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Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: November 6-12, 2011

November is already proving to be an exciting month. NaNoWriMo has begun, and Brandon Sanderson just released The Alloy of Law. Let's see how the denizens of our forums are celebrating the start of the month.
 
Speaking of Brandon Sanderson, do you enjoy over-analyzing everything he has to say in order to find hidden clues to Wheel of Time storylines? If you do, stop by our A Memory of Light Non Spoiler Discussion forum and join in the obsessing.
 
If you are a Dungeons & Dragons fan, you may want to join in our thread about the online version of the game in our Games & Tech Discussion forum.
 
You've probably noticed by now that our Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild does a Challenge for every month. The theme for this month's Challenge is Redemption. It sounds like we may be treated to some personal and profound art with this theme.
 
The Black Tower Social Group's Light vs. Shadow Week has begun! This showdown promises games, discussions, quizzes, and even epic battles. Keep an eye on this thread for everything you need to know about the event.
 
The Kin Social Group has embraced Thanksgiving and is already talking about things they are thankful for. What things are you thankful for?
 
Oh, even just the title of this new role play sounds juicy! Let's see what the gossiping Aes Sedai are up to in Dinner Stories--Because Even Aes Sedai Gossip.
 
If you've enjoyed the podcasts we feature here on Dragonmount, you'll also enjoy the tWoTcast. I had the pleasure of listening to them record live at the last Dragon*Con, and those guys have quite an amusing sense of humor!
 
That's it for now! Be sure to check the other announcements that have been posted on our front page recently. It's a great time to be part of the fandom.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Brandon Sanderson Hosting Another Great Hunt

Brandon Sanderson has launched a surprise online "hunt" which will reveal new content related to A Memory of Light, the final Wheel of Time novel.
 
As part of his book tour for The Alloy of Law, Brandon is giving away clues that reveal the location of 35 hidden WoT bumper stickers (shown here). These bumper stickers will be hidden throughout the bookstore where Brandon is scheduled to appear. Each has a written code on the back which will unlock exclusive content related to AMOL.
 
We don't know yet if the content is a chapter from the upcoming book, or something else. You can see the exclusive content on Brandon's website.
 
Follow the Great Hunt on Twitter at hashtag #wotgh, or check back to Dragonmount for updates as we learn them.
 
Happy Hunting!
Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

The Alloy of Law Release & Audiobook Giveaway!

What started as a book to clear his mind has become a greatly anticipated novel. As the continuation of Brandon Sanderson's widely popular Mistborn trilogy, his The Alloy of Law will hopefully prove to be just as good a read. For those of you who have awaited the 8th of November as the release date for The Alloy of Law, this is the moment when you can let out a squeal of joy and excitement, because the day has finally arrived.
 
Before you start reading, you may want to check out this awesome trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbG-EJdxZW4
 
Those of you who might be skeptical about the book or don't know much about it have come to the right place to get information. The first place you should look for information is Tor.com. Watch this space on Tor in the next week or two for a forthcoming review of the book and for buzz from fans. You can also read sample chapters of the book on Tor. Another reputable review of the book can be found here, and we will be adding more review links throughout the next couple of weeks as they are posted elsewhere.
 
If you have the book and would love to get it signed by the author himself, you can go check out Brandon Sanderson's book signing tour schedule. And if you're a fan looking for fellow enthusiasts, I suggest you have a look at 17th Shard and Stormblessed. They are both jam-packed with great people and fun happenings. Last, but definitely not least, Dragonmount has worked out a deal with Macmillan Audio, and we are going to provide three copies of this audiobook for give-away prizes. What do you need to do to win one of these, you may ask? Well, just post a comment to this article between November 8th and November 22nd, and you will have been entered into the random drawing! Sadly, it's US addresses only.
 
Happy Reading!
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

It Works in Theory: "The Children of the Dragon did spring up...armed to dance with death"

What's going on, my gifted guests of Dragonmount? Welcome to another weekly installment of "It Works in Theory," Dragonmount's theory blog, which I am proud to be able to espouse. It almost feels a little strange, getting back to a more regular schedule in terms of my blog. I feel like I should be taking another week off or something! I'm happy to say that I am greatly enjoying married life. Even though it doesn't feel altogether that different, I occasionally still become filled with an odd sort of exhilaration that I was lucky enough to find my better half. Okay, okay, I'll quit gushing and move on to this week's disclaimer:
 

WARNING!!! Spoiler Alert!!! WARNING!!!


 
This blog is based on theories that will include facts and material from the latest books in the series, so if you have not read through Towers of Midnight, continue reading at your own risk! "It Works in Theory" features theories and hypotheses from the The Wheel of Time and is intended for anyone who has enough free time on their hands to read it. Dragonmount does not condone the speculation performed and discourages anyone from either agreeing or disagreeing with the notions featured. Harrumphing and murmuring is allowed, however. Enjoy. (This was partially inspired from the Tosh.0 disclaimer.)
 
Last week, we covered the topic of marriage, specifically the one between Perrin and Faile. It seemed fitting to segway from such a romantic topic to.....babies! Not Perrin and Faile's offspring, however--no hairy, flying, falcon-wolf puppies or anything like that. Instead, we shall be discussing Aviendha's babies and their unusual traits and abilities. We were first introduced to the possibility of Aviendha's quadruplets in Winter's Heart:
 
 
There was a lot of speculation about this vision from Min. Many theorized that she wouldn't actually be having four babies, but that Min's vision was being thrown off by the Warder bond. We now know this to be false from Aviendha's trip through the glass pillars in Rhuidean in Towers of Midnight. Let's go ahead and examine that vision, but remember the part about something being odd in Min's vision.
 
 
It seems fairly evident that the oddness in Min's vision has to do with the fact that all four siblings maintain contact with the One Power at all times. After all, her visions become blurry and hard to read when she's viewing someone holding onto saidar or saidin. The other part of the oddness might have something to do with their appearance; not only are they all described as dissimilar, but some of their features seem a little strange for children of Rand and Aviendha. This definitely doesn't seem to be a negligible detail; it is obviously something to which we should attach special notice.
 
Normally, I might reference a couple of other theories before establishing my own wacky ideas, but the good news is there are so many wacky and interesting ideas and proposals concerning this topic that I thought it might be a good idea to simply summarize all that I've read or heard about this, in no particular order:
 
* The Pattern Wills It *
 
Essentially, this theory states that Aviendha's babies are the way they are because baby, they were born this way. This theory states that the Pattern causes the abnormalities because there is a need for strong Aiel leaders and individuals after the Last Battle. I don't like this theory that much for a few reasons. First, it seems way too convenient, too much of a deus ex machina. Second, it doesn't seem to accomplish much because even with the wonder Dragon kids, the Aiel still suffer immensely in Aviendha's vision. Lastly, this doesn't seem to account for the dissimilarity in their appearances. I suppose it could be because having some of the siblings exhibit more wetlander type of features might help them serve as ambassadors for their people, but once again, if this is the case, it doesn't seem to work out well.
 
* Rand and Aviendha are Superparents *
 
I'm going to use this to cover any of the ideas that the unusual abilities simply come from the unique combination of Rand and Aviendha. They're both strong channelers, Rand is ta'veren, Aviendha has a unique Talent, etc. Even though this seems too simplistic, we can't discount it too easily because we really don't know much about what happens when two channelers have children. After all, male channelers have been hunted down and gentled for thousands of years, and Aes Sedai rarely marry anyway. The few glimpses we get of the Age of Legends don't shed any light on this issue.
 
Some have also speculated that Rand might have developed a kind of permanent link with the True Source, and that he is now in constant contact with the One Power, and this link passes down to the kids he has with Aviendha (he impregnated Elayne before "Veins of Gold"). This is derived from the confidence that Rand displays in both Far Madding when he should be cut off from the Source and in the White Tower when multiple Aes Sedai are holding his shield. I don't personally think this is valid; I think the remarks he makes in Far Madding have to do with his ability to also wield the True Power if needed (the obelisk ter'angreal there does not hamper anyone's ability to touch the True Power), and his confidence seems like a facet of his new post-"Veins of Gold" personality. It mainly seems like there's so much ambiguity with Rand's new Light-based powers that it encourages some to reach more than ever in an attempt to draw a conclusion.
 
