Jump to content
We have a Patreon! Support this website and get exclusive content

News

Manage articles
Show all categories

Fan Art Friday: Brief Notes on Little-Known Artists

I'm afraid it's been a hectic week, so the best I can do is feature the best anonymous Wheel of Time painting I've ever accidentally stumbled across. Have you seen it before?
 

 
 
I found an unattributed thumbnail of this emotionally charged depiction of Rand while reading the post on angreal in the Wheel of Time wiki earlier this week. It took me a while to puzzle out the signature, which just says "SCRAPS." It took me a bit longer to hunt down the artist's blog, which appears to be entirely anonymous.
 
As of the time I am writing this, the blog has been visited only 183 times since 2008, and a handful of those visits are mine. The painting itself, which has been online since 2010, only has one comment, which (startling to me, but then again I'm not one to split hairs about canon) is only lukewarm. Since I've dedicated this entire week to this single painting, you can probably guess my opinions on it. Basically, I think it's genius. Also, it gives me the willies.
 
With a little help from Google, I actually did manage to find out more about the artist. However, the fact that I had to go digging in the first place suggests he has an interest in keeping his professional and Internet personas separate, so I think I'll play it safe and keep mum on that topic. Besides, it adds to the mystery, doesn't it?
 
Speaking of impressive artists that are virtually unknown in the Wheel of Time fan art community, I'd like to thank everyone for your enthusiastic reception of Josh Hass's amazing painting of the Myrddraal. Your praise has inspired him to do a second Wheel of Time piece, which I will undoubtedly feature when (and if--no pressure, Josh!) it is finished (for details, see the comments from that post). It's extremely exciting to see Dragonmount and Fan Art Friday foster the creation of new art.
 
If you know of other paintings like this one or the one by Josh Hass (i.e. those by stunningly talented artists on the edges of the Wheel of Time fanverse), please leave a comment with a link!
 
Lastly, I apologize for my brevity (by which I am of course referring to the lack of images, not a lack of words). Next week, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming.
peregrine
peregrine

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: June 10-16, 2012

Welcome back, everyone!  Things seem a little quieter than usual because it's exam and graduation season, but we still have plenty for you to do around here.
The famous science fiction writer Ray Bradbury sadly passed away on June 6th.  Come pay your respects in our General Discussion forum here.
I was shocked to find there was no thread in our Entertainment Discussion area of the boards for the recent Tony Awards show, so I just started one.  Surely I'm not the only Broadway geek here!
The Black Tower Social Group has posted the June edition of their newsletter, the Tainted Times.  I haven't seen one of these in awhile, and they have lots to report, so be sure to check it out.
The Ogier Social Group recently posted their June literary topic.  Who do you think is the best support character for a protagonist?
The Wolfkin Social Group is playing a game of Caption This!  The rules are simple:  for each picture posted, come up with a funny, silly, or otherwise amusing caption.  Wolfkin members who post the best ones can earn points for them.
Our friend and fellow Wheel of Time fan Kristen Nedopak is still seeking funding for her Skyrim video parodies.  Go here to read more about these awesome videos and donate!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Fan Art Friday: fee-absinthe

While I applaud the Wheel of Time art community for its inexhaustible creativity, the pace with which it produces works that reduce me to a doe-eyed fangirl does hamper my plan to eventually feature every great Wheel of Time fan artist out there. For this very reason, I have not yet had the pleasure of featuring any art by Tanya Wagemann, a.k.a. fee-absinthe. Stumbling across one of this Chilean artist's perky, colorful character studies always brightens my day.
 
Since yinz don't read the Fan Art Friday blog to hear me wax poetic, I'll go ahead and (mostly) let her work speak for itself!
 
 
1. Wonder Trio
These portraits really highlight the artist's ability to capture the essence of each character. I'm also impressed by her attention to detail in the costuming.
 

 
 
2. Leane
This one stands out for me because of its use of textures and patterns.
 

 
 
3. Elayne doodles
What can I say? All these expressions are just so Elayne.
 

 
 
4. Hedonism
This is the first of two depictions she's done of Graendal. I can't feature the second because it contains mature content, but if you're curious and are not put off by busty-yet-tastefully-rendered women in diaphanous gowns, you can find it here (You may need a deviantART account to view it. Go ahead and sign up! It's easily worth the cost, which is nothing at all ).
 

 
 
Not only is fee-absinthe actively producing fan art for the series (something that sadly cannot be said of many of my other favorite Wheel of Time artists), she also takes commissions. Unfortunately, her journal on deviantART indicates she currently has tendonitis and has had to take a break from new commissions. We hope she gets better soon! If you have an original character you've invented and would like to see painted, be sure to keep an eye on her journal for updates.
peregrine
peregrine

Audiobook Giveaway: The Shadow Rising

It's time for another audiobook giveaway! Here are the rules again for those who aren't familiar with our giveaways:
This month, we will be giving away a copy of The Shadow Rising. Click here for a clip from the audiobook.   This month's question is: How did you discover the Wheel of Time series?  You have until Wednesday, June 13th to answer in the comments section. Good luck!  
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Recent A Memory of Light News

Over the last several months, there have been many exciting announcements about A Memory of Light, the highly anticipated final volume in The Wheel of Time series. In case you've missed our previous coverage, here's what we know so far.
 
