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Forum Roundup: June 22-28

Welcome to another installment of the Forum Roundup.  Here I aim to bring you all of the brightest and best from around the Dragonmount forums, and all of the big news from The Wheel of Time world.
 
I will begin with something dark; almost as dark as the souls of the members of the Shayol Ghul Social Group. They have continued their thread entitled "Which Wheel of Time character would you kill off?"  They really should seek some kind of help.  I have featured this post before but it seems to be rather popular and keeps popping up on my radar.  Faile seems to be a popular one, although I can't imagine why!  The last time I mentioned this thread I decided that Galad would be my victim of choice and I'm sticking with that.  
 
On a lighter note, member Elgee has started a thread on the Tuath'an Social Group entitled "I color you Tinker."  She has posted some lovely and colorful pictures of possible Tinker garb.  Click the link above to see some fashions that would make a Tinker blush.
 
The Ogier are feeling a tad mischievous lately.  They have a thread that is sure to ruffle some feathers: "Which Wheel of Time is honestly the best?"  If there was ever a question to cause some heated debate then this would be it!  I personally am a sucker for a prequel, so New Spring is my favorite.  The dynamic between Lan and Moraine is superb! 
 
To finish up, I want to confess something really weird.  Or at least share some of the weird confessions coming from the Wolfkin Forum.  This post confirms something that I have feared for quite some time now--that the Wolfkin bunch are all a bit strange.
 
Some of the highlights of this "Weird Confessions" thread include:
 
Hiding snacks from there own off spring so they don't need to share.
Hating the Goonies (What? Why?)
And Smeagol being someones hero!
 
And lastly, Tor.com is releasing previews of The Wheel of Time Companion, due out November 3rd, 2015.  The first preview has been posted on Tor's website, and we have a thread dedicated to discussing it.  This post covered strength of men and women in the One Power.  Join in the conversation!
 
 
Remember to keep checking Dragonmount's Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest news.  Thanks for reading.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

Tor Offers Previews of Upcoming Wheel of Time Companion

Curious about what's in the forthcoming Wheel of Time Companion? So are we! 
 
If you haven't heard, the Wheel of Time Companion is a supplemental book to the series. Taken from Robert Jordan's unpublished notes and edited by Harriet McDougal, Robert Jordan's wife and editor, and Jordan's two assistants, Maria Simons and Alan Romanczuk, the Companion will contain new details on characters, locations, the One Power and more. New, never before seen art has been commissioned for this book as well. The Companion is scheduled for release November 3rd, 2015.
 
Tor.com is running a fun contest to determine what content is previewed this summer. From Tor.com: 
 
Every few weeks Wheel of Time fans and Tor.com readers will get a chance to SPIN THE WHEEL. Here’s how it works: Leave one comment in this “Spin the Wheel” post with the Companion encyclopedia entry that you’d like to see revealed. (Such as “Aginor” or “Eelfinn” or “sniffing.”) We will close the thread for this post at 1 PM Eastern Standard Time on Friday, June 19 and randomly select a comment using a random number generator. The entry specified in that comment will be revealed the following week!

Be sure to comment on Tor.com, not here. Comments posted here are NOT eligible.
JenniferL
JenniferL

Fantasy Review: California Bones

This edition of "Fantasy Review" covers California Bones by Greg van Eekhout.  It is the first in the series, followed by Pacific Fire, and Dragon Coast due out September 15, 2015.  Slight spoilers will follow.
 
 
California Bones
By Greg van Eekhout
 
Synopsis:
In an alternate universe Los Angeles, Daniel Blackland is the son of a powerful magic user, Sebastian.  However, to cut down a rival, the Kingdom's ruler, the Hierarch, kills Sebastian and cannibalizes him right before his son's eyes, absorbing the magic embedded inside Sebastian's bones.  Daniel escapes, and years later, is brought in to steal his father's most precious artifact, a sword made out of Daniel's own magical essence.  Daniel puts together a crew of his friends, and someone on the inside of the Hierarch's organization.  But Daniel has a hard time trusting someone he doesn't know.  Could this insider ruin the heist of the century and send Daniel into the clutches of the Hierarch?
 
Pros:
This story is about so much more than a heist.  While Daniel—growing up on the streets, orphaned—needs to steal for a living, that is only one thread of the plot.  More important is Daniel himself, his innate magic, what he gathers for the robbery, and his relations to the people around him.  Daniel is a very deep, well-round character with clear motivations, strengths, and weaknesses.  He's never been obsessed with vengeance for his father's murderer, showing that he's smart enough to realize the rules of the world.  If he sought vengeance, he'd be dead by now.  Instead, living is how he gets back at the Hierarch.
 
The other point of view character is Gabriel Argent, the Heirarch's great-nephew, and a bureaucratic worker in the government.  His family connections are more a hindrance than a help—Gabriel's own mother was eaten by the Heirarch during the Third Correction, the same event that lead to Sebastian Blackland's death.  Gabriel is clever, keeping quiet and unnoticeable within the government, until certain circumstances lead him to the knowledge that Daniel is alive.  He goes to higher-ups with his discovery and suddenly becomes a target himself. 
 
Gabriel is fascinating.  The story could have easily been told with him as the hero.  His view of the world—his morals of working within the system—differ greatly from Daniel, but the two have very similar motivations: only wanting to live and work in peace.
 
Mr. van Eekhout's writing style is quick and a tad gritty.  It needs to be when it details a society that is ruled by a cannibal.  But it's expertly done, adding to the overall atmosphere of the Los Angeles setting.  The magic system, osteomancy, was refreshing; a new way for power to be used, stolen, and processed.  This book barely scratched the surface of what osteomancy can do, and I hope it's explored more as the series progresses.
 
Cons:
Daniel's crew—Moth, a healer, Cassandra, a good shot and lock pick, and Jo, a shapeshifter—are very important to the plot line of stealing the sword.  Yet, they could have been more developed as characters.  Part of what makes them this way is Daniel's own magic; he makes them loyal to him.  So, it could be seen that they only act the way he wants them to.  Still, I would have liked to know more about them and their backstories—especially more about Moth's abilities, and how Jo got hers.
 
Conclusion:
This story kept me eagerly reading; it was difficult to put down.  I'm really excited to start the sequel and find out how much more the magic system will be explored. 
 
Rating:
5/5
 
 
California Bones can be purchased from the Dragonmount eBook store, and so can the sequel, Pacific Fire.  
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

New Trolloc Shirt from Ta'veren Tees

Ta'veren Tees is releasing a new shirt design--inspired by Alan Romanczuk, one of Robert Jordan's assistant, and member of Team Jordan.  The Trolloc themed shirt is available for preorder, with shipments going out on June 30th. Here's what Ta'veren Tees has to say:
 


Ta’veren Tees is excited to release the newest tee shirt in our line today for preorder. "Spirit Animal" is a unisex tee available at TaverenTees.com/spiritanimal
 
 
   
 
Now, we know technically the closest anyone comes in The Wheel of Time to a spirit animal is Perrin and the wolves. But who doesn't feel a little Trolloc-y sometimes? And, of course, there is a story behind the making of this shirt:
 
Alan Romanczuk, part of Team Jordan and assistant to Robert Jordan, has been working feverishly on the forthcoming The Wheel of Time Companion, due out this fall. For a while, he was spending a lot of his time compiling information on Trollocs. The team was under a lot of stress, and so Alan found his way to a masseuse with "shaman abilities"  (a woman unfamiliar with WoT) who often reads people's auras. As she looked at Alan, she said she could see around him strange, frightening creatures. Apparently, the Trollocs had followed him out of the office. Of course, once this story was relayed back to us at Ta'veren Tees, we felt it was only appropriate Alan had a shirt declaring his spirit animal is a Trolloc. His shirt went over well with Harriet and the crowd at JordanCon, and the rest is history.
 