There are some problems with this whole theory, however. It's never really hinted that there's anything particularly unusual about Elayne's babies. This isn't a deal breaker, however, because we know that Min doesn't see everything. In addition, genetics and how traits are passed down are obviously not an exact science. It could just be that Aviendha's kids got lucky in receiving a rare genetic trait. Once again, though, this theory doesn't address their dissimilarities.
 
* Something Happened to Aviendha During Her Trip Inside the Glass Pillars *
 
It's kind of self-explanatory. There's a possibility that Aviendha still has the twisted ter'angreal ring that Elayne gave her, and perhaps it interacted with the glass pillar ter'angreal inside Rhuidean. This happened once before when Egwene was first given the ring and subsequently went through the Acceptatrontm ter'angreal in The Dragon Reborn. A resonance occurred between the two ter'angreal, and this had some strange effects on her Acceptance test. While this is kind of an interesting idea, it's very vague in its application of how it would affect Aviendha specifically; not only that, but it smells too much of self-fulfilling prophecy.
 
* The Body Swap *
 
I just love when I get to bring the body swap theory back up again. I brought up the body swap idea way back in the second week of my blog, titled "Hand of Onyx". To sum up: Rand and Moridin swap bodies due to both their link and the possible interactions between Callandor and a supposed "Dark Callandor." In this scenario, Rand would continue living on in Moridin's body and then impregnates Aviendha. This is interesting in that it partially explains some of the irregularities in Aviendha's kids' appearances, but it doesn't really explain the peculiarities involving their ability to constantly hold onto the Source.
 
* Rand "Comforts" Aviendha from Tel'aran'rhiod*
 
This one is particularly wacky, but I still want to bring it up because I think it's actually getting closer to what might really be the best explanation. In this scenario, Rand dies during the Last Battle, but Aviendha takes a trip to Tel'aran'rhiod, where she sees Rand as he is a Hero of the Horn. Once she sees him they have one last rendezvous to help console Aviendha, and she leaves the dreamworld, but not without taking a "souvenir" from Rand. It's already suggested that although you may not affect the physical world from Tel'aran'rhiod, it is possible to carry over other things from the world, such as minor injuries. If it's possible to get scratched and take that with you when you wake up, who's to say you can't leave with a bun in the oven as well? As I said, I am somewhat fond of this theory, but mostly because of its capacity for humor. I, for one, would LOVE to see this happen, but only if we get to see a scene in which Tel'aran'rhiod Rand helps Aviendha sculpt a vase while "Unchained Melody" plays in the background (rest in peace, Mr. Swayze).
 
* Rand Gets Pulled from Tel'aran'rhiod, and This Has Unintended Consequences *
 
One of the ideas for how Rand can die and live again is that he dies at some point in the last book, most likely before any ultimate confrontation, and is then pulled out of Tel'aran'rhiod a la Birgitte in The Fires of Heaven. After being pulled out of the dreamworld, however, his body's physiology is no longer the same. In many instances this isn't relevant, but when it comes to procreating...I'll just say that I originally wanted to call this theory "Rand's Super Secret Love Juice Theory." As insane as this seems, it's obvious that being pulled from Tel'aran'rhiod is not natural, and it doesn't take a great leap to say that the body might act slightly differently when it hasn't been born. I mean, have we ever even seen Birgitte's belly button?
 
The nice thing about this theory is it can partially explain both peculiarities involving Aviendha's babies. Being that Rand would have a Tel'aran'rhiod-crafted semi-corporeal body, who knows how it might affect how his gametes would interact with Aviendha's? And you can pretty much throw out any Punnett squares in this example as well, since Tel'aran'rhiod Rand wouldn't have the same genetic line in my view. My favorite thing about this idea is something that someone who's been helping me with my blog lately said:
 
 
The not so nice thing about this theory is that it is almost completely ridiculous.
 
* The Warder Bond *
 
I'll finish off the list with what I think is the most likely explanation. It springs off the last couple of theories presented here, basically having to do with Rand being pulled out from Tel'aran'rhiod. To save him, his three lovers would have to bond him just like Elayne bonded Birgitte. A complication arises when Aviendha participates in the ceremony, perhaps not realizing that she is already pregnant. We know that having unborn babies nearby during a bonding ceremony is supposed to be a no no from what the Wise Ones tell Elayne and Aviendha during their bonding as first sisters:
 
 
Terez wrote a good write-up covering the topic of Aviendha's babies, and she describes this notion very well in this link. Assuming Rand and Aviendha's babies would be strong enough to survive the bonding ritual, it's very easy to see how they would end up having such an intimate connection with the One Power. This theory also possibly explains the differences in the siblings' appearances later in life; since Min and Elayne would also be involved in the bonding ritual, their essence would be transmuted across to the embryos inside Aviendha's belly. After all, Janduin seems to have features that could be related to Elayne with the blond hair, and Alarch and Marinna seem to share traits that could come from Min.
 
With that, I'll end this week's blog. Thank you again for coming to enjoy it, and please leave comments to let me know what you think. Special thanks to Ithillian for all of her help with my blog the last few weeks!
hazelkrs1
hazelkrs1

Thursdays with Tynaal: NaNoWriMo!

So, I started out thinking that I would hate November. It might be attractive to others, but I had decided that Movember (Moustache November--meaning that a great part of the male population has decided that November would be a great month for them to grow a moustache) definitely wasn't going to do it for me. I had forgotten about one great thing that does happen in November, though: NaNoWriMo.
 
NaNo-what-oh? This month has been selected as the National Novel Writing Month. As the name implies, the initiative is about writing your very own novel in a month. For more information and many other fun things like pep talks and the chance to swap plot-lines with other writers, you can check out the NaNoWriMo website. It might sound quite ludicrous to write a whole novel in a month, but fear not, the word count that is to be achieved stands at 50,000. If you divide that by 30 days, then you get an average of 1,666.67 words per day. Of course, if you only decide to start now, you have quite a bit to catch up on.
 
For those of you who are thinking things along the lines of, "I don't have time for this!" or, "Me? Write? Hah! Might as well ask a 6-year-old," I challenge you to give it a try. Don't give up before you've even started. Besides, if you don't achieve the goal this year, you can try again next year since NaNoWriMo is an annual event.
 
So, all of you out there, be you young or old, busy or not, are you prepared for the challenge? Are you willing to set yourself a goal and push to achieve that? Are you taking part in NaNoWriMo?
 
I am.
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

Podcast: The 4th Age Podcast Presents WoT You Should Know #4

<p>The 4th Age Podcast presents a short news update on the upcoming JordanCon4, with special guest and Dragonmount administrator Jennifer Liang. The dates are April 20-22, 2012 in Atlanta, GA--discount tickets and rooms rates are still available. All the details may be found at <a href="http://jordancon.org/">Jordancon.org</a>.</p><p>Also, please check out <a href="http://www.dragonmount.com">Dragonmount.com</a> for forums, comments, and all the latest news in the Wheel of Time world.</p><p>Host: Virginia
Special Guest: Jennifer Liang</p><p>Editor: Spencer</p><h6><strong> </strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-WYSK-004.mp3">Download'>http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-WYSK-004.mp3">Download this Episode now</a>
</strong></h6><p>Music by: Josh Needleman. His website is at <a href="http://www.joshneedleman.net/">www.joshneedleman.net</a> and he has the music available to hear on his MySpace page at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/joshneedleman">www.myspace.com/joshneedleman</a>. Its title is <em>Floodgate</em>. Thanks, Josh!</p><div><strong><a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-WYSK-004.mp3">Download this Episode now</a></strong></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/4thAge/~4/WJeEcFup8PM" height="1" width="1"/>
Tialin
Tialin

A Wind Blows, and Now You Can See It: A Review of The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel

I’m going to admit, I’m not much of a comic book person. I haven’t opened a single issue comic in longer than I can actually remember. But graphic novels, now there is something I can get behind. I guess the difference to me is that the graphic novel at least gets somewhere in the story, where the single issue feels like a short chapter to me. So, no, I hadn’t read any of the Wheel of Time comics except for New Spring (which I did only in graphic novel form and then reviewed on Tor.com). Thus, when I was at Dragon*Con and heard Tor Books was releasing the first volume of The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel, I might have pulled a string or two and gotten a copy sent to me. And now, my friends of Dragonmount, I shall share my thoughts on it with you.
 