Brandon Sanderson finished the first draft of the book on December 21st, 2011. It was immediately turned over to Team Jordan for review. Brandon anticipates needing at least a dozen drafts before the book is ready for publication.
 
Tor announced that the hardcover and audiobook releases will be on January 8th, 2013. The eBook release will be April 9th. If Tor follows their usual pattern, the paperback mass market release will be approximately one year after the hardcover release.
 
We anticipate that Brandon and Harriet McDougal will both go on a signing tour for the hardcover release, however no cities have been announced yet.
 
Also in December, series artist Darrell K. Sweet passed away, leaving the cover art for A Memory of Light unfinished. You can view his draft on our A Memory of Light info page.
 
Michael Whelan was announced as Mr. Sweet's replacement. More info about Mr. Whelan's cover can be found here. Tor.com has posted the full cover, as well as notes from Whelan on the process and some of his rough sketches.
 
Orbit Books, the UK publisher who publishes the WoT books, has also released their cover.
 
At this year's JordanCon, Harriet read to us a portion of the prologue of A Memory of Light. While no recordings were allowed, Tor and the Jordan estate have graciously allowed us to reprint the text of the preview. If Tor follows their usual pattern, there will be an eBook version of the complete prologue available for purchase sometime between now and the release date. Orbit has also released the jacket text for the book. We believe the same text will appear on the US editions as well. We have reprinted the text here for your convenience:
 
 
 
A Memory of Light information and discussion
A Memory of Light discussion forum. (Beware, some threads have prologue spoilers!)
A Memory of Light info page
Listen to or read Chapter One of A Memory of Light
Our friends at TarValon.net are re-reading the series and giving away free audio books in preparation for the release.
Follow us on Twitter: @dragonmount or "Like" us on Facebook.Please consider pre-ordering the book through one of our international Amazon affiliates, and help support our website.
JenniferL
JenniferL

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: June 3-9, 2012

I hope everyone is doing well this week.  I just celebrated my birthday, so I'm feeling great!  Let's see how the various sections of our site are kicking off the month of June.
I just posted a call for applications for two new bloggers, so if you haven't seen it yet, take a look.  I'm looking forward to seeing lots of you applying!
As a person who enjoys mythology, I just have to pimp out this thread in the Structured Wheel of Time Discussion forum.  Robert Jordan wove threads of numerous mythological traditions into his books.  Come discuss those mythological inspirations here.  Remember, this particular forum has rules that you need to read before posting.
The June Challenge in the Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild is Exploration.  Whether you're exploring a new geographical location, an area of space, a new career, or yourself, they'd like you to share it using your favorite artistic medium.
Speaking of exploring, the Aiel Social Group would like to explore the topic of religion for their June discussion.  If you want to join in, be sure to read the rules listed in the first post of this thread, and don't forget to be respectful of others.
June is the Kin Social Group's birthday month!  They have parties and exchanges going on already, and the month has barely begun.  Check out this handy guide to the month's events and come party with them!
If you want more menagerie madness, check out the role play Trouble in Paradise.  This role play has just started, so I'm eager to see how it unfolds.
Alright, it's time for me to eat more birthday cake and time for you to fill up my inbox with blogger applications.  I look forward to hearing from many of you!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Call for Applications: Two Front Page Blogger Positions are Open

I am calling for applications for two people to join my staff as bloggers. Applications for these positions will be open until Friday, June 15th.
 
Description of the Job Positions:
 
1. The first open position is for a new Theory Blogger to take over for Despothera, who sadly no longer has time for this position. This person will be responsible for a short weekly column about WoT theories. You can read Despothera's old articles here if you need to see examples. You do not need to make the blogs as long or detailed as he did, but you can if you wish.
 
2. The second open position is for a WoT Humor Blogger. This blog is brand new and will be a regular feature on Wednesdays. This person will be responsible for a short weekly column featuring a combination of existing WoT humor from around the Internet (e.g. Mat's Inbox, the WoT lightbulb jokes, the WoT Lolcats) and creating their own WoT humor content.
 
Job Duties for Both Front Page Blogger Positions:
 
1. Bloggers are expected to produce content in their respective areas for the front page once per week. 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.
 
Note: Please specify the position for which you are applying (Theory Blogger or Humor Blogger) in your application.
 
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will try to answer them.
 
