It’s that time again, kids. Time for a preview. Just like I did before, except… not.
It’s so weird. It’s like we’re on something circular, like a – a wheel! And things that happened before, happen again, except different! It’s like – it’s like A WHEEL OF TIME, YOU GUYS.
Amazing.
Thus it was that on a blog yet to come, a blog long past, a post of a spoiler-free advance review of The Gathering Storm rose on Tor.com—and now I’m a-gonna do it all again, except this time with the hotly anticipated upcoming release of Book 13, Towers of Midnight, blowing in on a wind near you for November 2nd.
For I have read it, and I have got shit to say about it. Try to contain your shock.
As before, be assured that this post contains absolutely no spoilers of any kind for Towers of Midnight, even for any advance material which may be released before the official drop date, because that is how I roll.
However, be warned that I cannot guarantee that the same will be true of the comments, so those of you who wish to remain utterly and completely spoiler-free until you get your greedy little hands on the whole shebang in November may wish to take this into consideration. The post itself, though, is totally safe.
Well. Safe from spoilers, anyway. Mwhahaha.
And also ALSO as before, I will have a second review of Towers of Midnight going up the day of release, and that review will be laden, nay, positively riddled with spoilers, and that post will also incidentally provide you with a space on Tor.com to discuss your own spoilerriffic thoughts about the new book to your hearts’ content. Ain’t we sweet?
Links to my reviews of The Gathering Storm, the ongoing Wheel of Time Re-read, and all and sundry fun advance thingies re: Towers of Midnight and the series in general may be found in Tor.com’s handy-dandy Wheel of Time Master Index.
And that, I believe, about exhausts the introductory possibilities, so please click on for the review itself.
Reading Towers of Midnight (henceforth abbreviated ToM) for the first time was quite a different experience from my first reading of The Gathering Storm (or, TGS).
For one, I wasn’t experiencing the suddenness of fresh WOT material after years of (potentially never-ending) drought, as was the case with TGS. For another, this time I had a much better idea of what to expect, in terms of the Jordan-Sanderson hybrid writing style and approach—which, make no mistake, is sharply distinct in several ways from the way Jordan wrote the solo novels. So overall ToM wasn’t nearly the, well, shock that TGS was, on a surface literary level, if that makes any sense. I was prepared, this time, for the differences.
(The dedication page, though, that was a shock. I’m pretty sure my mouth dropped open when I saw it and stayed that way for a while. Because, um, wow.)
It helps, of course, that this time around Sanderson has obviously vastly improved in blending the two writing styles together, and accounting for both his own strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and Jordan’s as well. For they both, naturally, have both strengths and weaknesses.
Sanderson does not quite match Jordan’s gift for virtually impeccable word choice, for instance, nor his talent at imagery, but on the other hand, that means Sanderson is less tempted into describing absolutely everything in extensive, exhausting, and sometimes just plain irrelevant detail, either, as Jordan sometimes did. And in the same way, while Sanderson’s full-speed-ahead style sometimes shortchanges pivotal moments that (in my opinion) Jordan would have given much more of the attention they deserved, it also means that Sanderson can give action scenes a driving momentum that… well, it’s not better than what Jordan did, because his action scenes in the earlier books were usually quite damn good, thank you, but Sanderson’s rather headlong method is actually a little more to my personal taste in some ways, I’ve found.
It’s a little hard to tell, of course, how much of this take-no-prisoners approach is personal predilection, and how much of it is Brandon just needing to get the hell through all the million and three things that need to happen in the preshow before we get to the title fight, if you see what I mean. There’s also some question of how much my impressions on this score are influenced by how bloody fast (once again) I read the thing.
But either way, a whole damn lot of those million and three “preshow” things happened in ToM, let me assure you. A LOOOOOOT.
…None of which I can tell you about yet, of course. So instead, how about some visceral reactions to scenes, kind of like we did last time?
Yeah, I thought you’d like that. So, in no particular order, here are some things you might have heard me say (sadly, sometimes out loud) at certain junctures of ToM:
- “I totally cannot decide whether to be pleased about this, or kind of freaked out.”
- “Okay, that may or may not have been quite a Crowning Moment of Awesome for _____, exactly, but that is unquestionably one of the coolest things that has ever happened in this series. All is forgiven, man.”
- “Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.”
- “This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…”
- “Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.”
- “Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.”
- “Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, ____. Gah.”
- “Oh. Er. So, I totally called that wrong. Am a bit red-faced now.”
- “Okay, so maybe – maybe – you have redeemed yourself a little bit here, ____. You are provisionally allowed off my shit list. FOR NOW.”
- “I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.”
- “WHAT? That is… that is horrible. No, no, no, no. THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN, TEAM JORDAN, DO NOT MAKE ME HURT YOU. I need a cookie now. And a hug. I HATE YOU ALL. (But, uh, man. Good writing, right there. I never would have seen that coming in a million years. P.S. I STILL HATE YOU.)”
- “Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more… dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.”
- “Holy hell, _____ just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.”
- “Oh for the love of Pete, _____, will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Sheesh.”
- “Wait, what the hell just happened? I am so confused. And also, what?”
- “HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA”
And so forth. You get the idea, though of course this only scratches the surface; most of the rest of it is stuff that I can’t even give a response to without giving away what I’m talking about. So you’ll have to wait for the other review for those.
So, there’s all that. And now I’ve just noticed that in a post purporting to be a review of Towers of Midnight, I haven’t actually said whether I liked the book or not.
In fact, now that I think about it I never really said in either of my reviews of The Gathering Storm whether I liked that book either. Which is telling, because in some ways I feel like the question isn’t even relevant. Not for me, anyway.
The Wheel of Time has, through a chain of events that still kind of boggles me sometimes, become so much a part of my life that asking me if I like it is sort of not worth dignifying with an answer. It’s like asking me if I like my family. And yes, I happen to adore my family, but even if I didn’t, that would hardly matter; they’re my family. Whether I like them or not is completely beside the point.
And that really kind of sums it up, doesn’t it? My instinctive waving-off of the question of whether I like either of the two latest releases only confirms how much they belong in the series as a whole. They are different, yes. But they are still family, and that’s what matters.
However, all that being said, if you still want a judgment independent of my crazily familial relationship with this series (insofar as that’s even possible), then I would say: Yes, I liked it. I liked it a lot.
I am, actually, just pleased as punch at how well it’s all going. I’m pretty sure you will be too.
And that’s what I have to say about that. At least until I have lots and lots more to say, of course. Until then, my friends!
Leigh Butler is a writer, blogger, and above-average pool player, who enjoys reading and writing fantasy, a good pinot noir, and hurling the literary criticism equivalent of Molotov cocktails. She currently lives in New York City.
SWEET!! was looking for yesterdays post and got THIS! JEALOUS!!! Thanx. I think I need a cigarette. And I don’t even smoke.kinda like a sour patch kid, with sharp contradictions (naturally ; ) ). you managed to satisfy and tantalize me at the same time. glad its still family. hope he doesnt rush through TG…..
oh # 9 — SWMNBN ?
Whoa! Totally wasn’t expecting this so…soon! Thanks Leigh. :) I have to say, this made my day a little happier…and pushed my anticipation for Nov2 to new heights. I didn’t think it was possible.
#12…Egwene/Rand? And I really really really really hope #2 is Perrin. It could also be Gawyn, I suppose.
Thanks again, Leigh. If I haven’t ever said it, you’re awesome.
Excellent. Back from Scotland so time to catch up on Wheel of Time. Way to keep us tantalized Leigh.
I dunno, I think #14 suits SWMNBN better :)
@@@@@#5 ROTF but methinks that must be the peddler
@@@@@ 6 Yeah, I think you’re right.
7 = Gawyn? Or sea folk?
Wow! A Leigh Butler WoT post that isn’t a torrent of femenism. Thanks! Seriously, thank you! Can’t wait to read the book. I can only imagine what those reactions are for.
And #13…Elaida? Except that would make me sad, because it would mean she’s in this book.
gah! i was handling the wait pretty well, until this review. now the month long wait seems way too long!
*envious*
nice
I feel kinda sad. I came to this series very late. I’m currently half-way through ACoS on my FIRST read of this series. That’s book 7 of a total of 14 (not including New Spring.) There is no way I can finish the series before AMoL is released! (To say nothing of ToM.) I read slowly, and have an autistic 3-year old at home (that demands nearly constant attention and supervision.)
I really wish I could comment along with you guys on the weekly re-read posts, but Leigh is way ahead of me, and she keeps posting four chapters a week! I really want to contribute, but…oh well.
Ugh, I’ve been reading the Recaps, but I still don’t know who SWMNBN is…I guess I’ll have to go pore over them again since, obviously, She Cannot Be Named! @6 though, I agree. It’s probably the peddler.
I could easily insert Cadsuane in #7 and #9.
Could #13 be someone we haven’t seen in a very long time and that’s why it wasn’t possible to have an MoA, or could it be someone who is on Team Evil? Hmmm…
In any case, thanks for the Post! It’s gonna be a loooong 6 weeks!
Can we ratchet up the anticipation a bit more? I so want to read ToM, like now!!!!! MasterAlThor and subwoofer, we needs to make a plan and get that book already.
Also, I cannot wait to see what Leigh is reacting to!
Number 7 has to be Gawyn;)
tempest™
Well, SWMNBN is Cadsuane. A few months ago her name was put on hiatus for a bit.
I think #5 might deal with the ToG.
#3 or #8 – one of those just has to deal with Asmodean, right? =)
Thanks for all you do Leigh! I was thrilled for you when I saw the dedication. A well deserved acknowledgement! I’m sure I speak for others when I say that you have brought a whole new dimension to my enjoyment of WOT, and I look forward to your always engaging commentary as much (and sometimes even more than!) the post itself. Thank you!