Art:
 
There is one major thing I have to say, and that is I am so relieved to have a single artist for the entire volume. New Spring, because of its production issues, had three different artists, and the style difference, in fact the character design differences, were jarring. Additionally, artist Chase Conley did a remarkably good job of capturing the characters. As a fan of the series, I was able to identify the characters without having to be introduced to them. There was only one exception, and that was Tam al’Thor. Yes, it was obvious who Tam was, but I actually had always envisioned him a bit stockier than the Tam the comic gives us. This is probably more due to sloppy reading and a strange initial impression on my part, though, than a failure of the art direction. Because, you know, it isn’t like Maria Simons and Alan Romanczuk from Team Jordan and Bob Kluttz from Encyclopaedia-WoT weren’t checking on the art direction or anything.
 
In addition to the in story art, the graphic novel has a collection of all the cover art that was done for the single issues and a collection of concept art and sketches. My only complaint is that the only concept art of Min was on a page-crease, so I couldn’t really see it. It was very interesting seeing how some of the characters developed, though.
 
Okay, I lied. I have two other gripes. Padan Fain didn’t look quite weasel-like enough for me. It was probably the rictus-like smile he wore the entire time. I kind of always envisioned him as a snarl-type person. And, while the heron-marks are mentioned, they are not drawn in any of the shots of Tam’s sword. All in all, very minor nitpicky things.
 
Story:
 
We are again blessed to have Chuck Dixon as the script writer for this adaptation. Robert Jordan was pleased with his work, I know, and Chuck has been very true to the feel of Jordan’s narrative without having to copy and paste it word for word. The dialogue is crisp, and I can almost hear Mat whispering to Rand about the badger he caught. And, just so you know, this particular volume covers both the “Raven” and “Dragonmount” prologues, and the main narrative up to Rand spotting the Draghkar in the sky as they are leaving Emond’s Field.
 
Of course, a review isn’t fair if I don’t talk about what I didn’t like, and it is pretty heavily on the actual adaptation side of the house. First and foremost, I am not tickled pink about “Raven” being the very first thing I read. Well, scratch that, a very good introduction from Robert Jordan was the first thing I read, in which he gives a basic outline of the world. But that was exclusively text. The first panel of art with words was “Raven,” which is then followed by “Dragonmount.”
 
Why does this bother me? Well, I have a bit of a documented love of the “Dragonmount” prologue. It sets the tone for the whole series and really deserves to be the top billing, in my opinion. It does everything a prologue is supposed to do that many fantasy authors fail at, which is it introduces us to the world, sets up the conflict without even having to introduce us to the hero, and makes me want to read more.
 
“Raven,” on the other hand, just doesn’t do it for me. Yes, we get a bit of the world in Tam’s story, but the framing of it around Egwene carrying the water only served to distance me from the emotional impact, despite the gorgeous two-page spread depicting the War of the Shadow. I feel they should have held “Raven” off somehow, perhaps as a mid The Eye of the World interlude. Yes, I know that in the Young Adult version, From the Two Rivers, it was done the same way as in the comic, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
 
The other complaint I have is that I was really looking forward to using this as a tool to get new people into the Wheel of Time because, let’s face it, the first half of the first book can be a little onerous if you aren’t already a hardcore epic fantasy fan. And, honestly, this still can be used for that purpose. Getting out of Emond’s Field is a ridiculously long affair word-count wise while it actually wasn’t all that much of the book story wise.
 
So, what is the hang up? Character names. As I said, a fan can recognize who is who, but if someone new was reading this, they’d be kind of confused about who is talking and why people are cowering at this wisp of a girl that is storming by. Yes, that’s right, Nynaeve is not formally called by name on panel, or even directly off panel, until the scene where she says she can’t heal Tam. A few others of the people blend together here and there that, again, as a fan I was able to keep straight, but I have the overall sense that a new reader might be a bit lost.
 
Of course, I don’t think this is entirely the writer’s fault. Nor is it the artist’s, really. It comes down to: there are only so many ways you can make a village of people look unique enough in a comic book format to be kept track of. In the book, it is easy because everyone is always referred to by name in the narrative. Not so much here, eh? And it isn’t like they can all have different and massively unique clothes, at least not in Jordan’s world.
 
And my final complaint? On the first page of the main narrative, when we are getting those words that are so sacred to all Wheel of Time fans, the ones that start “The Wheel of Time turns,” they aren’t there. The first words are “In one age, called the Third Age by some, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist.” That is the opening paragraph.
 
Now, I know that not everything can be included, but seriously, the opening paragraph? The one that is the same in every single book? I’m surprised those were left out. Surprised, and a little disappointed. I might be adding a sticky-note to my version, just saying.
 
Overall:
 
Overall, though, I loved it. I really loved it. This is not just a beautiful visual aid to the story, but a means of being able to enjoy the story in a new way. I eagerly look forward to the next volume.
 
____________________________________________________
 
Richard Fife is a writer, blogger, and a little perturbed by the face Moiraine made when the boys knew her name. If you want to know what he means, go read the graphic novel. He is currently writing a weekly, serialized, illustrated steampunk novel called Meister of the Secret, part two of his Tijervyn Chronicles. Both parts are free to read on his website in web, epub, and mobi format. You can also Internet stalk him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
RichardFife
RichardFife

Wheel of Time Character Naming Rights Auction Begins Today

As we previously reported, JordanCon is conducting a fundraiser drive to offset their operating costs. In exchange for contributing, participants are entered into a drawing for the chance to have their names used for a Wheel of Time character in the final novel, A Memory of Light. In addition to the drawing, JordanCon is also conducting an auction with the winner guaranteed a spot in the book. Please note: We had to relist our auction last Thursday, November 3rd, to comply with eBay's rules for fundraisers. Any bids made previously need to be resubmitted. This auction will run from November 1 to November 10 with the highest bidder winning a Wheel of Time character.
 
In addition to supporting JordanCon, a non-profit fantasy literature convention, ten percent of the auction proceeds will go towards the Mayo Clinic's amyloidosis research fund and be donated in Robert Jordan's memory.
 
WHAT IS JORDANCON?
 
www.JordanCon.org
 
JordanCon is a fantasy literature convention founded in honor of the late author, Robert Jordan. Jordan was the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time series. JordanCon features four tracks of simultaneous programming, a Dealers Hall, and charity events benefiting the Mayo Clinic. Past guests have included Harriet McDougal, Brandon Sanderson, David Wong, Jana G. Oliver, David B. Coe, and Eugie Foster.
 
New to JordanCon this year will be the Art Show featuring art from a variety of fantasy and sci fi artists. Guests this year will include author Mary Robinette Kowal, artist Sam Weber, and Toastmaster Melissa Craib Dombrowski.
 
Please note that JordanCon, Inc. has applied for tax-exempt status as a 501©3 corporation. While they are awaiting the final verdict from the IRS, they are allowed to begin soliciting donations. Their tax-exempt status will be retroactively applied to the day of the filing.
 
WHAT IS THE MAYO CLINIC?
 
www.MayoClinic.com
 
For more than 100 years, Mayo Clinic has inspired hope and contributed to health and well-being by providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education, and research. Today, your generosity is at the heart of sustaining Mayo's mission.
 
As a not-for-profit organization, Mayo Clinic reinvests all earnings into improving patient care. Yet philanthropy provides essential support as we develop better methods to understand, predict, prevent, diagnose, and treat disease, and train the next generation of physicians and scientists. Mayo Clinic has more than 3,300 physicians, scientists, and researchers from every medical specialty. They work together with 46,000 allied health employees to care for more than half a million patients each year, from every U.S. state and many countries.
 