--Dwyn
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Robert Jordan Memorial Scholarship

TarValon.Net just announced that they have begun taking applications for the 2012 Robert Jordan Memorial Scholarship!  This annual scholarship awards $500 to an undergraduate student at an accredited college or university.  This opportunity is open to all Wheel of Time fans, so you do not have to be a member of TarValon.Net or attend school in the USA to enter.  
More information can be found in their site announcement and on the application form.  Applications are due July 6, 2012 and a recipient will be chosen by August 3, 2012.  Good luck!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Fan Art Friday: Everybody Changes

Warning: This post contains significant spoilers up through and including Towers of Midnight.
 
 
We all remember the moment we discovered Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. I started reading the series in seventh grade, after I stumbled across a copy of From the Two Rivers: Part One of The Eye of the World in the young adult section of Barnes & Noble. I picked it up on a whim because I liked the cover art, which just goes to show that some things never change.
 
Still, just about everything else has changed since then. I'm married and in grad school. That old book is still on my shelf, but the pages have turned yellow and it smells like my version of heaven. And whether you started reading the series a year ago or in 1990, I'm willing to bet you've changed since then too.
 
The greatest thing is that the characters have changed right along with us. By the end of the thirteenth book, the three ta'veren are virtually unrecognizable as the country boys Moiraine convinced to run away from home. In hindsight, Egwene's characterization of the three in the prologue of From the Two Rivers ("Ravens") is brimming with sad irony:
 

"I'd like to be a king," Rand was saying. "That's what I'd like to be." He flourished his arm and made an awkward bow, laughing to show that he was joking. A good thing, too. Egwene grimaced. A king!
…
"A king of sheep!" Mat hooted. He was smaller than the others, always bouncing on his toes. One glance at his face, and you knew he was looking for mischief. He always looked for mischief. And usually found it. "Rand al'Thor, King of the Sheep."
…
"It's better than saying you want to run off and never have to work," Rand said mildly. He never seemed to get angry. Not that she'd seen, anyway. "How could you live without working, Mat?"
…
"I'll rescue an Aes Sedai, and she'll reward me," Mat shot back. "Anyway, I don't go around looking for work when there's more than work enough without looking." He grinned and poked Perrin's shoulder.  

Perrin rubbed his nose, abashed. "Sometimes you have to be sensible, Mat," he said slowly. "Sometimes you have to think ahead." Perrin always talked slowly, when he talked at all. And he moved carefully, as if he was afraid he might break something.  
Let's see how far the boys have come. The art on the left is from my copy of From the Two Rivers (illustrations by Sally Wern Comport and Wizards of the Coast, Inc.). On the right (scroll! -->) are recent fan interpretations of the characters.
 
 
Rand al'Thor: From shepherd to Dragon Reborn (and, as an afterthought, King of Illian). Not quite as mild-mannered as he used to be. Art on the right by Astriex.
 

 
 
 
Mat Cauthon: From the son of a horse trader to the Prince of the Ravens, commander of the Shen an Calhar, and sounder of the Horn of Valere. At this point, he may have saved one too many Aes Sedai for his own good. Art on the right by Swedish artist G-a-t-i-n-h-a.
 

 
 
 
Perrin Aybara: From blacksmith's apprentice to Wolfbrother and Steward of the Two Rivers. Art on the right by Bulgarian artist Lims-Kraghma.
 

peregrine
peregrine

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: May 27-June 2, 2012

I hope Memorial Day has been going smoothly for everyone so far.  Things are a little quieter around here than usual because of the holiday, but we still have plenty for you to do.
 
First up, our General Wheel of Time Discussion forum residents have posed an interesting question.  If you could be any character from the Wheel of Time or any character from another book series, who would you be?
 
Do you know if your favorite television shows are returning in the fall?  If not, take a look at the list of 2012 tv show renewals and cancellations in our TV Show & Sports Discussion forum.
 
If you're familiar with the Eurovision Song Contest (or if you just like listening to Europeans belting out the occasional silly, strange, or sugary song), come discuss the contest in the Band of the Red Hand Social Group.  If you don't know what Eurovision is, it's sort of like American Idol, but with Europeans instead of Americans and the songs themselves being voted on instead of the singers.  Some well-known artists and groups, including Celine Dion and ABBA, were launched into the international spotlight after their songs won Eurovision. 
 
The Ogier Social Group has started a series of monthly history topics.  May's topic is ancient coins.  It's amazing what you can learn about a civilization from one small coin.
 
It's been awhile since I've seen a role play set in the Threefold Land, so I was excited to stumble upon one today.    Rhuidean trips are quite intriguing, and this one is no exception.  Check out Would Have Never...
 
JordanCon has recently announced next year's Guests of Honor.  The author Guest of Honor will be Seanan McGuire.  The artist Guest of Honor will be Michael Whelan.  Go here for more information on these eminent guests.
 