(Photo: Kiley from Ta'veren Tees, with Alan of Team Jordan, whose experience spawned the idea for the shirt (bad lighting caused the grainy photo, apologies!) Photo courtesy Amy Romanczuk)
   
The "Spirit Animal" shirt is 100% preshrunk, lightweight cotton and available on an adult unisex tee. Preorders will ship as soon as it is ready by June 30th. All other items (except costumes, jewelry, and art of Paul Bielaczyc) ordered at the same time will be held and shipped at the same time as the preorder item.
 
In honor of Father’s Day, you can also use coupon code TAMLIN15 for 15% off your entire order at www.TaverenTees.com (www.TheWheelofTimeStore.com), good through June 21!

Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Resonance: Law, Science, Magic, and More

[Editor's Note: Dragonmount is very pleased to have Peter Orullian, author of The Vault of Heaven series, talk a bit about Resonance within the world he's created.  Mr. Orullian's second book in the series, Trial of Intentions, is available today.  Buy it from the Dragonmount eBook store, here.  You can also learn more at Mr. Orullian's website.]
 
 
One of the things I developed in the world-building phase of my epic fantasy series is something I call: Resonance. It’s a governing dynamic. Think of mechanical laws from our own world—things like magnetism and gravity. But my intention with it was more than just another physical law. It had to be a source of power. And more.
 
In our world, we already have the notion of resonance as a principle of acoustics. Often, you’ll find this in relation to what makes a tuning fork hum or even a building shake; it’s when a vibration finds the resonant signature of a thing, and causes it to “stir.”
 
But what if Resonance could be more? What if Resonance didn’t need a medium of transference? And what if we elevated it beyond just a principle of physics? Well then, you might do as I did and establish an underpinning for not just one but many different magic systems. This is some of what you’ll find in my second book, Trial of Intentions. And by the way, I wrote Trial as an entry point to my world. So, if you haven’t read any of my other work, you’re good to jump in with Trial, if you’d like.
 
Now, because I’m a musician, I suppose it was natural that I use the principles of Resonance—as I’ve defined them for my series—to build a music magic system. But once I’d established these principles, I began to see how different cultures could tap into Resonance to do magic in ways that made sense for them. Which means that the magic systems are all distinct from each other—some based on movement, some on song, some on thought, some on language, and others—but all have this through-line that readers can see and understand. This appealed to the geek in me.
 
But as fun as that was, I wanted Resonance to do more. I wanted it to have the power (if understood and used correctly) to affect things at a distance—a great distance—without having to traverse the space between. This led me to research quantum entanglement.
 
As you might imagine, quantum entanglement is a big idea. Much too big to explore and discuss in a short article like this. Suffice it to say that it gave me a pattern for Resonance—one part of Resonance, anyway—to have an effect on something simultaneously in a distance place. No need for power or energy to “travel.” I love this idea. Perfect for my needs.
 
And one of the things I did in Trial of Intentions is create a society entirely dedicated to science. In fact, I established colleges of mathematics, astronomy, physics, cosmology, and philosophy. Kind of made sense, since my series is entitled: The Vault of Heaven. This society of scientists is dedicated to research. To establishing principles that help explain how the world works. And their inquiries, as you might also imagine, have far reaching impacts in my series.
 
So, Resonance has a rational component. And it’s the principle that fuels many magic systems in my world.
 
But it also becomes a way to understand the human connections between some of my characters. One example: When two people become close—friends, lovers—they share something more than evening meals or marital vows. They establish a connection that brings them into Resonance with one another. Deeper understanding, empathy, and awareness. Even if they’re separated by half a world. I like this gentler, more personal side of Resonance quite a lot. It’s a counterpoint that I think gives the idea of Resonance greater breadth and depth.
 
Of course, Resonance is also fuel for some wicked power. And right at the beginning of Trial of Intentions, one of my characters who possesses music magic . . . well, it’s not pretty.
 
Things escalate fast. And while some characters are trying to understand Resonance in order to find more peaceful solutions to war, others are learning (and be changed by) the use or Resonance as a power to do battle. A power to take to war . . .
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Peter Orullian, author of The Vault of Heaven series, talks about Resonance within his series, and the effects it may have on the magic systems and character interaction.

RockLord
RockLord

Fantasy Review: Prince of Thorns

Welcome to another edition of Fantasy Review! The book being reviewed this time is Prince of Thorns. Prince of Thorns is the first book in The Broken Empire trilogy. It is followed by King of Thorns and Emperor of Thorns. This review may contain a few spoilers.
 
The Prince of Thorns
by Mark Lawrence
 
 
Synopsis
The story of Prince of Thorns follows the life of Prince Jorg who at the starting of the book vows to be a king by the time he is 15 years old. At the time he is 13 years old but shortly after he grows to be 14. Jorg is living with his Brothers, who are some mercenaries, and destroying some villages. He had decided to take revenge on Count Renar but for years he found destroying some peasants' houses served him better, even if this didn't make sense.
 
Another story that goes on simultaneously is Jorg's story four years ago. This story tells about how his mother and brother were killed, how his father did nothing, how he left the castle and the memory of thorns.
 
All events shape up how Jorg wishes to be king by time he is fifteen and how he sets about to make it so. From being the heir to be closed to displaced in favor of his yet to be born half-brother to winning his father's approval back, is a main plot of the story. Filled with a stubbornness and a determination to not be led on strings, Jorg sets out to become the next king and he does not care how many lives he has to take to do this.
 
 
Pros 
The setting is quite realistic and the characters are so too, even if they may make you cringe at times. Jorg's story that took place four years ago provides an interesting read to understand how Jorg became who he is.
 
The characters who work behind the scenes and pull strings to control rulers and effectively rule are shown to be important characters. They lend some unpredictability to the story.
 
The ties of friendship lend a warming quality to this otherwise harsh story. There are few honorable characters who provide a silver lining.
 
 
Cons
The first problem I had was the lack of magic. Magic exists but is hardly shown in the story. I find it hard to come terms with fantasy without much magic.
 
Jorg. He is a pro and con in himself. He provides an interesting dimension to story but he is a character you can love and hate at the same time. His actions will make you cringe.
 
Worldbuilding is too much borrowed from real world. if you look at map for long, you get a slight feeling that it looks somewhat like map of Europe. There are others things like EM, nuclear radiations (poison as referred to by Jorg), dena (for DNA) which make it too near reality (I like when it is close to reality but this is too much at times). 
 
 
Rating
I will give this a rating of 5/5 because this book is good enough to be read once at least.
Panchi
Panchi

Forum Roundup: May 18-24

Welcome to the latest installment of the Forum Roundup.  Here I aim to bring you the brightest and best from around the Dragonmount forums.
 
I will begin with a post from the Aiel Social Group entitled "Naming kids after Wheel of Time characters." A son named Rand, a daughter named Aviendah? Where do you stand on this?  To dig a little deeper into the subject, what is in a name?  Could you trust a man named Mazrim? Would you leave your husband alone with a woman named Berelain? Is this maybe a little too far to go as a fan?  Have your say on the Aiel's forum.
 
If you are familiar with the Forum Roundup, you may have noticed that I am a poetry enthusiast.  So any poetry posted is sure to find its way on to my posts.  This offering was posted by Shadar Alantin during a night of insomnia. The darkest verse, and therefore the best in my opinion, reads:
 
If this has piqued your interest, find the rest on the Wolfkin Social Group.
 