@@@@@ 15 blindillusion
I don’t know. #16 seems more like Leigh’s style concerning Asmodean ; )
And if this recap wasn’t bad enough in drastically increasing the utter NEED to read ToM, I will have to completely avoid this website until I get the book since I’m in Japan and it takes them longer to ship the book here. I don’t know what I would do if I read Leigh’s spoiler rich recap…
Hopefully, #11 is Egwene receiving a 13×13 “upgrade”. But it’s probably Rand getting his second female channeler beating before Perrin “rescues” him.
Of course, it could be something simple like a favorite biting the bullet in a tragic fashion. Lan? Thom? Nyneave? Tam? Olver?
2. Seems likely to be Perrin.
5. Some kind of reunion?
7. Gawyn is my guess. :/
8. Asmodean or LTT
9. Gawyn or Cadsuane. Probably Cadsuane.
11. Hmm, somebody dies :(
12. Egwene vs. Rand
13. Alanna?
14. Feel like I should be able to guess this one, but can’t come up with anything.
16. See #8 :)
Leigh – thanks so much for this! it was just… wonderful. Naturally, I am also turning an unbecoming green with envy…
Also, I must know:
“Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.”
Was it? Did you?
Ok here are my guesses to Leigh’s hints
1. “I totally cannot decide whether to be pleased about this, or kind of freaked out.” (fain comes to the light)
2. “Okay, that may or may not have been quite a Crowning Moment of Awesome for Rand, exactly, but that is unquestionably one of the coolest things that has ever happened in this series. All is forgiven, man.”
3. “Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.” (not sure, kinda scared of this though)
4. “This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…” (not sure)
5. “Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.” (someone gets turned to the shadow.)
6. “Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.” (Mat and Fortouna getting busy)
7. “Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, Gawyn. Gah.”
8. “Oh. Er. So, I totally called that wrong. Am a bit red-faced now.” (dont got a clue)
9.”Okay, so maybe – maybe – you have redeemed yourself a little bit here, Perrin. You are provisionally allowed off my shit list. FOR NOW.”
10. “I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.” (Nynaeve makes sense for once)
11. “WHAT? That is… that is horrible. No, no, no, no.
THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN, TEAM JORDAN, DO NOT MAKE ME HURT YOU. I need a cookie now. And a hug. I HATE YOU ALL. (But, uh, man. Good writing, right there. I never would have seen that coming in a million years.P.S. I STILL HATE YOU.)” ( Min is killed or Moiraine is a zombie)
12. “Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more…dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.” (Rand and Egwene meet up again)
13. “Holy hell, Eladia just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.”
14. “Oh for the love of Pete, Graendal, will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Sheesh.”
15. “Wait, what the hell just happened? I am so confused. And also, what?” (not sure)
16. “HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA” (asmo’s killer is Olver)
Oooooh. What if number 11 is Moiraine sacrificing Thom in some ruthless fashion to escape the ToG? It looked like the tower was a little uneven in the preview. Maybe she left him to get blown up when she got out.
It’s not gonna be easy waiting 41 more days! Good review though, and some grist for the Theoryland mill ;)
ETA: Grats on the dedication!
my guesses:
1 Perrin becomes a wolf
2 Galad’s CMOA
3 Lan in battle
4 Walking in Finnland flashback
5 Moiraine oh noes…
6 Gawyn and Egwene
7 Galad ruining things
8 Galad or is he? see #7
9 Elayne’s redemption
10 Rand breaking seals finally
11 Mat in finnland not having fun
12 Perrin and Byar-a reunion
13 Weiramon least likely to have a MOA
14 Aginor round 3
15 Bashere or borderlanders attack Rand???
16 Graendal did it I rest my case :D
Hi Leigh!!!
I figured you would be as pleased as punch that Brandon gave you and the other site managers of various WoT thingies the nod you guys deserve. Without you, I would not be able to connect with all the many people here and on other sites that, although we have not met, I consider my friends. It is a nod of the head a long time in coming. Congradulations. Well done! :)
And thank you. I do appreciate all you do for us.
As far as the things you may have said, I have to put in that I am really feeling #6, #14 and most definitely:
I am living one of the lines Chris Farley mouths in Black Sheep-
It might be just a “me” thing, but after 20 years of so much anticipation and then false trails and then Elayne, and then Gawyn, well… it has an effect.
Woof™.
Truly Awesome Post Leigh!!! This makes me wish I had the book NOW, NOW, NOW!!!!! So with you on the whole WoT books being family thing. Keep up the great work! So many things coming to a head… Don’t know what I am going to do when it is over… worry, worry…
The I knew it is definitely, in my mind, Asmodean’s killer. It’s Bela, you all know it is. Either than or Bela revals herself as the creator in the CMOA :D
So jealous Leigh, so so looking forward to it. I’m kind of hurting in a way as when AMOL comes along it will all be over, you know? What currently stands at 18 years for me at the moment. So, kind of mixed feelings.
And did someone get a dedication? ;)
I really, really, REALLY hope, Leigh, that in your spoilerific review in a few weeks, you will actually go back over your 16 points and tell us exactly what each one was in regards to. And DAMN, I can’t wait for this book…
I just want to say how much I FRIGGIN HATE YOU RIGHT NOW. So jealous that you’ve already read the book. I’m pretty sure I’ll finish it in one sitting when it finally hits the shelves. I personally loved the way the styles blended in TGS. Mainly because Brandon Sanderson cut through all the BS. I read through all the books again before I started into it and became REALLY tired of reading the extensive descriptions that Robert Jordan would make about the most trivial of things. When I first got into TWoT I thought he was doing it because that trivial things would be important later in the series. I then learned that that was his style and it has bugged me for years. I can’t wait for the new book.
Isn’t modern technology great? While staying with my youngest son in the hospital, I’m still able to get my WoT fix. Yesterday I read the prologue, today I find this! One word for 11-2: SQUEEEEE!!!!!… Okay, I feel much better now.
Leigh, you are awesome!
Edit for: hi Gabbly Brothers and Sisters! I miss y’all!!
Ok, here is what I think each of he above is about. Let’s just see if I get any right.
1. No idea
2. Perrin (and something very wolfish) or maybe Faile
3. Moiraine/TOG plotline (probably right as they are entering TOG)
4. idk, but I’m gonna say this is when she got to the “Seven Striped Lass” excerpt (lol)
5. Also the Moiraine/TOG plotline (and this one really worries me!!!)
6. Mat and Fortuona finally get it ooooooon (b/c they are the epitome of romantic mixed with hilarious)
7. Gotta be Cads, or maybe Gawyn or possibly even Perrin (hope not though)
8. Has to do with our favorite Forsaken Fem Fatale (I’m assuming with the advanced copy Leigh didn’t bother to purchase the prologue e-book.)
9. Again most likely Cads, possibly Perrin or Gawyn
10. No clue, sorry
11. Again Moiraine/TOG. Possibly Thom dies, but I’m really getting this sinking feeling that Moiraine is not rescued =( Never before in my life have I ever so hoped that I’m wrong
12. Agree this is Rand and Egwene finally coming face to face
13. Gotta be Cads!!! No question.
14. Can’t say without dropping a prologue spoiler, but for those of you who have read it you know who I mean ;)
15. No clue on this one
16. Asmodean!!!! Gotta be. At least I hope so. So now I need to go find out if Leigh ever made a prediction as to his killer ;)
And these are my thoughts. Am I even close on any of them? Well guess I’ll find out in 40 days ;)
Actually, I just substituted ‘Valan Luca’ for every blank. Seemed to work out ok. I think he’s gonna turn out to be much more important than people realized. He’s probably Demandred, too. And possibly Moridin.
Leigh, one question: Does it seem possible, from the end of the book, for everything to be wrapped up in one more? Did the story advance enough to where you can see the end? Thinking about everything that still needs to happen, I just don’t see how 2 books is enough.
Does it feel rushed? Or are things just naturally falling into place? Answering that shouldn’t be a spoiler, right?
Sulin@30: Sending positive thoughts your way!
LRK @@@@@ 21:
Sorry, that would be telling.
Tankspill @@@@@ 28:
Well, of course.
almuric @@@@@ 32:
I can’t answer that yet. Not because it’s a spoiler, but because I’d like to read the book again before I come up with an opinion.
@@@@@ all:
Thanks!
Leigh, do you have the book book, like what we’ll see in the stores, or an ARC?
Don’t know why…simply curious….
Thanks Mis.
I had no idea you hated me so much, Leigh. :(
See, I wanted to know if Asmodean’s killer ID’ed, but I’m afraid to read the comments. I’ll just suffer some more….
I was pretty ambivalent over the whole “Gawyn kills Rand in ToM” theory, but Leigh’s review convinced me. Also, the
“HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA” has to refer to Asmo’s killer. Guessing Graendal .
I thought the “logical” comment of #10 referred to Asmo’s killer, though I suppose if it were, it would be an “obvious” comment.
Almuric, “Valan Luca” cracked me up. thanks!
completely out of order, but…
13. Weiramon gets a MOA!?! That would be too funny, or do we actually see Elaida again?
6. Mat and Tuon
7/8/9. Faile
2. Gawyn
4. Galad undermining Asunawa while serving him dinner…
16. Moiraine killed Asmodean
If you alternate the points with “Bela” and “unicorn” it works too.
Edit- make that “unicorn” then “Bela” and combine both when we get to the Barry White song… and… Barry White song? Really?
Edit- “Uno is outted” also fits very well with most of the points. Still working around #9 & #14- maybe the unicorn…
Woof™.
Oh thanks heaps, Leigh. Just when the twitching was subsiding thanks to the Prologue…
You’re responses are just ambiguous enough to have a large number of possibilities, but there are a few worth taking a stab at. Maybe Birgit can come back here in November and see who guessed Leigh’s reactions closest. I’m only going to put names to the scenes, not about to try and guess content/context.
2. Perrin
6. Rand/Aviendha redux
7. Padan Fain
9. Gawyn
11. Rand
12. Egwene/Rand
13. Elaida
14. Padan Fain
16. Graendal (and I don’t mean as Asmodean’s killer)
Some thoughts on a few of the others…
3. Seal-clapping while outraged. Specifically, fannish outrage. Hmm. Lots of thoughts flicker about, but none seem to fit. I see nobody else has a thought to pin on this one either. Curses…
8. I admit to being very intrigued about this one. You? Red-faced? Intrigued.
11. Fascinated. Morbidly, creepily, Poe-esque fascinated.
I keep thinking that one or more of your reactions is to Nynaeve finally getting Lan’s bond. Perhaps I’m just projecting, since that’s something I’ve been waiting to see happen.
Oh well, 5 short weeks to go.
Argh!! I don’t know whether to love or hate Leigh Butler at this moment!!!
Well fine, yes I do. You know I love you, but damn girl now I’m chained to the bus with people wishing away October. Sigh. So very cool you got a well deserved nod from the co-creator himself. Accolades well deserved for the job that you have done in revitalizing this series for so many people.
Not making any guesses on your non-spoilerific remarks, I really do prefer to be surprised by what I find in the book.
Sulin: Sister we miss you and are all praying for the little one to come home soon.
Mis- I’ll be the one sitting next to you on the bus that just won’t shut up and let you read
This post is why I can’t stand reading the re-reads anymore. Too many words with absolutely no information. I don’t tend to be very pessimistic, but someone else could’ve done a much better job blogging about tWoT, IMNSHO.
Still, it did get me excited about the book, and… scared? What is going to happen?
jemron,
How very productive. No bunker munchies for you!
44. jemron
Wait. Wha-? Are you even a WOT fan? You don’t get this epic 14
bricknovel series without a whole closet full of words with absolutely no information. It was kinda RJ’s “thing”. We love that sort of stuff around here. :DNot to jump on any band wagons- no,no not me, perish the thought- but Jemron, c’mon-
Have you read WoT? Massive
bug killing books,huge honkin’ paperweights that put War and Peace to shame. IIRC there are several chapters- nay, books, that would fit that description, but it is a prerequisite of WoT fandom that you slog through to get to the good stuff.You must now wear a pointy hat and go sit in the corner.
Geeze.
Edit- sorry insectoid:)
Woof™.
What they said.
And why do I read
“This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…”
and think
“That’s no moon, that’s a space station”
and @12. malchore, don’t worry about being late to this book, you’ll be ready in time for the final one. As someone that started waiting for more books after “The Great Hunt”, I assure you waiting is worse than having too much to get through.
And as long as Masema isn’t an answer to any question, I’ll be happy.
“That’s no moon, that’s a space station”
@Skip- Star Wars FTW! :)
Woof™.
Well throwing up guesses is fun so I’ll take a stab at it!
2: seems to Perrin for sure. His story arc should be very very interesting for a change; really looking forward to it.
5: Reunion chapter, probably all main characters meeting in Caemlyn.
6: Hope this is a Mat & Tuon scene simply because I love them two together.
7: Has to be Gawyn. The guy is nothing but a thorn in the foot that won’t ever grow up or preferably just disappear.
9: Perhaps Cadsuane.
12: Definitely seems Rand & Egwene’s meeting. That response gives me hope that Egwene won’t be on cloud nine in her arrogance.
13: How can Elaida have a MOA I wonder, but that’s sure what it sounds like ;p.
14: Damn Graendel gonna make it to the last book huh?
Thankyou Leigh you made my day with this review!!
Wow, wasn’t expecting this so soon! Thanks a lot, Leigh… you’ve made my morning!
I’m not going to guess what each of the 16 points refer to (though I’m supposing the names Moiraine, Asmodean, and Fain fit in there somewhere). Hilarious guesses, all!
Sub @25:
LOL!!
Sulin @30: I see you, Sulin. :)
jemron @44:
Are you for real? That’s what WoT fans like us live for!
Sub @47:
Hey! ::poke::No prob, Sub; I get it all the time.Bzzz™.
Jemron – Chill, man. Jason is almost always the only advance review that even gives any hints at all, and even his hints are vague…almost as vague as Leigh’s.
I posted my reactions to the list on Theoryland. No point posting it again. :)
Since everyone else is chiming in with their guesses . . .
“I totally cannot decide whether to be pleased about this, or kind of freaked out.”
**Aviendha killed Asmodean. Well, it LOOKED like Aviendha, but it was actually her alternate personality named Betty.
“Okay, that may or may not have been quite a Crowning Moment of Awesome for _____, exactly, but that is unquestionably one of the coolest things that has ever happened in this series. All is forgiven, man.”
**CMOA is for Hari Coplin when he kills the Dark One by naming him, drawing his attention, ascending to another plane as his avatar, then tripping over a pitchfork and gutting himself.
“Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.”
**Perrin gets a pet seal. Hopper materializes in the physical world long enough to eat it. Another three chapters of angst follow.
“This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…”
**The wheel of time turns and ages come and pass leaving memories that become legend. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, the Caemlyn Trade federation was blockading the minor land of Manetheren and . . .
“Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.”
**Funny Generator broken, move along, nothing to see here.
“Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.”
**Matt and Tuon meet up, and Matt has to deal with the logistical nightmare of never being able to be truly alone with her. Wherever you go, there your shadow is also.
“Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, ____. Gah.”
**Gawyn burns the soup, gets tired of waiting for Egwene and in a fit of pique names himself the lord of chaos. Hilarity ensues.
“Oh. Er. So, I totally called that wrong. Am a bit red-faced now.”
**Weiramon finally reveals why he’s been acting so strangely. He’s a woman.
“Okay, so maybe – maybe – you have redeemed yourself a little bit here, ____. You are provisionally allowed off my shit list. FOR NOW.”
**Cadsuane does something right. Nothing else witty to say because my puny brain cannot comprehend such a possibility, and can just barely ponder the possibility of such a possibility.
“I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.”
**Spock shows up, does some Extremely Logical Snowboarding.
“WHAT? That is… that is horrible. No, no, no, no. THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN, TEAM JORDAN, DO NOT MAKE ME HURT YOU. I need a cookie now. And a hug. I HATE YOU ALL. (But, uh, man. Good writing, right there. I never would have seen that coming in a million years. P.S. I STILL HATE YOU.)”
**Elaida, in an incredibly well-written scene, comes back to the White Tower and retakes her position as Amyrlin.
“Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more… dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.”
**Same as the “Barry White” scene.
“Holy hell, _____ just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.”
**Lopin bashes a trolloc to death with a frying pan, manages to look embarrassed while doing it.
“Oh for the love of Pete, _____, will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Sheesh.”
**Rand. Leigh is REALLY ready for the last battle to be won.
“Wait, what the hell just happened? I am so confused. And also, what?”
**The thing with the stuff went and did it, but you didn’t see it happen so when they all looked at it you missed the deal.
“HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA”
**AMOL is being split into two books, entitled “A Memory” and “Of Light.”
-Beren
Leigh, can you at least tell us where the book ends? Has the Last Battle (TM) begun, or did TOM simply get through all the stuff that needed to be cleaned up before the battle itself starts?
PS – Congrats on the dedication page!
53 Beren
Thanks for that. I’m actually sitting here at work with people staring at me because I can’t stop laughing as I picture Hopper eating Perrin’s pet seal.
Beren @53: ROFL!! My mom is looking at me funny now.
Bzzz™.
Beren@53
That was completely hilarious!
PhilosophyGuy @@@@@ 54:
I’m pretty sure that would count as a spoiler, so I can’t say. Sorry.
Insectoid@56: Well, she should be used to us by now! She should come back & join the fray!
There are a loooooot of loose ends to tie up…notice how no one even mentioned the Seafolk? The Ogier? The Tuathuanan(Leaf people)? Shara? Shaido? Holy Crap! How do they all get crammed into this book? Methinks this book will be all kind of all over the place. I think it will be too busy, too much, too soon for all of us to handle; our heads will spin, our stomachs churn, and there will be sadness when we are done reading because it could have been sooooo much longer. Ironic isn’t it?
PhilosophyGuy@54 – Brandon said (when explaining the split of AMOL) that TOM ends with a reunion of all the main plotlines in some location, and an event that ‘launches’ Tarmon Gai’don.
Leigh – Would you be up for a game of ‘I spy’ for where our cast and crew are at by the end of ToM ?(I am really just kidding, maybe…)
Beren – very roflol – and I am at work – not good;)
temepst™
Wait. Leigh. Nothing made you *headdesk*?
That’s got to be a good sign, right?
Taken from above and edited to show my guesses…
1. “I totally cannot decide whether to be pleased about this, or kind of freaked out.” no idea
2. “Okay, that may or may not have been quite a Crowning Moment of Awesome for Gawyn, exactly, but that is unquestionably one of the coolest things that has ever happened in this series. All is forgiven, man.”
3. “Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.” must be Rhaurc’s death
4. “This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…” Galad taking on the Questioners
5. “Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.” Mat loses his eye to Noal in the ToG
6. “Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.” Avienda’s return from Rhuidien and the subsequent threesome
7. “Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, Elaida. Gah.” I bet she tries to sell Traveling to the Seanchan for her release, and it only ends up with her still chained…
8. “Oh. Er. So, I totally called that wrong. Am a bit red-faced now.” LTT IS a separate person! Or maybe not…
9.”Okay, so maybe – maybe – you have redeemed yourself a little bit here, Berelain. You are provisionally allowed off my shit list. FOR NOW.”
10. “I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.” no idea
11. “WHAT? That is… that is horrible. No, no, no, no.
THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN, TEAM JORDAN, DO NOT MAKE ME HURT YOU. I need a cookie now. And a hug. I HATE YOU ALL. (But, uh, man. Good writing, right there. I never would have seen that coming in a million years.P.S. I STILL HATE YOU.)” Lan’s death, or Min is a Darkfriend
12. “Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more…dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.” (Rand and Egwene meet up again – agreed)
13. “Holy hell, Basel Gill just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.”
14. “Oh for the love of Pete, Padan Fain, will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Sheesh.”
15. “Wait, what the hell just happened? I am so confused. And also, what?” Rand dies – then the next scene shows him alive (in T’A’R)
16. “HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA” Moridin turns to the Light…
I love brandons tweet about the review:
Leigh Butler’s advance review of Towers of Midnight is spoiler free and…um…passionate. As usual. :)
This is completely unfair to tease us like this when it is 32 days away totallyyyyyyyyyy unfairrrrrrrrr
Atleast I have the prologue for now :-( but still this is too much to bear
Hey Tor, please post chapter one and two now! Thanks
Barry White? I am now, officially, terrified of what might be in this book.
I am, actually, just pleased as punch at how well it’s all going.
I think this is the sentence that I came to this review to read. The rest is just teasers to make it that much harder to wait for my birthday (a couple of days after the book’s release).
@leigh
first thank for the previewing review!!!! it is good and smartassed (is that even a word??) written as always :)
also, do I get it right that the spoilerish review will be posted on the 2nd Nov (release date) itselves???
“I need a cookie now.”
keeps cracking me up :)
Sorry guys; I probably got a bit carried away… but, well, I don’t know what it is but something about Leigh’s posts bug me a bit. Still though, you’re right “Too many words with absolutely no information” probably was too harsh :-)
The review did get me excited… I just prefer reviews with some sort of meat (not spoilers… that’s not what I mean)… anyway; I apologize for acting rude. I will go sit in the corner.
jemron@70
All is forgiven. If you still feel you have toh, go ahead and sit in the corner in the bunker. There’s chips and verde salsa (with cilantro!) available at the moment.
I’m one of the ones who just read Chapter 8 – I don’t in any way feel like it gave away anything – which is probably why they gave it to us as a freebie, but the writing was awesome!
I would get the Prologue but don’t have any electronic readers, just my PC. Anything like overseas where they have an app that can convert it to reading, I don’t think the audio would go over very well here at the office…
thepupexpert@72
Barnes and noble has the nook ereader available for free to download from their store.It works right on your computer. That is how I read the prologue.
Oh my god you are so lucky and I HATE YOU and I wish it was November already! :)
Your list sounds awesome. I’m putting scenarious and names in there but other people guesses have been:
1. More astute
2. Funnier
3. Scarier
Than anything I will ever come up with. In fact I am reading no more guesses as I am sure someone will get something right, and then when I’m reading it’ll all be spoiled.
Oh I’m so excited but its still so far away GAH!
Awesome, can’t wait!
Thanks Leigh!
Sam – thanks that’s great to know!
Well it seems like the guessing fun is what this post is all about so I will take this moment out of my work day to ignore my phone calls and take a stab at some things.
1. “I totally cannot decide whether to be pleased about this, or kind of freaked out.”
I am going to guess that Narg comes back as a Zombie Trolloc under the influence of Mordeth and is torn between his new found love of brains and his desire to get back in touch with Rand to prove that “Narg no hurt”. I mean really, when a guy doesn’t believe you to the point of stabbing there is a lot of emotional baggage to clear up there.
2. “Okay, that may or may not have been quite a Crowning Moment of Awesome for (Perrin), exactly, but that is unquestionably one of the coolest things that has ever happened in this series. All is forgiven, man.”
I am going to randomly speculate that Perrin finaly does something less emo and more T’A’R related with wolves and organizing a wolf army but not using them for any thing yet. He has to do something to protect them from becoming dark hounds as Slayer has been killing wolves in the dream to make an army of dark hounds. (this is my fuzzy recolection of why he is killing wolves in the dream world. Correct me if I am incorrect)
3. “Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.”
Something sounds like a chapter just ended with “and that is why in 10 minutes I will do this totally awesome and bad ass thing which will conclude this plot line once and for all with the best and most wonderful fan pleasing resolution ever!” and then then following chapters veer off and never come back to this plot point.
4. “This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…”
Elyane finds out that Camelyn is under seige by several Trolloc armies who are claming a Myddral is the true heir of Ishtara and will be Queen of Andor. Or Faile gets kidnapped. Take your pick.
5. “Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.”
Sadly I am thinking this means that Mat and company finally get to the Tower of Genji and are just about to perform the ritual to open the portal and they are attacked by some group that disrupts their attempt to enter. Or there is a note on the side of the tower from Moiraine. “Hi guys, Got bored. Went to the Dark Side. See you at Tarmon Gaidon!”
6″Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.”
Beralain is making advances on Galahad and he is falling for her but snaps out of it every few minutes to protest that he is to chivalrous to accept fully what she is offering at which point she becomes offended and then goes back to seducing him.
7. “Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, (Daved Hanlon). Gah.”
With this one I am going assume that Camelyn is one of the major plot threds since Mat is there for a while and since Hanlon still has more “being evil” to do according to Min’s vision he probably breaks out of prison, causes some major problems and gets away.
8. “Okay, so maybe – maybe – you have redeemed yourself a little bit here, (Gawayn). You are provisionally allowed off my shit list. FOR NOW.”
This is difficult because my shit list and Ms Butler’s shit list may be two very different lists but Gawayn has been a bit of a waffling tool in the last few books and it is possible that if he works somehthing out with Egwene this could get him a little slack.
9. “I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.”
All of the White Sisters start kicking ass and taking names.
10. “WHAT? That is… that is horrible. No, no, no, no. THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN, TEAM JORDAN, DO NOT MAKE ME HURT YOU. I need a cookie now. And a hug. I HATE YOU ALL. (But, uh, man. Good writing, right there. I never would have seen that coming in a million years. P.S. I STILL HATE YOU.)”
Sadness Alert!
Suian is 13×13’d and Gareth Byrne is killed. Conversely something terrible happens to Loial but that is just to horrible to contemplate.
11.”Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more… dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.”
I will agree that this is probably a Egwene and Rand moment.
12. “Holy hell, (Pura) just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.”
Just going out to wacky town I am going to say that Pura is Suffa’s pal around gal (to keep her spirits up. I barely recall that sometimes the Seanchan would set an exemplary damme with a new one to get her aclimatized if she was doing poorly) because of her devotion and model dammaneship and in spending time with Suffa, Pura remembers how freaking ridiculous Elaida was and flips out to the point of renouncing her dammeship, breaking free and taking some damme with her. (maybe even Elaida)
13. “Oh for the love of Pete, (Mordeth), will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Sheesh.”
if only. Sadly that is an evil that plays out to the very end.
14. “Wait, what the hell just happened? I am so confused. And also, what?”
Morgase married Lamgwin and Tallavor married Breane. Lini actually is Morgase’s mother and Basel Gil is Tallavor’s father.
It is all so simple really. :)
15.”HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA”
All of the Main Characters are gathered in the stables before going their own ways when Bela the Wonder Horse reveals herself as the Creator and then acends to another plain claiming she can take no hoof in the events that are to come.
This event starts Tarmon Gaidon.
2. Perrin definitely.
7. Gawyn or Cadsuane, or maybe Noal :O
9. Cadsuane
11. I’m calling it now, Moiraine dies. :(
14. Fain, that’s a gimme.
@thepupxpert- as I have posted previously, I got the Kindle for PC App and it works great. Lets you download and view Amazon books for Kindle right on your computer in much the same way a Kindle works.
@Fork- verde salsa? Forget this! I’m going to go sit in the corner with Jemron.
Woof™.
First time poster, I’ve been following the re-read and all of the prediction threads for a long time though, thanks alot TOR/Leigh =]
anyways here are my (somewhat ridiculous) thoughts
#12:
Beslan
#2 and #10:
Maybe this is Perrin gathering an awesome TAR wolf army to protect the world on the dream front (since Rand has channeling and Mat has warfare) but having to choose the wolf instead of human, or having to be physically in TAR, meaning he has to give up/sacrifice his physical body or some such, maybe bringing his faile with him? And maybe finding the Song in there too, from the hopes dreams of all the forces of Light fighting against the shadow or something (it’d be set up like Perrin is in the wolf dream with all of his wolfbrothers, and finally lets go and becomes the wolf, but then hears the song in all of the life or whatever, and realizes the stars are singing it along with the trees and such, then realizing that those stars are all of the dreams from the forces of Light and blah moa setup = Song FOUND/ Heroes READY)
#7 and #8:
Cadsuane I’m thinking
#5:
Mat and Rand Reunion woohoo but now the CrazyTheory…
maybe a scheme is afoot and Mat is obligated by Super Moiraine advice/commands to either give his medallion to Gawyn who kills NewHolyRand (could tie into #10)
OR much more likely:
Mat is with Rand and excitedly shows him a portable Dragon, with little mini-foxhead/snout ter’angreal bullets made by Elayne, and Rand and/or another character comments thats dangerous and he’ll “shoot his eye out” and then he does (and since he has a foxhead-medallion-snout for an eye now, Healing can’t fix it and somehow this lesson becomes a timeless christmas classic in ages yet to come and ages long past, thus giving half the light of the world to save it [from watching anything interesting or new on TV come holidays, instead of the same damn thing every year])
… =]
Greyfalconway@80
Rand probably had to triple-dog dare Mat to try it. Either that, or tell him that he might win a major award.
KJacobs @59: She’d love to, but she: a) hasn’t read the Prologue or Ch. 8; and b) says she has too many stupid questions and would be embarrassed.
LTF @77: ::snortROFLOLhahaha:: oh man… xD
Greyfalconway @80: Welcome! Bunker buffet is over here. And pay no attention to Jemron and the Woof in the corner. ;)
Bzzz™.
Or Mat gets his tongue stuck to the tower of ghenjei and Thom has to cut it off for him to get free but mistakenly cuts out his eye instead and offers it to the eelfin/aelfin to save Moiraine.
Lmao @83 – Renegade248
@82 insectoid – Thanks for the welcome =]
@72 thepupexpert
This is from my one post on theoryland for what will happen after ch8;
Basically I think that fits all of Leighs reactions like a pair of ter’purple’forensic’hoof-gloves
And so, without any content to go on, we make up our own!
I agree with Jemron about the much ado about nothing comment, but just because there is nothing germaine to be said, doesn’t mean we will keep silent! With all the anticipation about ToM, the nervous energy will generate thousands of comments in the next six weeks.
I, for one, will see that the bunker is stocked with cookies for all cookie-worthy moments. Chocolate chip, of course, and for the people who don’t eat chocolate, there will be snickerdoodles!
Leigh, you have again managed to make me excited, confused, and hyper twitchy!!!!! WHY does the entire moth of October have to be between now & ToM??????
hugs to Sulin – hope your boy is better fast.
JanD- got sugar cookies in the bunker, on the table in the corner…..more in the oven, we’re gonna need ’em I think
masty @66
32 days? Hmm, you’re still going by the old 24 October date? The formal release is set for 2 November. That would be 41 days. Sorry ’bout that.
forkroot @71
Shhh. Don’t tell jemron, but I loaded up the salsa verde with a ton of wasabi paste. That stuff is like the Spanish Inquisition.
thepupxpert @72
Ditto what Sam said. B&N Nook reader for PC: Works fine, lasts a long time.
subwoofer @79
Wait, sub! Not the sal — uh oh.
forkroot @81
::stare:: Christmas story digs? Oh hey, there’s this great salsa verde over in the corner.
Renegade248
You’re suggesting that Thom misses with a knife. Moridin turns back to the Light first.
“I totally cannot decide whether to be pleased about this, or kind of freaked out.”
Mat opens Verins letter… identifies a key darkfriend close to Rand… or maybe who the h-e double hockey stick demandred is posing as.
“Okay, that may or may not have been quite a Crowning Moment of Awesome for _____, exactly, but that is unquestionably one of the coolest things that has ever happened in this series. All is forgiven, man.”
Perrin forms up the wolves in T’A’R into a “last march of the ents” sort of thing.
“Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.”
This was for Graendal’s escape.
“This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…”
a woman sniffs, a man snorts, they fall in love after seeming to hate each other.
“Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.”
13×13… my guess is on the SAS embassy to the BT
“Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.”
hmmm… Mat and Fortuona or Avi and Rand… Mat and Fortuona.
“Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, ____. Gah.”
Gawyn. Who else?
“Oh. Er. So, I totally called that wrong. Am a bit red-faced now.”
To be honest, I’ve got nothing… so here goes: The song that Perrin finds is not The Song, but is the Ice Cream jingle, he sits down and has a nice waffle cone.
“Okay, so maybe – maybe – you have redeemed yourself a little bit here, ____. You are provisionally allowed off my shit list. FOR NOW.”
unfortunately, cadsuane… she may make mistakes, but she is still the most competent (aside from moiraine) AS out there.
“I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.”
something taken to its logical extreme… I’ve got nothing, nobody in this series acts logically, especially the white ajah.
“WHAT? That is… that is horrible. No, no, no, no.
THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN, TEAM JORDAN, DO NOT MAKE ME HURT YOU. I need a cookie now. And a hug. I HATE YOU ALL. (But, uh, man. Good writing, right there. I never would have seen that coming in a million years. P.S. I STILL HATE YOU.)”
something unfortunate happens to a likable character. Olver dies.
“Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more…
dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.”
Rand V. Egwene
“Holy hell, _____ just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.”
Moridin. Don’t ask me why.
“Oh for the love of Pete, _____, will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Sheesh.”
Rand already tried the equivalent of a nuke on Graendal, so I’m betting this refers to Fain.
“Wait, what the hell just happened? I am so confused. And also, what?”
42
“HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA”
So did I, so HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA … (just between you and me, what was it?)
Why does everyone thinks that 7 is Gawyn (*pouts*). I like Gawyn. Leigh, tell them it’s not Gawyn, pleaaase :)
And 12 (“Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more… dramatic.Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.”) It’s obviously Rand and Egwene confrontation except that Leight knows that(e.i. how obvious it is) and she might be most deviously misleading us!
So freaking jealous ur reading the latest book. All these teasers….
Seems like abit of fun – heres my 2 cents
1. galad and berelain
2. logain fulfills his destiny
3. escaping from the ToG
4. stupid aes sedai
5. last battle starts, seals on DO prison broken
6. siuan and bryne
7. Elida
8. Asmodean killer revealed
9. Chadsuane
10. Rand binds the Nine Moons / truce with the seanchan
11. someone dies – maybe min
12. Rand and Egwene
13. loial finds teh song, clears the ways
14.Graendel from the prolgoue
15. rand dying sequence
16. Bela is the creator !
Beren @@@@@ 53
Hahahahahahahahaha! You made my day :)
#11
What if when Mat&co get in the ToG they find that Moiraines body has died, so Noal gives up his memories and such to the snakes & foxes, and they dump Moiraines conciousness/memories into his body!
Lmao Leigh would finally get what she wants though (girls no longer being the only gender represented as non-hetero) with Thom and Noalraine
=P
Beren, I think you win the thread. Besides Leigh, that is. You made multiple people(including me) almost lose their jobs due to laughing at work…good job.
Tonka @89 Leigh wouldnt intentionally deviously misslead us would she?
@leigh, you didn’t admit to crying while reading it. I’m afeared.
@95 Deadsy – I read the prologue and expect a few wet eyes.
2nd attempt to post (is Tor shaky for anyone else?)
#13 unexpected moment of awesome…..Cenn Buie :)
5 – Almost definitely something to do with Moraine’s rescue, implying that things will NOT go down very smoothly.
9 – Definitely something about Cadsuane. I’m probably one of the few who *doesn’t* want Cads to die, but it does seem likely she will, and maybe her death offers some serious redemption (in Leigh’s eyes, anyway).
11 – 13×13 on Rand? :evil:
12 – I think that has to be Egwene’s and Rand’s confrontation that has been brewing since Elaida’s Foretelling. So maybe that is a good thing, maybe Egwene won’t be quite so much a hussie about the whole thing.
13 – Seems to me from her statement, this is someone who would be a minor character (not expecting a Moment of Awesome and all), so I’m placing my bets on Morgase or maybe even Laras. Possibly some Aes Sedai we don’t really like and is not really major, like Myrelle, Lelaine, etcetera.
14 – Fain. Someone is going to do something BIG, and Fain will live through it. We know how much Rand hates him – I wouldn’t put it past Rand trying to balefire the bastard, and the dude still escapes somehow.
The other ones have, in my mind, too many possibilities to really guess.
Oh, and I’m going to go out on a limb here and call #2 as either a Dain Bornhald or Jaret Byar scene. :)
Since it seems no one else has guessed it, I’m going to say that at least one of those numbers relates to something happening at the Black Tower! Rand has to go there & deal with Taim before TG.
And I’m hoping someone tells Rand that E is pregnant.
OMG that is such a tease! I can’t wait to RAFO. I don’t even want to try to guess on some of those, too many things to dwell on for another month.
SusanB @@@@@ 100
I’m gonna second that. In fact, I can’t believe Elayne would think it was OK not to tell Rand that he’s gonna be a daddy. Anyone want to start a pool on where exactly on the “Happy about the kid vs Angry about not being told” scale he’s going to be?
-Beren
I kind of envy you all.. I’m getting married a few days before the book comes out. Heaven knows when I’ll have the time/freedom to read it.
Anyway, my .02:
1 and 3. Graendal from the prologue
2 Cadsuane
4 emo Perrin (ugh. I’ve never been a Perrin/Faile hater, but even I’m sick to death of him by now.
5 moiraine rescue goes sour (I presume only temporarily)
6. Rand & Avi?
7 Lelaine
8 no idea
9 Gawyn
10. breaking the seals?
11. Noal dies.
12. agree, consensus seems to be Rand and Egwene
13. I don’t know… Elder Haman? Daise Congar?Anaiyella? Actually,my guess would be Harine.
14. Fain
15. No idea. Fain again?
16. Greandal dunnit.
BenM
Echoing and expanding on @13 & @80, it appears Leigh’s comments #7, 8 and 9 may all be about the same person.
For reference, 7-9:
Knowing Leigh’s disdain for Cadsuane (you do despise her, don’t you?), it sure appears all three are about Old Ironbuns. And if we take that and run with it… any ideas?
Granted, we don’t know if these are a chaotic brain dump or if Leigh wrote them out in the order of the events that prompted these thoughts.
Can we please officially rename 13×13 to 13+13? Thanks ever so much. I’ve never figured out what the x was supposed to signify.
1. “pleased, or kind of freaked out” – Rand’s ta’veren sperm starts a geometric series: 2 babies for Elayne, 4 for Aviendha, 8 for Min.
2. “All is forgiven, man” – Jaret Byar takes out Padan Fain in the crazy on crazy bracket.
3. “seal-clapping, fannish outrage” – The formal ceremony where the Aes Sedai officially revoke their Oath policy somehow involves spanking.
4. “Veeery familiar” – I was gonna say another Faile kidnapping, but Leigh didn’t mention anything about heads or desks. So … Supergirls somehow manage to rejoin Luca’s circus while they’re looking for Mat, who they think might still be in Ebou Dar.
5. “fifteen years. … oh crap” – Nobody can get into Ghenjei because the turnstile requires exact change and Mat only has gold crowns on him.
6. “Barry White, except hilarious” – Rand and Avi Make a Porno. Starring several Far Dareis Mai and Mera’din.
7. “Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING” – Suffa does something that totally discredits Aes Sedai, just as the Seanchan were about to reach an agreement to free all the damane, sending them to the White Tower for PTSD debriefing.
8. “called that wrong” – Bela turns out not to be the Creator.
9. “redeemed yourself a little bit here” – Berelain convinces Galad to put off the white.
10. “logical extreme” – Mat, Perrin and Egwene somehow manage to all be in the same place at the same time. Mat learns that Egwene can make cuendillar and asks for armor. Egwene knows heartstone is infinitely strong no matter how thin and light. Perrin has figured out a process for making sheet metal from iron. Egwene gets Perrin to assemble a team of armorers to make the thinnest possible plate mail, to be carefully fitted and then cast to heartstone. Everyone looks around in confusion that nobody thought of this 3 books ago.
Alternatively, someone figures out one of the 50 ways to kill a gholam, and uses it. (I favor opening a gateway beneath its feet, letting it be killed falling through.)
11. “No, no, no, no. THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN” – Perrin finds the Song. It turns out to be “Never Gonna Give You Up”.
12. “thinking that was going to be a bit more dramatic” – Dark One breaks free at last, touches the world again, excuses himself to go find a privy. He’d been holding it for 3000 years.
13. “Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible” – Renaile renounces her Bargain with Elayne and Nynaeve, makes a rousing speech to the effect that the Atha’an Miere ought to be ashamed of themselves trying to take material advantage of a situation where the whole world was about to roast.
14. “nuclear strike” – We all think it’s Fain or Graendal, but Aginor would be funnier.
15. “what the hell just happened?” – Another Bargain where Team Shorebound got fleeced in some way nobody quite understands yet. Thom, Dobraine, Merilille and the surviving Merchant Council of Arad Doman probably should have tried to work together rather than aiming for their own terms, and maybe this wouldn’t have happened.
16. “I TOTALLY KNEW IT” – Daughter of the Night, in Finnland, with the ter’angreal.
BenM@@@@@ 103
Bring it with you on your honeymoon! There’s nothing a new wife appreciates more than her husband curling up with a book for 4-5 hours on her honeymoon, giving her a chance to relax a bit on her own.
What could go wrong?
(btw, congrats, best wishes, etc)
@Wortmaur
The Team Jordan Rickroll…
11. “No, no, no, no. THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN” – Perrin finds the Song. It turns out to be “Never Gonna Give You Up”.
That would be the most spectacular thing to ever happen in the WoT.
THANK YOU, LEIGH!
And what a FABULOUS spoiler-free yet horribly tantalizing list of your reactions. I’d speculate, but most everyone has done that already. (Please just let me be wrong about #11, please oh please…)
You’re a terrific writer! I am so jealous that you got to read ToM already! ARRRGGGHHH! Incidentally, how many times have you re-read it by now?
Will tune back in on November 2, when I have the book in my hands and am foaming at the mouth!
Ohhhh! Something just occured to me-
The song- it’s going to turn out to be…Celine Dion– Trollocs and Fades go running for cover as Perrin starts belting out romance ballads.
#9- Tuon- Has to be on there. I mean, Seanchan, as a rule are knobs, and they are lead by Tuon- Leader of the Knobs or QUEK- Queen Empress of the Knobs- may she live forever. Anyways, Tuon has her head in the sand as far as Trollocs, and Myrddraal are concerned. I figure she is in for a rude awakening as she opens her panty drawer one morning and has some sense slapped into her. If she realizes this, then maybe she will come around to seeing that her thinking is a bit… clouded and that Rand was not all wrong. Those Seanchan troops could turn the tide of battle when all is darkness for Team Light.
Woof™.
subwoofer@109: Or it could be Faile, who is on EVERYONE’S shit list. She’ll use her panty drawer to stave off an attack against Berelain, or something. Oh, the delicious irony!
Yeah, but she has to be careful, Perrin’s nuts are rolling around in there. She may hurl the wrong thing and then how would Perrin mount a comeback? And the beasties… or Berelain may like Perrin’s nanners, then we would have round 3 going on…
Woof™.
cheekyhamster@110
Except mine. I may be lone in the world of fandom but I like Faile. I think she’s feisty. She needs to yell at Perrin more though to stop him being so damn emo!
Littleleicesterfox @112 – No, you’re not alone. I’ve always liked Faile. Sure, she does stupid things sometimes, but can anyone point me to one character in WoT who doesn’t? Or anyone in RL? If I refused to like people who do annoying things, I wouldn’t have any friends, and if I refused to like characters who do annoying things I’d have to stop reading. Not going to happen!! (After all, I’ve made it this far in WoT and started Stormlight Archive, so… not too much can put me off reading!)
As for said lists… I don’t have one, actually. But I was glad when Masema left us.
that was still too spoilerific for me,you should learn to restrain yousfelf.
“I totally cannot decide whether to be pleased about this, or kind of freaked out.” AS hunting down bloodknives on Tower grounds.
“Okay, that may or may not have been quite a Crowning Moment of Awesome for _____, exactly, but that is unquestionably one of the coolest things that has ever happened in this series. All is forgiven, man.” Perrin and Company saving Galad and his Whitecloaks from peril.
“Is it possible to have a complete seal-clapping moment of YAY, and shriek in utter fannish outrage at the same time? Because I have a feeling I’m about to find out.” Hope it is not this, but big reveal that Graendel is not in fact dead. Clever, dangerous lady.
“This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…” Second attack on the White Tower, with Egwene taken captive but saved by Perrin’s old Seanchan buddy (with a sword) once she realizes she’s yet another talented youngun from the Two Rivers whom the Seanchan should ally rather than capture.
“Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.” Reunion of the Ta’veren trio that doesn’t go as planned and, in fact, they tick off each other (temporarily).
“Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.”
Berelain trying to seduce Galad, without success (initially).
“Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, ____. Gah.” Gawyn. Gets bonded but still insists (against all evidence) that Rand is the antichrist.
“Oh. Er. So, I totally called that wrong. Am a bit red-faced now.”
Given Leigh’s past batting average with predictions, too many possibilities to guess. *evil grin*
“Okay, so maybe – maybe – you have redeemed yourself a little bit here, ____. You are provisionally allowed off my shit list. FOR NOW.” Cads. Actually does something in Rand’s best interests.
“I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.” Elayne throwing the resources of Andor behind manufacturing dragons.
“WHAT? That is… that is horrible. No, no, no, no. THAT HAD BETTER NOT HAPPEN, TEAM JORDAN, DO NOT MAKE ME HURT YOU. I need a cookie now. And a hug. I HATE YOU ALL. (But, uh, man. Good writing, right there. I never would have seen that coming in a million years. P.S. I STILL HATE YOU.)”
My first thought was Min buying the farm, but it’s not yet time for three women over Rand’s body. So, how about Moridin using True Power to wipe out the Borderland armies….?
“Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more… dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.” Rand-Egwene face off.
“Holy hell, _____ just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.” Elaida/Suffa.
“Oh for the love of Pete, _____, will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Fain or Slayer, take your pick. Probably Fain.
Sheesh.””Wait, what the hell just happened? I am so confused. And also, what?” Moiraine and company get out of Finnland in an unexpected, mind-twisty way.
“HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA” Graendel killed Asmo.
Rob
p.s. Feeling left out because I haven’t downloaded the Prologue. Sniff.
@114
What are you referring to? Surely not Wetlandernw’s remark about Masema, as that pertains to the TGS prologue.
Pretty sure they were talking about Leigh’s review. But I think that sort of anonymous drive-by can be ignored.
Terez @117. Ignore what?
Rob
p.s. LOL
Thanks for nothing again. I hope it was more expensive than taking out an ad.
leigh
is the big unnoticed thing reveald in this book?
RobMRobM
Hunting down bloodknives on Tower grounds. Who knows they are there? Siuan and Bryne stopped one, but they have no idea that there are more. Yet.
Scene seeming veeery familiar? I submit it’s Galad v Asunawa in a duel of wills ala Egwene v Elaida.
I don’t really think Leigh would get so riled up as to employ the CAPSLOCK key over the Borderland armies getting zapped. They’ve done nothing of substance except get used in a deft political maneuver by Elayne, and while they are ostensibly marching to find the Dragon Reborn, when they do get the chance to parlay with him they go hide where he can’t hurt them. Besides, everyone is convinced that one of the forsaken is involved with them, so Moridin wouldn’t be likely to wipe them out.
As for Cads getting off Leigh’s list by doing something in Rand’s best interest, Leigh has said many times that she recognizes Cadsuane does act in Rand’s best interest, albeit in a despicable way to her (Leigh). So I don’t think that one’s a fit.
tugthis @199
Concise, if not insightful, informative, nor thought-provoking. I think Suffa left some Midol™ in the bunker.
Free @121
I think you have captured Leigh’s “preview” better than I.
Clearly We Will Find out Who Asmodeans killer is :D
Cant wait for TOM :(
tugthis
What part of “spoiler-free” don’t you get? Don’t go away mad…
Hey now, we are all friends here… um, yes we are.
Let’s all just head over to Leigh’s place and have a little get-together- several hundred people or so, and have our own re-read of ToM.
As to spoilers- well, mea cupla. Sometimes I do open snout, insert paw, but it is all with the best of intentions.
And it did not say spoiler free– it said “safe from spoilers” followed by evil laughter of the Mwahahaha type. I am sure there was schemey fingers going on there too.
There is no mention of Perrin’s nanners in the prologue.
Woof™.
Free, I get it, no spoilers, in a preview. It is just that also equals no content. The blurb on Amazon about the books says more than Leigh. My suggestion is that rather than more squeeling about the hidden contents of the book Leigh wait until she can post an actual review of the book. I do not think it would dampen the enthusiasm of an already eager audience. The entire reread is preview of the new book(s).
Oh great, here I thought this years anticipation-athon would be easier then last years. But here I sit at my desk refreshing Tor.com, Dragonmount, and Theoryland every 5 minutes hoping for more news, I hope I dont get fired.
I thought of another scene I’d love to read!
I want Mat to walk into the throne room (when he finally gets to see Elayne) take one look at her & exclaim, “YOU’RE PREGNANT! Does Rand know?” I’d love to read the fall out from that scene.
@Susan- LOL! Follow up question could be “who’s the daddy?” I am sure Elayne’s chin would go up and it is too bad Avi is doing the WO thing(as per tGS) or that would be all sorts of grief for Mat.
I am also looking forward to a Mat Birgitte reunion. They were getting along so well and it was such a memorable scene with him calling her “Birgitte Silverbow for true” and her calling him “Hornsounder”. Soooo much anticipation.
All speculation, but fun none the less.
Woof™.
It’s funny…
Tugthis….you and Free had this same conversation last year when tGS came out….
Wow.
edit: 130. =)
Tugthis:
I enjoy Leigh’s writing enough that even if she had posted, “I just read ToM and I’m not going to tell you anything at all! Ppppppppbt!” I’d have read and enjoyed it.
Given the general tone of excitement and crazed speculations there are plenty others who agree. But given that she actually said a lot more than that, teasing us with tantalizing non-details, I think her post had a great deal of worth to a large number of people.
That doesn’t mean that you have to like it, or that your dislike of her post is invalid, but it does suggest that this post has far greater value than you’re willing to accept. I call it content and so does several others. Ultimately, that’s all that matters.
Tugthis@126: Or you know, you could just skip this thread and wait for the day of release review Leigh already stated she’ll be doing. You know, instead of complaining that this post was exactly what she said it would be? Spoiler-free with her impressions.
cheekyhamster @@@@@ 108:
Actually, I think the Song is likely, “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Awwwwww- @Toryx- whydya have to go there?
old school
remake
Yay!
Woof™.
@Susan
Matt’s reaction is going to be interesting. THOM’s reaction is going to be awesome. “Young lady, what have you been doing?”
-Beren
@127 Trench, don’t forget Twitter! :)
So, Leigh, I know you don’t want to spoil us, but how about some general details? Like say, about how long is it? What major characters/plotlines get the most screen time? How much of the timeline overlaps the previous book? Does the plot advance enough that we believe its going to get wrapped up next book?
Not complainin’ just wondering if you’d be willing to answer these sorts of things. Thanks for the clues, now get back to the reread. ;)
Nate42
@@@@@ Susan & Beren…i never even thought about mat’s reaction to elayne’s pregnancy. I should have, but i didn’t. that would be awesome if he just comes out and blurts that out in front of the whole court. And I could see him doing it too. Thom would wait until they were alone to discuss it, but Mat is one of the very few people who knows enough to figure out that the father is Rand, and wouldn’t think about it enought o consider the political ramifications of everyone knowing that the father is the Dragon Reborn.
@135 – and the obvious answer: “Of course you know what I’ve been doing.”
@Longtimefan #77
9. “I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.”
All of the White Sisters start kicking ass and taking names.
ROTFLMAO
My sides hurt now.
The White Sisters will kick ass and take names! Sarene will be at the front, screaming loud enough to drown out the draghkar.
I couldn’t resist speculating on some of Leigh’s reactions:
4. “This is suddenly seeming veeery familiar…” = Egwene convenes the Hall and Brandon takes three pages to describe what everyone is wearing.
5. “Well, finally, I have only been asking for this for like fifteen years. This is awesome. This is—wait. Uh, what’s going on… what are they… what does that… oh crap.” = Rand and Elayne and Aviendha and Min. And the Red Hot Rod.
6. “Man, it’s like a Barry White song up in here, except hilarious.”
=
Thom: Moiraine!
Moiraine: Thom!
Noal: (touched) Ah, true love!
Mat: I just vomited in my mouth.
Olver: Me, too.
7. “Wow, and just when I thought it wasn’t possible to despise you more. Nice job RUINING EVERYTHING, Asunawa. Gah.” = Pick anything. He breathes?
12. “Well. I was kind of thinking that was going to be a bit more… dramatic. Or at least have a lot more yelling. But, you know. Okay then.” = Nynaeve yells at whomever, but not as much as expected.
13. “Holy hell, Elaida just had a Moment of Awesome. Of all freakin’ people! I didn’t even think that was possible.” = Suffa is so insane she doesn’t even feel the pain as she gets righteous all up in the sul’dams’ faces.
14. “Oh for the love of Pete, Graendal, will you please DIE already? What’s it going to take, a nuclear goddamn strike? Sheesh.”
16. “HAHAHA I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHA” = Berelain and Galad smoochykissing.
I think I got #14 right. Guess we’ll find out soon!
Barry White- well, this is Random Man’s tag from Dragonmount- no copy right infringement intended.
“The Fortune 500 all gets high
With the fox that makes the ravens fly.
Eye of Light, soul of lucks,
He’s the one the Daughter of the Nine Moons -”
“Enough, Noal.”
Very poetic. I feel a tear…
Woof™.
Harai @@@@@132
Don’t misconstrue what I intend. I do appreciate Leigh’s hard work on behalf of TOR. I have been following the reread posts on here for more than a year now. I want her to continue to do them, they are interesting, often whimsical, thought provoking and entertaining. But the review that isn’t a review, one fans rather (predicatably) breathless impressions, without details is, in my estimations just putting more frosting on an already well frosted cupcake.
Blindillusion @@@@@ 130
I would hate to stop the wheel metaphor. I imagine it will occur again at the prepublication date of the next book as well.
My question is the same as almuric’s @@@@@ 32.
That is, has everything fallen into place for the last battle to occur in AMoL? My feeling based off TGS was that it’s entirely doable. And, for what it’s worth, at 14 books and 20 years, I don’t think it plausible to say the ending will be rushed. lol
I think that the aforementioned TG trigger in some comments here and Sanderson’s “everyone will be caught up and the end sets the stage and triggers TG” (or something) will be the “I need a hug.”
cheekyhamster @@@@@ 141
Maybe she’ll wind up being the first Damane ever to commit suicide. It’ll make everyone happy, and maybe keep Travelling from the Seanchan.
Jonathan Levy: LET’S HOPE SO.
Leigh Butler,
Perhaps Valan Luca is the 3rd man,
(#7) – Perhaps, Nynaeve al’Meara screws everything up in the Tower of Ghenjei at first–when she Dreams her way into Ghenjei–thus surprising and indirectly killing Thom, Luca in the progress…
(#8) – However, it wouldn’t be right for Thom, Luca to die… so Nynaeve would “picture” them alive, thus they live again in the flesh ;o)
To cap it off, Lanfear pops in on Mat just as he wants to leave the Tower of Ghenjei… Lanfear gets saved… then for all his hard work Mat gets thrown out of the Aelfinn’s Realm head first (this after surviving his 2nd visit’n the Eelfinn first)… by two Aes Sedai work’n together now–Moiraine & Lanfear =oO
Doesn’t everybody love a crazy theory or two?
Mat saves some of the Shiado Aiel, by bringing them into Cold Rocks Hold, as that other ‘He Who Comes With the Dawn‘?
Will Elayne gets captured by the Shadow, again?
Is Valan Luca the next Bannerman for Heroes of the Horn?
Valan does mean ‘valere’ in Latin… and Luca does mean ‘bright’, ‘light’.
Torie, oh dear Torie…
You’re assitance with the vastly upgraded (though slightly buggy) comment box is sincerely appreciated. Now can we have an ignore option? There are just so many commenters that I’m sure are dying for the chance to never have to read my worthless ramblings again, I’d love for them to have the choice.
Nate42 @137, blckout @144 and I_have_no_life @145 (and several others I won’t go back and find): I can’t quote everything he’s said on the subject, but at the Seattle signing Brandon said that his goal had been to get all the characters in sync at the end of TofM, and that he had “nearly” done so. “They aren’t quite all in sync, but they are much, much closer.” In the same comment, he pointed out that Perrin was about 2 months behind Rand & Egwene, and Mat was roughly a month behind. He made it clear that much of the book would involve catching them up (and others, like Lan, Elayne, etc.), but there would be some forward movement for Rand & Egwene (et al) as well.
Freelancer @149 – LOL!! I’d probably use it, but not for you, my (rapidly-aging) friend. :p In spite of your misplaced apostrophe. Thbbt. And I modified my profile.
Lan will die to overwhelming odds and Nynave will die from using too much Saidar in an retributive strike.
Been thinking that #11 could be the 13+13 turning of someone from the AS who went to bond Ashaman. Esp those facing Taim’s cohorts at end of KOD (it is KOD right?)
Tenemus @@@@@ 40
4. Galad undermining Asunawa while serving him dinner…
Lol!
Oh holy smokes. Not only did I employ you’re instead of your, but I misspelled assistance in the very next word. Incredible. For that I did not catch them myself, I will not edit, but let the errors remain in full view. Well, the target has been painted, it’s a matter of time before the barrage is incoming…
Also, Touche. Well played, and definitely deserved.
I think tugthis’s recent semi-hostile posting has been caused by too much terrible dks-cover viewing, so here is an alternate and awesome cover I made, so everybody will be much happier =]
You know Grey, perhaps you’re right. And that cover is pretty MOA.
You should work on the other covers, stat.
@159 blindillusion
Lol thank you, I think it might also be the solution to #11, Leigh probably had the dks cover on the front of her ARC =p
(the part she could never see coming in a million years is the ToG being reptile/leopard-print, and Mat gaining 50lbs and carrying a yellow murse)
As for #2, was that more or less awesome than Verin from your TGS review? I’d like something to measure it by.
Jason’s recent review seems to indicate #11 is related to Olver. Although I cannot imagine what would be so horrible. Although I like the character, the boy never made much of an impression on me (I know Leigh seemed to like him though).
Perrin finally seems to become ready for TG (about time really), so my guess for #2 and #10 is Perrin.
#3 Fannish outrage? Oh, so Taim is Demandred afterall?
Leigh must be bursting with laugh with our guesses!!…
P.S. – Sorry if there are any mistakes, I’m not english…
Are we allowed to start playing dot-to-dot with this and what Jason on Dragonmount has said now?
Btw, for the record having thought about it for a few days I think the Barry White bit is Galad and Berelain getting it on ;)
Well, now I’ve read two reviews for ToM. While Leigh’s review set my heart racing, I think Jason’s damn near broke it.
I suppose it’s now with bated breath I await this novel. The end is truly near.
Still, I cannot wait for November 2nd. Last year we welcomed the Storm. This year we stand before the Tower. …And then, one last wait and we’ll see the end.
I’m truly looking forward to getting there with this group.
I found Jason’s review on Theoryland (the corrected one) but could not find it on Dragonmount (although it is being discussed there). Someone made the comment that the “tragic” (#11?) item could be a backlash from the WH cleansing in their opinion (due to chapter titles)…I would hate this….just saying. I want Rand to succeed at something good that stays good.
Others think it has to do with Olver
Ok so Brandon mentioned there was a scene that broke his heart to write, Leigh is not a happy camper with #11 and Jason is saying in his review that there is a section in ToM that for the first time made him question whether the story would have a happy ending.
It appears that those of us who thought TGS was as dark as it was going to go and happier things were on the way were wrong and ToM is going to be even darker and sadder.
Edit to add: @167 Jason’s comments specify a sequence that is sad plus something about Olver that made him sad (though he also mentions that some readers might not react the same way as he did) so I would say that the something tragic corresponding to 11 is not about Olver.
One thing I’ve noticed is that both Leighs and Jasons reviews do not contain the word ‘Moiraine’ or ‘rescue’ at all.
Jason kind of hints to her and she. But it’s almost as if the rescue of Moiraine Damodred from the Eelfinn and Aelfinn at the Tower of Ghenji is a bit of a disappointment for both Leigh and Jason.
I hope I’m wrong. Totally wrong.
From Jason D.
I don’t know Paladar. Simply by reading that, I’d imagine it is addressed, though not resolved….
Which, in a way, is_______.
@168 I realize that Jason seems to be discussing to different events. (#11 and Olver) That is one reason I don’t like the idea of
something going wrong with the cleansing of Saidin. It was one of Rand’s few great accomplishments.
Re: the rescue of Moraine it appears that it will be addressed but may not be completely resolved. Theories abound that the comments re: Olver tie in here.
One last plot-related item…. Olver. There’s a chapter involving him that
just breaks my heart. Now maybe it’s just me. I’m not talking about a
big dramatic scene. (Although it does have another big reveal). Most
people might find humor in it. But not me. Maybe I’m just sensitive.
Remember what I said earlier about the price of victory? What happens
here is both endearing and tragic.
The bolded section of his review is why some connect the #11 to Olver. The comment that some might find humor in it gives us hope….
Wow. This whole Olver thing is really surprising. I think most of us expected Olver to live past TG and eventually lead the Band of the Red Hand once Mat’s soldiering days were over. I did not see this coming. I joked earlier that maybe #11 was about Olver, but that was mostly because I didn’t want it to be about Min. Although, I suppose that killing him is one way to finally end the rediculous theory that Olver is Gaidal Cain (there can be more than one butt ugly person in the world people! look around you!).
As to it being about Rand’s cleansing of Saidin: That would be a real kick in the _____. I mean the guy does everything he can think of to try and save humanity and give hope for the world and the future, and his one true accomplishment leads to even more heartbreak? At that point I would probably just say “screw it” and create a second Dragonmount (but, then again, I’m not an Asha’man).
Ah the wonders of the Tor comment box. Double Post! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Yeah, I doubt he’s going to die or anything, or it wouldn’t have been mentioned at all, much less phrased in that way. As for ‘inevitable’, it pretty much has to have something to do with Olver wanting to follow them into the Tower.
11 is definitely Egwene in the collar again. Leigh hates the collar. Read her past posts.
smilese@175
#11 has the flavor of something not just horrible, but permanent and irreversible. Like death. Now it may be that Egwene will be collared again, but if so I don’t think it will be permanent. Just long enough for a Seanchan woman to save her, to fulfill one of her Dreams.
#3 All the Sea Folk are exiled to Seanchan, and we never hear from them again… thanks to the tag-team duo of Therava and Galina, who having patched up their differences, now become an integral part of the series.
“I think this is what they mean when they use the term ‘logical extreme’. About time, really.”
Min finds out how to seal/defeat/whatever the DO from her philosophical reading.
I’m not so sure that a Seanchan woman did not save Egwene. Elaida might have had her “die of natural causes” to get rid of her after the humiliation.
freelancer @124
…just go away.
LOL. Good luck with that, dude.
JL @177, awesomeness. I would *very* displeased by that, since my dislike is far stronger for Therava/Galina. I like some of the Sea Folk! And they’re “basically” good people. Sometimes.
And I just want to say again that I can’t imagine how difficult it is to write a “non spoilers” review for one of the most anticpated books of the year. Obviously it’s not going to have a lot of “content”, since trying to refrain from spoilers while still writing an entertaining review is a very hard line to walk!! But Leigh has never had had problems being entertaining, so this review was nice and lovely and extremely appetite-whetting. We thank you, Leigh. :)
And dude, we like Freelancer here!
I’ll give randlanddude the benefit of the doubt, that he was merely completing the phrase I implied @124, and not as a directive aimed at me (I was needling tugthis for griping that Leigh’s spoiler-free review was lacking in details). And if I’m wrong, well, it wouldn’t be the first time for that, nor for me disappointing someone.
Terez27,
If I didn’t know better, it’d seem as if you were rooting for him to get his way. Do I know better?
Ahh, there you go again…but thanks for explaining. ;)
After the fact, my money is on “Apples First” as the source for Leigh’s #2.
Dunno about that. Who needs forgiving in that scenario?
But #4 now makes me think of TEOTW ch. 9.
To Terez27 @@@@@ 186, I agree with Yakaji…This is a perfect scene to fit #2. It isn’t…exactly…a moment of awesome. Those will come later. Its more just a perfect sense of completion, and of seeing Rand’s transformation from the insane sociopath of tGS into the Dragon Reborn we have always wanted. Thus the forgiving the evil Rand did to get to the point where he could become the man he needed to be for the last battle. It also is one of the coolest scenes thus far in the series (maybe not quite Verin’s chapter in tGS, but still very very nice). In all, a perfect fit for #2. But maybe not the one Leigh was thinking of…who knows.
I guess it just doesn’t seem to fit to me because I forgave Rand for all his sociopathic tendencies a long time ago. Doesn’t mean I didn’t want him to get better, but I never saw a point in holding it against him. But we are talking about Leigh here…
Indeed we are talking about Leigh here, and given that, I don’t think Chapter One fits “all is forgiven.” I really think it has to do with either Perrin or Gawyn; they’re the only two I can think she would feel require forgiveness of an “all”. Can’t see it being Rand, Mat or Lan unless they do something totally stupid first. Maybe Galad, but… not too likely.
I’m still debating between one or more of the Windfinders or Taim for the “I didn’t even think that was possible” at #13. Or possibly one of the seriously lame Aes Sedai, like Merilille. Or Areina.
If Chapter One is one of Leigh’s list, I think it must be #1. JMO.
Or #4. :)
On #11. I havn’t checked back on the books to see if its possible .. but “what-if” Olver is actually some form of Moiraine, just like Cyndane is some form of Lanfear and their former projections are both still lodged up in the Tower. Mat brings Moiraine back to the land of the living, the dirty snakes and foxes extract a price.. Olver.. boom Leigh goes “ohh horrible” .. imagine that! .. good story if its not true
#12. What about Nynaeve catching up with chick who holds Lans bond still (Myrelle)? Got to be some yelling there surely.. maybe the odd braid being tugged?
Just a thought, I was looking @@@@@ #5 and I begin to wonder could this mean that Taim and Logain are actually working together? This could be interpreted as the two coming together in what initially appears to be a confrontation but turns out to be the unveiling of their sinister plot. Any thoughts?
The Watcher@192
Possibly, but not likely. Logain being dark and sinister probably goes against Min’s viewing of him with the halo. Unless that viewing was complete when Nyn healed him.
Awesome LEIGH!! Thanks!! Can’t wait until November!!
For the record here are a few of my guess….
#2 = Galad
#7 = the Sea Folk (ack!)
#12 = Egwene Confronts Rand
#13 =Cadsuanne
#16 = Lanfear killed Asmo with a wish granted by the Finns
Is it November YET?? sigh, twitch..
oh and to some one back there….Hopper eating Perrins pet seal, oh yeah that was awesome……as was AMoL being separted into two books ….. I am still smiling! good job!
For #2 Galad has been proving himself for a couple of books now. He is already pretty much redeamed for the minor annoyances of earlier books, so I can’t imagine that this would fit him. My guess is either Rand, Perrin, or possibly Gawyn, though gawyn is more likely for #7
For #13…why would Leigh not think it was possible for Cadsuanne to have a moment of awesome? Even if she is annoying, Its easy to imagine her having a MoA, as she is a powerful channie, and very intellegent.
For #16, I’m pretty sure Leigh thought that Graendal killed Asmo…Though its also possible that #8 applies here if Lanfear did kill asmo, so it could go either way based off of this list.
I think #16 is Taim turning out to be Demandred only Jordan lied about it not being him. Why do we have to assume that he wouldn’t throw a lie in there just to stir it up a little?
It is so obvious that Taim is Demandred, which would account for the reaction
“HAHAHAHA! I TOTALLY KNEW IT HAHAHAHHA!”
:)
#13 is Bela. I just know it :D
Hello Leigh,
I got a phonecall just 1 hr ago. The BOOK came in early and I just touched the first pages… Tonite I have to host a poolparty for 10 exited boys but I won’t sleep tonite!
Greetings from The Netherlands!
Catharina
I’m guessing #2 is Gawyn slaughtering a couple Bloodknives to protect Egwene.
Happy ToM day! I’ve already got my book, but I’m still in the re-read of TGS so I’ve got to wait a few more days before starting it.
Using Chapters in case someone does not want spoilers…
#2 – Ch 37 Darkness in the Tower (Gawyn)
#6 – Ch 57 A Rabbit for Supper
#11 – Epilog (Olver)
#12 – Ch 3 The Amyrlin’s Anger
#13 – Ch 41 An Unexpected Ally (very end scenes)
#15 – Epilogue (Rand)
#16 – Epilogue (Graendal)
Thoughts?
Actually, LB, I think the name Towers of Midnight refers to the towers involved in Mat’s journey