In 2006, Robert Jordan was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, which is a rare blood disease where abnormal proteins form in the bone marrow and become deposited in the patient's heart. During his illness, Robert Jordan received treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and encouraged his fans to donate in support of the clinic. JordanCon is proud to continue to honor that request each year through various charitable fundraisers at the convention.
 
Q & A
If I donate, what happens to the money?
 
All funds received will go directly to JordanCon with 10% of the proceeds going to the Mayo Clinic.
 
May I participate in both?
 
Yes, you may participate in both the General Auction and the Drawing. Please note you cannot win more than one character named for you.
Please follow these instructions! In the notes section, include your full name and email address.
 
What are the rules for naming characters?
 
You may use your name or an appropriate name of your choice, but the author reserves the right to approve it or change it to fit the type of character created. A physical description of yourself may be used.
 
How long is the Fundraiser and when will winners be announced?
 
The drawing will run from October 1 to December 1, 2011, and winners will be announced at www.jordancon.org. The auction will begin on November 1 and end on November 10. We will announce the winner of the auction and the first name drawn by Brandon Sanderson. All future names drawn will be announced via Brandon’s website.
 
Can I be entered multiple times in the General Drawing by giving several donations?
 
Yes! For every $10 you donate, you name will be entered into the drawing. If you donate $100, your name will be entered 10 times. However, your name can only appear once in the story.
 
I am trying to donate to the General Auction or enter the Drawing, but have difficulties. Who do I contact?
 
You must contact eBay for issues regarding payments. They are our vendor handling all the transactions. If you are having an issue with the drawing, please contact jordancon@jordancon.org.
 
May I pay by check or cash?
 
At this time we are only able to accept credit card, debit, or PayPal as methods of donation.
 
Who is eligible to win?
All fans are eligible to win with the exception of members of JordanCon, Incorporated’s board of directors and their immediate families.
 
I have questions about my privacy.
 
All donors give consent to have their names published publicly. This is done to ensure fairness and so you may see that your name did go through before we randomly draw the winners for the Drawing. All winners, including the General Auction winner, further agree to allow us to use their names to announce them as the donors selected to be used in A Memory of Light, including use of their names in any publicity associated with The Wheel of Time in this regard.
 
Private information such as contact emails and phone numbers will be given to Brandon Sanderson in case he chooses to use additional names at a later time. All other copies will be destroyed.
 
What if I have more questions?
 
Please send them to jordancon@jordancon.org with a subject heading indicating your question.
JenniferL
JenniferL

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: October 30-November 5, 2011

Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope you all had a spooktacular time yesterday. Feel free to share how you celebrated Halloween in the comments section of this article if you want!
 
The Science Fiction Book Club conducted an interview with author Patrick Rothfuss at WorldCon 2011. For more information and a link to this interview, visit this thread in our General Discussion forum.
 
Football season seems to be in full swing, and so is our discussion of it in our Sports Discussion forum. Which teams are your favorites?
 
The Aiel Social Group is extending the contest submission deadline for their Humor Month to today, November 1st! Look here for more information on how you could be a winner.
 
Have you ever wanted to be part of a One Power Tournament? Well, now is your chance! The Black Tower Social Group is hosting this tournament, and anyone can take part.
 
It's Halloween at the White Tower & Warders Social Group! Even if you aren't a member, you can still partake in some of the festivities on their main board. Watch this space so you can keep track of all the fun.
 
A Green Aes Sedai in the making shows that she won't let defeat stop her in the role play If at First You Don't Succeed...Petition, Petition Again. Read along to see Kathleen's fate.
 
Here's some news from our Twitter account: If you wore a Wheel of Time costume for Halloween this year, send us your pictures and we will put them up here on Dragonmount! I can't wait to see the submissions.
 
Until next week, folks!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

It Works in Theory: Perrin's Broken Crown (Don't worry, this is NOT a discussion of Faile's marital abuse)

Why hello, my witty habitué of Dragonmount! Welcome to another biweekly weekly (just kidding) entry of "It Works in Theory," Dragonmount's theory blog, in which this madman mysteriously gets the opportunity to muse on the topic of The Wheel of Time. Once again, I apologize for the absence of last week's blog. I do have a good excuse, though! I am ecstatic to say that I am now a married man! I'll allow some time for the applause and cheers to calm down. And now, for our weekly disclaimer:
 

WARNING!!! Spoiler Alert!!! WARNING!!!


 
This blog is based on theories that will include facts and material from the latest books in the series, so if you have not read through Towers of Midnight, continue reading at your own risk! I, Despothera, take you, my blog, to be my lawfully bonded assignment. Before these witnesses, I vow to put you off and delay writing you until the last possible moment. I take you, with all your strengths and weaknesses, as I offer myself to you, with all of my blog-related strengths and weaknesses. I shall bemoan you when you need to be written, and turn to you when I need an excuse to waste time online. You will take me in sickness and in health, or in whatever other state I might be in at the time, and leave me for better or for worse after you are written, till death do us part (or until my laptop gets thrown across the room).
 
Given that I did just get married recently, I thought it fitting to cover a theory related to marriage today. In fact, the specific theory we will be discussing today involves my favorite character, Perrin "Goldeneyes" Aybara, and his relationship to the Broken Crown. Alright, alright, zip it with all the abusive wife jokes! Faile and rolling pins aren't coming near each other in today's blog.
 
Okay, to catch everyone up, the first visions Min ever had about Perrin were described thusly:
 
 
The first one is obvious; the last one might be hinting at Perrin's possible role in rediscovering the lost Talent of Singing. I covered this in my blog a few weeks ago (click here for the link). The second has to do with Perrin's relationship to Faile, who is second in line in the succession to the Saldaean throne. The royal seat is more commonly known as the Broken Crown, and Queen Tenobia is currently the one on whom the crown is bestowed. Faile's father, Davram Bashere, is also Tenobia's uncle, and because Tenobia does not have any spouse or heirs, he is first in line for the throne should Tenobia abdicate or meet her end.
 
There is some discussion regarding the alignment of Davram Bashere; some think he might be a Darkfriend. Evidence for this theory includes his attack on Rand during one of Rand's sparring sessions--an incident in which Davram claims not to recognize Mazrim Taim--and this particular quote, another one of Min's visions:
 
 
The quote about Davram reminds me a lot of Min's vision of Alivia. Her desire to protect Rand from all the dangers around him leads her to be somewhat paranoid of even his closest confidants, but her suspicions seem to be just that: paranoia. However, it still can be said to be a potential clue pointing to Bashere's potential scumminess. Oh boy, that last sentence makes me feel I've been playing too much mafia lately! (For anyone wanting to check out Dragonmount's mafia games, visit this forum.)
 
Now, for some reason, I see Tenobia going under the radar for everyone. Apparently, not too many people believe her to be a Darkfriend. This is kind of strange, because there is practically an orgy of evidence which might seem to implicate Tenobia as having given her soul to the Dark One. Davram himself is somewhat suspicious of her motives when she leaves the Blight undefended to come down and pursue Rand. Alviarin (Head of the Black Ajah) sends a Red (and most likely Black as well) Sister to control and eventually kidnap Tenobia (it seems like that sister, Memara, failed in her tasks). One of the most damning pieces of evidence is that she left a relative of hers--Vram Torkumen, a verified Darkfriend--in charge at Maradon. Ituralde's entire campaign would have met a much shorter end had the Saldaean captain Yoeli not rebelled against his orders and performed a coup on the Darkfriend leaders. Min also has an ominous vision about Tenobia:
 
 
The imagery of the shining light probably leads many to assume she will die a heroic martyr type of death, but the flip side is that it may turn out to be that her death ends up being good for the Light. The fact that the spear is bloody definitely seems to call for someone's death; whether it's hers or someone that she betrays or kills remains to be seen. The big pitfall to the idea that Tenobia might be a Darkfriend is that she looks Rand in the eyes after his "Veins of Gold" epiphany, yet isn't outed by Rand's new Ghostrideresque ability to stare down Darkfriends. This would seem to dispel the possibility of Davram Bashere being a Darkfriend as well, since he passes the Rand al'Thor Darkfriend Seeing Eye Test(TM).
 
The only thing I would say about this is that I don't know if we really know enough about the new abilities to completely understand all the nuances and subtleties of how they emerge with Rand. It might be that a Darkfriend with a strong enough will can stare Rand down without being outed as easily as another Darkfriend. Another wacky idea I had was that Tenobia might be a Darkfriend going rogue, as in trying to set her own agenda to betray her former masters. The bloody spear shining in sunlight might be her moment of redemption. Either way, it seems fairly clear that there is a strong possibility of both Tenobia and Davram Bashere dying in the last book, leaving the throne to pass down to Faile. Because Saldaea has a form of a joint monarchy in which the spouse of the King or Queen is almost an equal co-ruler, Perrin would essentially end up wearing the Broken Crown.
 
So, what effect does this have on the outcome of the Last Battle and the events leading up to and after it? Well, first of all, it gives Perrin another possible seat as a ruler in the world that will hopefully survive after the battle. The more lands that are controlled by stable leaders that have potential ties to the Dragon Reborn after the Last Battle, the better the chances of Randland surviving and being able to adapt to a new age. He promised Lieutenant-General Tylee Khirgan that he wouldn't revive the nation of Manetheren, and even though he did enact an alliance with Elayne that made him something of a Lord over the Two Rivers, he's still not the ruler.
 
I've also got a small, growing theory about the explanation to the cryptic "the north and the east must be as one, the south and the west must be as one" line which would involve Perrin representing the north. As ruler of Saldaea, he would have loose control over all four of the Borderlander nations because of their alliance in face of the coming struggles. Part of the usefulness in having Perrin sit the Saldaean throne might have something to do with how Randland can keep itself from being conquered by the Seanchan should they miraculously survive Tarmon Gai'don. The rest of that particular theory will have to wait for another time, as we have arrived at the end of my blog.
 
Happy one week anniversary, my love!
hazelkrs1
hazelkrs1

Fan Art Friday: Padan Fain

Since it's almost Halloween, I thought I'd dip into my mailbag of requests and take a look at one of the most iconic-and puzzling- villains in the Wheel of Time series. So today we're taking a look at Padan Fain.
 

 
This is a fantastically creepy version of Fain by Mandersen. I think the decision to make this image black and white really adds to evilness. The shadows always seem a little deeper in black and white.
 

 
This portrait is by Luketarig on DeviantArt. According to his comments, it was done digitally. I really like the murky, impressionistic take on Fain.
 

 
Moesymoe took a few liberties with his version of Fain, by adding tattoos and shaving his head. However, I think it still captures the sense of the character. Fain has a creeping menace to him and a sense of wrongness. This fits that perfectly.
 
On a side note, JordanCon, a non-profit fantasy literature convention founded in honor of Robert Jordan, is currently running a drawing with the prize being a chance to get your name in A Memory of Light. The money is going to help defray JordanCon's operating costs, with a percentage being set aside for the Mayo Clinic's Amyloidosis research fund. The drawing runs until December, but Brandon Sanderson is already choosing names. If you'd like to enter, please visit www.jordancon.org.
 
And that's all I've got time for today. Thanks for reading!
JenniferL
JenniferL

Podcast: #107 – The 4th Age Podcast – Letters from Verin Sedai

<p>This is the 107th episode of The 4th Age Podcast, in which we discuss the mysterious batch of red-sealed letters Verin Sedai handed out. Your hosts for this episode are Virginia, Daniel, and Spencer.</p><p>(This episode, like most of our talks, is chock full of spoilers if you haven’t read Towers of Midnight yet!) <span style="color: #800000;">Warning: SPOILER ALERT!</span></p><p>Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.dragonmount.com">Dragonmount.com</a> for forums, comments, and all the latest news in the Wheel of Time world.</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>ATTENTION! THERE ARE TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT SPOILERS in this podcast!</strong> </span><em>Also, spoilers on ALL the other books are VERY likely!</em> 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.</p><p>Hosts: Virginia, Daniel, and Spencer.</p><h6>Editor for this episode: Ken S.
Editor-in-Chief: Spencer</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-107.mp3">Download'>http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-107.mp3">Download this Episode now</a>
</strong></h6><h5>A HUGE thanks to all our editors, past and present, from all of us here! We couldn’t make this happen without your help and technical expertise. We are usually in need of editing help – please, contact Spencer at <a href="mailto:podcast@dragonmount.com" target="_blank">podcast@dragonmount.com</a> if you are interested in volunteering.</h5><h5>Music by: Josh Needleman. His website is at <a href="http://www.joshneedleman.net/">www.joshneedleman.net</a> and he has the music available to hear on his MySpace page at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/joshneedleman">www.myspace.com/joshneedleman</a>. Its title is <em>Floodgate</em>. Thanks, Josh!</h5><div><strong><a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-107.mp3">Download this Episode now</a></strong></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/4thAge/~4/DnvJuj5ImCg" height="1" width="1"/>
Tialin
Tialin

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: October 23-29, 2011

It's hard to believe we're already nearing the end of October! My seventh anniversary as a member of Dragonmount was on October 22nd, and I want to express my gratitude to my friends here for helping to shape me into the person I am today.
 
What would the Dragon be like if he were spun out of the Pattern into today's world? What sort of education or career might he have? What would his role be? Come speculate with our theory geeks in the General Wheel of Time Discussion forum.
 
Do you have any favorite quotes from books, movies, tv series, games, or historical figures? If so, please share them with us in our General Discussion forum.
 
The Kin Social Group is all decked out for Halloween with their Kin U Halloween Festival! Watch this space for games, discussions, and spooky surprises.
 
The auction portion of the Game and Auction Weeks from the White Tower & Warders Social Group has begun! Keep an eye on this thread for updates.
 
Will you be dressing in costume for Halloween this year? What was your best Halloween costume ever? Join the Wolfkin Social Group for a chat about awesome Halloween costumes.
 
Our role players are exploring the psyche of a newly made Seanchan damane in From Human to Property. This looks like it will be a fascinating story.
 
Finally, as always, keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook accounts for more on the latest Wheel of Time news.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Podcast: #106 – The 4th Age Podcast – Tam al’Thor

<p>In this, the 106th episode of The 4th Age Podcast, we will be discussing Tam al’Thor, the remarkable father figure to Rand, the Dragon Reborn. Your hosts for this episode are Andrew, Virginia, Spencer, Carrie, and Marc.</p><p>(This episode, like most of our talks, is chock full of spoilers if you haven’t read Towers of Midnight yet!) <span style="color: #800000;">Warning: SPOILER ALERT!</span></p><p>Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.dragonmount.com">Dragonmount.com</a> for forums, comments, and all the latest news in the Wheel of Time world.</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>ATTENTION! THERE ARE TOWERS OF MIDNIGHT SPOILERS in this podcast!</strong> </span><em>Also, spoilers on ALL the other books are VERY likely!</em> If you haven’t read all the way through the Wheel of Time, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS of all previous books! There also 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 give no guarantees, however.</p><p>Hosts: Andrew, Virginia, Spencer, Carrie, and Marc</p><h6>Editor for this episode: Ken S.
Editor-in-Chief: Spencer</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-106.mp3">Download'>http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-106.mp3">Download this Episode now</a>
</strong></h6><h5>A HUGE thanks to all our editors, past and present, from all of us here! We couldn’t make this happen without your help and technical expertise. We are usually in need of editing help – please, contact Spencer at <a href="mailto:podcast@dragonmount.com" target="_blank">podcast@dragonmount.com</a> if you are interested in volunteering.</h5><h5>Music by: Josh Needleman. His website is at <a href="http://www.joshneedleman.net/">www.joshneedleman.net</a> and he has the music available to hear on his MySpace page at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/joshneedleman">www.myspace.com/joshneedleman</a>. Its title is <em>Floodgate</em>. Thanks, Josh!</h5><div><strong><a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-106.mp3">Download this Episode now</a></strong></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/4thAge/~4/uw5V0DU9eqY" height="1" width="1"/>
Tialin
Tialin

Orbit releasing limited-edition copies of Eye of the World

Orbit Books, the UK publisher for The Wheel of Time, announced today on their "Turn the Wheel of Time" Facebook page that they will be publishing a limited number of leather-bound editions for The Eye of the World. Only 2,000 copies will sold worldwide. The hardback book comes in a high-quality slip-case with a gold foil WoT logo on the outside of the case and gold foil lettering and logo on the spine.
 
These limited editions will not be available in the United States or Canada. However, some US citizens have reportedly been able to pre-order it from Amazon UK.
 
If you are somebody who lives in a country or territory where Orbit Books are sold, please contact a local bookseller near you and ask them to special order this book. Give them the ISBN number: 9780356501529. If your local bookseller is unable to do this for you, then try the Amazon link provided here.
 
According to Orbit's announcement, the UK retail price will be £35. Specific price will vary depending on who you purchase it from, and what currency you use.
 
Pre-Order this book from Amazon UK
Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Thursdays with Tynaal: JordanCon Fundraiser

As you all should know, the last book of the Wheel of Time, A Memory of Light, is in the process of being written by Brandon Sanderson. Seeing as this is the last book, I really think you all should give this a go.
 
The Robert Jordan estate, Brandon Sanderson, and JordanCon, Inc. have decided to launch a fundraiser in order to raise funds for JordanCon and the Mayo Clinic. You have two options to support the fundraiser. For the first option, you can take part in a highest-bidder auction, with the winner getting a character named (within guidelines) after them, including a physical description! This auction will take place from November 1-10. The second option is donating $10 and entering a raffle, out of which Brandon Sanderson will choose as many names as he wishes and then will use them in A Memory of Light. You can enter into this drawing as often as you wish.
 
In my opinion, this is really something you should do. Not only do you get the chance for your name to be in A Memory of Light, but you also will be supporting JordanCon. Before I read this blog post by Jennifer Liang, I didn't quite realize what JordanCon meant. Reading the blog post actually gave me goosebumps:
 
 
So, grab that wallet, skip your extra frosting donut at work for a week, and donate to a good cause, even if it is just $10. They have raised just over $17,000 so far! For more information on the fundraiser, JordanCon, or the Mayo Clinic, you can check out the JordanCon website.
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: October 16-22, 2011

Welcome back, all! I apologize for the lack of a roundup last week. Real life got in the way, but I'm back and ready to go this week.
 
As evidenced by the popularity of our weekly theory blog, we at Dragonmount have numerous fans who love to speculate about theories and predictions for the series. What will all these people do once The Wheel of Time series is finished? Come to the General Wheel of Time Discussion forum and find out.
 
Our fan casting thread for the Wheel of Time movie is still going strong. Drop by our The Wheel of Time in Other Media forum to join in the hype.
 
The Black Tower Social Group is running their October Shockwave Competition. You still have time to nominate games!
 
Some members of the Ogier Social Group have been writing songs in this thread. They are quite lovely, so visit and let them know!
 
The Warders of the White Tower & Warders Social Group are hosting a week of game shows! By participating in the games this week, you will be able to buy various members of the Social Group who are going up for auction next week. Yes, for those who are wondering, I will be one of the members you can buy in the auction. For more information about the Game Show and Auction Weeks, go here.
 
If any of you have ever wondered what a blademaster ceremony might look like, our role players have a treat for you! Come celebrate with Visar in Heart of the Heron, Part Two.
 
After a brief hiatus, the Intrigue in Murandy role play I told you about last month is back in full swing. Those of you who were waiting with baited breath for the story to continue need wait no longer.
 
Yesterday would have been Robert Jordan's 63rd birthday. Join us on Twitter and Facebook to see what fans are saying about our beloved master storyteller.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Happy Birthday, Robert Jordan

Today, October 17th, would have been Robert Jordan's 63rd birthday. Happy Birthday, RJ!
 
Did you ever have a chance to meet our favorite author in person? Did he tell you something interesting or funny? If so, leave a comment below and tell us the story.
 
To celebrate his birthday, Ta'Veren Tees is having a 1-day only sale on one of their popular Wheel of Time t-shirts. Go check out how you can get it for only $17 (US)
 
(The photo here is courtesy of Wilson Grooms)
Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

It Works in Theory: "Round and round the Wheel of Time we go, where we stop...no one knows"

As Salaam Alaikum, astute affiliates of Dragonmount! Welcome to another weekly entry of "It Works in Theory," Dragonmount's very own theory blog written by the committee of me, myself, and I. Before we start, I wanted to apologize for the absence of last week's theory blog. I've been as busy as you can imagine with last minute preparations for my impending nuptials, a heightened number of band practices due to a new member joining, and other matters which made it impossible for me to finish in time for my deadline. As much as I wish that the lack of a column last week became a source of anguish and gnashing of teeth for my readers, I'm sure you ended up okay without it. In a weird way, part of me might even be glad there wasn't a column last week; I'm particularly proud of some of the ideas I will be putting forth this week, and I feel the heightened anticipation might actually enhance your enjoyment of today's blog. And now, after rebuilding all that momentum, let's go ahead and pump the brakes and get to this week's disclaimer:
 

WARNING!!! Spoiler Alert!!! WARNING!!!


 
This blog is based on theories that will include facts and material from the latest books in the series, so if you have not read through Towers of Midnight, continue reading at your own risk! Readers of "It Works in Theory" should be advised that their understandings of notions such as time, space, metaphysics, morality, logic, and grammar could be subject to completely different interpretations and definitions from a different relativistic perspective, and that those notions may or may not be stretched, stunted, discombobulated, or otherwise manipulated at any time without advance warning in accordance with the author's whims and desires.
 
Something occurred to me as I was reading through our forums the other day. For being pretty much the main bad guy in a series, Ishamael has a lot of fans. He appeals not just to fans who delight in how entertaining twisted and maniacal bad guys can be in a series, but to a larger proportion than one might expect in this situation. It's actually not too difficult to see why this may be, however. All one needs to do to consider how Ishamael/Moridin is different from other major antagonists or bad guys is examine the reasoning for why he decided to go to the side of evil, or to the Shadow.
 
The implication is made throughout the series that Ishamael made his decision not out of selfish impulses or desperation, but instead out of logic and reason. He was known for being a great mind and philosopher during the Age of Legends, and this inquisitive nature led him to question the nature of the world in which he lived. We know that the Wheel of Time describes a model of reality in which a cyclical expression of time is the norm, instead of the linear expression of time that we are used to. This is a direct reference to the source of the name of the series; in Hinduism, the concept of eternal recurrence is expressed with their own Wheel of Time.
 
The idea of history repeating itself throughout the ages in one giant cosmic joke rankled Ishamael, and soon enough, this annoyance grew to define him until he decided the only course of action that was right was to aid the Dark One so that the Pattern might be destroyed. Of all the Forsaken, he is the only one who carries no delusions as to what will happen should the Dark One win. He doesn't believe that, as one of the Great Lord of the Dark's most loyal servants, he will enjoy some lofty position of leadership in the Dark One's vision of a new world. He knows that, should the Dark One win, all existence will end.
 
 
Interestingly enough, many readers can actually relate to this point of view. For some reason, there exists a general aversion to the notion of eternal recurrence in today's day and age, especially in Western culture. And yet, the Wheel of Time has become one of the most popular fantasy series of its time, and one might say the central theme is the idea of eternal recurrence. The rings the Aes Sedai wear(which you can purchase for yourself and help support this site by visiting Dragonmount's store, depict a snake eating its own tail, which is an allusion to Ouroboros, an ancient symbol for eternal recurrence. There are seven Ages in the Wheel, just as it was theorized by some Kabbalists out of Judaism that there are seven cycles which repeat every few thousand years. Even the Seanchan spear that is displayed in one of the main Wheel of Time symbols might be an allusion to Stephen Hawking's theory of the Arrow of Time. Then, of course, we always have the famous opening paragraph to every book in the series:
 
 
I could go on and on about the parallels in the Wheel of Time to other theological concepts of time and eternity, but Linda over at The Thirteenth Depository has already covered that much further in detail than I could ever hope to do. To see her article on the eschatology of the Wheel of Time, please visit this link.
 
We should take a little bit more time to go further in depth into more of the ramifications and nuances of cyclical time. There is somewhat of a micro/macro element when you break it down; eternal recurrence can take place in different ways. Ages cycling after one another is one way, the rebirth of the soul is another. Like in many cases, it can be easier to understand the big picture by focusing on the smaller example in front of us. Reincarnation doesn't state that you will be reborn as the same exact person you were in your previous life; while certain traits may be shared, overall, both reincarnations are completely distinct individuals. Because of this difference, there is room for personal growth and development, just as there is room for regression and devolution. A pauper who plays his cards right may awake reborn as a pharaoh, but if he forgets the lessons he learned and distances himself from his cosmic goal, then he may be reborn as something even lower than the pauper.
 
This ebb and flow can take place on a larger scale as well. Even though time and history may repeat themselves, there is a chance for mankind and life in general to advance and progress or to retreat and regress in various cyclings of time. This still might not be quite enough to satisfy some, as it might appear that even with this capacity for progression, there is still a ceiling or limitation to how far things can go before things get reset. In linear views of time, the perception truly is "Infinity, and beyond"; the perception is that anything is possible and that nothing truly stands in the way of progress but the obstacles we set up ourselves. The funny thing is, while most find the model of time set up in the Wheel of Time to be foreign and not comparable to our own reality, they might be surprised how many ways eternal recurrence can be said to happen in our own world.
 
First of all, apart from the metaphysical aspect and consideration of the soul, the biological process in which molecules pass from organism to organism can be considered recurrence. Our bodies die, decompose, and break down into organic matter which can feed the soil we are buried in, which in turn feeds the grass, which in turn feeds the grazing antelope, all of which contributes to the great circle of life. I know, I know, first I go Pixar, then I pull out the Disney; I must be getting soft, right? Try living with a 4-year-old, and see if their programming preference doesn't rub off on you a bit!
 
Another great example occurs on the cosmological scale. I'll assume everyone's heard of the Big Bang Theory, even if you don't agree with the concept. Somewhat less well known, however, is the Big Crunch, which occurs once the universe reaches a "critical density level" and gravity begins to pull it back in on itself, reversing the Big Bang. Once it contracts into the singularity, the Big Bang is free to occur again, which is outlined in the Oscillating Universe Theory. Then there are phenomena such as deja vu, which gives us the feeling of having experienced a certain event or occurence before.
 
Cyclical time also has its place in literature as well, apart from theological texts, of course. I remember watching Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time and being mesmerized by the iconic music playing during the opening scenes. Some time later, I finally decided to look up the song and discovered it to be Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra, which was inspired by a work from another famous German. And thus, I was introduced to Friedrich Nietzsche. His work, Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Also Sprach Zarathustra in original German pronunciation), is particularly relevant to today's discussion. It features a prophet named Zarathustra who poses philosophical questions and raises arguments against long held notions of morality and ethics. Zarathustra is representative of the Persian prophet Zoroaster, who is credited with founding Zoroastrianism. Incidentally, Zoroastrianism is significant in that it was one of the first religions to predict a cataclysmic confrontation between good and evil in the future; this idea soon spread to other religions like Judaism and indirectly influenced Christianity and Islam.
 
In Thus Spoke Zarathustra, eternal recurrence is posed as a kind of existential quandary for which a solution might be sought. Nietzsche describes the idea as abhorrent, and the burden of having to live in such a world as incredibly heavy. His solution to how to live with this burden was amor fati, or love of fate. Basically, it involves a certain resignation to fate; the knowledge that you are doomed to eventually repeat the exact same life robs you of the desire to try and alter your role in life, so the best you can do is try and appreciate the irony. Your life may be considered a cosmic joke, but at the very least the Creator gets to use you to put on his cosmological mummer's farce.
 
Okay, at this point we've ventured fairly far from the Wheel of Time, so for those of you who haven't zonked out or navigated away from the blog, I'll get to the point. You may or may not have thought about this before, but it's hinted at in the series that the world of the Wheel of Time is actually our own. In fact, Robert Jordan has confirmed this to be true in a few different Q&A sessions:
 
 
 
So, Jordan is proposing that the cyclical model which is used for the Wheel of Time is actually the same model in which we exist in reality. Epic fantasy series have an interesting place in theories about eternal recurrence in our world. There are many people who believe that mankind has already risen and fallen, that our technology has shot upwards just to fall back again. I can hear you scoffing from here, but it might not be as crazy as you think. One of the pieces of evidence is the Great Sphinx, the ambiguous statue located right by the Great Pyramids of Giza, and how the head just doesn't fit the body or how the body appears to be much older than the Pyramids themselves.
 
The pyramids themselves are a miraculous feat in engineering that to this day perplexes modern engineers, as it doesn't seem they should have had the technology back then to construct them as mathematically precise as they did, and as quickly. For that matter, there are several ancient enigmas, such as Stonehenge and others. Embedded in this theory is Atlantis (which would have been destroyed before civilization is believed to have started) and even the Great Flood in the Bible (for more info on that, visit this link). Proponents of this theory even speculate that stories like The Lord of the Rings might not be based completely on fiction but might have some roots in one of the past cycles.
 
Some of the belief systems that postulate eternal recurrence also postulate that reality is actually an illusion, and that only by departing from this illusion can we achieve "freedom" from the cycle. In Buddhism, this requires meditation and the tuning out of worldly trappings and concerns. In the Wheel of Time, however, people in general do not seek to "escape" from the Wheel. In fact, when they swear, they swear by "hope of salvation and rebirth," which means they want to keep being reborn. The exception to this involves the people of Tremalking, the Amayar, who believe that as the Last Battle approaches, the "Time of Illusion" comes to an end. They actually anticipate this event because they look at the illusion of the reality of rebirth as being a harsh and undesirable fate.
 
 
So, would it really be that bad to live in a world in which history repeats itself? Are we so much better off, assuming our reality is based on a linear expression of time? It's true, we as a species have progressed to an amazing level, but at what cost? In spite of all our advancements, starvation is still a serious threat for many. We are altogether too efficient at killing one another with our advanced weaponry. The planet's health is failing, and all of our scrambling to help protect it may still not end up being enough. As a species, our reach has always extended our grasp. Perhaps that's one of the inherent problems with linear time, or at least our role in it. We recklessly plow ahead in the name of progress even when it isn't prudent to do so.
 
Let's assume for argument's sake that the world Jordan created is also our world. How do we cope with the trauma that is cyclical time?! Do we assume the nihilistic view, and not strive to change anything because there is nothing to change and no point in resisting? Should we seek to escape the repetition by trying to empower those who would destroy the system? Should we listen to Nietzsche, and try to adopt amor fati?
 
I have a different alternative. Maybe there are some downsides to the cyclical model, but life itself seems to be underrated by many. Perhaps we can't see the purpose in wiping the slate clean every so often, and it's easy for us to paint the world of the Wheel of Time as being a cosmic farce doomed to repeat itself for eternity, or until the Dark One wins. That doesn't change the fact that the Pattern's existence makes it possible for everything else to exist. All the creatures, all the foliage, all the good guys, all the bad guys, all the relationships and connections people are able to make, all of the details which many pass over but some appreciate and admire like the fine little pieces of art they are, all of life itself. No, I don't think one needs to have love of fate, but rather love of life. We don't need any other purpose but living life just for the opportunity, for life itself. Amor vita.
hazelkrs1
hazelkrs1

A Memory of Light Release Date Speculation

Earlier this week, Orbit, the UK publisher for The Wheel of Time series, released a video promoting a November 2012 release date for A Memory of Light. This prompted many fans to ask whether or not this was indeed the official release, especially as it contradicted earlier estimates that the book might be ready in time for a March 2012 release.
 
Blogger Adam Whitehead, of the popular review site "The Wertzone", went straight to the source and asked Brandon Sanderson on Twitter for us:
 


I thought that was still up in the air and an earlier release was possible (especially if @BrandSanderson delivers by Jan 2012).
 
And received the following response:
 


@Werthead The date hasn't been picked yet, so theoretically anything next year is possible.
 
@Werthead However, realistically, I doubt Tor will pass up the holiday season for the last WoT book. Or at least the summer season.
 
@Werthead While they COULD pick spring, it wouldn't make much sense marketing wise, and I think Harriet wants a good six months to edit.
 
@Werthead That means July is the earliest, November the latest, we will see the book. I'd put my money on somewhere in-between.
 
Justin Golenbock, Senior Publicist for Tor Books and the guy who handles publicity for The Wheel of Time and Sanderson's other books, also chimed in:
 


@Werthead Adam, we have Nov 12 as well, but that's tentative based on final editing. Harriet's in the drivers seat on the pub date:)
 
So there you have it, folks. Team Jordan is still on track to get the final Wheel of Time volume out to us next year. It looks like a spring release is no longer an option and the earliest we could reasonably expect to see the book will be next summer. As soon as we have a firm release date from the publishers, we'll update the site and our A Memory of Light information page to reflect that.
 
On a related note, JordanCon, a non-profit fantasy literature convention founded in honor of Robert Jordan, is currently running a drawing with the prize being a chance to get your name in A Memory of Light. The money is going to help defray JordanCon's operating costs, with a percentage being set aside for the Mayo Clinic's Amyloidosis research fund. The drawing runs until December, but Sanderson is already choosing names. If you'd like to enter, please visit www.jordancon.org.
JenniferL
JenniferL

Thursdays with Tynaal: Wheel of Time Weaponry

In our last Wheel of Time merchandise blogs, we had a look at Wheel of Time inspired jewelry and clothing. Now, we shall be focusing our attention on something you can't really wear. Well, you can't wear it easily in today's day and age, but it's something I am sure any aspiring Warder, Band of the Red Hand member, or Algai'd'siswai would love to have.
 
Have you ever wanted to be a blademaster, but couldn't find a panel to judge you? Well, give the panel a pass and just go buy yourself a heron-mark sword! You can find these swords both on Swords of Honor and Museum Replicas. The swords seem to have really good craftsmanship. The only downside is the price. I personally thought it was a very steep price until I compared it to what you pay for modern hunting bows here in South Africa. After comparing the prices, it seems quite reasonable. So, if a heron-mark sword is something you have always wanted and you're willing to pay the price, go for it!
 
If you're not a fan of our goldenboy Rand and would prefer to have an axe like Perrin, check this out. They have one that you can buy. If you're a supporter of Mat or Birgitte instead, then you can have a look at the selection of staves and bows that the three sites I linked you to have.
 
My last word of advice is that you should please be careful with the weapons and consider taking a beginners' course to perfect your handling of them. You should especially do this if you're considering getting a crossbow, sword, axe, or the like.
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

Orbit launches AMOL video, plus free give-aways

Orbit Books, the publisher for the The Wheel of Time books in the United Kingdom and other territories, has launched an exciting marketing campaign to encourage people to re-engage in the series before A Memory of Light is released next year.
 
The campaign, called "Turn the Wheel of Time", features a fun video, as well as a free give-away tote-bag to the first 500 people who "Like" their Facebook page. (Only open to residents who live in countries where Orbit publishes their books. Sorry, Americans!) Here's the video:
 

http://www.youtube.com/embed/5RQCwSrtt74" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>  
Helpful Links

"Turn the Wheel of Time" Press Release
"Turn the Wheel of Time" Facebook page
A Memory of Light information page
Follow Orbit Books on Twitter (@orbitbooks)

 
No release date for A Memory of Light has been announced or confirmed. The video above says it will be out in November, 2012, but that is just speculation on Orbit's part. At this time, expect the book to be released anywhere from mid to late 2012.
 
As always, keep checking back with our website for the latest and greatest news related to AMOL. You can also follow us on twitter @dragonmount, or at facebook.com/dragonmount
Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Fan Art Friday: Ariel Burgess

So my inbox has been flooded lately with a ton of "Have you seen this???" kind of emails. What are they buzzing about? The art of Ariel Burgess, also known as Reddera in our Gallery and on DeviantArt, of course!
 

 
According to her website, Ariel is a professional working artist who accepts commissions for a wide variety of work. That makes her fan art extra special to me. For professional artists, their time is money and any time spent working on unpaid projects is time that could have been spent working on a commission. So you know someone is truly interested in creating awesome fan art when they do that.
 

 
Ariel has been working for several months on creating character portraits for what she hopes will eventually become a Wheel of Time themed deck of cards. I have no idea if she's in touch with Team Jordan regarding this, but I hope she is. The quality of the art is excellent and I feel a need to encourage her with money.
 

 
My only quibble is that the watermark she puts on these is very big and distracting. Oh well. You can see more of Ariel's fan art and get the latest updates on her project by following her on Facebook.
 
On a side note, Brandon Sanderson and JordanCon are holding another one of those "Get your name in a Wheel of Time book" thingies. You can get more information about how to participate here.
JenniferL
JenniferL

Thursdays with Tynaal: Our Social Groups

Welcome back, folks!
 
It’s that time of the month again, when I have fun bringing Dragonmount a little bit closer to you. Last week, I introduced the Discussion forums to you and this week, we’ll be heading over to the Social Community of Dragonmount, as it is called. There are nine places where you can become a member.
 
First, we have the Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild. Here you will find anything that a creative mind can desire. The name sums it up pretty well, really. If you like to draw, play around in Photoshop, write poetry or epic stories, or even if you’re one of those people who are killers with knitting needles, you’ll be sure to find some kindred spirits on this board.
 
Before I introduce the other eight boards to you, I will tell you what they’re about in a nutshell. These boards are referred to as “Social Groups”. So, as the name implies, they’re all about being social. Each one is built around the ideas of a different organization or society within the Wheel of Time. But, you don’t only get the chance to interact with fellow Wheel of Time lovers--I mean, that’d get pretty boring after a while, don’t you think? By joining any one of these Social Groups, you start off as an Initiate, Gai’shan, Civilian, Pup, or whichever rank is applicable for the group. After that, you have the opportunity to gain rank by doing various things within the group. Just as every group is based around a different theme, every group has its own ranks and raising procedures.
 
First off, we have the Aiel. They’re one of the pretty close-knit groups and have a very friendly and stimulating environment. You can strive to become an Algai'd'siswai or choose the path of a Wise One. For our music loving travelers, we have The Band of the Red Hand, by whose fireplaces you can find a seat and enjoy good company. Then there’s the Black Tower. If you enjoy spamming and would like to be rewarded for doing it, join the Black Tower and start posting to your heart's content. You’ll be a full-ranked member in no time. A very open, friendly, and cozy group is that of the Kin, where they focus on friendship, sharing, exchanges, and just having a good time together. For those who live for the stories in books or thrive on history, old battles, and military tactics (simply a few topics among many), the Ogier would be a perfect fit. Every group of people needs some bad kids; well, we’ve got them, and they reside in Shayol Ghul. Jokes aside, though, if you’re into random mayhem and a wicked sense of humor, this is one Social Group that you cannot pass by. Ever wished you could become an Aes Sedai or a Warder? Well, then sign up for the White Tower & Warders, where you can strive to become just that. Last but not least, we have the wonderful Wolfkin. This group focuses on all things related to nature and its members have a very playful side to them, so if you like the outdoors and are up for some fun, go check them out.
 
Phew, that was quite a bit to tell you guys. Can’t decide which Social Group you like the most? Well, check them all out! There is no limit on the number of groups that you can join, so knock yourself out. I hope you all take the time to pop into the Social Groups, as they are really quite fun. If you would prefer to get a feel for the group before joining, then feel welcome to post on their public boards and interact with the members. So, until next time!
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

Ta'veren Tees Announces Tai'shar Manetheren Shirt

Remember when Ta'veren Tees gave you the chance to vote for a new shirt design? Well, the results are in, and the new design has arrived! Here is the press release:
 
 
That's not all the exciting news! Ta'veren Tees has a contest going on now called "Ta'veren Tee Tuesdays on Twitter" where a random follower on Twitter will be chosen to receive a free shirt each Tuesday in October. Head over to Twitter now and follow them.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen