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Fan Art Friday: Ilyena Sunhair

Let us talk for a moment about Ilyena Sunhair.
 

Ilyena, by Jinzali
 
What do we know about her? Well, she was Lews Therin Telamon’s wife, properly named Ilyena Therin Moerelle; mother of his children. Before they were wed, she was known as Ilyena Moerelle Dalisar. (There is some speculation that perhaps this was an error and should have been Ilyena Dalisar Moerelle, since the third name was earned in the Age of Legends and Moerelle was the name that carried over when she took her nuptial name, but it is only speculation.)
We don’t know what she did to earn her third name, but it must have been something of note, as it seems these names were not handed out lightly. Even some of the Forsaken, largely the top in their respective fields, had not necessarily done anything to earn a third name yet.
 

Ilyena, by lilacwood
 
We know that she had golden hair. With a nickname like “Sunhair” it would be preposterous to think that she was anything but a blonde, or a ginger. (The Amy Pond sort of ginger, not the Jean Grey sort at that.) Brunette would be right out. But I’ve never talked to anyone who has actually read the prologue of The Eye of the World who thought she was anything but a blonde.
 
We know that Demandred desired her (because of course obsessed stalker Demandred wanted everything that Lews Therin wanted) and we know that Lanfear hated her in stereotypical psycho ex-girlfriend fashion. Side note – kind of interesting that Demandred and Lanfear were never a thing. I think I may have found a new ship to sail.
 

WoT Lews Therin Telamon, by manweri
 
Finally, we know that she, and all of her children, were slain by Lew Therin while he was overtaken by the taint, earning him the name Kinslayer.
 
She must have had a very interesting life, and I’m not the only one who thinks so.
 
That’s it this time.
 
If you have a character or subject you’d like to see featured, drop me a line! I’m looking for folks who do Wheel of Time cosplay or have Wheel of Time related tattoos, or any other “out of the ordinary” art forms, so let me know if you’re interested in sharing.
Seafolk Sedai
Seafolk Sedai

A Roll of the Dice: Honesty Is the Best Policy

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.
 

From time to time I will cover a YouTube channel or web series I think you will be interested in. These can be something related to literature or the fantasy genre. Other times it may just simply be something I think fits well with the fantasy/sci-fi subculture or something I quite honestly think is cool. This week I will be covering a YouTube channel called "Honest Trailers." 

Ever went to see a movie solely based on the movie trailers and been completely let down? Do you enjoy finding gaping plot holes, even if you loved the movie? Do you simply have a wicked sense of humor and enjoy laughing at almost anything? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will probably enjoy watching "Honest Trailers."

"Honest Trailers" is created by the online movie magazine Screen Junkies. "Honest Trailers'" goal is to bring you a funny, and sometimes brutally honest, review of a movie in the format of a movie trailer. Not only does "Honest Trailers" review new movies, but they will go back and do older movies as well. While movies are the main focus of their attention, television series are not safe from their wrath either, as both Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones have been subjected to an "Honest Trailers" review.

"Honest Trailers" does a wonderful job at looking at the whole picture, not just acting and writing, but also the effects used, the filler scenes, and even the directors. Truly nothing is safe when it comes to the "Honest Trailers" take of a movie. The end result is a hilariously gratifying poke in the eye to many big budget movies. Even if they thought the movie was great, they will still find a way to make their honest review full of knee slapping humor. The narrators voice is great for doing movie trailers.

On a final note, the honest trailers channel is extremely fan friendly. At the end of each trailer the narrator says random words and phrases fans have wanted to hear him say in the “Honest Trailers” voice. Additionally, from time to time the "Honest Trailers" team do whatever movie was most requested. This led to them doing an "Honest Trailers" version of the Dragon Ball movie, something it seemed they were not over excited to do but they did it because they love their fans.

Here is the link to the "Honest Trailers" YouTube channel. Some of my personal favorite "Honest Trailers" are the ones on Guardians of the Galaxy, The Lego Movie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and The Little Mermaid.

I hope you all enjoy the "Honest Trailers" YouTube channel. As always, leave comments or suggestions for future Rotating blog topics below. Until next week this is Azeryn signing off to drink home brewed mead and watch the new episode of Big Giant Swords.
Azeryn
Azeryn

Forum Roundup: January 9-15

Welcome to another installment of the Forum Roundup, where I scour the internet and the Dragonmount forums to bring you the most interesting pieces from around the Wheel of Time world. 
 
This week there has been one piece of news that has sent tongues wagging like no other: the ''Winter Dragon'' pilot.  This thirty minute piece of film has been truly divisive.  Some fans seem happy that the Wheel of Time has been receiving some air time, and others incandescent with rage over the smallest details -- Ilyena Sunhair being a brunette one of many bug bears.     
 
There has been discussion at length about this subjects, pros and cons, all of which can be found in the Wheel of Time in Other Media forum.  Your opinions are appreciated.  This is your opportunity to put your pennies worth into a discussion that obviously means something to you--otherwise why would you be on this website?
 
What about this fan artwork?
 

 
Is this slightly darker picture from DeviantArt user Manweri truer to the books?  And what do you think about Billy Zane's involvement in the pilot?  Did you know that he starred and produced?  No matter what your personal opinion this could signal exciting times ahead for all Wheel of Time fans.  The chance to share Robert Jordan's masterpiece with a larger audience is always to be encouraged, is it not?
 
Remember to look at Dragonmount's Twitter and Facebook pages to keep up to date with the latest of what is a very exciting time to be involved with The Wheel of Time.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

A Roll of the Dice: Break Out the May Poles, Festivals Are Coming!

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

It is February and in the southern U.S. warmer weather is just weeks away. As spring get closer around so does Renaissance Festival season. Potters, cobblers, smiths, leather-workers, and tailors are finishing up the last of their winter work in preparation of months of traveling from state to state to sell their wares. Warmer weather will bring not only a chance to immerse yourself in a different time, but also to prepare for any conventions you plan on attending by picking up some hard to find, or hard to make, items.
 
Finding a Renaissance Festival near you is easy to do with a quick internet search. Here is a link showing festivals in each state. Some are sooner than others; the Bay Area Renaissance Festival actually starts this weekend here in Tampa, Florida. Others in more northern regions will start in summer months when the weather is more cooperative.

Admittedly finding results outside the United States is a little harder; however, I am sure if you search for festivals by country you can probably find something. I was able to find a decent link for festivals in Canada, unfortunately I did not have such luck with the rest of the world. Wikipedia does have some Renaissance Festivals listed around the world though.

Hopefully by now you can find a festival near you, but do you know what to expect? Renaissance Festivals, aka Renaissance Fairs or Renn Fairs, can take place in a field with a bunch of tents or can be a permanently built up site. Most at least have a few wooden structures. The vast majority of the tents or buildings will be vendors.

Vendors can be local residents who do blacksmithing, pottery, tailoring, etc, or can be people who make their living by traveling from place to place selling their wares at festivals. Vendors will have items priced from a few dollars up to a few thousand. This is because many of the items are hand crafted, and hand crafting takes time which drives the cost up; however, hand made goods are typically higher quality. If you just want to go to casually shop for bobbles, eat, and take in the shows, $50 can get you through the day and you can walk away with a souvenir. If you want to buy some clothing, have a few drinks, play a few games, then around $100 should be sufficient. If you are going to buy any type of armor or boots, my suggestion is to get a two day pass so you can shop the first day and enjoy the festival. Then after you know what you want you can take in the shows and purchase your high dollar item the next day. I say this because I do not encourage anyone to walk around anywhere with more than $200 in cash on their person, and if you pan on buying boots or armor, leather or plate, expect to pay $200 or more.

Some vendors may be able to accept credit or debit cards, but all will accept cash. I would get cash prior to getting to the festival for two reasons; first you may need to pay for parking, and second because if the festival has an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) the fees to pull out cash will be very high. The highest withdraw fee I have seen at a festival was $15.00; I avoid using ones on the festival site at all costs.

Renaissance Festivals are more than a traveling medieval strip mall; there is much more than just vendors! Many festivals have a cast, which includes tryouts and a month or more of rehearsing. These actors provide walking entertainment to guests by playing roles such as the King, Queen, lords, ladies, guards, the clergy, peasants, and yes even the village idiot! Some of the cast may play games with the customers and put on some shows such as a human chess match. The festival’s actors may be viewed as roaming entertainment while patrons shop or wait for the next show.

Shows at a festival can be great and really try to appeal to a wide audience. The most prominent of the shows is the joust! Yes, people actually get into real armor, ride real horses, and have a joust! I have also seen multiple comedy shows, sword fighting displays, and of course musical performances. You can really see a lot of things at these festivals, and many of the performers have been doing this for years and are quite talented. Walking from show to show and perusing the shops you will work up an appetite.

Most festivals will also have food concessions too. Some do it better than others, and some of the food can be quite anachronistic, but sometimes you just want to walk around eating a turkey leg! On the other hand if you are looking for a better dinning experience, I have some tips to help you find better food! First look for a sit down eatery. This may seem way too easy, but at a festival you may actually walk past the nicest restaurant there and not even realize it. So really look! Next tip, ask the vendors where the good places to eat are, but do not ask the actors. The actors may get free food at the normal run-of-the-mill eateries and never deviate from said menu, but not the vendors. As I mentioned earlier, many of them do this for a living, and they know where the good food and drink are!

In conclusion, go for the atmosphere, the shows, or to shop. Renaissance festivals are a blast and I highly encourage everyone to go at least once. You don’t even have to go dressed up in period clothing, or talk in a fake accent. Here is a link to a song parody done by a Renaissance Festival cast; it pretty much some up this rotating feature blog installment.
 

 
As always please let me know if you have anything you want covered in the Rotating Features blog! Until next week, this is Azeryn signing off to go slay the swarm of mosquitoes in my backyard with life sized Lews Therin Bug Zapper!
Azeryn
Azeryn

Forum Roundup: February 2 - February 8

May you find water and shade this day.  Welcome to another installment of the Forum Roundup, in which I bring you the most interesting things from around Dragonmount.
 
I'll begin with something to stimulate your fertile imaginations: "If I could channel right now I would..."  This has endless possibilities. From assembling IKEA furniture, to completing house hold chores, to creating world peace, this can be found in the White Tower.  I would love to hear your ideas!  Post them in the comments and we will see what your inner most desires are!
 
Dragonmount's twitter has been busy this week.  First off is a worthy cause; the Waygate Foundation is featuring an anthology of altered version of published stories.  The anthology, Altered Perceptions, features thirty-one different authors, including Brandon Sanderson.  It contains original stories deleted scenes, and original works from the contributors about how mental illness has affected them and their loved ones.  The benefits of this fundraiser will go to Bring Change 2 Mind, a non-profit organization raising awareness for mental illness. 
 
Think you could fight alongside Lan, Galad, and Rand?  Got to Ta'veren Tees to pick up a Blademaster Tee.
 
From Dragonmount's Facebook page:
 

Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

Wheel of Time TV show pilot?

Various fans have alerted us to the fact that FX is airing a TV show tomorrow (Monday, Feb 9) called The Wheel of Time: Winter Dragon.
 
 
Here's what we know: 
 
It is our understanding that The Wheel of Time movie and TV rights are currently owned by Red Eagle Entertainment. REE has had these rights for many years. During that time, they've been involved in several significant efforts to produce a feature film or TV show. We've reported on these efforts in the past, and have supported them at various times. (Full disclosure: I was a consultant for them on some of these efforts.)
 
We know that Red Eagle's rights expire after 7 years, beginning about a year after RJ died in 2007. Harriet has been very clear about that length of time in the past. (She's called it an "biblical" number of years.) Based on our math, it's our suspicion that the rights are about to expire. Possibly any day. Typically in contracts of this kind, the producers who own the rights need to produce a TV show or movie before the deadline, at which time they receive an extension.  So in order for Red Eagle to keep those rights, and extend the time period they have them, they would have to successfully produce a pilot before that deadline occurs. All they need to do is put out an episode with the name Wheel of Time on it, and use some familiar characters.
 
We don't know what this episode will look like. There has been no trailer, no advertising, and not even an IMDB entry that we can find. 
​
Other possibilities include that Red Eagle transferred the rights to somebody else, and this new group is producing the show.  We don't know how many episodes have been created. Our guess is that there's just one so far.
 
Harriet and Team Jordan are currently unable to speak about anything related to the TV or movie rights. 
 
So check your local listings to see when it will be on. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to get more information on whether this becomes viewable elsewhere.
 
If we get more info about what's happening, we'll let you know.
 
    Enjoy the show!
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    What? A Wheel of Time TV show?

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Gleeman's Tales: Snooze Therin (Part 1)

Today's humor comes from a thread started by failemyfalcon that grew into something beautiful. It all started with:
 
 

And from that, folks started adding their own puns on Lews Therin's name. This month will be devoted to name puns for characters throughout the series. Today is just for Lews Therin...next time there will be much more!
 
 
Lews Therin drinks at a party
Booze Therin
 
 
Lews Therin in a French courtroom
J’accuse Therin
 
 
Lews Therin gets mildly injured
Bruise Therin
 
 
Lews Therin grows antlers
Moose Therin
 
 
Lews Therin gettin jiggy wit it
Loose Therin
 
 
Lews Therin sheds a tear while passionately playing the saxophone
Blues Therin
 
 
Lews Therin gets a job as a journalist
News Therin
 
 
Lews Therin tricks the forsaken and imprisons them.
Ruse Therin
 
 
Lews Therin makes an ice house
Igloos Therin
 
 
Lews Therin realizes his name can be turned into a myriad of puns and it drives him insane.
Therin lies the problem.
 
 
 
 
(And then there's all of these that user eytancragg came up with)
 
That's all for this week! Tune in next time for more character name puns! The Light illumine you all.
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

A Roll of the Dice: Audio Versus Visual

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.
 

 
Audiobooks can be a touchy subjects in some literary circles; some despise them, some love them, and others have no experience with them. At one point in time or another I have been of all three of these opinions, thus I would love to pass on some of the pros and cons to you on audiobooks.
 
I was ten years old the first time I saw an audiobook; it was a dozen cassette tapes kept in a large cumbersome case. Luckily technology brought us the MP3 and now entire books can be carried on almost any mobile device. This expands the situations in which an audiobook may actually be preferable to a physical book.
 
One obvious example is while driving. Regardless of who you are, reading while driving will eventually lead to very bad things. The first time I truly gave audiobooks a chance was in 2011 when I was traveling to and from Atlanta each weekend for work. This was a seven hour commute and I found listening to my favorite series really made time fly by. Prior to this I would listen to music, typically leading me to either taking my eyes off the road as I would fiddle with my phone to pick the next song or start speeding. I had no such issues with the audiobooks.
 
I also find audiobooks more practical when exercising. Whether lifting weights, running, riding a bike, or just doing calisthenics, I am almost always listening to an audiobook. Again my old vice was music, but I have found myself being able to do more when listening to audiobooks. With music I subconsciously let the beat dictate my pace; with audiobooks I find myself doing more reps and running longer distances. Although when running my timed mile and a half, nothing but fast paced music for me, thank you!
 
The last situation I find audiobooks being a better option is when you have already seen the movie or television series based on books. I am simply unable to read the book if I have already seen the movie or series; however, I have found I can listen to it. These scenarios have led to me frequently listening to audio books. I still enjoy music, but I find myself listening to more audiobooks when doing thinks like cooking Thanksgiving dinner, or as I call it “marathon cooking,” as well as when fishing. Any time I am going to be gone for more than 30 minutes and I am unable to read a book, I am normally listening to one; however, there are some problems when it comes to audiobooks as well.
 
The first problem with is someone is reading the book to you. It eliminates some of your own imaginative processes to the book. While reading A Memory of Light, in my mind the characters still expressed the same voices from the audiobooks as opposed to the voices my mind originally created for each character back when I read The Eye of the World.
 
Another issue is gender. In every audiobook I have listened to there are times when a male is forced to read female voicing or vice versa. While many do an admirable job of this, it can also be quite laughable at times. On a similar note, not all words in the book are pronounced correctly. This problem is most common among character or place names, even when the book has an index with proper pronunciations.
 
Lastly, nothing can truly replace a book. I love the experience of grabbing a book for the first time! The feel of the bound pages and the actual smell of the book cannot be replaced. Nor can the enjoyment I get from sitting in a comfy spot reading while eagerly page turning through a few chapters. My personal rule is to not listen to a book if it is one I plan on reading. I always read the book first and listen later, unless I have seen the movie, or TV series first.
 
I hope you enjoyed this article on audiobooks. Please let me know what your thoughts on the topic or if there is a topic you feel should be covered in a future Rotating Features blog. After all, it is all about the Dragonmount community and what you want, not just what I think is cool! Until next week this is Azeryn signing off to going to sew discord on some unsuspecting bird people!
Azeryn
Azeryn

Forum Roundup: January 26 - February 1

Greetings.  May you find water and shade this day.  This is the first of my Forum Roundup pieces, and my aim is to bring you the best, and most interesting items, from around Dragonmount.
 
I'll begin with sharing a link to a brilliant video I found doing the rounds in the Warders Guild: "The art of archery."  It shows a modern day archer using ancient techniques for better speed and accuracy.  The video is pretty amazing and shows you what may have been possible in the past, or in the Age of Legends. However, I'd still put my faith in a Two Rivers longbow if it came down to it!  Let me know your opinion.
 
You may recognize this verse ?
 
 
This is of course Mat Cauthon's old favorite, "Jak o' the Shadows," best served post-battle and extremely drunk.  The Band of the Red Hand Social Group is attempting to pen new verses, and is open to suggestions.  Mirth, oosquai, and black humor will all be needed to write a good verse!  Post your efforts on the forum and let's extend this classic!
 
The Shayol Ghul Social Group is looking for a new Shadar Haran.  But remember, only members of Shayol Ghul can apply.  This may be the coolest sounding job ever!  Anyone who doesn't want to run thakan'dar and lead the Shadowspawn is, in my opinion, on the wrong website!
 
A new game has come to my attention through the Black Tower. This game allows your favorite fantasy novels to go head-to-head, toe-to-toe, mano-e-mano, to see who comes out on top.  The Wheel of Time is sadly not included because it wouldn't be fair.... We had to give the others a chance.
 
From Dragonmount's Facebook page:
 

 
To stay up to date on everything Wheel of Time, follow Dragonmount's Facebook page and Twitter account.
Aemons Glory
Aemons Glory

A Roll of the Dice: Preparing for the Great Game!

Good day and well met! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday and it is time for my first installment of the Rotating Feature blogs, “A Roll of the Dice.” “It is not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor ends to turning of the Wheel of Time, but it is a beginning.”
 
As this week winds down millions of people, especially in the United States, are getting ready for the Great Game. No, not Daes Dae’mar, but the professional American football championship game. Many people will find themselves going to or planning parties for the big game. While this is well and good, what if you or some of your friends are not big sport fans? This is why I have put together a few suggestions on ways to make your party enjoyable for all! Since this is Dragonmount, I will cover some ways to make the party more "themed" towards the Wheel of Time book series; however, with a little tweaking and some imagination you can use any theme you want! The possibilities are endless!
 
So let us get started on our Wheel of Time themed Party!
 
Have the party take place somewhere you will all be comfortable. Many people go to pubs and sports bars to watch big games, but a themed party is better held at a home or private venue. This encourages guests to be themselves without the worry of the pub populace wondering why everyone is wearing different colored shawls!
 
Food is a huge deal at any party and you can use your menu as a means to further immerse guests into theme of the party. This can be done by making foods from the series such as meat pies and honey cakes or by creating your own recipe and name it after someone or something in the series. Personally, I would love some "Red Ajah” velvety cupcakes! Potlucks are always a hit and a great way to save a little time and money while also having a huge food spread.
 
Beverages are also important, wether containing alcohol or not, drinks are another way to add fun and atmosphere to the party. Try making different teas, perhaps a cool slightly sweetened goosemint tea or a more refined hot tea with hints of berries and honey, or perhaps kaf (coffee). Of course many wines and brandies are mentioned in the books, but if you want to be creative with mixed drink area, go for it! One of my new favorite drinks is "Blood and Bloody Ashes" which I tried at JordanCon 6.  A friend and I came up with a very simple beverage we call “Tam’s Hard Spiced Cider” which consists of one 12 ounce bottle of hard apple cider and two or three ounces of cinnamon whiskey.
 
Party games are a great way to spend time before the big game and avoid four hours of pre-game sportscaster commentary. One simple idea is to change well known party games to meet the theme. A few examples are Wheel of Time Charades, Find the Darkfriend (based on the party games Mafia and Werewolf), and even some Wheel of Time trivia. If you are around very close friends, and are not easily offended, Cards Against Humanity is a great game. It is basically an R-Rated version (so play with caution) of Apples to Apples and comes with some blank cards so you can personalize the game to your party’s theme or include inside jokes about your friends.
 
There are so many things one could do for a party to include costumes, invitations, decorations, and party favors; I cannot cover them all. Hopefully, this week’s blog has given you a few ideas to make your party the best it can be. Thank you to the Dragonmount staff for choosing me to write this blog, and to all of you whom are reading it. I look forward to trying to find things to interest this wonderful community of Wheel of Time fans each week.
Azeryn
Azeryn

Fantasy Review: Kushiel's Chosen

Kushiel's Chosen is the second book in Phedre's Kushiel's Legacy trilogy. The review of first book can be found here. The review will contain spoilers from both books.
 
 
Kushiel's Chosen
by Jacqueline Carey
 
 
Synopsis
The book begins almost after the incidents in the first book. Phedre is living in Montreve as a comtessa. A merchant and acquaintance had chanced upon Phedre's cloak which she last worn when she was betrayed by Melisande. Fearing Melisande's return, she decides to return to Terre'd'Ange to the service of Namaah and find out Melisande before she could destroy the kingdom. In Terre'd'Ange, Phedre tries to resolve the mystery of Melisande's escape and this causes her to distrust those who would have been her allies. What follows is a journey fromTerre'd'Ange to La Serenissima to La Dolorosa, being captive and escaping and hoping to stop Melisande in time.
 
 
Pros
This books is a lot faster than the first book and less chances of wanting to leave in the middle. This book has more adventure and can keep you up for late nights if you get caught up. The relationships are quite interesting. I especially liked Phedre and Melisande's complicated relationship where Phedre loves and hates Melisande. It gives a complexity to the villain.  The similarities between Phedre's world and the real world are fun to observe. Its easy to get involved comparing different regions of that world to this world.
 
 
Cons
I was not happy with the ending. the first book had ended on a note that made me want to read the next book but this one ended on a happier note than I would prefer in second book of a series.  Phedre's and Joscelin's way of thinking became irritating at times.
 
Conclusion
Most second books in series cannot match up to the first book, but this is better than the first book in some ways. There are parts which don't satisfy me and some parts which I would have not read at all so it is not a perfect book. But if you are in mood for something romantic with lots of adventure, give it a try.
My rating
I would give it a rating of 4/5.
 
Kushiel's Chosen can be found here, at Dragonmount's eBook Store.
Panchi
Panchi

Hugo Award Nominations Have Begun

The nomination period for the 2015 Hugo Awards has opened. This prestigious award recognizes the best in science fiction and fantasy each year and is voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Society. Many famous authors have been recognized with a Hugo, including Robert Heinlein, Lois McMaster Bujold, Anne McCaffrey, Brandon Sanderson and Issac Asimov. In 2014, Robert Jordan was nominated for the Wheel of Time series. 
 
If you were eligible to vote in the Hugos last year, you are eligible to nominate this year. If you were not, then you will need to become eligible by January 31st. This year's Hugo Awards are hosted and administered by the 73rd annual WorldCon, "Sasquan", held in Spokane, Washington August 19-23. Further information about the awards and how to nominate can be found on their website. Nominations are open until March 30th. 
 
 
JenniferL
JenniferL

Updated Info on the Wheel of Time Companion

Today Tor Books released new information about the Wheel of Time Companion, the upcoming encyclopedia-style supplement to the Wheel of Time series.  
Here's what we know about the book so far:
It will be released in November 2015. It's organized alphabetically, like an encyclopedia, with entries for all 2,000+ named characters in the series. It includes a complete dictionary for the Old Tongue. It includes other information about the characters, history, and world such as the relative strengths for many channelers. It includes new maps and character illustrations (although we are not sure if they are color or black and white. No artists have been announced). It includes all of the maps previously found inside the books. The complete book is over 350,000 words, which makes it as longer than an average-sized WoT novel. The Companion will have spoilers for the entire series.  
The image seen here is the book cover. Harriet McDougall is, of course, Robert Jordan's widow and the editor of the entire series. Alan Romanczuk and Maria Simons are their assistants, who've had an intimate role in organizing and tracking the lore of the series for many years. 
 
 
  • Teaser Paragraph:

    Tor has released the book cover, along with other information about the Wheel of Time Companion.

Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

WoT If… Rand Can Sense the True Source?

Welcome back to another edition of Dragonmount's Theory Blog, "WoT If?".  We're continuing our reread of The Eye of the World, with chapters 39 and 40.
 
Synopsis (taken from Encyclopaedia-Wot.org):
 
Chapter 39, "Weavings of the Web"
Apparently, Rand and Mat have been in Caemlyn for several days. Today is the day that Logain is brought into town. Rand is going to go see Logain. He asks Mat if he wants to go as well, but Mat declines. It seems that Mat has not been out of their room since they arrived. Master Gill had told Rand of a woman named Mother Grubb who sounded a bit like a Wisdom, but Rand does not visit her. He meets Master Gill at the foot of the stairs and Master Gill says he heard that some beggar is looking for him and Mat and that there are rumors of strange shapes creeping around outside the city at night. Master Gill recommends leaving by the back way, which Rand does. At the end of the alley is Lamgwin who has been hired to help keep the inn safe. Rand has found out the meanings of the red and white cloth that everyone is wearing. The red is support for Queen Morgase and white is for those who believe her involvement with the Aes Sedai is to blame for everything going wrong. The outer part of the city is called the New City. He makes his way into the Inner City and finds a spot to watch for Logain. He is not there for long before a beggar bursts through the crowd on the other side of the street. The beggar looks around and then points directly at Rand. Rand backs out of the crowd and runs the other way. He finally finds a wall where he thinks he can see Logain pass by and he scrambles to the top of it. He scrapes his hands and knees on the way up. He is just in time as the procession comes into view. Eventually Logain comes into view on a wagon inside a large cage with iron bars. There are two Aes Sedai at each corner shielding him. They are accompanied by a dozen Warders. Logain has the presence of a king. The crowd goes quiet as he passes and then resumes screaming after he passes. Logain throws his head back and laughs and then his wagon enters the Palace grounds. He wonders aloud "Why were the Aes Sedai watching him?" A girl's nearby voice says "They're keeping him from touching the True Source, silly." He is startled, falls off the wall, and gets knocked unconscious.
 
Chapter 40, "The Web Tightens"
Rand awakes on the ground with a bleeding head. Elayne and Gawyn climb down from a tree. Elayne starts to tend to Rand's injury, bandaging his head with a silk scarf. Gawyn mentions Elaida, Lini and Gareth Bryne. He served under three Queens and as Captain-General and First Prince Regent for two. Rand asks who their mother is and Gawyn tells him she is Morgase. At that, Rand starts for the wall to leave. Gawyn asks Rand to tell them his name and where he is from, which he does. Gawyn says "Elayne ought to choose her husband from there," meaning the Two Rivers. Galad walks up. Rand tries to remember what Hyam Kinch and Basel Gill told him about Galad. Galad distrusts Rand and wants to arrest him, but Elayne stops him. Galad then leaves. Soon after, guards arrive led by Tallanvor. He and the rest of the guards escort Rand, Gawyn and Elayne to Morgase. On the way, Rand notes only one cat. Elayne explains that Elaida hates rats and keeps them away. With Morgase are Elaida and Bryne. Morgase chastises Elayne and Gawyn, mentioning that they will be going to Tar Valon in two days with Logain's escort. She saw him up close and thinks he is still dangerous. Elaida comes over to study Rand and notices his heron-marked sword. Elaida asks Rand where he got his sword. He replies that his father gave it to him. Elaida is suspicious, but Bryne says the sword belongs with him. Elaida asks where Rand is staying. He lies and says The Crown and Lion. Elaida has a Foretelling:
 
"From this day Andor marches toward pain and division. The Shadow has yet to darken to its blackest, and I cannot see if the Light will come after. Where the world has wept one tear, it will weep thousands." She whispers the rest to Rand, "Pain and division come to the whole world, and this man stands in the heart of it."
 
Morgase questions him and then decides to release him, much to Elaida's displeasure. She recognizes Two Rivers speech from when she was young. Tallanvor, Elayne, Gawyn and several guards escort Rand to the front gate. Gawyn tells Rand he looks like an Aielman. Rand runs away from the Royal Palace.
 
 
My take:
 
There's not a lot in these two chapters that leads to things we don't already know.  These scenes are for building up tension, to spark more conflict between Rand and his surroundings, as well as inside Rand himself.  But for us who have read the series a dozen times and counting, they seem almost common now.  Especially the foreshadowing of his relationship with Elayne, and his Aiel heritage.
 
Still, there are a few things that always amaze me about these chapters as well.  First, Logain.  It was this scene of Logain trapped in a box and laughing that made me love him as a character.  There is something so insanely awesome about Rand noticing how, even though Logain's caged, he's nowhere near beaten.  Logain has so much spunk left in him, and we know that as early as book one!  That's amazing! 
 
And I just can't help but laugh at the irony, even now, of Logain's behavior on seeing Rand.  From Rand's perspective, he can't tell Logain is looking in his direction.  And it's not till much, much later that we find out why Logain laughed the way he did (Lord of Chaos, Chapter 30, "To Heal Again").  But here, it makes Logain seem totally badass.  And it's also so impressive that Robert Jordan knew that Logain, first, had the Talent for seeing ta'veren, and had the ability to bring this reference full circle (letting us in on the joke) in Lord of Chaos.  I don't know how many times I've said it, but Mr. Jordan sure had a lot of skill in making his plotlines synch.  And it's also what makes these re-reads so much fun!
 
We also get a glimpse of a few characters who come into play later—another instance of Mr. Jordan's wonderful planning.  We see Lamgwin, who helps Morgase escape Caemlyn with Basil Gill, and we see Tallenvor, Morgase's eventual husband.  It's strange to see Tallenvor like this, because of how low in the ranks he is here.  How weird to think how much he and Morgase go through as the series progresses.  Right now, Morgase is still in love with Gareth Bryne, and Tallenvor is way below her notice.  My, how things change.
 
And one other thing to note is that Rand compares Elayne to Nynaeve and Moiraine.  He's saying it in relation to her "self-possession," but I wonder if he's able to sense her ability to channel.  Because Nynaeve doesn't have much self-possession, at least nothing like the nobility inside Moiraine and Elayne.  Nynaeve is strong willed, but she often—or always—lets her emotions control her, flying off the handle about anything and everything.  That's not the definition of self-possession; almost the opposite, in fact.  Nynaeve does always believe she is right, and will bully anyone who doesn't agree, but that's still not the same thing.
 
I'm sure Elayne—under Elaida's supervision—has probably touched saidar before.  We know Moiraine channeled in the Sun Palace in Cairhein before going to Tar Valon herself (The Eye of the World, Chapter 53, "The Wheel Turns"), so it would make logical sense that Elayne could be touching the True Source, even if still subconsciously.  And I wouldn't doubt for a second that Rand is able to feel that inside her already.
 
And there is always a stab of regret when reading about Gawyn and Rand.  They could have been friends so easily, but Gawyn messed it up so badly.  And seeing Rand come into contact with Galad is a bit funny too.  We don't know it yet, but the "handsomest man Rand had ever seen" turns out to be his half-brother.  Sometimes, this feels like a soap opera. 
 
That's all I've got to say about these two chapters.  We'll pick up next time with the arrival of Moiraine and company, and a flight from Caemlyn!  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Call for Applications: Front Page Blogger Positions Open

I am calling for applications for two people to join my staff as bloggers. Applications for these positions will be open until Monday, January 19th.
 
Description of the Job Positions:
 
1. The first position currently open is for the Forum Roundup Blogger.  This person will be responsible for doing a brief recap of some of the important events/threads happening on the forums.  Please look here for past examples of this column.
2. The second open position is for a Rotating Features Blogger. This person will be responsible for a short weekly column that will have different types of content each week. This person will work off a list of ideas for features (partly ideas that have already been thought of for you, and partly ideas you can make up and run by me for approval) and rotate the features. For instance, the first Thursday of the month could be for interviews with people who have contributed to the fandom, the second Thursday of the month could be for tips about WoT merchandise (e.g. where to get the best Aes Sedai rings), the third Thursday of the month could be a contest, etc.  Please look here for past examples of this column.
 
Job Duties for Both Front Page Blogger Positions:
 
1. Bloggers are expected to produce content in their respective areas for the front page twice per month. They must be able to meet deadlines in a timely manner.
 
2. Bloggers occasionally will be called upon to assist the Front Page Admin with brainstorming new ideas for features.
 
3. Bloggers are expected to dedicate time each week to the Front Page Bloggers Staff Board and the DM Staff Board. As members of DM Staff, they act as representatives of the members of DM and their input is vital in the decision making process. Bloggers should be actively engaged in discussions on staff boards.
 
4. Bloggers must be able to give at least a 6 month commitment of approximately 5 hours per week. LOAs will come up, of course.
 
Anyone who thinks they can fulfill the requirements may apply. Strong candidates are people who possess the following qualities: efficiency, writing ability, organizational skills, creativity, maturity, and the ability to work well with others.
 
The Application Process:
 
If you are interested, please send an email to frontpage@dragonmount.com.
 
In each application, please include:
 
* Your DM Handle.
* Some details about who you are in real life, including anything you think will have prepared you for leadership (including past online leadership experience).
* A sample of your writing consisting of at least three short paragraphs. This can be in the form of a brief essay, a blog, a school paper, a newspaper article, a forum post, a short story, or a role play. You do not have to write something new for this application; in fact, many of you already have forum posts that are long enough to count. I mainly want to get an idea of your writing style.
* Anything else that you think would set you apart from other applicants.  Why are you the best candidate?
 
Note: Please specify the position for which you are applying (Weekly Roundup Blogger or Rotating Feature Blogger) in your application.
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will try to answer them.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Gleeman's Tales: Incorrect Quotes

Today's funny feature is brought to you by the blog incorrect-wot-quotes, which combines quotes from various media and applies it to corresponding events or characters in the Wheel of Time.
 
First, a couple Game of Thrones crossovers:
 
 
 
 
For anyone who is a fan of the NBC show Parks and Recreation:
 
 
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
 
Of course, some Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit:
 
 
 
 
And a few random ones that I just had to include:
 
 
 
 
 
That's all for now! Again, all of these quotes are from the blog incorrect-wot-quote. I hope you've enjoyed; Happy Holidays!
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

WoT If… Rand Has all the Suffering of the World?

Welcome back to another edition of Dragonmount's Theory Blog, "WoT If?".  We're continuing our reread of The Eye of the World, with chapters 37 and 38.
 
Synopsis, taken from Encyclopaedia-WoT:
 
Chapter 37, "The Long Chase"
After several days on the Caemlyn Road, Moiraine, Lan and Nynaeve head north following the remaining token. One evening, Moiraine senses the token is gone. A few hours later it is back. One night, Lan returns from scouting and says he found them in a Whitecloak camp. There are wolves around. There is dim moonlight from the waning moon. Nynaeve enters the camp to steal two extra horses and finds Bela. Nynaeve feels certain they will need the extra horse. After cutting the picket lines, lightning flashes causing the horses to scatter. She sees a wolf helping to panic the horses. She rides Bela and leads another horse out of the camp.
 
Chapter 38, "Rescue"
Perrin and Egwene are prisoners of the Whitecloaks. It is nighttime and they are in a tent. Jaret Byar enters and offers them a chance to escape. Perrin thinks it is a trap. Before he can do anything, Dapple tells them that help is coming. He also gets an image that Elyas is wounded, but alive. Lan enters the tent and knocks out Jaret Byar. They reach Moiraine, but Nynaeve has not returned. Lan almost goes after Nynaeve despite Moiraine's orders. Moiraine says that Lan is "al'Lan Mandragoran, Lord of the Seven Towers" and mentions the "oath of a Diademed Battle Lord of the Malkieri." Nynaeve returns with Bela and another horse. They ride for several hours, then make camp. Nynaeve notices Perrin's yellow eyes. She rubs ointment into his bruises and they heal remarkably fast. Moiraine knows what it is, but will not comment further. Lan, who also knows of wolves, asks Perrin if there was an intermediary. Lan knows Elyas. He says that Elyas Machera was a Warder and his teacher before his change happened. He implies that the Red Ajah tried to gentle Elyas Machera. There is a slivered moon. It is a few hard days to Caemlyn.
 
My take:
 
We're back to Perrin.  I was so caught up in Rand's affairs that I forgot about poor Perrin and his Whitecloak friends. 
 
The first chapter is from Nynaeve's point of view, and a few things about her character clicked for me while reading it.  First is her budding feelings for Lan (and his returned feelings in the next chapter).  But more importantly is how she deals with fear.  Look at this quote from when she was cutting the Whitecloaks' horse lines:
 
 
Notice how she handles the fear.  It's the fear that calms her.  Just think of how much terror she had inside her if it's what causes her to act normal.  How often would she be terrified back home in the Two Rivers, where the women don't respect her because she's too young, and the men don't respect her because she's pretty?  That amount of fear would be staggering.  And it's only logical to conclude that that fear would lead to anger (as wise Yoda once said).  
 
When you view her like this, it's almost impossible to not pity Nynaeve.  And it's no surprise she had a hard time surrendering to saidar.  In fact, I think the first time she was able to come to terms with her fear was when she felt responsible for Birgette being ripped from Tel'aran'rhiod.  It completely broke her, and she had to confront her fear and realize how much it dominated her life.  Once she recuperated from that traumatic event, she really matured as a character.  Yes, she was still angry most of the time, but not to cover fear—just because she has a surly personality.  
 
I also like how she realizes the One Power is inside her no matter what she does.  As I said in an earlier blog, it's so heart wrenching to see how much the One Power is misunderstood and feared, and to see it from Nynaeve's point of view, finding out first hand what that horror feels like.  But then, when we find out Rand can channel just a few chapters later, it's even more shocking.  It's like Nynaeve's predicament, but a hundred times worse. 
 
I think that makes us, as readers, instantly supportive of Rand.  I think that's why we forgive him so many of his sins.  I think that's why we loved him even when he approached the darkness and madness.  It seems like, with Nynaeve, Robert Jordan was showing us a really sad, pitiful example of a person being wronged.  Then, with Rand, we're shown that those same hurts all over again, except we add rubbing salt and lemon juice on his open wounds.  It makes everything worse.
 
But when we move onto Perrin's point of view in Chapter 38, we're shown a different kind of pity.  Nynaeve is fighting her destiny tooth and nail, while Perrin has just surrendered almost from the start.  Or, appears to surrender.  His struggles with his wolfbrother abilities surpass Nynaeve's inability to grasp saidar, but Perrin goes about it in such a different way.  But that's beside the point right now.
 
Perrin is defeated in this scene.  He's so afraid for himself and Egwene that he can't even sleep despite his exhaustion.  And he's probably more scared for Egwene than himself; that's just the kind of person he is.  He understands the hopelessness of their situation, knowing he'd "probably confess to anything just to make the Questioners stop."
 
I love Perrin so much in this book.  Despite what you think he becomes later, it's very difficult to deny how perfect he is during these few scenes.  He's discovered things about himself that scare him, but he pushes on.  He feels responsible for Egwene, so he does his best to protect her—even to the point of taking her life rather than let her be eaten by Shadowspawn ravens.  His pain just clenches my stomach.
 
And now that I look at that, this is also something that prepares us for how horrible things get for Rand.  Yes, Perrin's wolfbrother abilities—and his rejection of them—is similar to Rand's own rejection of saidin.  But I think it goes deeper than that.  Perrin claims to have accepted his fate, claims he won't fight against it.  Rand does that same thing, saying he'll go and die at Shayol Ghul, that he'll be the sacrifice the world needs.  
 
It seems to me that every character's hardest challenges are reflected on Rand—that Rand overcomes everyone else's worst situations:
 
He deals with the fear of the ability to channel, like Nynaeve.
 
He deals with the burden of leadership, like Perrin.
 
He deals with past memories in his head, like Mat.
 
He deals with being made captive, like Egwene.
 
Everyone's suffering is combined into what Rand al'Thor must face.  He really does confront the burdens of the entire world.
 
Again, this is why we love and forgive him so easily, I think.  Mr. Jordan did such a beautiful job of making him suffer, and we know it, and pity him.  
 
Well, that got me a bit sidetracked.  There's a few other points I'd like to make on Chapter 38.  One being the changes in Jaret Byar after this encounter with Perrin.  One of the things Perrin is so disgusted by is Byar's lack of emotions:
 
 
Byar does not care if Perrin and Egwene lived or died.  But after this, Byar is filled with a vengeance to see Perrin dead.  This vengeance is multiplied when Bornhald is killed at the end of The Great Hunt.  So why would this simple prisoner, and his escape, cause Byar to lose his mind so spectacularly?  Bubble of evil, is my opinion.  Something must have come along the Pattern, drawn by Perrin's ta'veren thread, and landed on Byar.  So many of the plots of the Whitecloaks in the later books are due to Byar—who was poisoned by this evil—poisoning Dain Bornhald's mind.
 
And we're back to Nynaeve and Lan.  Here's another quote (one of my favorites in this book), from when Moiraine is telling Lan that Nynaeve's not back from the horse lines yet.
 
 
And even after all this, Lan still doesn't move.  He is determined to go save Nynaeve, even after Moiraine calls him out on his oaths.  He's obviously very much in love with her already.  It gives me shivers, thinking of him being so defiant to Moiraine, willing to forsake his oaths, just to save Nynaeve.  And when Nynaeve does return, he grabs her by the arm, staring at her. 
 
This is the most emotion we've seen out of the man so far.  And since he is showing emotions, we have to know that they are very strong.
 
And I like that Nynaeve laughs when he releases her.  She knows she got through his thick wall of faked indifference.  Good for her.
 
And with that little lapse in Lan's iron-clad emotions, he's almost fond in his discussion with Perrin later.  He really does care about the Two Rivers folk, even if he tires to deny it at first.  
 
I think we'll end at that.  We'll continue with the next few chapters, and Rand's unfortunate fall off the palace walls, next time.  Thanks for reading!
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

New Two Rivers Longbow Champion Tees

Exciting news from Ta'veren Tees!  New items are available for preorder!
 
 
"Ta’veren Tees is extremely excited to announce the release of not one but TWO new products at www.TaverenTees.com: The Two Rivers Longbow Champion Tee and the 2015 The Wheel of Time Calendar.
 
Two Rivers Longbow Champion Tees:
We know that no one can beat Tam al'Thor in the Emond's Field archery competition. We have faith that you, however, can come close. 
 

 
In fact, becoming a Longbow Champ is easy. All you have to do is head to TaverenTees.com/longbow for the men's/unisex version and TaverenTees.com/longbowladies for the fitted women's style.
 
This tee is available for PREORDER. Preorders get 10% off the original price of $24 or $26! All preordered shirts will be shipped on November 18th when they are available. Other items purchased with this shirt will be held and shipped at the same time.
 
2015 The Wheel of Time Calendar:
There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time... but you should still grab the official Wheel of Time calendar before 2015 at TaverenTees.com/15calendar. 
 

 

 
This 2015 WoT calendar measures 12" x 12". It features thirteen memorable scenes from across the series (including A Memory of Light) drawn by officially licensed WoT artists Edsel Arnold, Paul Bielaczyc, Ariel Burgess, and Joe O'Hara. It runs from January 2015 through December 2015 and includes U.S. Holidays and significant WoT dates.
 
Orders of the 2015 calendar will receive a free 2014 calendar while supplies last (leftover 2014 calendars are very limited). 
 
To keep up with even more upcoming product notifications and holiday sales, make sure to watch our Facebook page and keep an eye on TaverenTees.com!"
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Fan Art Friday: Halloween

Welcome once again to Friday, and Fan Art!
 
Halloween--a time for things that go bump in the night. Creepy crawlies, scary stories, childhood nightmares.
 

Eye of the World, by Boros Szikszai
 
But not just these things. The modern version of Halloween has grown out of ancient festivals honoring the dead, and the ancestors. In the intermediate years, it has been seen as a time when the dead can walk the earth, because the barrier between the lands of the living and the dead was thinned or even gone. One well-known festival is Samhain, which is celebrated largely on the British Isles, but there are many, many others.
 
Of  course, not just ghosts were able to get through. Demons, fairies, and other hellish or ephemeral creatures walked the night as well.
 

Goat-horned Trolloc by T-biddy
 
Nowadays, of course, Halloween looks a little different. Children dress in costume and go door to door soliciting candy--a tradition which also has deep roots. There are still aspects of darkness in the holiday, though, despite it's seeming childishness.
 

Draghkar by Cadavis3
 
There are two holidays in The Wheel of Time world that correlate to our Halloween: Amaetheon and Shaoman.
 
Amaetheon is celebrated everywhere except the Borderlands and is a day of remembrance for the dead. Shaoman is a children's holiday, in which they are celebrated, given gifts, and in some places they go door to door singing songs--and are rewarded with sweets.
 

Nynaeve Birgitte Moghedien and Liandrin by Myed89
 
In celebration of the day, I've collected some of my favorite Wheel of Time creepy crawlies: Trollocs, Fades, Dragkhar, and yes, even Moghedien! (Personally, I find Semirhage to be scarier, but Moghedien was the one about whom stories were told to small children.)
 
What's the scariest character/creature in Wheel of Time to you?
 

Myrddraal by BloodRedFullMoon
 
Happy Halloween, and Blessed Samhain!
Seafolk Sedai
Seafolk Sedai

Gleeman's Tales: What Should We Call Wheel of Time

In the style of What Should We Call Me, matrim-notabloodylord-cauthon has brought us gif reactions of characters from the series. Everything below is verbatim from matrim-notabloodylord-cathon's blog.
 
Here's Asmodean every day after he gets captured:
 

 
Here's Nynaeve dealing with just about any problem ever:
 

 
Here's Talmanes listening to Mat ranting:
 

 
Here's Siuan searching for Black Ajah:
 

 
Here's Ishamael listening to people talk about how awesome Lews Therin is:
 

 
And that is certainly not all of them, I have only featured a few of the most popular ones. I hope you have enjoyed! The Light illumine you.
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn

Fantasy Review: Sixth of the Dusk

This will conclude our special edition of Dragonmount's Fantasy Review for Shadows Beneath, the short story anthology put together by the Writing Excuses podcast team: Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, Howard Tayler, and Brandon Sanderson.  This review will be on Brandon's story "Sixth of the Dusk."
 
Synopsis
Sixth of the Dusk is a trapper who lives and works on the island of Patji, an island more dangerous than any others in the Pantheon.  Even the smallest insects can kill.  During a routine visit to his home island, Dusk encounters Vathi, a scholar trained on the mainland; though she shares his heritage, she has never trained on the deadly islands.  Her team of explorers is there to gather information on the birds, the Aviar, of the Pantheon.  Each bird raised on the islands has a special power, depending on its breed.  The townsfolk on the mainland want to trade and expand their power with the Aviar as their bargaining chip.  But Dusk knows the islands secrets and is hesitant to share with Vathi, who may use it to their own downfall.
 
Pros
This story was fantastic.  I had heard the podcast before reading, so I knew the general plotline of this story, and the secrets of the Aviar.  But even knowing all that, this story still shocked and surprised me.  There was so much more at stake than just the birds' secrets.  And Brandon spun that side of the tale like a master. 
 
One of the major themes was the advance of technology versus the preservation of nature.  Vathi wanted to settle the island, tame it.  Dusk sought to keep the old ways alive, keep the island and the animal inhabitants wild.  They represented conflicting views on this issue.  And each one had a valid reason and motivation for feeling the way they did.  Their beliefs and their ultimate goals really defined the story.  There was a lot to think about after the story was finished.
 
I admired Dusk as a character because he had some difficult truths to face, but did it gracefully.  He could have easily struggled, making his fate more tragic.  But using logic, he could see the truth of the situation and acted the way he must, rather than the way he wanted.  And Vathi did this too.  Her decisions were just as difficult.  She could have taken the easy way, but after surviving on Patji with Dusk, she realized he was right about a lot of the situation as well.  It was a nice balance, a symmetrical alliance between the two sides.  It didn't feel forced, or overly wrapped-up.  It just fit.
 
Cons
There aren't many cons with this story.  I may be biased, but I believe that Brandon's stories continue to improve.  I've read several of his short fiction stories, and they have been just as remarkable as his longer novels.  This tale is no different.  The shorter length may appeal to some who don't have a taste for his 100,000 word long novels.  At the same time, the shorter length may give the reader a glimpse of the world and characters, leaving them only wanting more.  One thing I will mention as a con is the humor.  Brandon's dialogue can be very witty, but sometimes it does feel a bit forced.  Vathi—like Shallan in The Way of Kings and Sarene in Elantris—makes comments that are funny, but seem so out of place within the story.  I've often compared it to the television show Gilmore Girls, where the main characters have all the right quips in all the right situations.  It's difficult for me to buy too much of that.  But, that's definitely a personal taste, and in no way takes away from the lasting effects and message of the story.
 
Conclusion
Knowing the plot beforehand, and knowing how much I enjoyed Brandon's other works, I was expecting a lot from this story.  And I can honestly say that it was even better than I expected.  That's difficult to do when I had set the bar so high to begin with.  Anyone who admires Brandon should read this story because it's among the best I've read by him.
 
Rating
5 out of 5
 
If you're interested in listening to the Writing Excuses podcast pertaining to this story, check out the links below.
 
Brainstorming with Brandon Again
Critiquing Sixth of Dusk Part 1
Critiquing Sixth of Dusk Part 2
 
 
And, of course, you can purchase this book from Dragonmount's eBook store here.  You can also purchase "Sixth of Dusk" on its own, without buy the rest of the anthology, here.
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

The Wheel Turns: Character Cartography of Anyone Who Is Anyone

Hello, friends! The Wheel has turned all the way around to Thursday again, which means two things: the weekend is not too far away, and it's time for our Rotating Features blog!
 
Obviously the greatest thing about Dragonmount is the opportunity to be a member of such an incredible community of Wheel of Time enthusiasts. Everyone here loves Robert Jordan's books, stories, characters, and world--be they new readers just starting out in the journey of following the adventures of Rand, Perrin, Mat and others, or long time readers who might be on their second or third re-read or more who can theorize and debate minute details of the plot.
 
Every so often, a member of the community here comes up with something that is really special, be that an idea or thought which sparks a truly interesting debate, or a contribution to the ever growing collection of resources which can be found across the internet for following and understanding the epic scale world which Jordan created. In recent weeks, that happened here on Dragonmount in our Wheel of Time Discussion section. Dragonmount member Dakaran created a topic on character mapping the various people a reader of the series meets along the way. As he explains in his opening post: 
 
And here is the character map Dakaran created, and boy is it impressive! 
 

(Click here to see the full scale image)
 
Let's hope he continues adding to it all the way to the end of the series and it becomes a real hit resource on the web. Personally, I think he is on to something with this.
 
That's all for now! Have fun!
 
Until next time, friends!
The_Fnorrll_Reborn
The_Fnorrll_Reborn

Fantasy Review: An Honest Death

Welcome back to another special edition of Dragonmount's Fantasy Review—looking at the Writing Excuses podcast's anthology Shadows Beneath!  We've looked at Mary Robinette Kowal's "A Fire in the Heavens" and Dan Wells' "I.E.Demon."  Today's will be Howard Tayler's "An Honest Death."
 
Synopsis:
Cole is the leader of a security team, working for Mr. Wollreich, the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company.  One day, Mr. Wollreich presses the panic button, springing Cole and his associates into action.  Once in the boss' office, though, there's no panic--besides Wollreich looking upset and disturbed.  But, when Cole gets him alone, the boss confesses: Death had visited his office.

Pros:
Howard is the cartoonist on Writing Excuses, which is a very different medium used for storytelling.  All the same key elements are there--plot, characters, setting--but the execution is not the same.  They've had that discussion on the podcast before.  So, seeing a novelette written by a cartoonist is something special, indeed.

Naturally, his strong point is dialogue.  He's had years to perfect that.  But I was also surprised at how brisk the pace of the story was.  His words were to the point and focused, making it a breeze to read.  No wasted motion.  Just what was needed.

Howard also did a spectacular job of making Cole authentic.  Cole knew his equipment; he knew his team.  He was a true professional.  The technology he used, and the skill needed to implement it, was impressive.  I would read more about this character without hesitation.

Cons:
Though I didn't see it as a con, the story was written in present tense--which isn't too common in genre fiction.  This could be a turn-off for some readers who aren't use to this format.  However, this style helped with the rapid pace of the story; reading sentences as they are happening gives the action a more emphasized role.   I thought it was refreshing, not a hindrance.

Conclusion:
This story had all the characteristics of an enjoyable tale.  The characters were realistic, the plot line fascinating, the conclusion thought-provoking.  For being one of the first few "stories" he's written, it's very impressive.  I'm looking forward to more by him.

Rating:
4 out of 5
 
 
If you'd like to listen to the Writing Excuses podcasts for the episodes dealing with this story, the links are listed below.
 
Brainstorming with Howard
Critiquing "An Honest Death"
 
And, of course, you can purchase Shadows Beneath from Dragonmount's eBook store, here.  Next week's story will be Brandon Sanderson's "Sixth of the Dusk."
Mashiara Sedai
Mashiara Sedai

Gleeman's Tales: Videos

You may have seen Dragonmount tweet this video back a few weeks ago, but if you didn't I feel the need to make sure as many people see it as possible. Somehow, this music video perfectly captures the experience of an obsessed fan, talking and thinking about nothing but
 

 
Without further adieu, the full video:
 

 
While we're on the topic of videos, I don't know if any you enjoy the art of YouTube Poop (yes, it's a real thing), but someone made one using the audio book of The Great Hunt. Prepare for a bizarre experience!
 

 
Finally, I wanted to share a gif-set that I made from the fan-made film Flight From Shadow. Take some time to watch the 30 minute film if you haven't yet, it is so well done. To pique your interest, here is the gif moment:
 

 
As you can probably guess, yes, that's Rand and Mat.
 
That's all folks! The Light illumine you.
Meghan Rayburn
Meghan Rayburn