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Fan Art Friday: Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid. (No, Really)

Two weeks back, I featured a handful of less-than-dignified yet irresistibly adorable artistic reimaginings of the slimy, sightless fiends known as Myrddraal. Sadly, it appears my desire to first invent and then snuggle with the entire collectible set of the Dark One's Army stuffed animals is something of an idiosyncrasy. In honor of your requests for fairer treatment of these petrifying creatures, I've decided to give the Halfmen a second chance.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Lurks are back by popular demand!
 
 
 
1. Myrddraal by Josh Hass:
 
To the best of my knowledge, this is the only Wheel of Time art Josh Hass has ever created. Maybe if we show him lots of love in the comments we can convince him to make more.
I love how he puts us in the position of the fallen soldier.
 

 
 
2. Fade by Jeremy Saliba:
 
Jeremy Saliba is one of a handful of licensed Wheel of Time artists. He's contributed cover art to the comic book adaptations of The Eye of the World and also sells prints separately. In fact, if you want this bloodstained monster hanging from your bedroom walls, you can purchase a print here.
 

 
 
3. Myrddraal by solitarium:
 
I've featured solitarium before and I'd bet a Tar Valon mark against Mat that I'll do it again. I love this stylistic representation, though I do think a darker crimson background would have a creepier effect. Then again, maybe I just need to adjust the color balance on my Mac.
 

 
 
4. The Host by Ashley Luttrell (PollyUranus):
 
For some reason, photomanipulations rarely impress me. When they do, PollyUranus often turns out to be the artist.
My fascination with this one crept up slowly. Something about the sickly-colored landscape and the Fade's confident march really freaks me out. I wasn't initially sure how I felt about the pumpkins, but after you stare at it a while, they just seem to belong there.

peregrine
peregrine

Wheel of Time Fashion

Inspired by last week's Fan Art Friday article, I've decided to reintroduce a feature. Before, I showed you where you could buy Wheel of Time clothing articles, but now, I shall bring you their fashions and you can let that lead you wherever you wish. Today, I'll be having a look at the fashion of the Borderland nations.
 
If you want to have a field trip as an Arafellin, don't forget your bells! In the books, we're told that bells play a key part in Arafellin fashion sense. They are worn in the hair, on the clothing, or on boot tops. In regards to their actual clothing, not much is said, but since we could compare the Third Age to the time before the Industrial Revolution, I guess one could see their clothing following that general pattern. All we know is that they wear boots with their tops turned down that reach to the thigh, and that the men wear their hair in two braids, with one braid over each ear.
 
Have you ever needed an excuse to wear one of those sheer veils behind which you can seductively bat your eyelashes? Well, then let your inner Kandori out! The style of dress for women is brightly colored dresses that are clinched under the breasts. There is embroidery along the belt under the breasts, the cuffs, and the hem. In contrast to the color of the noblewomen in Kandor, the noblemen wear very dull colors with chains and earrings as their accessories. Their one definite feature are their forked beards, so if you want to pull off their look, you need one of those.
 
Kandori woman

 
Now, we've heard all sorts of things about the Saldaean farm girls, so perhaps your next sexy costume will be one of those? Let's have a look at what you would need. We are not actually told anything about what they wear, as far as I know, but we are aware of the dress of the nobles. Noblewomen in Saldaea wear high-necked dresses with narrow skirts and wide sleeves. Perhaps we can assume that in an effort to rebel against those quite uptight noble fashions, the farm girls wore more revealing clothing. There is little worse than working and getting hot because of your clothing. If you're wanting your man to wear a matching outfit, all you need do is put him into a short coat and baggy trousers, and have him clean shaven or let him grow one of those dreadful handlebar mustaches.
 
Saldaean woman

 
Our last nation I'm going to be looking at is Shienar. There's quite a bit more to these people than their warriors' topknots! The men wear tight breeches and shirts that are wide, but with narrow cuffs and high-collared coats. An image that immediately pops into my mind is that guy from Pride and Prejudice, whatever his name was. The women also have a belted dress, like the Kandori, but their dress is belted at the waist with the chest area often having embroidery of flowers on it. A favored design is to have slashes of colors in the skirts.
 
Shienaran woman

 
I think if you were to look at the descriptions and compare them to the fashions found in various historical periods, you might just be able to find the sources of inspiration.
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

Podcast: #111 – The 4th Age Podcast – Towers of Midnight Read-through – Ch. 8-12

This is the 111th episode of The 4th Age Podcast, in which we continue our read-through of Towers of Midnight with Chapters 8-12. Your hosts for this episode are Andrew, Virginia, and Spencer.
Chapter 8 – The Seven-Striped Lass
Chapter 9 – Blood in the Air
Chapter 10 – After the Taint
Chapter 11 – An Unexpected Letter
Chapter 12 – An Empty Ink Bottle
Warning: SPOILER ALERT! (This episode, like most of our talks, is chock full of spoilers if you haven’t read Towers of Midnight yet!)
Be sure to check out Dragonmount.com for forums, comments, and all the latest news in the Wheel of Time world.
ATTENTION! THERE ARE NOTHING BUT TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT SPOILERS in this podcast! Also, spoilers on ALL the other books are VERY likely! If you haven’t read all the way through the Wheel of Time, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS of all the previous books! There may be spoilers of other book series, TV series, and movies as well, too, or anything ELSE we can think of in the known and unknown universe. We will try to give warning. We can make no guarantees, however.
Hosts: Andrew, Virginia, and Spencer.
Editor for this episode: Richard F.
Download this Episode now
Notes and Addendum: Contact us about the podcast anytime at podcast@dragonmount.com. If you don’t hear from one of us in a day or two, please try again. Normally one or more of us will respond immediately, but if the RW is being difficult, sometimes we do miss things.
A HUGE thanks to all our editors, past and present, from all of us here at Dragonmount! We couldn’t make this happen without your help and technical expertise. We are usually in need of editing help, so please, contact Andrew or Virginia at podcast@dragonmount.com if you are interested in volunteering.
We aren’t formally holding auditions for podcast co-hosts at this time, but if you are really up on the Wheel of Time and related trivia (or if you just plain know more than we do, LOL), and you love to geek out discussing it, send us an email and a sample mp3 and we’ll give it a listen. In anticipation of future needs, we would like to be prepared, so meet us on the virtual Field of Merrilor and we’ll see what transpires!
Music by: Josh Needleman. His website is at www.joshneedleman.net and he has the music available to hear on his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/joshneedleman. Its title is Floodgate. Thanks, Josh!
Download this Episode now
Tialin
Tialin

AMOL Orbit Cover and Jacket Text

Orbit Books, which produces Robert Jordan's books in the United Kingdom, Australia, and other locations, released their cover for A Memory of Light.
Click here, or on the image shown for a larger version. 
In addition to the cover, Orbit released the text that will appear on the hardcover jacket:


And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died.’ From Charal Drianaan te Calamon, The Cycle of the Dragon.
In the Field of Merrilor the rulers of the nations gather to join behind Rand al’Thor, or to stop him from his plan to break the seals on the Dark One’s prison – which may be a sign of his madness, or the last hope of humankind. Egwene, the Amyrlin Seat, leans toward the former.
In Andor, the Trollocs seize Caemlyn.
In the wolf dream, Perrin Aybara battles Slayer.
Approaching Ebou Dar, Mat Cauthon plans to visit his wife Tuon, now Fortuona, Empress of the Seanchan.
All humanity is in peril – and the outcome will be decided in Shayol Ghul itself. The Wheel is turning, and the Age is coming to its end. The Last Battle will determine the fate of the world..
For twenty years The Wheel of Time has enthralled more than forty million readers in over thirty-two languages. A MEMORY OF LIGHT brings this majestic fantasy creation to its richly satisfying conclusion. 
Working from notes and partials left by Robert Jordan when he died in 2007, and consulting with Jordan’s widow, who edited all of Jordan’s books, established fantasy writer Brandon Sanderson has recreated the vision Jordan left behind.

A Memory of Light will be published on January 8, 2013 in hardcover and audiobook. The eBook will be published on April 9.
Links and other info: Read the opening portion of the AMOL prologue.

AMOL info page.

Discuss A Memory of Light on our forums.


Please consider pre-ordering the book through one of our international Amazon affiliates, and help support our website.    
Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: May 20-26, 2012

It's time for another weekly roundup!  Let's see what's going on in our forums.
I think it's safe to say that Wheel of Time references can seem very strange to the uninitiated.  Despite this, it's often hard to turn off the part of our brains that thinks about things in a Wheel of Time context.  Embarrassing hijinks may ensue as a result.  What embarrassing things have you done as a result of this series?  Drop by the General Wheel of Time Discussion forum and let us know.
Diablo 3 was recently released, so for all you gamers out there who want someone to obsess with when you aren't playing the game, we have just the thread for you in our Movies and Games Discussion forum.  Do you like the game, or does it fail to meet your expectations?   
The Aiel Social Group recently released the Spring Edition of their newsletter, The Dedicated Spear.  It's chock full of cool features and information.
The Kin Social Group is doing a post card swap for May.  It's still not too late to participate, so hurry on down so you can participate in one of their most popular exchanges.
Yet another Social Group has put up a recent newsletter for your enjoyment.  Check out the Wolfkin Social Group's May edition of PawPrints!
I've always enjoyed reading role plays of the Accepted test Arches.  The latest one I've seen, A Trip Inside Herself, is well-written and entertaining.  Take a look at it if you're looking for a good read.
Until next time, everyone!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Fan Art Friday: Dim Horizon Studio

This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Matt Nicholson of Dim Horizon Studio. Matt and his wife Nicole are the driving force behind this ingenious photography studio, which hooked up with some incredible cosplayers for JordanCon this year in order to bring The Wheel of TIme to life in the backwoods of the Southeastern U.S.
 
The full gallery for the promotional photo shoot can be found here.
 

Perrin, modeled by John F. Strangeway (and Odin!)
 
 
 
Q: You were the photographer on the JordanCon shoot, right?
 
A: That I was! Dim Horizon Studio was contacted months prior to JordanCon 2012 with the idea to host a large photo shoot with a collection of local talent specifically for the JordanCon 2012 art show and convention promotion.
 
 
Q: Do you do all the photography for Dim Horizon Studio?
 
A: Dim Horizon Studio began in 2002 as a creative outlet for me and throughout the years has grown into a husband-wife duo set on tackling our clients’ photography needs with our creative style & vision. We do bring in additional talent from time to time, but primarily it's myself (Matthew Nicholson & Nicole Nicholson).
 
 
Q: Have you been a photographer your whole life?
 
A: I’ve been involved in a myriad of creative pursuits my entire life. From mineral specimen hunting to a dabble in video game design, I’ve done a little bit of everything but settled on photography in 2002 as it enabled me to capture as well as express the world as I see it.
 
 
Q: When did you know you wanted to pursue it as a career?
 
A: In roughly 2008, I incorporated Dim Horizon Studio, as the demands for my services started to branch out from servicing a close circle of friends to quite a wide audience. It was a big choice at the time, as it inspired me to truly take my work to the next level and transition from more of a hobbyist mentality to a true profession.
 
 

A Maiden of the Spear, modeled by Paige Gardner Smith
 
 
 
Q: What inspired you to focus on cosplay?
 
A: We truly focus on creatively addressing the needs of our clients. This lends us to be closely involved in the cosplay / prop production community as their skills enable us to tell rich stories while focusing on their talents in costume design & construction. While there are quite a few companies that may specialize in a more documentation-oriented photography, we aim to take it all to the next level and do more than just capture a good costume--we want to communicate a strong story as well.
 
 
Q: How did you get involved with JordanCon?
 
A: We’ve had the pleasure of working with quite a few of the individuals intimately related to JordanCon. Dim Horizon Studio as a whole bases its business model around supporting locals (specifically in the southeastern USA) as well as supporting our growing network of clients. In the end, one of our clients (Cliff Tunnell) suggested diving into hosting a large shoot for JordanCon and we couldn’t pass the opportunity up!
 

Rand, modeled by Paul Bielaczyc. The coat had sleeves at the beginning of the shoot!
 
 
 
Q: Are you a big fan of The Wheel of Time?
 
A: Comically, I’ve never actually read any of the Wheel of Time books but it’s certainly now on my MUST READ list. As a photographer in this community, I get challenged often to try to portray a clients’ character that I may have had no exposure to. We always try to do a little research beforehand and, while it does help, there is always some level of my own personal style or take integrated into the session based upon what I do (or in some cases don’t) know.
 
 
Q: Did the models make their own costumes?
 
A: Yes, each of the models made their own costumes. We had quite a bit of talent on set that day, and here’s a laundry list of where you might find them.
· Cliff Tunnell – Talented Gentleman behind Steampunk Ash
· James Atkins – Actor/Costumer/Family Man (IMDb profile)
· Paul Bielaczyc – Creative Mind behind Aradani Studios
· John F. Strangeway – Media Dept. Head at Penny Dreadful Productions
· Odin – Dog of the Day!
 
 
Q: How did you (the studio and the models) find each other?
 
A: We find most of our models through our network of professionals and/or messages through our Facebook page or our contact page. For other projects, we occasionally make announcements through our Facebook page on where to access our casting calls. We also use networking sites such as Model Mayhem to specifically target a look or concept. For this specific project, we’ve worked quite a bit with all of the talent previously, with the exception of Paul. We do have quite a bit of plans for collaboration in the future with him, though!
 
 
Q: Are they affiliated with the studio?
 
A: Only as our client. They each have all sorts of talent to offer the community, and if you have any questions you should definitely reach out to each of them in turn!
 

Mats, modeled by James Atkins (left) and Cliff Tunnell (right). I guess you can never have too many!
 
 
By a serendipitious twist of fate, Tor.com just featured Dim Horizon Studio on Wednesday. Check out their article here for more photos from the shoot!
peregrine
peregrine

A Crown of Swords eBook Wallpaper

It's time for more wallpaper!  Remember, every other week, Tor.com will post eBook wallpaper for each Wheel of Time book.  It's one of many ways in which they are celebrating the countdown to the final book.
This week, the featured eBook wallpaper is for A Crown of Swords. The artwork is by Mélanie Delon. Here is the image:

Go here to download different sizes of the wallpaper and to read more about how this art was created. How do you like the art this week?
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Podcast: #110 – The 4th Age Podcast – Towers of Midnight Read-through – Ch. 4-7

This is the 110th episode of The 4th Age Podcast, in which we continue our read-through of Towers of Midnight with Chapters 4-7. Your hosts for this episode are Andrew, Virginia, and Spencer.
Chapter 4 – The Pattern Groans
Chapter 5 – Writings
Chapter 6 – Questioning Intentions
Chapter 7 – Lighter than a Feather
Warning: SPOILER ALERT! (This episode, like most of our talks, is chock full of spoilers if you haven’t read Towers of Midnight yet!)
Be sure to check out Dragonmount.com for forums, comments, and all the latest news in the Wheel of Time world.
ATTENTION! THERE ARE NOTHING BUT TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT SPOILERS in this podcast! Also, spoilers on ALL the other books are VERY likely! If you haven’t read all the way through the Wheel of Time, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS of all previous books! There may be spoilers of other book series, TV series, and movies as well, too, or anything ELSE we can think of in the known and unknown universe. We will try to give warning. We can make no guarantees, however.
Hosts: Andrew, Virginia, and Spencer.
Editor for this episode: Richard F.
Download this Episode now
Notes and Addendum: Contact us about the podcast anytime at podcast@dragonmount.com. If you don’t hear from one of us in a day or two, please try again. Normally one or more of us will respond immediately, but if the RW is being difficult, sometimes we do miss things.
A HUGE thanks to all our editors, past and present, from all of us here at Dragonmount! We couldn’t make this happen without your help and technical expertise. We are usually in need of editing help, so please, contact Andrew or Virginia at podcast@dragonmount.com if you are interested in volunteering.
We aren’t formally holding auditions for podcast co-hosts at this time, but if you are really up on the Wheel of Time and related trivia (or if you just plain know more than we do, LOL) and you love to geek out discussing it, send us an email and a sample mp3 and we’ll give it a listen. In anticipation of future needs, we would like to be prepared, so meet us on the virtual Field of Merrilor and we’ll see what transpires!
Music by: Josh Needleman. His website is at www.joshneedleman.net and he has the music available to hear on his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/joshneedleman. Its title is Floodgate. Thanks, Josh!
Download this Episode now
Tialin
Tialin

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: May 13-19, 2012

Yesterday was Mother's Day in the USA, so I hope all the mothers out there had a chance to relax and feel special.  I'd like to give a shout out to my mother, who is an absolute saint and the best mother in the world.
 
If you are looking for a good fan-made Wheel of Time RPG to play, check out A Game of Stones.  It's a free, browser-based RPG.  For more information directly from one of the game designers, be sure to check out the thread I linked above in our The Wheel of Time in Other Media forum.
 
Speaking of games, if you enjoy playing Mafia and haven't been to our DM Mafia Games forum yet, stop on by!  If things look overwhelming at first, read this handy introductory guide.  There are also plenty of experienced players who would be happy to help orient you.
 
The May Challenge for the Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild is Journeys.  What journeys have you taken in life?  Show us through your favorite artistic medium.
 
It's time to send in your nominations for the Black Tower Social Group's May Shockwave Competition.  The deadline for submissions will be May 24th.
 
Come one, come all to the Ogier Social Group's Ice Cream Social and Rank Advancement Celebration!  This group is reviving itself under new leadership, so be sure to keep an eye on them for exciting changes!
 
That's it for now.  Stay tuned, because the 4th Age Podcasters will have new episodes for us soon!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Fan Art Friday: The Look of the Eyeless

"He scared me," Rand said faintly. "He just looked at me, and…" He shivered.
"No need for shame, sheepherder. They scare me, too. I've seen men who have been soldiers all their lives freeze like a bird facing a snake when they confronted a Halfman. In the north, in the Borderlands along the Great Blight, there is a saying. The look of the Eyeless is fear."
~Chapter 8 ("A Place of Safety"), The Eye of the World
 
Oh, for the days when Rand was still afraid of things. But that's a topic for another day. Today, the Fan Art Friday spotlight is on the eyeless, soulless captains of the Dark One's army known alternatively as Myrddraal, Lurks, Fades, Halfmen, or Ringwraiths (Whoops, wrong series!). These spine-chilling, slithery monster-men are my favorite Wheel of Time minions.
 
...Or should I say "mini-ons?"
 
 
1. Chibi Myrddraal by John Michael Emanuel Harfouche (Jonmkl):
 
This daunting beastie sends soldiers running with a single toss of his carefully arranged emo hairstyle.
 

 
 
 
2. Myrddraal in Tree by Heather Soiferman:
 
Even Myrddraal need downtime sometimes. I mean, it's not like they're going to cook the soldier stew themselves. That's what trollocs are for.
 

 
 
 
3. Myrddraal Fella by swidhalm:
 
Apparently the deviantArt mascot (Fella) is a fan of The Wheel of Time. He'd better be, since I'm always featuring work from his site!
 

 
 
 
4. Myrddraal by firheruwen:
 
Nothing says "sinister" like Sculpey®!
 

 
 
 
5. Myrddraal by hmuraS:
 
This Australian fan artist's playful style is pitch-perfect, as always.
 

peregrine
peregrine

Audiobook Giveaway: The Dragon Reborn

It's time for another audiobook giveaway! Here are the rules again for those who aren't familiar with our giveaways:
  This month, we will be giving away a copy of The Dragon Reborn. Click here for a clip from the audiobook.   This month's question is: If you could join an Ajah from the books, which one would you choose and why? You have until Wednesday, May 16th to answer in the comments section. Good luck!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: May 6-12, 2012

It's a busy time of year for many of us, but even that won't stop us from taking time for our online home.  We have a lot going on this week!
 
We recently revealed Michael Whelan's cover art for A Memory of Light.  For many, the cover art broaches more questions than it reveals answers.  If the chatter on the front page isn't enough for you, we also have a discussion thread on the cover art right here in our forums.  Yes, you may use spoilers in that thread.
 
It seems like everyone is rushing to see The Avengers in movie theaters, and I have heard nothing but rave reviews of it from my friends who already saw it.  Have you seen it?  If so, how was it?  You can tell us more either here or in this thread in our Movies and Games Discussion forum.
 
The Aiel Social Group wants to know about your fond memories from childhood.  What games, movies, tv shows, books, and toys were your favorites?  Be sure to let them know here.
 
The White Tower & Warders Social Group invites you to the Month of the Greats!  This event is hosted by the White and Blue Ajahs and celebrates people who have made an impact in such diverse fields as the sciences, philosophy, literature, and more.  You can follow the thread I linked above for updated links to the various events or simply keep an eye on this Social Group's main board.
 
School's almost out, and summer is almost here!  The Wolfkin Social Group's May discussion is all about summertime.  What do you enjoy doing in the summer?  If you have vacation then, where do you like to spend it?
 
Ooh, I spy a main plotline role play!  It's been awhile since I've seen one.  This one is brought to you courtesy of the Band of the Red Hand Role Playing Group and is called This is Some Rescue...
 
That's all for now.  Stay tuned for Wednesday, when I post this month's audiobook giveaway!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Fan Art Friday: Back to the Future

Usually, fan art or fiction in which characters from fantasy worlds are transplanted into the modern day would be labeled "AU" (meaning "Alternate Universe"). That's not exactly the case for The Wheel of Time, since Earth as we know it is both a past and future incarnation of the world of the Wheel.
 
So, who knows? Maybe, in a previous life, Rand was a hipster with a penchant for PBR and ramblings on Taoist philosophy. Or maybe he was a fantasy fan just like the rest of us, wasting many an afternoon browsing the Dragonmount forums instead of studying for his final exams, or getting the car fixed, or doing his laundry, or...
 
...or maybe not. But in the spirit of time-twisting silliness, here's a taste of what The Wheel of Time might look like today.
 
 
1. Mat's Inbox by sleepinghour:
 
Fortuona made Mat get an account in the hope it would help him get organized. She just hasn't figured out how to make him check it.
 

 
 
2. WoT-Pod... by RoseMuse:
 
Mat's "hip" friends can't understand his love for traditional Celtic jigs, or why he dances like a seventeenth-century yokel. They forgive him, though, because his fashion sense is to die for.
 

 
 
3. Wheel of Time Magazine by Dragonmount's own sus-b (using the e-book cover for The Shadow Rising by Sam Weber and the Wheel and the Great Serpent chapter icon):
 
The editor is going to wish he had a copy of Mat's ter'angreal when Siuan, Elaida, and Egwene get a hold of the poll results in this issue of Randland magazine.
 

 
 
4. Sea Folk Porcelain by minniearts:
 
Sales spiked when the merchants discovered the wonders of advertising.
 

peregrine
peregrine

A Memory of Light Cover Art

Tor Books has revealed the official cover art for A Memory of Light, the fourteenth and final Wheel of Time novel.

Click the image shown here for a larger version, or click here for the full resolution version where you can see Rand in all his 300 dpi glory.

The artwork is by renowned artist Michael Whelan. Mr. Whelan was commissioned to do this cover after Darrell K. Sweet passed away. He will be the Guest of Honor at next year's JordanCon V convention.

So, what do you think of the cover? Rand looks pretty awesome, huh? Tell us what you think in the comments below!

A Memory of Light will be released in hardcover and audiobook on January 8, 2013. The eBook will be released a few weeks after that.

Here's the full wrap-around image:



Links and other info


Read the opening portion of the AMOL prologue.
AMOL info page.
Discuss A Memory of Light on our forums.

Please consider pre-ordering the book through one of our international Amazon affiliates, and help support our website.


   
Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel