sanderson works prior to reading The Gathering Storm as I didn't want to scare myself away. My thinking was that if I didn't like his writing style, I might end up not reading the WoT books. I am currently awaiting my reserved copy 'Storm' to become available in the library. I will likely end up buying it, but I will wait for the paperback or for the hardcover to go on to the remainder table.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
30 Oct 09
I read the first several books of the series as library books,and eventually bought them all as I progressed..I was saddened to hear that Jordan hadn't lived to see the completion of his work,but then pleased to hear He'd left outlines,notes,and research to complete it and that another writer was in the wings with a view to continue..I figured as the original concept expanded to 11 books over time that his swansong outline might bring the total to a close with 12 books..It seems to be a closing of the circle that the series that began as a Trilogy should be completed by another one!
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
20 Oct 09
Very interesting, isn't it? You wonder if another writer can ever finish a series written by another author. Such pressure, I think. Sanderson is pretty good, I heard.
@thorgrym (675)
• United States
20 Oct 09
I have seen mixed reviews on Sanderson's works. One review I read was that he is very wordy and that his Mistborn trilogy could probably have been done in one book if he learned how to be more concise. Well, I haven't gotten to the library yet to check it out for myself, so hopefully I can do that soon.
I am not sure, though... I might just have to read the new book without reading his other stuff. It would awful to read Mistborn and hate it so much that I would be turned off from finishing the Wheel of Time.