Again from the Wolfkin's forum, who are feeling especially inquisitive at the minute: "Where do you read?"  This should be a topic close to all of our hearts.  Definitely mine.  I love to read in bed or in front of a roaring fire--if I can find one.  Other offerings are at a desk, on a couch, and on a train, in Spain, in the rain. If you have anything else to add, visit the Wolfkin and join the discussion.
 
The latest "Fantasy Review" is of Peter Ourillion's Trial of Intention, due out May 26th.  It can be preordered from Dragonmount's eBook store here!
 
Remember to keep checking Dragonmount's Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up to date with everything Wheel of Time.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

Fantasy Review: Trial of Intentions

This is a special edition of Dragonmount's Fantasy Reivew: a look at Peter Orullian's Trial of Intentions, which will be released May 26.  
 
Synopsis:
After their victory at Tillinghast, Tahn and his companions set out on the next stage of their adventure—and that means parting company.
 
Tahn seeks to end the war before it begins, by completing his studies in Aubade Grove, and finding a way to strengthen the Veil.  If the Veil is strengthened, the Quiet cannot break through.  There, he reconnects with people from his past, and reconnects with a lost part of himself.
 
Mira sets out on a quest to rid herself of the stain Tahn's sin has marked on her.  She seeks out a distant race of handsingers who may hold the key to her salvation, and the way for her to produce an heir to the Far king.
 
Wendra must continue her studies as a Lieholan, learning not only her skills but some of the past memories she's forgotten.  Her powerful abilities may help her unravel the reason why the Song of Suffering is changing.
 
Vendanj and the rest of the group must go to Convocation to bring the kingdoms together in case the Quiet are able to break through the Veil at last.  They are opposed by Roth—the leader of the League of Civility—though unexpected allies may be able to help.
 
Pros:
This installment is action-packed from the very beginning.  The pace of the novel is well done, with a few moments for the reader to catch their breath, but a pull that lasts through the very end of the story. 
 
New players are introduced.  Though mentioned and explained in The Unremembered, The League's importance becomes central to the storyline.  Their motives become clearer and fleshed out; we can understand their line of thought more—yet they are still at odds with the Sheason, and may even be working against humanity. 
 
The start of the story hammers home the fact that Tahn is an anti-hero.  He's flawed, and is not going to be the perfect savior those around him need him to be.  That's exactly what makes this tale so interesting. It's not about the black and white of the world, but about the gray areas that all people inhabit.
 
Tahn grows a lot in this book.  He's come a long way from his home in the Hollows, and the insecure boy he was.  With his memories returned, conflicting him and helping him at the same time, he struggles with grasping the state of his life right now—needing to find out why he can render the Will with pieces of himself, why the Quiet keep referring to him as the Quillescent,  and the simple fact that he's unable to be with the woman he loves.  Yet, despite all this, he does everything in his power to help his allies in their fight.
 
His time at the Grove really expands his character.  Before, he was a boy from a small town who set out on an adventure.  But here, he's a scholar, arguing the nature of the world and its magic.  It's such a completely different side of him, and it's interesting to watch him embrace it.
Cons:
While the dialogue does have some humor in it, sometimes it feels like the characters try too hard to say witty things.  This is also a flaw in some of Brandon Sanderson's works.  While I appreciate humor and laughing at characters' antics, it can seem a bit forced in this book.
 
Conclusion:
Though the major plotlines all end on a bit of a cliffhanger—Tahn finishing one part of his Succession, Sutter and Mira off to save King Relothian, and Vendanj running from the Leaguesmen—it doesn't feel like it's unfinished.  Each character is so far along in their own mission, working separately to find a common solution. 
 
This was a great read, keeping in line with the epicness of the genre, and the complications expected from realistic characters.  This series grows more in depth in each book, and I'm hoping for that trend to continue with the next installment.  Orullian's world is absorbing and I can't wait to return to it again.
 
Rating:
4/5
 
 
For more from Mr. Orullian, you can see an interview discussing his first novel in the Vault of Heaven series here.  You can also purchase The Unremembered from the Dragonmount eBook store.  Trial of Intentions will be released May 26, and can be preordered from Dragonmount.  Make sure to check out Mr. Orullian's website for all the latest information on this series.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

A Roll of the Dice: Crafts, Games, and Felicia...Oh My!

Greeting all! It is Thursday again meaning it is time for another installment of the Rotating Features blog! The dice have been been tossed and the featured topic has been chosen. 

 
I now have a favorite YouTube channel, Geek and Sundry! Admittedly I knew about this channel when it was created, but never gave it a chance, even though my one of my personal crushes (Felicia Day) started the channel. None the less a good friend of mine got me hooked by sending me links to a show hosted by Wil Wheaton called Tabletop. I became hooked instantly. I love tabletop gaming and this show has it all. Everything from straight dice games like Zombie Dice, to cooperative role playing tabletop...and everything in between. The basics of this show is once a week, Wil Wheaton chooses a game and invites three to four friends, some of which are celebrities, to play the game. It is a great way to see new games in action and laugh at some people at the same time. This show also has AWESOME personalized trophies for the winners!

After watching almost all of the Tabletop episode I had to see what other shows I might like. This lead me to start watching Co-optitude. This is a show where Felicia Day plays video games with her brother Ryan Day. Each week they play a different console based game, mostly dated games, but they throw in a newer game from time to time. Most of the time, the games played are very odd, obscure games most people have never heard of, but the show is actually less about the actual games and more about the two people playing said games. The interaction between these siblings is hilarious! They may actually be the worst or best team mates I have ever seen. As an additional bonus, you really get to see how these two individuals actually are, as they do not hold back their personalities despite the cameras being on them. I honestly didn't think I would like this show, despite it having Felicia Day, when I heard of the concept, but the sincere and honest interactions make this a musty watch on my subscriptions! On a side note, me best friend told me in one of the Co-optitude episode Felicia Day makes a Wheel of Time reference, so if anyone can tell me which episode, they will be awarded cool points and a shout out in a future Rotating Features blog!

Lastly I began watching Craft Lab as well. This is a great short show where the main crafter and an assistant create a random geek culture characters and/or items out a random material. Seriously, they use a spinning wheel to determine both what they are making and the materials they will make it out of. Some of the most memorable for me were the Sonic the Hedgehog out of chicken bones, the Bat-Mobile out of deli meats, and Smaug out of plastic spoons. What I love the most about this show is the creative ingenuity to create awesome items out of crazy materials. In my opinion this is a must watch show for cosplayers as it helps you think outside of the box on potential items to use when making props to take your costuming to the next level.

I highly recommend the Geek and Sundry channel on YouTube.  As always I hope you enjoyed this installment of the Rotating Features blog. Sorry again for my recent absence. As always feel free to comment with your thoughts and any topics you would like covered in future Rotating Features blogs. Until next time, this is Azeryn signing off to prepare for my two hour run to support the Relay for Life. Don't know what the Relay for Life is? Google it!
Azeryn
Azeryn

Forum Roundup: April 20-26

Welcome to the latest installment of the Forum Roundup.  Here I aim to bring you the most interesting and noteworthy things to be found in the Dragonmount forums. 
 
I've chosen to begin this week with a post from the Shayol Ghul Social Group, a question: who is your favorite villain of all time? Loki, Voldemort, Kanye West?  There is a huge list to choose from, each more dastardly than the last.  Give your opinion in the Shayol Ghul Social Group and see who is voted the winner.
 
Secondly is another probing question from the White Tower, this time asking for the reason that you joined Dragonmount or the White Tower Social Group. 
Some answers are quite revealing and even surprising with some members having not even read The Wheel of Time series, some being part of the way through, and one member sighting the reason of "being bored." (Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.) You know who you are! 
 
The White Tower and Warder Social Group are having a Reunion for anyone who is was, or is contemplating, being a member of their forum.  There are links to activities to draw your attention, including a Wheel of Time Guess Who game and a Scavenger Hunt.
 
We can mark the end of another successful JordanCon this week.  Dragonmount's Facebook and Twitter pages are the best places to see what has been happening, including the winners of the costume contest.  It looks to have been a superb event with fun had by all.  You can look at Mashiara Sedai's photo gallery of the event, here.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

White Tower and Warders Reunion

The White Tower and Warders Social Group is kicking of it's first ever Reunion. We'd like to invite all members--new and old--as well as anyone interesting in the Social Group in anyway. Everyone is welcome to join in the games and discussions. Our Keeper of the Chronicles, Daruya, has this to say:
Please take a moment to check out our games--as well as some interesting discussions about the White Tower and Warder Social Group, now and then.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

JordanCon: Costume Contest

We had some amazing entries in the Costume Contest this year! The contestants were judged based on three criteria: accuracy, craftsmanship, and wow factor. Just in case you don't know how it works, each of the judges pick their Judge's Choice, and then rank the best of remaining entries with First, Second, and Third place.



This year's judges were Harriet McDougal, Saladin Ahmed, and Aubree Pham.



Harriet's Judge's Choice was Sarah Steamduck, clutching her book Steamduck" rel="external nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0984902813/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1429397746&sr=8-1&keywords=steamduck+learns+to+fly&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=51xryzWpaYL&ref=plSrch">Steamduck Learns to Fly.



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Saladin's Judge's Choice was Mat "I'm not a bloody Lady" Cauthon.



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Aubree's Judge's Choice was Kaladin and Shallan.



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They were all exceptional costumes!



And the traditional Third Place winner was the Female Trolloc.



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Second was Moiraine Damodred.



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And First Place was Paul Bielaczyc as the Ice King (from Adventure Time).



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Check out the other contestants here!." rel="external nofollow">http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/gallery/album/385-jordancon-2015/">here!.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

JordanCon: Day 1 Recap

JordanCon is off to a great start! The first day has come and gone, but Day 2 is already underway with plenty of panels and events to choose from.





First off, the Opening Ceremony was hosted by Peter B. Slayer.





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Of course, TWoTCast tired to hijack the event.





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As is tradition, Harriet McDougal was presented with gifts from the various fansites--this year Dragonmount and Ta'veren Tees had the honors. Ta'veren Tee's gift was a beautifully crafted stained glass window depicting the Dragon. It's gorgeous!





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Dragonmount's gift was the idea of member Nynaeve, the head of the Yellow Ajah in the White Tower Social Group. She put together a campaign to appeal to Wheel of Time fans all over the world to send in postcards to Harriet, expressing their love and respect for the series, and for Robert Jordan,. Postcards were collected from thirteen different countries!





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The highlight of the day, in my opinion, was sitting down with Author Guest of Honor, Saladin Ahmed, for the kaffeeklatsch. Harriet was also in attendance, which made it extra enjoyable. Mr. Ahmed was fascinating to listen to, and our conversation went in very interesting directions. Not only did he share his updates for the sequel to Throne of the Crescent Moon, but we also talked about the nature of the writing industry, and how race, religion, and gender play a part in it. I was so impressed by the end of the hour, and wished I had more time to speak with him and the other attendees.





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Today's schedule includes the Costume Contest--a fan favorite--and the Two Rivers Hoe Down dance in the evening. More on both of those later.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fantasy Review: Author's Edition of The Unremembered

This month's Fantasy Review is Peter Orullian's The Unremembered—the Author's Definitive Edition.  There will be slight spoilers below.
 
Synopsis:
Tahn is a young man who lives the Hallows, an area full of farmers.  He and his sister and friends are taken by Vendanj, a warrior of the Order of Sheason, and Mira, a member of the Far, to Tillinghast to try and stop the weakening of the Veil—a barrier that keeps the Quiet away from the world of men. 
 
Along the journey, each of the group's members discover their secret talents, and better understand why they were chosen for this quest.  Most of all, it's Tahn who's needed, because of his special gift to understand the Will—he cannot shoot his bow unless the Will allows him too.  However, that inability to choose who must live and who must die only adds to the burden he already bears.  Tahn's unremembered past may be the biggest burden of them all.
 
Pros:
The characters are what make this story come alive.  Each one is well-rounded, with equal flaws and strengths.  I think the easiest way to talk about the story it to highlight each character.
 
Tahn—the protagonist—strikes me as such an interesting character, mostly for his flaws.  In the very beginning of the story, I love that he was unable to shoot the Bar'dyn, a monster that threatened his sister and her newborn child.  I think it sets a tone for his character through the novel, that there is some doubt in the reader's mind about his abilities.  Did he really refrain from shooting because of the Will?  Or is there something deeper inside him, a bit of fear and cowardice?  And as the journey progresses, he seems to make more mistakes, and one of those mistakes can mean the difference between him being the hero and being killed.
 
Wendra—Tahn's sister—is introduced to the reader in a time of fear and weakness, as a Bar'dyn is trying to steal her stillborn child.  Because of this, it seems she grows the most throughout the story.  When the group gets separated, and she takes a motherly role to Penit, she matures and finds her inner strength.  She goes through more danger than the others, and makes it through with her own cleverness and determination.  Along the journey, she discovers she has the power of song inside her, and that Vendanj meant her to train as a Maesteri.  But her love for Penit made her continue the quest instead of studying.
 
Penit is a young boy who was abandoned by his family of traveling performers.  He's taken in by Vendanj's group for unknown reasons.  Quick witted and clever, the boy's skill as a performer acts as a sort of comic relief for the characters.  He's sweet, and cared for by Wendra—but it seems like he has nothing but misery in store for his future.
 
Mira is a lovely woman of the Far, an elf-like race that is doomed to short life spans.  She sets out on this journey accompanying Vendanj and his rag-tag group, but is summoned home when her sister dies.  She and Tahn have chemistry between them, but the Far race is doomed to a short lifespan, and she knows there can be no future with Tahn.  This shadows her judgment, and she makes hard decisions—decisions with Tahn in mind rather than her people.  The Far race is particularly interesting as they guard the old Language, and that may be the key to everything.
 
Vendanj is a Sheason, a member of a warrior guild that is dedicated to protecting humanity.  They are able to access the Will—the magical force within the world.  Vendanj's mission is to find a person who can Render the Will and defeat the evil growing at Tillinghast.  As the journey with Tahn and his friends goes on, we see that this is not Vendanj's first attempt at this quest.  He is also haunted by a tragic past.  He serves at a guide and mentor to Tahn—who struggles with bending to the decisions of the Will.  Though quiet and aloof with the others, he is a dedicated man who will stop at nothing to see his mission successful.
 
 
Cons:
The learning curve for this story is very high.  There's a ton of in-world terminology that is discussed but not explained.  This can make it difficult to stay focused, or to remember what exactly all the words mean.   There is a handy glossary in the back of the book with detailed entries on most of the in-world terms, but it's still tricky to go back and forth between the novel and the glossary so much at the beginning of the story.
 
The narrative also starts with the group already on route to Tillinghast, and much of how they got there is revealed later.  While this is a great way to get to the action immediately, the reader is left wondering how the group all came together.  Of course, patience pays off, and everything is recounted—but it can be difficult to hold off on getting answers right away.
 
Conclusion:
This book was a wonderful read, and the start of what seems to be an exciting series.  The characters are very realistic with the way they handle the pressures thrust upon them, and their actions and motivations go hand-in-hand.  The multiple magic systems also piqued my curiosity, and I understand they will be explored more thoroughly in the next book—Trial of Intentions, which will be released May 26, 2015.  Tahn is definitely a flawed hero, and that makes his decisions in the story heavily weighed—he makes selfish decisions that cost lives.  I'm looking forward to the next book, and to what the future has in store for Tahn and the rest of his group.
 
My rating:
4/5
 
 
This book is available at Dragonmount's eBook store here.  When it is released, you can also purchase Trial of Intentions here.  You can also look at a Dragonmount exclusive interview with Mr. Orullian here.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fantasy Interview: Peter Orullian

I was very happy to be given a chance to interview Peter Orullian about the authoritative edition of his novel, The Unremembered.  The book—the first in the Vault of Heaven series—was action-packed, gripping, and a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre.
 
For more information on this anticipated series, please check out Mr. Orullian's website.
 
 
 
Q: This novel is very epic in scale and scope.  The world contains depth, history, and a sense of realism.  How much worldbuilding was needed for you to flesh out the past, present, and future of this world?
 
A: I did quite a bit of worldbuilding before I began to write. Of course, part of that was drawing a map. It sounds a little cliché, but there’s a real sense in which creating the geography can begin to help you conceptualize other elements of the world. And the map, itself, changes a lot during this phase.
 
I also put in place the creation mythology of the world, and much of its political and cultural structure. Beyond all that, I spent a lot of time on the magic systems.
 
But I also left a lot to the writing process. I know some writers architect everything in advance. Just as I know some who make it all up as they write. I fall about halfway between these. I build a good framework—something to work against—but I leave myself lots of canvas to paint as I go.
 
Q: We see a lot of heroes in the fantasy genre, but I don't think I've read one quite as flawed as Tahn.  Yet, at the same time, he's very sympathetic in his thinking.  The reader understands why he does what he does, even if they are the wrong decisions.  How were you able to keep his character balanced between being realistically flawed, but still likable?
 
A: Much of the answer is in your question. If readers understand why a character is making the choices he or she makes, your character stands a better chance of remaining sympathetic, even when those decisions are wrong. Or heartbreaking. Unexplained heroism reads like Dudley Do-Right. Senseless villainy is just Snidely Whiplash. On the other hand, understanding a character’s motivation goes a long way to keeping a reader invested in the outcomes of that character’s choices.
 
And I think this is how most of us are in real life. We make bad decisions, but not because we’re bad people (most of us, anyway). Those decisions are informed by the experiences of our lives. In other words, we wind up being the sum of our choices. That sounds terribly high-minded. But my point is that two people in the same situation can make very different decisions. If we were privy to the formative experiences of those two people, both decisions could make sense.
 
I think fiction works the same way. And when those formative experiences are dire, tragic things, the sympathy for the character escalates. So, in Tahn’s case, his life has been hard, particularly in his youth. The reader is slowly learning why. This continues in book two. And because most of us have difficulties in our lives, and stumble, I think we’re able to better identify with characters who do the same. 
 
Q: Since music seems to be important in your life, it makes sense that one of the magic systems in the series would be music based.  Will we get to see more of the music in action as the series continues?  
 
A: Absolutely. In The Unremembered you get just the first taste. In book two, Trial of Intentions, I turn the volume way up on the music magic. In fact, my character who possesses this ability goes to a place where she can train. She learns a lot about her gift and how to use it. And readers, likewise, get to see inside the music magic system, as she tests her ability in all kinds of battles.
 
I also start to reveal something I call “governing dynamics.” When I built my world, it made sense to me that all magic systems would have an underlying set of principles, much the way there are mechanical laws like gravity and magnetism.
 
The central principle upon which I frame all magic in my universe is called: Resonance. So far, I have five magic systems in my universe. And while each culture taps into Resonance (and related dynamics) in different ways, their magic systems are all built off the same principles. In some regards, it’s like quantum entanglement. But that’s a whole long different topic we can tackle another time.
 
In any case, the music magic system, which is one of the core systems, takes advantage of Resonance in some powerful ways. And in Trial of Intentions, I turn it up to eleven (that’s a Spinal Tap reference—sorry, couldn’t help myself).
 
Q: Mira's fear of having children is a sharp contrast to Wendra's maternal need to look after children.  Is this due to their difference in race—and Mira's inability to actually raise the child—or is it more a difference in personality?  Is there a statement to be made about the role of women, and mothers, within your world?
 
A: It’s really one of personality. The nature of Mira’s race—the Far—is that they die too young to every fully raise their own children. Many Far accept this well enough, given the promises they have in exchange for a shortened life. But Mira is hurt by the fact that she never got to know her birth mother. She doesn’t want that for any child she might have.
 
As for a statement on the role of women and/or mothers in my world, it’s not something I set out to do. I’ve no agenda. As I say, Mira’s feelings are personal. They’re formed out of her childhood experiences. They give context to choices she’s facing now, much the way we talked about making Tahn a realistic but flawed character.
 
Similarly, Wendra has had some traumatic experiences, as well. These experiences lend context to choices she makes.
 
But if I think about it, Mira and Wendra are both powerful women. One is a gifted fighter—crazy skilled. The other possesses an amazingly influential magic. These things define them as much as anything else. So, in the same way we were talking about Tahn above, for me, there are real-life corollaries. Women have differing feelings on the topic of motherhood—just as Mira and Wendra do. And those feelings are one aspect of who they are—just as Mira and Wendra each play a pivotal role in the overarching story of my series, bringing to bear their unique abilities to try and answer threats of war. 
 
Q: Since this is the Author's Definitive Version, how does it differ from the previous version of the novel?
 
A: In several ways, actually. Without going into all the details as to why we’re doing an Author’s Definitive Edition, let me just say that writers and editors don’t always share the same vision for a book. For my part, I now have a different editor than I had when the original edition of The Unremembered was released.
 
As to how it’s different, first, it’s much shorter. I cut a lot. It’s uncommon for an Author’s Edition to be shorter. Usually the writer is adding words. And I did, too. But I started by trimming the book considerably. It helped pacing, among other things. Then, I took the opportunity to introduce some elements that would bring books one and two closer together. That wasn’t necessary, but I figured as long as I had the chance . . .
 
Working through the book, I brushed up dialogue here and there, removed exposition where I needed to, dropped in some Easter eggs, etc.
 
And then to the whole thing we’ve added epigraphs to each chapter, a glossary, an exclusive short story set in the universe—the POV character of which is a POV character in book two, and he’s inside the Bourne—and there are a few of the first chapters from Trial of Intentions, as well.
 
It’s not necessary to read the Author’s Edition of The Unremembered to transition into Trial of Intentions. If you’ve read the original, you’ll be just fine. And because of the editorial snafus prolonging the time between books one and two, I wrote Trial of Intentions as an entry point to the series. So, a reader could actually start the series with book two. All that said, if someone wants to start at the beginning, I recommend the Author’s Edition of The Unremembered. I think it’s a stronger book.
 
These next ones may contain spoilers, if that's all right.
 
Q: The theme of actions and consequences are visited several times in the novel.  Yet, Tahn's blemishes are removed before Tallinghast—the negative consequences of his choices essentially erased.  How will it affect him as he goes forward in the next book?  Will that lightness still reside in him, making Mira continue to take in any stains he makes?
 
A: Well, like you noted above, Tahn’s a flawed character. Or, said another way, he makes the best choice he can at any given time based on who he is and what he knows. So . . . he’s not done making heartbreaking decisions.
 
But he and Mira won’t always be side-by-side. And he wouldn’t let her do for him again what she did near Tillinghast, anyway.  In fact, early in book two, Tahn makes some very deliberate choices that fly in the face of what he “should” do. And he makes no apologies for it. Nor, if I’ve done my job, would anyone expect him to.
 
Q: Can you tell us if Penit did escape the Bar'dyn?
 
A: Nope. That’s one you’re going to have to read the next few books to find out.
 
Q: Were Sutter's visions of Mira a warning, or was it an unavoidable prophecy?
 
A: Well, Sutter sees the spirits of the dead before they die. But these aren’t prophecies. They’re not forgone conclusions. It’s kind of like the ghost of Christmas Future visiting Scrooge. Shadows of the future may be changed.
 
Q: Zephora and Mira have a few cryptic exchanges at Tillinghast.  Mira speaks of a covenant with him—or with the Quiet—and Zephora calls her an "oathbreaker," which would mean that the Far were the ones who broke the covenant.  Can you elaborate anymore on that and their relationship?    
 
A: The gods who created the world left the Language of the Covenant for the people of Aeshau Vaal as a possible defense or weapon, should it ever be needed against the Quiet. The Covenant Tongue is insanely powerful. It’s the language that was used to frame the world.
 
The Far oath is to safeguard the Language of the Covenant until they reach the Age of Accountability—eighteen-years-old—which means they protect it during their years of stainlessness. The Far possess the godsgifts of exceptional speed and grace. In exchange for these gifts, and the promise that they will see their family in the next lift, the Far are able to defend and protect the Language of the Covenant without concern over the means whereby they do so. This is because they die before they can be held accountable for anything.  Before they’re blemished or stained in any way by their choices.
 
But Mira takes on the stain of one of Tahn’s choices. So, she’s effectively no longer Far. She’s effectively broken her oath.
 
There is, though, a deeper connection between the people of the Bourne and the people of the Eastlands. But I’ll leave that to your discovery in the next books.
 
Q: Vendanj states several times that he brought others to Tillinghast before Tahn.  What became of them?  Is it only Tahn's relationship with the Will that saved him from the Draethmorte?
 
A: Yeah, this is an important point. Tahn isn’t so much the “chose one” as he is the “next one.” Tillinghast is a difficult place to survive. The Velle we first encounter in the book talks to Vendanj about this, suggesting that those Vendanj had taken to Tillinghast before had perished or failed. Clearly, there was a need for another one to go to Tillinghast, which is where we enter the story with Tahn and the others, on their way to that place. But that’s as much as I’ll say there.
 
As to your second question, about what helped Tahn survive Tillinghast and the Draethmorte, the Will is certainly part of it. But that’s not the whole of it, either. And again, I’ll pause before giving it all away . . .
 
 
 
I'd like to thank Mr. Orullian for answering my questions.  It was an honor!
 
The Author's Definitive Edition of The Unremembered was rereleased on April 7.  It can be purchased at Dragonmount's eBook store here.  The second in the series— Trial of Intentions—will be available May 26, 2015, and can also be purchased here.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Forum Roundup: April 6-12

Welcome to another edition of the Forum Roundup, where I aim to bring you the brightest and most interesting items from the Dragonmount forums. 
 
I must first apologize for my absence these last two weeks.  The first week was due to my 30th Birthday celebrations dragging me away from the computer; the second was no real fault of my own, rather a geographical problem.   I was led to believe that you can get a phone signal in the Sahara, but in the Lakes District area of the UK, there is no Wi-Fi, no phone signal, and worst of all no sun--only rain!  So I hope that you except my apologies and continue to enjoy this blog.
 
I will begin with something completely different and slightly unexpected from the Aiel Social Group: a discussion on the quality of life.  The main questions being asked are: What defines a good quality of life?  Is it health?  Happiness?  The money you make or the things that you achieve?  Answering these philosophical questions could take some soul searching and a great deal of time.  In my modest opinion--money is not a factor.  If you have a good quality of life, that is the thing that makes you happy.  By process of elimination that leaves health and the things that you achieve.  I would like to add in the people we surround ourselves with as another extremely important factor.  I may have just outlined a simple three point plan for the things that I need to change in my own life.  This can only lead to huge amounts of pondering and beard scratching.
 

"Cleveland Museum of Art - damaged Thinker" by Daderot
 
The next topic is from the Ogier Social Group, another brain teaser, albeit a bit less serious and potentially life changing.  This is a problem that all of us men have been in at some point: there are three beautiful women in love with you, and you can only chose one--happens to me all of the time!
 

"Rand's Wives" by Ariel Burgess
 
It's the three ladies in love with Rand that are the subject of this post and it has seen quite a heated debate over who the victor is: Min, Aviendha or Elayne.  In my opinion, Rand has no chance.  Whomever he chooses, he will not survive a day.  The choice should really between which way he would rather die: Min's daggers,  Aviendha's spear, or Elayne's balefire!
 
Staying with the Ogier Social Group, exceptional trees are the next topic they choose tackle (keeping within the Ogier theme).  There are some wonderful pictures of peoples favorites. This particular one is mine.
 

The Angel Oak in Charleston, South Carolina
 
This is a beautiful tree; it must be hundreds if not thousands of years old!  Take a look at the Ogier forum for some more tree hugging shenanigans.
 
Things take a dark twist here with the Shayol Ghul Social Group lowering the tone once again with, "Which Wheel of Time character would you kill?"  I think the people over in Shayol Ghul may need to sit down and talk about there feelings with a qualified person.  So who would I kill.... Galad, definitely Galad; he's just so smug and handsome and self righteous.  I would do it in the study, with the revolver... and the candlestick just to make sure.  That was quite therapeutic!
 
 
Don't forget to check out Dragonmount's Twitter and Facebook pages to keep up to date with everything Wheel of Time.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

A Roll of the Dice: Who is Azeryn?

Greeting all! It is Thursday again meaning it is time for another installment of the Rotating Features blog! The dice have been been tossed and the featured topic has been chosen.
 
As promised, this week I am taking the easy way out and giving everyone a little glimpse behind the curtain. I probably should have wrote this blog earlier, but hey, life happens. So without further procrastination, here is a little bit about me.
 
I am, as many of you already know, from the United States of America. To be more specific, I was born and raised near Cincinnati, Ohio. As any good Ohio native, I am an avid fan of American football, so yeah, GO BUCKEYES!! At the tender age of 18-years-old, I finally ventured from the nest and decided to make out on my own by joining the United States Air Force.
 
I am still active duty military and have been stationed more than a few places, my favorite being Robins Air Force Base in beautiful middle Georgia. This is where I met some of my best friends as well as my wife and I would eventually like to retire there...one day. Currently I am stationed in South Korea, again, and while I do love the assignment, I still miss my family, the states, and of course the events like JordanCon I am unable to attend.
 
There are the basics, but it doesn't really tell you anything about me. To know me, you have to know music is my first passion. I have been playing guitar since I was four, over two decades, and I play bass guitar, drums, sing, and record. I actually brought everything I need to do some song writing and recording while I am out here. My musical tastes have changed some over the years, but I still love my metal music, but I also appreciate southern rock, classical, Spanish style guitar, and even just a sultry voice and a piano.
 
As far as literature, I am far behind many of you. Growing up I hated reading. It did not change until some deployments in the early 2000’s. I did not begin reading the Wheel of Time series until 2006 but was instantly hooked! I sped through the books, and was then left waiting like everyone else for Knife of Dreams to come out.
 
So other than play music and read, what do I do for fun? Well I will actually say live action role-playing (LARPing) was king of my free time for a while. Again, this was another thing I found out about in Georgia. I do like tabletop gaming, as well as video games. I also enjoy weight lifting and running. Making LARP weapons is another fun hobby, which has lead to some profit as well. Fishing has been the king of my time more recently. It will be interesting to fish here in Korea as I am unfamiliar with the fish, their behaviors, habits, etc. Should be a good challenge.
 
All in all, this is me in a nutshell. Just a regular dude who love football, fishing, rocking out, but is still a loud and proud geek too! Not much better than getting into a goodhearted argument with some close friend over whether David Tennant or Matt Smith was a better Doctor. Or just having a cup of tea with a pipe while wearing Cthulhu slippers.
 
As always I hope you enjoyed this installment of the Rotating Features blog. Until next time, this is Azeryn signing off to continue the daunting task of unpacking after adding a little bit too much Irish Cream to my tea.
Azeryn
Azeryn

JordanCon Approaches

In less than a month, it will be time for JordanCon, a convention dedicated to The Wheel of Time series, and Robert Jordan's memory.  The Con will take place April 17-19, 2015, at the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center, in Atlanta, Georgia.  This year's Toastmaster will be Peter B. Slayer—find out more about him, here.
This year's Guests of Honor are Saladin Ahmed, author of Throne of the Crescent Moon, as well as Todd Lockwood, esteemed illustrator of The Gathering Storm eBook cover, and with other works appearing in many mediums.
  
Dragonmount was able to host Mr. Ahmed for an author Q&A session a few years ago, where he spoke about his love for The Wheel of Time.
You can find out more about Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Lockwood by checking out their websites.
Other guests include:
Blue Cole
A.R. Cook
Jim Hodgson
Doctor Michael Livingston
James A Moore
Diana M. Pho
Charles R. Rutledge
Nancy Springer
Anthony Taylor
As well as Team Jordan—Harriet McDougal, Alan Romanczuk, and Maria Simons—and other well-known guest, like Joe O'Hara and Jono Coulborn of tWoTcast, Isaac Stewart and Ben McSweeney, and author Todd McCaffrey, son of Anne McCaffrey.
You can get a complete, up-to-date list here.
Besides focusing on only The Wheel of Time, JordanCon has many other tracks, including Gaming, Writing, Workshops, Works of Brandon Sanderson, Swords and Sorcery, and Rivets and Robots.  The schedule has already been announced, so you can look here for more details about the tracks and panels.
There will also be a dealer's hall and JordanCon's yearly Art Show.  This is a great place to get tons of merchandise, or take home one-of-a-kind artwork.  Ta'veren Tees will have a booth, with this year's "Con of the Red Hand" shirt.

Another focus of JordanCon is charity events.  There will be a silent Charity Auction and a Seanchan Hold 'Em Poker Tournament, with proceeds going to the Mayo Clinic to help fund the study of amyloidosis.
And don't forget that there's a Costume Contest!  Each year, the audience is wowed by costumes within the Wheel of Time world, as well as other novels by Mr. Sanderson—perhaps there'll be some from Mr. Ahmed's novel this year.  Participation is free, but click here for more information on the rules of entry.  Even if you don't participate, it's a wonderful time to see creative costumes from our beloved series.

(2014's Winner: Catherine Turley dressed as Syl from The Stormlight Archives series)
Pre-registration for JordanCon is still going on.  You can purchase tickets for $55, up to April 1st, when pre-registration closes.  If you don't make it in time, tickets can still be purchased the day of.  Prices at the door will be $65 for all three days; or you can select days ala carte for:
Friday: $20
Saturday: $35
Sunday: $20
Saturday & Sunday: $50
I'm personally looking forward to this year's Con very much, and I hope to see all of you there, as well!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

A Roll of the Dice: "Con" of the Red Hand

Greeting all! It is Thursday again meaning it is time for another installment of the Rotating Features blog! The dice have been been tossed and the featured topic has been chosen.

If you have not already done so, mark April 17-19, 2015 on your calendars, JordanCon 7 approaches! Yes it is time for fans of The Wheel of Time to take over a hotel in Atlanta, Georgia for a weekend full of awesome panels, guest authors, old and newly met friends, as well as games! It is one of the few events I am truly saddened by the fact I must miss it. Honestly, it was one of the funnest conventions I have ever been to, and I have been to more than a few.

What sets JordanCon aside from other conventions? My personal answer is the intimacy of the whole weekend. While I have had a few meets with celebrities at bigger conventions, they only chat with a fan for a few minutes before their security rushes them away, or until another fan completely freaks out over meeting them and forces said celebrity to leave. At JordanCon you can actually just have a conversation with many of the special guests randomly, and it's no big deal! The other thing I love about JordanCon is the attendees are all super friendly. I am serious on this one. I think this is because everyone there has one common love, and this is the wonderful writing of Robert Jordan

Aside from the wonderful environment of the convention itself, there are always great panels and things to do all weekend for all types of fans. Want to talk about strictly Wheel of Time topics? You will be hard pressed to find an hour without something Wheel of Time related going on. Want to branch out and look at something different? Go to one of the horror or steampunk panels! Want to polish off some writing skill? There are multiple writing seminar panels throughout the weekend. Maybe you just want to vent a little rage or show off your skills with a weapon. Sign up for the Blademaster's tournament and earn your title! There are a ton of things to do at JordanCon. If it is your first JordanCon, or even if it isn't, I highly suggest the "Speed Friending" panel. It was actually a wonderful way to meet a bunch of fellow convention goers and they have great ways to break the ice. Last year it was, who is your least favorite Wheel of Time character, and yes, I stand by my opinion on Elayne being horrible.

This year of course has a whole new set of panels and guests along with some old favorites. This year's Author Guest of Honor is Saladin Ahmed and the Artist Guest of honor is Todd Lockwood. There also a plethora of special guests and of course Harriet McDougal and some others from Team Jordan will be there as well. 

The convention costs $55.00 for a pre-registered three day pass, the price is $65.00 for a three day pass at the door. You can find more details on purchasing admission, finding a hotel, what guests will attend as well as a schedule of the panels here at JordanCon 7 website. I highly encourage going to this convention if you have a chance.

As always I hope you enjoyed this installment of the rotating feature blog. Sorry for my recent absence, I had to move half way around the world, literally! More on this in next week's blog where you will all learn a little about me! Until next week, this is Azeryn signing off to wonder around a foreign company looking for a spa with doctor fish!
Azeryn
Azeryn

Forum Roundup: March 16-22

Welcome to another edition of the Forum Roundup.  My aim is to bring you the most interesting things that I can find from the Dragonmount forums in easy to find, bite size chunks.
 
I will begin by sharing a rather fetching photo that I found in the White Tower and Warders Social Group depicting one of the more risque members of the Wheel of Time cast: the unforgettable Berelain.  I'm sure we have all come across a home wrecker or two in our times.  Surely none are quite as brazen as Faile's nemesis.  I agree completely with the White Tower Novice, Aniere; that is definitely the face she would have used on Perrin.  The question remains... how did the man resist?
 
Next I will share a poem written by one of the members of the Ogier's Social Group.  It is a lovely couple of verses show casing the talent that I believe is hidden within these forums. 
 
 
 
The author of this poem wrote it in protest against light pollution.  I believe that the Dragonmount forums are fertile ground for imagination and aspiring writers (myself included), so let's see some more and you could find your creation on the Dragonmount Front Page.
 
Just to ruin the so far jovial spirit of this post, the General Discussion Board has decided to have a thread named "heart breaking moments in fiction."  So far we have had Harry Potter, The Wheel of Time, and The Amber Spyglass, to name but a few.  If you're having a bad day and feel the need to vent, why not add your own heart break to the list?
 
The Shayol Ghul Social Group has posted a very fitting "Evil Test."  It let's you know, as a percentage, just how evil you are!  apparently I am 51% good, 49 % evil, which is very disappointing.  It labels me as a neutral force.  Which is a bit like being labelled a waste of time, or a fence sitter.  Brilliant.
 
From Dragonmount's Twitter: 
 

 
Remember to check out Dragonmount's Facebook and Twitter for all the latest Wheel of Time news.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

Forum Roundup: March 9-15

Hello and welcome to another installment of the Forum Roundup.  I aim to bring you the brightest and best from around the Dragonmount forums.
 
I will begin with saying goodbye to yet another author of some superb fantasy novels; Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld series, died at age 66. His books have sold a staggering 85 million worldwide and he was the UK's best selling author of the 1990's.  Sadly Pratchett had been suffering with Alzheimer's disease and died on the 12th of March, 2015. I will join in the petition asking Death to hand him back and I ask you to do the same.  Join the petition here.
 
The Aiel Social Group has been doing a spot of blind dating, with a twist.  An Aiel twist.  Don't worry boys, it doesn't involve being taught to sing or having to fight any members of her family/society. Only answering some probing questions.  So if you're looking for love and don't mind being probed, head over to the Aiel Social Group.
 
The BBC has published a list of 100 books that it believes everybody should read; it has been pointed out that this list is largely British based. But the BBC is after all the British Broadcasting Company, so what can you expect?  I've read ten so far, and I'm approximately a third of the way through my life, so using some basic math, I think that I may need to speed up on the reading front.  If I could just stop reading the same fourteen books over and over and over maybe this would be a little easier!!  
 
The article "How Feminism Hurts Men," featured last week, is still going strong in the White Tower forums, and is causing some good discussion.  And to further Women's History Month,  Dragonmount's Twitter has tweeted a lovely picture of Moraine Damodred, showing Moraine looking every inch the Aes Sedai she is described to be in the books.
 
And from Dragonmount's Facebook page:
 

 
Don't forget to follow Dragonmount on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

Forum Roundup: March 2-8

Welcome to another installment of the Forum Roundup. Here I aim to bring you the most interesting forum posts from Dragonmount in bite size chunks.
 
Firstly from the Aiel Social Group has a post called ''Music for dancing the spears''  The author of the post, Hiarthbeorn, is looking for music that is, in his own words, ''monolithic yet fractured, familiar yet unknowable.''  I personally think that the Aiel people may be partial to a bit of Drowning Pool's ''Let the Bodies Hit the Floor'' whilst dancing the spears. 
 
Second up comes the ''Who said this game'' on the Shayol Ghul Social Group, where the members have to use their encyclopaedic knowledge of Wheel of Time dialogue to guess which character spoke the completely random seeming sentence.  We know that you love to test your knowledge, so click on the link above to see if you can compete.
 
The Shayol Ghul forum has been busy lately.  They have posted a thread very close to their hearts: favorite villains of all time.  It is a perfect discussion for the place famed for spawning Myrdraal and Trollocs.
 
The White Tower Social Group has posted a very apt piece named, "How feminism hurts men."  Although very obviously tongue in cheek, it carries a very poignant message and is well worth a read. The comments below also have some very well written points of view.
 
And from Dragonmount's Twitter feed:
 

 
And remember to keep checking Facebook and Twitter to keep up to speed with Dragonmount and other Wheel of Time news.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

A Roll of the Dice: 2014--An Age of Legends

Greeting all! It is Thursday again meaning it is time for another installment of the Rotating Features blog! The dice have been been tossed and the featured topic has been chosen.
 
As the Ages come and pass, we must reflect on the times gone by as well as towards the future. One Age, an Age of Legends, is currently being studied, weighed, and judged by the Dragonmount community. Thus it is only fitting we take time to look back at the members who have made our favorite Wheel of Time website, Dragonmount, so special. It is time for the 2014 Empy Awards!  
 


 
The Empy Awards are your chance to recognize Dragonmount members for their contributions to the community. The awards are set up into four broad categories; Discussion Boards, Social Groups, Role Play, and finally the whole of Dragonmount. Within each category are specific awards which members may be nominated such as 2014’s Funniest Role Play Thread, 2014’s Best Signature Artist, 2014’s Best Wheel of Time Geek, and my personal favorite 2014’s Most Evil Member. These are just a few of the awards you can nominate fellow Dragonmount members for.
 
Here's the link to the full list of awards as well as the nomination rules. Please read the entire post for all the rules on nominating a member for an award. There are a few rules I would like to highlight as they can be missed if you are just glancing over the post. The first is the awards are for the 2014 calendar year. This is important as members who joined during calendar year 2015, or got positions during 2015 are not eligible for the 2014 Empy Awards. Second is you must have taken part in the specific area in order to nominate someone. For example, I cannot nominate someone for role play awards as I have not taken part in any role play threads. Lastly, let us remember one should not just simply nominate friends. Go back and reread some of the threads, then nominate the member you believe really best fits the category. Be objective and make an informed decision, this is the only way for the Empy Awards to maintain integrity and not simply become a popularity contest.
 
Nominations will continue through March 11, 2015. Voting will begin on March 18 and be open for one week. Awards are scheduled to be announced on March 25.
 
Unfortunately we were unable to book Neil Patrick Harris to host the awards, but we have a team of Dragonmount members diligently working towards making these awards a resounding success. Special thanks to Elgee, Barid Bel Medar, Taymist, and Nynaeve for all their hard work and dedication to make these awards possible and full of awesome.
 
Now go forth and nominate your fellow Dragonmount members for Empy Awards! Until next time, this is Azeryn signing off to finish packing for an expected journey.
Azeryn
Azeryn

Forum Roundup: February 23 - March 1

Welcome to another installment of the Forum Roundup, where I bring you the brightest and best from around the Dragonmount community.
 
I'll begin this week with an interesting philosophical discussion taking place in the General Discussion Forum on the Dark One's reluctance to kill Rand al'Thor.  Was he reluctant or simply incapable?  Add your thoughts to the subject.
 
Do you like playing internet "Mafia?"  If so, the Black Tower Social Group has recently started their own, with a very interesting and slightly dark sounding beginning.  Find it here to follow along. 
 
On the TV Show & Sports Discussion Forum, everyone is talking about Gotham, the Batman prequel television series on Fox.  If you like it, or don't, go join in the discussion. 
 
And finally, in the White Tower Social Group, the Red Ajah is currently hosting International Women's Week.  It's on the Tar Valon board, so all Dragonmount members are free to participate; you don't need to belong to the White Tower.  And, the Blue Ajah's BlueCon--a celebration of all things geeky--is winding down, but the threads are still active.  There's plenty to check out!
 
Remember to keep up to date with Dragonmount by following our Twitter and Facebook pages.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

Forum Roundup: February 16-22

Welcome to another installment of the Forum Roundup where I bring you the brightest and best from around the Dragonmount community.
 
I have to apologies for beginning with yet another contentious topic: the abridgement of the Wheel of Time series.  Some readers claim that the middle section of books could be considered as "slow."  Whether you agree or not, the Dragonmount community could never be accused of sitting on the fence, and here is yet another chance to have your say.
 
 
 
It's only when reading quotes like this that you appreciate how much of a literary talent we have had the pleasure of reading in Robert Jordan. The Wheel of Time is full of these stirring and romantic paragraphs.  To read more, and add your own favorites, visit the General Wheel of Time Discussion Board.
 
I will leave you with this ode to Dragonmount's own Wheel of Time Cage Match: Mat versus Galad; a pairing that hasn't happened within the Cage Match yet.
 
It's a lovely piece of writing that sees Galad and Mat duel.  It's a detailed, blow by blow account which is well worth a read.
 
 
And always remember to keep checking the Dragonmount Twitter and Facebook page for the latest news and information.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory