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Meme Monday: Lanfear

Welcome back to another Meme Monday.  This week's victim is Lanfear, our favorite crazy ex-girlfriend.  She first appears as Selene in The Great Hunt, and seems a sweet, sympathetic noblewoman on the run.  However, things escalate quickly.
 

 
And if that weren’t bad enough….
 

 
Odd to think that not much needs to be added to Lanfear’s actual dialogue.
 
 
 
At least she serves as a good example of  how not to act.
 
The memes this week come from Kevin O'Bryan of DMEN Designs.  If you have memes you want to share, email me at frontpage@dragonmount.com.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Tor to publish Robert Jordan's Warrior of the Altaii novel

Tor Books has announced it plans to release Warrior of the Altaii, a previously-unpublished fantasy novel by Robert Jordan. The book is currently scheduled for release on October 8, 2019. 
 
Publication History
Warrior of the Altaii was written before Robert Jordan began The Eye of the World (which was published in 1990). After finishing the manuscript, he received an offer of publication from Donald Wolheim at DAW Books. Jordan responded to the publisher that he was happy to receive such an offer, but wondered if some changes to the contract could be made. The publisher replied by cancelling the offer, saying that unknown authors shouldn't make such demands.  Here's Robert Jordan talking about it:
 
Jordan sold the book again in 1979 to Jim Baen, who worked for Tom Doherty at the time at ACE books. The project never got off the ground, in part because Baen was focused on science-fiction at the time, and because Tom Doherty left to found Tor Books. The rights to Warrior of the Altaii ultimately reverted back to Jordan, who decided to rest the project.
 
What's it About?
The book's official plot description:
 
Not much else is known about the plot yet, but Wheel of Time fans can likely expect a "proto-WoT" novel filled with thematic foreshadowing that resonates with Jordan's later books. Warrior of the Altaii is expected to be a more modest-sized novel, at least in comparison to Jordan's later books. 
 
Why publish it now?
Robert Jordan is on record several times saying that he didn't expect to ever publish this novel.
 
 
It's clear now that Jordan's comment about having the manuscript destroyed was made in jest. Fans should remember that he made similar comments about how he would have his hard drive erased if he ever died before finishing The Wheel of Time series, and that he could never imagine another author writing in his universe, which he destained at the time as "sharecropping." 
 
Harriet McDougal, Robert Jordan's wife and the editor of The Wheel of Time series, had this to say:
 
Although Robert Jordan has been gone for well over a decade, his legacy, and his stories live on. With this new novel, which was both his first, and his last, he is once again showing us that time, indeed, has no beginnings or endings. 
 
Warrior of the Altaii is now available for pre-order. 
Amazon Barnes & Noble Macmillan info page
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Tor Books plans to release Robert Jordan's unpublished fantasy novel, "Warrior of the Altaii" in October 2019. 

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

JordanCon Anthology: "You Want Stories?"

This year, JordanCon is trying something new.  They put out a call to all JordanCon members, past and present, and asked for donated stories to compile into an anthology.  Twenty were selected to be featured in 2019's edition, entitled You Want Stories?
 
The list of authors is a great one, featuring Brandon Sanderson, our own Jason Denzel,  as well as well-known authors such as Seanan McGuire, and Charles E Gannon.  The others contributors are: Terry Beyer, Foster Bridget Cassidy,  David B. Coe, Blue Cole, Gerald L. Coleman, Milton J Davis, P. Andrew Floyd, John G. Hartness, Alexandra Hill, Robert A. Hilliard, Jr, Faith Hunter, David Alan Jones, Tim Lewis, Jana Oliver, Morgan Smith, and Sarah J. Sover.
 
I'm very happy to say that my offering was accepted! (Written under my pen name Foster Bridget Cassidy.)
 
The beautiful cover art is by Dan dos Santos, this year's JordanCon Artist Guest of Honor.
 
The anthology is available for pre-order now through April 8th, 2019.  The Con will have a limited supply to sell to those who have not pre-ordered, but there's no guarantee you will receive a copy.  The anthology can ONLY be picked up at JordanCon 11 (April 26th-28th, 2019).  The book WILL NOT be shipped anywhere.  That said, it is possible to have a friend pick up a copy for you.  Check out the details on JordanCon's website.
 
The net proceeds of the anthology will go to the Mayo Clinic.  Pre-order now to support some indie (and not-so-indie) authors and the Mayo Clinic!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Meme Monday: Randland

Welcome back to another "Meme Monday."  This week, our focus shifts to concepts and ideas within Randland.  There are some pretty humorous things that happen in-world.
 
Like, how Bayle Domon is always around to rescue whichever of the main characters is in need.
 

 
Another globally acceptable idea in Randland is that innkeepers should be plump.
 

 
And of course, there are the rather unorthodox ways of the Altarans.
 

 
I wish I could live in Randland.  I'm sure many of you wish you could too!
 
The memes this week come from Kevin O'Bryan of DMEN Designs.  If you have memes you want to share, email me at frontpage@dragonmount.com.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fandom Flair: Damane Dress

I've been meaning to highlight this craft for awhile.  For last year's JordanCon, I was very excited to finish my sul'dam dress.  It turned out beautiful, and I adore the silver lightning bolts.  But a sul'dam without a damane isn't complete.  So, with long-time Dragonmount member Hallia as a willing participant, I got to work on crafting a damane dress.
 
I started with four yards of a gray poplin folded in half.  This gave me 72 inches in height and 60 inches in length.  That's a great amount of material and the price for poplin is so reasonable!
 

 
With simplicity in mind, I wanted to do as little cutting and sewing as possible.  I cut the arms and sides with a single cut, then cut the neckline.
 

 
I added satin binding to the bottom hem and the sleeves.
 

 
The neckline gave me some trouble.  I started an elastic binding, but it bunched too weird, so I switched it for a ruffle.
 

 
And here we are at JordanCon!
 

 
Hallia was such a good damane!  And this was such a simple project.

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Meme Monday: Perrin

Here are some more Wheel of Time memes.  I can't get enough of them!  This week features our third favorite ta'veren: Perrin.
 
When the series starts, I loved Perrin more than Rand and Mat.  He's the only one who kept his morals after leaving the Two Rivers.  As he grows, he's strong, dependable, unyielding.  Well, there is that one factor that keeps many readers from adoring him...
 

 
Unlike most fans, I'm not put off by Faile's captivity by the Shaido.  And I don't dislike Perrin's chapters when he's chasing her.  For me, it's another facet of his personality that I love.  He is dedicated to her and he'll do anything to get her back.  If it had been switched, and Tuon or one of Rand's love interests had been taken, I believe Mat and Rand would have acted the same way.  Of course, Mat has a bigger, badder army so he has more resources, and Rand has the Asha'man at his disposal, so both could probably achieve success quicker.  But that's not Perrin's fault.
 
Perrin's wolfdreams are a huge part of his draw as a character.
 

 
His abilities in tel'aran'rhiod are almost more impressive than any of the Wise Ones.
 
And let's not forget Mah'alleinir.  This is an iconic scene within the whole series.  It's powerful and so full of potential.  It sets the stage for things to come after the Last Battle.
 

 
Say what you will, Perrin is still one of my favorite characters!
 
The memes this week come from Kevin O'Bryan of DMEN Designs.  If you have memes you want to share, email me at frontpage@dragonmount.com.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fantasy Review: The Way of Shadows

The Way of Shadows is the first installment of the Night Angel trilogy by Brent Weeks.  Weeks will be the Author Guest of Honor at this year’s JordanCon, taking place April 26-28, 2019.
 
The story follows Azoth, an orphan living on the streets of Cenaria.
 
Azoth's character development is fascinating since he starts as a relatively young child living on the streets in the Warrens, the seedy underside of Cenaria.  We watch him go from child to young adult under the tutelage of Durzo Blint. Durzo is not the best of influences, but he is all Azoth has.  Azoth's character arc almost seems to be the reverse of Blint's which makes the interaction between the characters interesting.
 
As far as Weeks writing style, he does not spend an extensive amount of time on descriptions of settings or clothing, but it does not take away from the story. Character interaction gives the reader the complete experience of setting and mood.
 
Week's portrayal of female characters fell a little short for me. He seems to stick to many of the tropes women are regulated to in fantasy. That being said, there is one female character that shows promise at the end of the story. Hopefully, this continues into the second installment.
 
My Pros:
There are plot twists. I always enjoy it when an author can catch me off guard. Once the action starts, it is quick paced and holds the reader's interest. Azoth is a well-developed character, and it is interesting to see how his character grows and changes as he learns the ways of the world.  
My Cons:
Contains possible triggers for those that have experienced sexual abuse. The beginning of the book that takes place in the Warrens is rather dark, more so, because the characters involved are children.  
All in all, The Way of Shadows is a good read, provided you are not bothered by the darkness of the beginning chapters.
 
You can find out more about Brent Weeks and his other books at his website.
EbonyAdo
EbonyAdo

Unfettered III Give-away

Grim Oaks Press has announced a give-away contest where you can win one of 25 advance copies of their upcoming anthology, Unfettered III. Details for entering can be found on Goodreads. Add the book to your shelf to enter the giveaway. Unfortunately, the contest is only open to US and Canada residents. 
 
Unfettered III is an anthology of fantasy short stories from some of today's most well-known authors. It includes a deleted 20,000 word sequence (~55 pages in paperback) from A Memory of Light written  Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan featuring Perrin in the Ways. The sequence is a lengthy "deleted scene" that isn't considered canon to the story, but still offers us a fascinating and exciting adventure. You can read Brandon's comments about the sequence on his website.
 
The anthology also contains a short story from Dragonmount founder Jason Denzel entitled, "The Stone Golem of Qual'Jom." WoT fans will appreciate Jason's epic narrative about a lonely golem living in a cave who waits across eons for his master to return home. 
 
Unfettered III will be available from Amazon and other retailers in March 2019. A limited limited edition will be available from Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle from March 14-17th. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Win an advance copy of Unfettered III, featuring a new Wheel of Time story, as well as a short story from Dragonmount founder Jason Denzel. 

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Meme Monday: WoT

As a millennial, I love memes.  Give me Wheel of Time memes and I'm as happy as can be.  With a plethora of social media sights to cruise, you can find just about anything in meme form.  So starts our new humor blog "Meme Monday."
 

 
This one particularly speaks to me because my mom just started reading Wheel of Time.  She finished The Eye of the World a few days ago and started The Great Hunt the same day.  When we talk, she asks me questions about characters or places and I feel like this.  It's too deep to answer a lot of what she wants to know without spending hours on the phone.
 

 
I feel this thinking about the TV show.  Which plots to cut, which characters to combine?  Too overwhelming for me to contemplate.
 

 
Yes!  Meeting Wheel of Time fans in the wild is an amazing experience!  I get to quite frequently because my licence plate says "Sedai."  Also, I've been stopped by several people while wearing my Wheel of Time hoodie from Ta'veren Tees.  It's like a beacon for nerds.
 
The memes this week come from Kevin O'Bryan of DMEN Designs.  If you have memes you want to share, email me at frontpage@dragonmount.com
  • Teaser Paragraph:

     

     

     

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

JordanCon 2019: A Talk with the Toastmaster

You may know him as the guy with that excellent Rand al’Thor cosplay, but his name is Paul Bielaczyc and he is a JordanCon staple.  I got a chance to talk to Paul about JordanCon, being toastmaster, and his love of The Wheel of Time.
 
Ebony: First things, first: When did you start reading Wheel of Time?
 
Paul: I first picked it up my senior year of high school, and stopped reading at what I like to refer to as "The Hump." I feel like most people read a few chapters of a new book to see if they are hooked, and for Wheel of Time, that magical point is the end of Chapter 4. I know I got to that point, put the book down, and then life happened. And I know that speaking to many readers who tried reading the series, they got to the same point (I now tell people to go back and cross "The Hump").

I picked it up again the summer after my freshman year of college after seeing a display at the student bookstore for the release of The Path of Daggers. Another student pointed out how excited he was to read the next book in the series, and he encouraged me to pick it back up. So summer of 1999 is when I devoured the first 7 books of The Wheel of Time.

By the way, quitting at Chapter 4 stinks. Chapter 5 is nuts!! And the story doesn't really let up at all after that.
 
(Editor note: I actually did the same thing)
 
Ebony: What made you decide to cosplay as our favorite moody Ta'veren?
 
Paul: In Grad school I thought it would be cool to dress up as Rand al'Thor for Halloween. Not a single person knew who I was.

Many years later, I was apprenticing with an artist out in Kirby, WY, population 57. A young lady who modeled for the artist asked to see my art, which lead to showing off pictures of my costumes. When I clicked on the folder for that Halloween, the young lady was shocked. She looked up at me and said, "I know you! You're Rand al'Thor." I didn't follow.

She then pulled up Google Images, and when she searched for "Rand al'Thor," there I was, 6 out of the first 10 images on Google Search. She told me that The Wheel of Time was her favorite book series, and when she did a book report earlier that year, she used photos of me in her report.

A few years after that, I was working at my Artist table at Dragon*Con, when a young man walked by dressed as an Aiel. When I complimented his awesome WoT cosplay, he turned to me, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Car'a'carn." There I am, not in costume, but simply dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. I looked at him confused. To which he replied, "Your cosplay of Rand al'Thor is all over the internet. When I read the books, I picture you whenever Rand is brought up. You *are* The Dragon Reborn."

And that was the moment. I had to be the Lord Dragon.

And funny enough, many more years after that, when signing my copy of Memory of Light, a certain author by the name of Brandon Sanderson asked me, "I make this out to Rand, right?"
 
E: Do you do any other character cosplay?
 
P: Within The Wheel of Time, the only other cosplay that I have done is a Trolloc. Well, I also did a Grayman in year 3, and Moridin/"Just Rand" a few years ago, but nothing as impressive as the Trolloc.

Outside of that, the list is pretty insane. Ash Williams from Army of Darkness, Leon Kennedy from Resident Evil 4, Waldo, Link from all the Zeldas, a realistic Ice King from Adventure Time, CLU from Tron Legacy, Ander Elessedil from MTV's The Chronicles of Shannara, and probably a bunch of throw-away costumes that I wore once.
 
E: When did you first attend JordanCon?
 
P: My first JordanCon was year 2. (2009)
 
E: Aside from being the resident Lord Dragon, what other roles do you play at JordanCon?
 
P: My first year I was a simple sheepherder... I mean vendor. I then played some music on Saturday night, and I become the resident DJ for the Saturday Dance Party. I am also a Co-Director for the Art Show with April Moore, and the Dealer's Hall Director as well. Phew.
 
E: Did you get to have any say in the theme for JordanCon 2019 or did Jennifer Liang (JordanCon Director) and Aubree Pham (JordanCon 2018’s Toastmaster) just tell you what to do?
 
P: I did not. I was just as excited as everyone else when they announced it during Closing Ceremonies.

I'm sure that once the theme was settled on Shai'Con for 2019, those in charge figured that since I have been embracing The Dark Lord Dragon for the past 2 years, that it would be a good fit. And all I can say is, "Indeed."
 
E: What was your reaction to being asked to be Toastmaster for JordanCon 2019?
 
P: JordanCon has become family to me, and I wouldn't be a licensed Wheel of Time artist without JordanCon or Ta'veren Tees. So when they ask for my help, I'm usually ready to assist. And I'm pretty extroverted (if you didn't know).

The best moment though was while I already agreed to be Toastmaster when the announcement was made at Closing Ceremonies in 2018, I didn't know the theme. When they announced that, well, my darker side was very, very pleased. Oh crap, I guess that's another character cosplay I forgot to mention. But everyone will see that costume in 2019.
 
E: What can we expect from you as toastmaster?

P: Having someone bleep me constantly with the word "hot dog?" Thankfully Patrick Minze is really good at that.

I'm kidding. (Editor’s note: He is not kidding) I am hoping to have a few fun surprises for Opening Ceremonies, and otherwise be entertaining while informative. There is a happy balance of making sure that actual information is conveyed to the attendees (how Art Show or Charity bidding works, Weapons policy, etc.) while still making it fun and memorable.

I am asking people to come up with fun, twisted versions of their favorite characters, similar to my Dark Lord Dragon, to embrace the theme. Portal Stones exist in the series, and definitely are the windows to alternate universes. I really want to see how crazy and fun people can make their favorite characters this year. This year's theme, crossed with the idea of the Portal Stones, really allows for level of creativity and originality that I don't think we've seen in the first 10 years.

So obviously, as The Lord of Chaos and The Shai'aman, one can expect a little breaking of the Wheel and Pattern. That goes without saying really.

And next year is also the culmination of the Black Ajah mystery that has been going on now for 3 years. As a participant myself, I have no idea what is going on, other than to say that I'm sorry if actively encouraging people to be Darkest Timeline versions of themselves throws off the balance of the game.

But there definitely will be specialized badge ribbons for anyone that joins Team Shadow for 2019 (we can celebrate the Light in 2020).
 
E: What is your favorite JordanCon memory?
 
P: Man, that is a hard question to answer.

I think one of my favorite moments was the year when TWoTcast were the Toastmasters. Chip Moore and I came up with an idea for Opening Ceremonies a few weeks before the convention, and so spent multiple nights in my driveway working in the dark. But we thought recreating the climax to Lord of Chaos would be too much fun to pass up.

We built a man-sized chest out of insulation foam, and then carefully cut it apart, and pieced it together using just toothpicks. Chip (and a team of Red Ajah) dragged the over-sized chest out from backstage. And then, on cue, I burst out of the chest in full Rand Al'Thor get-up.

Of course, the speech I gave during the Costume Contest when I was dressed as "Just Rand" was really poignant and much more serious than most people expected from me. But then on the flip-side, the entire Rand on the Run Facebook Adventure.

So many memories.
 
E: What do you do for actual money? What is your "day job"?
 
P: So my day job is pretty unusual, or at least, was more unusual back when we started in 2002. Nowadays kids make a living posting the pictures to the Instagrams, so I guess our business isn't all that strange with how popular Cosplay has become. So my brother, sister, and I co-own Aradani Studios, which is known all over the world primarily for making prosthetic elf ears which are hand-painted to match your skintone. We do a variety of other prosthetics, horns, noses, and masks, but elf ears are what we are known for. My brother and I are both fantasy artists as well, my brother working in oils, acrylics, and digital painting, and I work primarily in charcoal, graphite, and pastel. We have both won awards across the country over our 16+ years in this career, and in 2006 I won the prestigious Chesley Award for my piece, Nightmare. And of course I am one of the 6 current licensed Wheel of Time artists. Thankfully, everywhere we sell our ears, we sell our artwork. But when someone asks how I pay my mortgage every month, it is definitely because of those ears.
 
Thanks to Paul for joining me. I am sure you can tell JordanCon will never be the same once Dark Lord Rand al’Thor is done with it. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
 
JordanCon tickets are currently $50 for the full three days.  The price goes up to $55 January 1, 2019.  Check out JordanCon’s website for more information.
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Ebony talks with long-time JordanCon attendee, artist, and Dealer Hall Director Paul Bielaczyc, who will be the Toastmaster at JordanCon 11: The Shai'Con.

EbonyAdo
EbonyAdo

Author Interview: Drew McCaffrey

If you are part of the Facebook Wheel of Time Community, you may have run into Drew McCaffrey.  He has been an active part of the online community and is an excellent resource for anyone that needs information about the Wheel of Time series.
 
But Drew is more than just a Wheel of Time fan, he is also an up and coming author.  He recently began writing for TOR.com, and I had a chance to sit down with him to discuss this new opportunity.
 
Ebony: How did you get involved in writing for Tor.com?
 
Drew: One of my friends, Alice Arneson, has been writing the Brandon Sanderson Cosmere re-reads on Tor.com. She encouraged me to submit a proposal this fall, when Tor announced they were looking for new voices covering different books. I was thrilled when they said they were interested!
 
E: What is your official title with Tor.com?
 
D:I don't think I have one...maybe "contributing writer"?
 
E: What topics will you be writing about?
 
D: I'm starting with a big article about 10 of the best completed series in science fiction and fantasy. Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson fans will undoubtedly enjoy it (and maybe find a couple new series to check out)!
 
E: How often do you expect to post articles?
 
D: For now, it will depend on how often I propose ideas and Tor approves them. I don't have a regularly scheduled column or re-read or anything.
 
E: What will your first article be on Tor.com be about and when will it be posted?
 
D: My first will be that completed series article. It should be going up in the next week or so!
 
E: How did feel after submitting your first article to Tor.com?
 
D: I was incredibly excited and nervous. Tor.com is one of the biggest emerging platforms in SFF, with an outstanding track record in publishing revolutionary short fiction, novellas, and literary essays. I'm blown away by how many of their stories have been nominated for, and even won, major SFF awards.
 
E: Aside from writing for Tor.com do you any other sort of writing?
 
D: I do sports writing, covering the New York Rangers for bluelinestation.com. I also write lots of original fiction, ranging from short stories to novels, and I wrote a fair amount of book reviews for dcafwriting.com, although I haven't had the time to keep my site current.
 
E: How does writing from Tor.com differ from other writing you have done?
 
D: Writing for Tor.com has me much more cognizant of audience. Writing a book review or an opinion piece for dcafwriting is low-stress, because there isn't much of an active comment section and the general audience is relatively small. Tor.com is a big-time site, and articles there regularly see 100+ comments.
 
E: Are there any topics you hope to be able to write about for Tor.com?
 
D: I have at least one article about Matthew Stover's Acts of Caine series on my plate, and I hope to explore that series more. I'd love to talk about Glen Cook's Black Company, The Gap Cycle by Stephen R. Donaldson, and David Farland's Runelords series, too.
 
E: What do you think/hope you will gain from your experience with Tor.com?
 
D: I think this will give me a great chance to bring some lesser-known series to a wider audience, but more importantly, it will give me a chance to see what that wider audience loves. How many amazing series are out there that I haven't heard of or read yet? Interacting with the Tor.com audience will assuredly open my eyes to things that haven't crossed my path yet.
 
E:Are there any other writing endeavors in your future?
 
D: My Blue Line Station writing is an ongoing job, but my big focus for the future is getting a novel published. I'm writing my fourth novel right now, and I've gotten to the point where I'm confident enough in my stories and my writing that I'm querying literary agents.
 
Well, we will certainly keep an eye out for Drew’s upcoming novel.  Until then check out his TOR.com articles:
 
The 10 Best Completed SF and Fantasy Series (According to Me)
 
Matthew Stover’s Heroes Die is a Grimdark Cult Classic
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    If you are part of the Facebook Wheel of Time Community, you may have run into Drew McCaffrey.  He has been an active part of the online community and is an excellent resource for anyone that needs information about the Wheel of Time series.  But Drew is more than just a Wheel of Time fan, he is also an up and coming author.  He recently began writing for TOR.com, and I had a chance to sit down with him to discuss this new opportunity.

EbonyAdo
EbonyAdo

Thoughts on Amazon green lighting the WoT TV Show

As reported earlier today, Amazon Studios has greenlit the first season of a Wheel of Time TV show.  From The Hollywood Reporter:
 
 
Backstory in Brief
The story of getting the book series adapted for the screen has been long and tumultuous. A full history of the franchise's adaptation journey is beyond the scope of this article, but the short version is that the rights to the series were originally optioned by NBC in 2000, then held briefly by an independent group called Forsaken Films. In 2004 the option passed from Forsaken to Red Eagle Entertainment, who held the rights until they worked out a deal with Radar Pictures and Sony Pictures, who eventually made the deal with Amazon. During the Red Eagle years, multiple valiant efforts were made to adapt first book in the series, The Eye of the World, into a stand-along film, but those projects never took off. In order to prevent their option from expiring, Red Eagle infamously created the heavily-panned "Winter Dragon" short "pilot" that ultimately led to a lawsuit and counter lawsuit between themselves and Robert Jordan's estate.  The lawsuits were settled out of court. 
 
Rafe Judkins and current situation
In 2017, Rafe Judkins (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D) was hired to be the lead writer and showrunner for the WoT TV show. He's since led a team of writers to begin developing scripts. Last month Rafe hosted  a Twitter Q&A where he talked, amongst other things, about the tone and focus that fans can expect to see. 
 
The Amazon deal is exciting because it comes in the wake of news that another big fantasy project, Conan the Barbarian, had been put on hold. This tells us that the studio has a lot of confidence in the WoT project, which seems to be ahead of schedule compared to the heavily-discussed Lord of the Rings prequel series that Amazon reportedly paid $250 million to acquire the rights to. 
 
With today's announcement, Amazon has approved the creation of a single season. We don't know how many episodes that will include, but given today's trends, it's likely to be anywhere from 8-13 episodes.
 
Rafe Judkins has indicated that this first season will focus primarily on the events found in The Eye of the World, but viewers should be prepared for anything. And while the specifics of the plot won't be revealed until the show airs, the clues we've had so far hint at larger roles for the primary female characters (Egwene, Nynaeve, and Moiraine) along with an emphasis on the positive feminist aspects  found in the books.  The WoT book series was first published in 1990, and at the time, Jordan received heavy praise for his forward-thinking portrayal of heroic women. Time and evolved thinking has softened those views somewhat, but it's clearly Rafe's plan to once more put Wheel of Time at the forefront of the discussion. Multiple news outlets emphasize this point.
 
From Variety:
 
 
It's unlikely that Moiraine will be the primary main character in the TV show. Some fans have speculated that the show will be an adaptation of the WoT prequel novel,  New Spring, but we know that's not the case. If anything, it's more likely we'll see glimpses of the events from that book interwoven to help expand Moiraine's character. The focus of the series, both in the books and the TV show, will be centered on the Two Rivers characters. 
 
As always, as we learn more about the series, we'll lost more here. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    The Wheel of Time TV show has been greenlit... now what?

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Jenn and Jimmy Liang to be Fan Guests of Honor at ConQuest 2019

Dragonmount's co-leader, and JordanCon founder, Jenn Liang, and her husband Jimmy Liang, will be next year's Fan Guests of Honor at Kansas City's ConQuesT.
 
From the ConQuesT site:
 
 
ConQuesT takes place every Memorial Day weekend, at the end of May (May 24-26, 2019).  The year's theme is "mad science and experimental wizardry."  Tickets are on sale now for the early bird price of $30.  On November 1, that price will increase.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Happy 20th Birthday, Dragonmount!

That’s right, twenty years ago, today, Jason Denzel started up the website Dragonmount.  For those unfamiliar with its humble beginnings, Jason wanted a place to converse with other Wheel of Time fans, as well as have a hosting site for his "Dragonmount" animated fan-film he was working on.
 
It’s evolved greatly from its origins, and here are screen shots of Dragonmount’s main page for the past twenty years!
 
1998:

 
1999:

 
2000:

 
2001:

 
2002:

 
2003:

 
2004:

 
2005:

 
2006:

 
2007:

 
2008:

 
2009:

 
2010:

 
2011:

 
2012:

 
2013:

 
2014:

 
2015:

 
2016:

 
2017:

 
And 2018:

 
Happy birthday, Dragonmount!  And congratulations, Jason, for making this a site we all love and enjoy.  We've all been through a lot together, and you've lead us to a great milestone.  There’s only more to come!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Highlights from the Rafe Judkins Q&A

Rafe Judkins, the showrunner for the potential Wheel of Time TV show, answered an assortment of fan questions on Twitter this morning. You can find the entire thread here. 
 
Overall Show Status
"In development." Amazon Studios is the network currently developing the show. The production studio is Sony Pictures Television, working with Radar Pictures. There has been no official announcement about the show being green-lit yet. This means that while a lot of people are working on developing ideas and screenplays, until a public announcement happens, we do not know if a pilot or full season have been ordered. During the twitter Q&A, Rafe was unable to answer any questions related to the project's overall status, or potential timeframe. 
 
Highlights from the Q&A
 
The plan is to adapt the entire Wheel of Time TV series. Each episode is designed to be an hour long. Rafe Judkins: "I want [the tone of the show] to feel adult but accessible." The first season will largely focus on events from The Eye of the World. But do not expect a straight-forward and literal adaptation that strictly conforms to the way the books tell the story. Rafe Judkins: "... malleable by season and book." Rafe has a special place in his heart for Bela. Casting has not begun, but is expected to happen worldwide, under the supervision of a yet-to-be-hired casting director.  Efforts will be made to ensure a diverse cast is selected. Gender representation is important to the series, and to the producers.  Rafe Judkins: "I think that gender is such a key theme of the books, and discussing gender without a full representation of LGBTQ+ people would be a disservice to that discussion. Rest assured, their will be pillow friends out the wazoo." Rafe and his team are passionate fans, utilizing as much information about the series as possible fro every source, including all published books, the WoT Companion, fan sites, and Team Jordan directly.  Rafe Judkins: "We have freedom to do what we want, but what I want is to stay true to the books" Rafe Judkins: "I really want to stay true to the books in creating a world that feels way more diverse than what we're used to seeing in our fantasy tv shows" Interestingly, the "Rand and his 3 women plot" might change.  Logain may have an expanded, larger role in the TV show. So far, Nynaeve has been the most challenging character to write. Rafe and his team are generally trying to avoid merging characters. Rafe is especially excited about the opening chapters in the Weswood, the Aiel Waste plot line, and Dumai's Wells.   
We will keep you updated as progress on the show evolves. 
 
Be sure to follow Rafe's Twitter and Instagram accounts, and while you're at it, check out our twitter feed and Facebook page. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Rafe Judkins, the showrunner for the potential Wheel of Time TV show, answered an assortment of fan questions. 

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

August #WoTWednesday Recap

At the beginning of the month, Rafe Judkins—showrunner for The Wheel of Time television series—began to give us hints on Twitter about his involvement and progress with script writing and other behind-the-scenes details.  This quickly morphed into #WoTWednesday (it had started out in July as #WoTMonday).
Each Wednesday, Judkins has been posting small snippets for us to drool over.  Here’s a quick recap of August’s posts:
 
August 8th:

 
“So I thought for #WoTWednesday this week I’d post something that gives you a little insight into how I broke down the books (without giving away too much), so I decided to open to a random page in the EoTW (Brit edition!  My original was too beat up) and take a picture.”
 
The page opened to was 19 (of the British, Orbit edition) where Rand and Tam arrive in Emond’s Field and Rand dwells on the meaning of Bel Tine and the coming of spring.  Judkin’s inscriptions—as far as I can tell—read “Fun description” when Rand talks about the first lambs of spring, the festivities that will be held, the arrival of the first peddlers, and the possibility of fireworks.  Also, Judkins scrawled the words “Tale of Manetheran” when Rand details the history of Bran al’Vere’s inn—and the fact some of the walls are older than the whole village.
 
August 15th:
 
For this post, Judkins switched to Instagram since he shared a more personal (and longer than Twitter allows) story about his connection to Wheel of Time and being exposed to other cultures.
 
“For #WoTWednesday this week, since I’m in Fiji where 30% of the population is Hindu (and the 10 dollar coin is actually a mandala of the Kalachakra or “Wheel of Time”) I thought I’d talk a little about the philosophy of the books and what I want to bring out in the series. One of my favorite things about the books is how they embrace eastern religions and philosophies and put them into an epic fantasy context in a way we haven’t yet seen in tv or film. I plan to lean heavily into the concept of reincarnation in the books and have spent a lot of time talking to people who believe in reincarnation to get a feel for how that affects not only your philosophy of the world, but also the every day way you live your life. I’d love to hear, too, about some of your favorite moments from the books that deal with reincarnation or being spun out again by the wheel of time (mine is Birgitte Silverbow’s return?). Obviously, yin and yang and balance and duality are important eastern philosophical concepts from the books that I want to bring out in series, but we will save discussions on that for a future trip to China ;)”
 
August 22nd:
 
“For #wotwednesday this week, I’ll do something scandalous and give you an actual snippet from the first script of one of those iconic scenes that simply must exist.  Introducing THREE key characters ;)”
 
Judkins then attached an image of the script with some details before the character’s dialogue.
 

 
“EXT. THE WESTWOOD – DAY
 
We’re higher in the mountains, spring’s touch hasn’t reached here yet.  Trees are bare, patches of snow dot the ground.
 
An OLD CART filled with SMALL WOOD BARRELS and BALES OF WOOL makes its way through the wood, pulled by a shaggy BROWN MARE. TWO MEN walk on either side of her, father and son.
 
This is TAM AL’THOR, 50’s, an aging shepherd with the watchful eye of a warrior. Thick chest and broad face, there’s a masculine solidness to him, as though a flood could wash around him without uprooting his feet.”
 
And finally, from today, August 29th:
 
“Hey!  Sorry (especially to non-US folks) for the lateness on this.   But this #WoTWednesday I thought I’d give another script grab — this time about casting.  Actual casting is a long way off, but this at least gives you an idea of how we are thinking about it in a general sense.”
 
Along with this text, Judkins attached a part of the script detailing the direction of some characteristics of the Randland residents, stating:
 

 
“[A QUICK NOTE: race in the world of Wheel of Time is much less defined than in our world.
 
As much as possible, our cast should look like America will in a few hundred years – a beautiful mix of white, brown, black and everything in between]”
 
There’s little we can glean off of these, other than a steadfast knowledge that our beloved series is in good hands.  To have a fan at the reigns relieves many of my anxieties about an on-screen adaptation.  And even though these are small morsels, it’s consistent and done so lovingly, that it rids me of all the other anxieties.  Yes, it will be a while before we have a tangible product.  But we know it’s in the works, and it’s getting there.  As Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”  Judkins is taking those first few steps and we will arrive home eventually.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

New WoT scenes featured in Unfettered III anthology

Our friends at Grim Oak Press announced today that their upcoming short story anthology, Unfettered III, will contain an unreleased deleted chapter from A Memory of Light, the final book in The Wheel of Time series. The chapter will follow Perrin as he makes his way through the Ways. There's about 20,000 words of content, which is about the length of two or three hefty WoT-sized chapters. The content was written by Brandon Sanderson during his process of creating AMOL. It was deleted by Harriet as part of the editorial process, but will now be released with everyone's blessing. Although fun to read, Brandon informs us that these scenes are not considered canon. 
 
The original Unfettered anthology, released in 2013, contained "River of Souls", a series of short scenes featuring Bao the Wyld as he attempted to discover the location of a legendary sa'angreal. 
 
In addition to featuring a Wheel of Time story, Unfettered III will also feature an original short story from Dragonmount founder Jason Denzel. Here's how Jason described the story: "The Stone Golem of Qual’Jom” is about a lonely, blind creature made entirely of stone who was brought to life by a sorcerer in order to be his assistant. When the master leaves his cavernous lair to go on a long journey, the golem is charged with defending the dwelling from invaders. But during his master’s extended absence, the golem begins to question his nature, and the nature of the world around him. Touching on themes of loneliness and non-duality, and filled with action, “Stone Golem” is my earliest, and one of my most beloved, written stories."
 
Unfettered III will be released in hardcover and ebook formats on March 19, 2019. It will feature stories from 27 fantasy authors taking place in an abundance of beloved fantasy worlds including the Dune universe. There are 250 early Advance copies available, as well as signed copies, which will contain signatures from all contributing authors, including Brandon Sanderson and Jason Denzel. 
 
Finally, proceeds from sales of this anthology will go to a good cause. They will be used to help provide health insurance for science fiction and fantasy writers who need such assistance. 
 
We hope you'll join us in checking out these amazing stories. For more information, including links to pre-order the book, visit the Grim Oak Press website. Read Brandon Sanderson's announcement on his website. 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Unfettered III, a forthcoming anthology of short fantasy fiction, will feature previously-unseen deleted scenes from AMOL.

JenniferL
JenniferL

Wheel of Time Wednesday

Since the news of a potential Wheel of Time television series was released in April of 2016, right after JordonCon 8, we’ve all been waiting for news of the show’s progress.  Last year, again, around JordanCon 9, we learned the rights had landed with Sony Pictures, and that Rafe Judkins was the lead writer and executive producer of the project.  And earlier this year, in January, we had the first tweet from Judkins in relation to a possible Wheel of Time script.
 
Considering we’ve waited two years just for those snippets, it seems almost like overload when we’ve seen several tweets from Jadkins over the past two months teasing Wheel of Time fans with pictures of assumedly-complete scripts for the first two episodes.
 
At first, Jadkins began his tweets with #WheelofTimeMonday and shared a bit of his process that way.  However, this quickly morphed to #WoTWednesday (which does have a better ring to it).
 
In his latest tweet, sent out only a few days ago, Jadkins gave Mat fans something to look forward to:
 
“And I give you — the second and last #WheelofTimeMonday.  Because as everyone has so obviously pointed out — #WoTWednesday is 1000x better.  I warned you I’m bad at social media.  Also, Wheel of Time fans should rejoice because AK Shuman writes Mat like she was born to it.”
 
Though “bad at social media” we hope Jadkins will give us regular updates.  After so long with only tidbits to tide us over, I know the Wheel of Time community will love more news.
You can see Jadkin’s other tweets and commentary at Bleeding Cool, the Wertzone, the Daily Trolloc, and IGN.
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Rafe Judkins kicks of #WheelofTimeWednesday for fans to follow his progress.

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Jason Denzel’s Ask Me Anything

Earlier this week, Jason Denzel, Dragonmount’s found and webmaster, hosted an Ask Me Anything panel on Reddit.com . 
 
The questions ranged all over the board, but there were a few about The Wheel of Time.
 

 

 
And, of course, everyone offered congratulations and praise for Mystic Dragon, released July 17, 2018 from Tor.  Naturally, people had questions about where the inspiration for the Mystic series came from.
 

 

 
You can read the questions and answers in their entirety, here.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Mystic Dragon Now Available

Today is the release day for Mystic Dragon, the second novel in Jason Denzel’s Mystic series.  This captivating story is a great addition to the series, expanding the scope of the plotlines, the characters, and the world.  Though I work with Jason as a part of Dragonmount, it's also amazing to see the author side of him.  It can be difficult to judge a friend's work of art, but I strive to point out the positives and the negatives as they appeal to me.  These are my honest thoughts on a well-constructed novel, one I enjoyed immensely!
 
Slight spoilers will follow.
 
Synopsis:
The first book, Mystic, showed Pomella AnDone, a commoner, summoned by the High Mystic of Moth to trial for an apprenticeship.  Though Pomella shows strength and courage and cunning, she’s not selected to be the High Mystic’s apprentice.  Instead, she is chosen by Grandmaster Faywong, a man retired from the position of High Mystic of Moth, and becomes his apprentice.
 
Mystic Dragon picks up the story seven years after the events of Mystic.  Now, Pomella is a full Mystic, using her training, and her reputation as a commoner, to stop a slaver named Shadefox.  Shadefox has been taking the Unclaimed people of Moth and selling them on the Continent.  Her mission is cut short, however, by the celestial event known as Crow Tallin--which takes place once every sixty years.  Pomella is needed on Moth to help control the fay as Treorel, the Mystic Star, momentarily links the human world and Fayun.
 
However, Shevia, another Mystic, shows signs of going against the traditions of Crow Tallin.  Shevia has been given visions of the future and her intentions for the event counter greatly to what Pomella is instructed to do.  The two women must make some sort of agreement, or it will be a full-out war between them.  And Shevia’s powers are much greater than anything Pomella has ever seen.
 
Pros:
From start to finish, this story was enthralling.  While the first novel focused on Moth culture, the world is expanded greatly in Mystic Dragon.  We see many of the other cultures of the world which solidifies it in the reader’s mind.  The countries on the Continent are very different from Moth, and they offer a contrast to Pomella’s upbringing.
 
Though the story takes place seven years later, those years aren’t lost.  Through flashback scenes, we get to see exactly what happened to Sim and Shevia during that time.  These scenes were among my favorite in the book because of how poignant the emotional reactions were.  Much darker than Mystic, this novel dwells on loss and pain, sadness and suffering, loneliness and abuse.  These times where the characters are at their lowest makes them shine so much brighter when we see them try their hardest to overcome what’s kept them suppressed.  
 
As the time of Crow Tallin approached, I was constantly guessing the direction the book would take. It was completely unpredictable. There were so many ways the events could have played out, so many choices the characters could have made.  One surprise after another kept me in suspense until the very last page.
 
And Pomella.  I love her as a character.  Though she’s been a Mystic for nearly seven years, she’s never forgotten her commoner heritage.  Though powerful, she never lets that get in the way of her helping people.  She could live a life of luxury, but she insists on being among the commoners.  Her character has stayed true despite being so highly elevated.  She struggles through this book, she grows, and her future is still uncertain.
 
Cons:
The deaths.  I won’t give away who (or how many) die, but some of them devastated me.  Not to say these deaths were for shock value.  They had a purpose.  I hope the third novel will ease the pain at these losses, though.
 
Conclusion:
This story was engrossing.  It was difficult to put down because I wanted to see how the events unfolded.  The pace kept the actions going, pulling me along with it, even late into the night.  The themes of loss and survival resonated strongly with me.  I am eagerly awaiting the conclusion to the series, as so many questions were left unanswered at the end of Mystic Dragon.
 
Rating:
5 out of 5
 
You can purchase Mystic Dragon from Dragonmount’s DRM-free eBook store.  To find out more about Jason Denzel and the series you can visit his website, or follow him on Facebook or Twitter.
 
(Though Jason Denzel is the webmaster and founder of Dragonmount, my review is unbiased and honest. 
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

WoTchers Podcast Releases First Episode

The first episode of WoTchers—a Wheel of Time reading podcast—was released earlier this month.
 
The podcast, hosted by three authors, Hank Garner, Josh Hayes, and Jaime Castle, starts on an epic quest to finish The Wheel of Time series.  The podcasters come from different points in The Wheel of Time journey, Hank and Jamie read a few of the series, while Josh is completely new.  This is bound to make for interesting dialogue as these men progress farther into the series.
 
First off, the podcasters state right out that this is not a “fanboy love fest.”  In fact, Jamie admits that he would not have finished the book if he hadn’t committed to doing this podcast.  They have plenty of criticism to start.  This first episode is sort of an introduction, a brief overview of the tropes expected, and the unavoidable “just a Lord of the Rings knockoff” banter. 
Even so, they have some good points.  Reading the series fresh in the year 2018 is a lot different from reading it when it began in 1990.  Times have changed.  Readers have evolved.  It’s difficult to keep the mindset of where the books originated.  (This same argument can be used with many older books, and even films; it’s sometimes hard for modern audiences to grasp the culture of the past.)  Jaime states that the podcast’s purpose is to look at The Wheel of Time as an example for them to examine their own craft.  Viewing the series through this lens would definitely shift the focus.  Reading for enjoyment and reading for learning are two separate things, in my opinion.
 
All in all, this was an enjoyable first podcast and I’m curious how their opinions might change—or stay the same—as they progress farther into the series.
You can learn more about WoTchers at their website.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

ABAA's Wheel of Time Collection Guide

Recently, the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) compiled a detailed list of all The Wheel of Time related material it’s possible to own.  The list contains many items most fans have heard of—the soundtrack, the comic books, the calendars—and plenty I own myself.  However, it also highlights more obscure items, like a poster and program showing Robert Jordan’s permeant display at Daniel Library of The Citadel, or a custom embossed stamp used to denote Jordan’s own books within his library, or a copy of The Fires of Heaven where the dust jacket proclaims the Amyrlin is named “Flaida” instead of Elaida.  Not to mention all the foreign-translated novels and the amazing covers they have.  The article also speculates about re-releasing the novels with new cover art when the television series kicks off.
 
For the avid fan, there’s plenty to collect.  And hopefully, with a television series coming soon, there’ll be even more.
 
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

New "Mistborn Spoilers" Podcast

Our friends at the Wheel of Time Spoilers podcast have a new project in the works: Mistborn Spoilers.  Following the same format, Patrick and Seth scrutinize Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series—one chapter at a time—and discuss all the nitty-gritty details, backstories, foreshadowing, and wonders that make up this fantastic series.
 
The first three episodes focused on the background information needed to comprehend the world, the Lord Ruler, and the current life of the people.  After that, they delve right into the books.  I was very pleased when Seth and Patrick allowed me to be a guest host for the Prologue and Chapter 1 episodes.
 
I’m a huge fan of Brandon Sanderson, and the Mistborn series is at the top of my favorite works by him.  That doesn’t mean the books are flawless.  I’m very quick to point out the under presentation of women in this first novel, and the over-dependence on using rape as a plot device.  That said, I do love this book, and I love these characters, and I was happy to be able to discuss them with others who are so knowledgeable.
 
Patrick and Seth currently record Mistborn Spoilers on Monday, and for a $1 Patreon donation, you can listen live while they record!  The back and forth dialogue with devoted fans adds a lot to the quality of the show, one of the reasons why both these podcasts are so popular!
 
You can follow Wheel of Time Spoilers on Facebook or Twitter, and you can follow Mistborn Spoilers on Facebook.
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Our friends at the Wheel of Time Spoilers podcast have a new project in the works: Mistborn Spoilers.  Following the same format, Patrick and Seth scrutinize Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series—one chapter at a time—and discuss all the nitty-gritty details, backstories, foreshadowing, and wonders that make up this fantastic series.

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

The Great American Read Kickoff Tonight

As announced last month, PBS will be hosting a new series called “The Great American Read.”  Through a national survey, they identified the best 100 books.  PBS states:
 
 
This is exciting for us as booklovers, but it’s also exciting for us as Wheel of Time lovers.  The Wheel of Time (the complete series) is one of the 100 nominated.
 
The two-hour pilot airs tonight (Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018) at 8/7c.  Check your local PBS station for exact time.
 
Now here’s where devoted fans of Robert Jordan and The Wheel of Time come into play.  When the pilot airs, voting for the best book begins.  From May 22nd until October 18th, viewers can vote DAILY!  On top of that, there are two ways to vote each day.
 
1. Use the voting app on The Great American Read website.  You’ll need to register first, using an email address or a Facebook login.
 
2. Post an original post on Facebook or Twitter and include the official hashtag of the book you choose.  The hashtag for The Wheel of Time can be found on its page once voting has opened.
 
Starting September 11, 2018, there will be two additional ways to vote—bringing the total to four!  More on that when it’s closer.
 
The Wheel of Time has a great advantage in a show of this format.  We are vast in numbers, and our community is very close-knit.  If we all band together, we can share our beloved series with the rest of the country!
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    "THE GREAT AMERICAN READ is an eight-part series that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of America’s 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey).  It investigates how and why writers create their fictional worlds, how we as readers are affected by these stories, and what these 100 different books have to say about our diverse nation and our shared human experience."

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai