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Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: October 2-8, 2011

Ah, there's nothing like the start of October to let you know that autumn is truly here. It still feels like summer here in California, but it's nice to know that the seasons are changing elsewhere. From the comfort of my air-conditioned home, I bring you the latest happenings from our forums:
 
Who doesn't love loony theories and zany predictions? Stop by this thread in our General Wheel of Time Discussion forum to read and share some real doozies.
 
Do we have any Doctor Who fans in the house? If so, don't miss our ongoing discussion of the latest installment in our TV Show Discussion forum.
 
The October Challenge for the Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild is Fright Night. Come discuss and make things related to Halloween, ghosts, or other spooky things.
 
After you've been scared silly, continue down the forums to the Aiel Social Group and laugh it off by partaking in their Humor Month festivities. Look here for the continuously updated list of events, including contests, games, and discussions.
 
The Wolfkin Social Group is holding a pumpkin carving contest this month. Do you think you have the skills to win?
 
A new role play has begun this week, and there's already plenty of action in the first post. Come check out Catch Me If You Can.
 
If you want to know more about why it's necessary to do a fundraiser for JordanCon, read more about it here. Also, in addition to watching our front page, keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.
 
Have fun, everyone!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

It Works in Theory: Mashadar: The Wheel of Time's All-Purpose Cleanser?

Shalom, my perspicacious patrons of Dragonmount! Welcome to another week of your favorite Dragonmount front page blog, "It Works in Theory." I almost feel lazy in choosing the topic for today's entry, since it's a subject that came up in the comments of last week's blog. I'll go ahead and warn you right now--we're going to be getting our hands dirty today. Before we begin, here's 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! The odds of there being any truly insightful material in "It Works in Theory" are approximately 1 out of 153,294,586. Please read responsibly. Think of the time spent reading and hoping to glean actually useful information from the blog as the cost of your entertainment. Think of actually finding said information as a bonus. Expect not to read anything useful; odds are there won't be anything of note worth reading about. Don't read to win back lost time. The more you try to recoup lost time, the more you will lose.
 
Today, we'll be discussing the nature and method involved in the cleansing of the Taint and its relationship with Shadar Logoth. There seemed to be somewhat of a divide over this issue. It essentially boiled down to two different perspectives:
 
1. The only place Rand could have cleansed the Taint was at Shadar Logoth, because of Mashadar's ability to counter the Dark One.
 
2. Mashadar didn't help contribute to the cleansing. Rand could have done it anywhere but figured by doing it at Shadar Logoth he'd kill two birds with one stone when the aftermath destroyed the surrounding area.
 
First, let's examine the nature of the relationship between the evil of the Dark One and the evil of Mashadar. There is a great quote right before the cleansing begins that describes the relationship very aptly.
 
 
Rand has been corrupted or tainted with his own double dose of evil presences, once when Moridin pierced his side in The Great Hunt, and the other when Padan Fain cut him with the ruby dagger in A Crown of Swords. Even before the amazing Ashaman Healer Flinn isolated both wounds together, the two evils seemed to exist in counterbalance, both diametrically opposed to one another.
 
There's also a strong precedent for Mashadar and the forces of the Shadow having it out for each other: The citizens of Aridhol essentially created Mashadar to somehow counter the evil power of the Dark One, even though they knew its origins were spawned from other questionable sources. Then there's the way Mashadar seems to be attracted to Shadowspawn, and the way that Shadowspawn seem to be attracted to the evil in the ruby dagger that Mat carries for a time. If you visit the WOTFAQ, there's a great article that examines some of the questions involving the cleansing of the Taint and the relationship between Mashadar and the Taint.
 
So, why don't the Mashadar taint and the Dark One's taint destroy themselves in the wound in Rand's side? And how does it make sense to use Mashadar to filter the taint out of saidin, when this seems analogous to using an oily rag to clean up a stain on the carpet? Well, my theory is that even though the separate corruptions are isolated together, they are still reacting more strongly to Rand and his ta'veren nature than they are to each other. They both hate each other, but they share the same strong aversion to Rand. He also struggles so obstinately against evil, which might actually be keeping the two forces from starting to destroy each other.
 
As for the oily rag metaphor, the important thing to remember is the mechanics of the filter he set up to cleanse saidin. It was constructed almost purely out of saidar, and its use of Mashadar existed in somewhere to deposit the befouled substance of the Taint. Because of the way Mashadar and the Dark One's influence seem to attract one other, Shadar Logoth acted like a big magnet to help draw the Taint in. It's almost similar to the way you would dispose or neutralize an acid spill. Using something pure and non-acidic, like water, won't do much but dilute the acid somewhat. Introduce a basic (above 7 on Ph scale, whereas acids are below 7 on the scale) to the mixture that is the mathematical antithesis to the acid and the two substances balance each other out. The actual process of how Mashadar and the Taint destroy each other is probably more like the instantaneous annihilation of particles that occurs when matter and anti-matter come in contact with each other, but we have to remember we're talking about a theoretical confrontation between two supernatural sources, so a simple and perfectly fitting real-life analogy won't be easy to find.
 
For those wanting to see more explanation of the process used in the cleansing of the Taint, there is a site known as "Thus Spake the Creator" in which Robert Jordan answers questions that readers have posed to him over the years. One category in the site encompasses any issues involving the One Power, the True Power, and channeling. If you go about halfway down the page, there is a long paragraph devoted to an explanation Robert Jordan gave someone who was wondering exactly how saidin was cleansed. Jordan describes it as being similar to siphoning off another liquid, so in that analogy, imagine you just pumped a lot of bad gasoline into your car's fuel tank and you need to extract all the bad gasoline out so it doesn't harm the engine. Let's imagine in this hypothetical scenario that bad gas is attracted to filthy old motor oil. If you insert a tube into the fuel tank and start the suction just enough to get the gas to start flowing into a container holding the motor oil, you then have to just sit back and allow the oil to continue drawing in the imperfect gasoline from the fuel tank.
 
There's still a few loose ends in this issue, at least regarding the relationship between Mashadar and the Dark One's influence. We know that the Taint is gone, yet the Taint itself wasn't a completely abnormal occurrence. In a letter to Paul Ward in March of 2000, Robert Jordan sheds some light on this issue (here's the link to the transcript of the letter):
 
 
We also know that Mashadar is gone as well for the most part, except for what escaped into Fain's body, and the part located in Rand's wound. My question is this: what will be the role Mashadar, and Fain specifically, will play in the Last Battle? I've always felt Fain as a character reminded me a lot of Gollum from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. His gaunt, ghastly appearance, the way he's always slinking around following the main characters, the way he clutches his dagger like his very own precious...what if he ends up playing a similar role in Rand's final confrontation with the Dark One as Gollum did at the end of that series? He shows up, determined to use his last attempt to take down either Rand or the Dark One, and inadvertently ends up helping to save the day.
 
Another situation when I can see the relationship between Mashadar and the Dark One having some significance is in the prophesied letting out of Rand's blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul. This has to do with my theory concerning the importance of Rand's blood, which is still being fleshed out somewhat, so I'll leave that for another day. For now, I shall have to bid you adieu, and leave you with one of my favorite quotes in the series, at the very end of Winter's Heart:
 
hazelkrs1
hazelkrs1

JordanCon Launches A Memory of Light Fundraiser Drive

The Robert Jordan estate, Brandon Sanderson, and JordanCon, Inc. are pleased to announce a joint effort to raise money for two incredible not-for-profit organizations and offer fans the chance to become a named character in the final installment of A Memory of Light. Fans will have two opportunities to participate in this fundraising effort.
 
The first option will be a highest-bidder auction through eBay’s eBay Giving Works. The highest bidder in this auction will be memorialized as a character (physical description, name within guidelines) in the final installment of The Wheel of Time. This auction will run from November 1 to November 10.
 
The second option is through a drawing. Fans who donate $10 will have their names entered into a drawing to be included in the final installment of A Memory of Light. The final number of names drawn is determined by Brandon Sanderson as dictated by the needs of the story. Donating is not a guarantee that you will be included.
 
The Mayo Clinic, a non-profit organization and premier medial research center; as well as JordanCon, a literary convention and non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, are both set to benefit from this fundraiser.
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

Q&A Session with L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

L.E. Modesitt, Jr., the author of The Saga of Recluce and other series, recently visited Dragonmount for a Q&A session. The following is a compilation of all the questions and answers from his visit.
 
Q: Dragonmount is fortunate to have joining us this week world famous author L.E. Modesitt. He is creator of The Saga of Recluce and The Spellsong Cycle. He will soon be releasing a new book in The Imager Portfolio. Now he is here to answer questions from YOU! Please post your questions below and Mr. Modesitt will check in as he is able to answer them. So let's give Mr. Modesitt a warm Dragonmount welcome!
 
A: I just wanted to say that I'm pleased to be here, and whatever the question you might have, I'll do my best to answer it--and it doesn't have to be just on my fantasy series books.
 
 
Q: Thank you very much for appearing today, Mr. Modesitt. I guess I'll begin.
 
Where did you get the idea for using the magic system you have, with order and chaos and them being in balance? Taking it further, you write about some of the effects that the magic has on people and places. Why did you choose to focus on this to such an extent?
 
A: You've actually raised two questions about the Saga of Recluce. The short answer for why I chose order and chaos as the opposite poles, if you will, for the magic system was that they're really an analogue in some ways to the construct of structured matter and entropy, and, at the same time, to static order and unfocused raw energy, in our universe. If you're interested in the very detailed explanation, I actually wrote an article about this for Black Gate magazine [issue 13], which has also been reprinted in the limited hardcover anniversary edition from Subterranean Press.
 
As for the issue about the far-reaching impact of magic, that's because of my view of what magic would be in any realistic human society. Human beings are tool-users. Anything that we can use in a practical fashion as a tool, we do. And all tool use has impacts that reverberate throughout the world. In any world where magic is workable, we'd work it as a tool, and there would be implications far beyond the immediate use. Another reason for my focus and concern about effects was that, especially at the time that I wrote The Magic of Recluce, far too many authors were ignoring the obvious costs and repercussions of magic use, and just concentrating on the "gee-whiz, that's neat" aspects. Thankfully, this has changed considerably [but not vanished]over the past 20 years.
 
 
Q: I've just started a re-read of Fall of Angels, and one thing that has always struck me in that book is the name "Rationalists". As the decendants of the Rationalists are generally cast as the antagonists of the Recluce saga, and they're referred to as demons, it always struck me as an odd name. It doesn't conjur visions of a warlike people for me. I was wondering if you were ever planning to cover them, or their universe of origin, in more detail? Apologies if you already have, I haven't read any of the material that takes place BEFORE the Fall in the Recluce saga.
 
A: There's quite a bit more background about the descendants of the "Rationalists" in Magi'i of Cyador and its sequel Scion of Cyador, but those events take place on Recluce hundreds of years after the founding of Cyad. At present, I have no plans to write about any events that take place before the "Rationalists" land on the world of Recluce.
 
 
Q: Do you write when you get inspiration or do you write a certain amount of hours every day? When do you get your best ideas?
 
A: Except when I'm traveling, or in case of various catastrophes, I write almost every day, usually from around nine in the morning until nine at night, with time out for dogs, preparing and eating meals, and various errands.
 
As a writer, I don't believe in waiting for inspiration. It's our task to create it.
 
 
Q: A couple of questions:
 
1. How much time do you like to spend on creating the environment for a book (world, characters, history, etc.) before actually writing the book?
 
2. What is your favorite part of the writing process?
 
A: It's hard to quantify exactly how much time I do spend on setting up a new book, or especially a new series, because I usually think about aspects of it, on and off, for some time before I even sit down to formally develop the background and the culture, but it does take several weeks at a bare minimum.
 
As for what I like most about the writing process...I can't really say I like one part more than any other--but the hardest part is when I'm roughly three quarters through a new book and it feels as though I'll never finish it...and that it's terrible.
 
 
Q: When you reach that "mid-book slush" where you are pushing towards the end, how do you deal with that? How do you push through that and write a satisfying ending?
 
Also, in the Imager Portfolio, you write in the 1st person POV. I have begun to see this more often in SF/F and wonder what drew you to 1st person POV as opposed to the "standard" 3rd person limited?
 
A: I just push through it, knowing that it's just part of the process.
 
As for first person viewpoint, it's nothing new for me. Actually, my very first book was written in the first person, and that was more than 30 years ago. From an authorial point of view, I believe that an author should choose viewpoint based on the needs of the story. In the case of The Magic of Recluce, for example, the story would have been a total disaster if told in the third person, because Lerris would have come off as a totally spoiled brat as opposed to a well-meaning but clueless young man who was initially too immature for the position in which he found himself.
 
 
Q: Which part of your stories do you usually find come the easiest? Meaning, characters, setting, actual plot of what the whole story will be about, what seems to flow easiest for you? And which are harder?
 
When you first get the idea to start a new work, do you start building off the same point? Do you think of a world and create a story around it, or think of a character and create plot for them? Or does it change with each new idea for a story?
 
A: That part which is the most difficult tends to vary book by book, although describing the actual setting [as opposed to the structural backdrop of culture, geography, government, magic system] is never as difficult as other aspects. Dialogue usually is less of a problem, but that's likely because it rests on all the harder aspects, which have to come before.
 
Where books come from for me depends more on the kind of book. With fantasy novels, a great amount of the genesis arises from thinking about the interplay between culture, economics, and the magic system...and how characters can find themselves in trouble. With my science fiction, usually the plot and characters come from the overall situation I'm thinking about...but I can't tell you from where those situations come, except from a wide, wide range of reading and processing by my subconscious, prodded by sharp mental questions of my own.
 
Call it a fusion of a trusted intuition with more information than is likely good for a sane mind.
 
 
Q: When did you know that writing was more than just a hobby for you? Was it difficult to make the switch from hobby to career?
 
A: Writing was NEVER a hobby for me. I started out writing poetry in high school, got some of it published in small literary magazines in my twenties, then moved to writing short stories and finally novels over a twenty-year period. From high school on, writing was what I wanted to do. What was difficult was getting established enough as a writer to move from the well-paid day job [and it was] to a self-sustaining writer. The first two years after I did so [and that was after having already published something like nine novels, all of which earned out] resulted in something like a forty percent income cut.
 
But I persevered, and one of the things that still drives me is that I never want to go back to work for anyone else again.
 
 
Q: Do you ever grow attached to the characters you are writing, and have trouble putting them in difficult situations?
 
A: Not since an early novel, when my then-teenaged son informed me that I needed to abuse my characters more...I do grow attached to them, but I enjoy figuring out how they can plausibly and practically surmount such difficulties.
 
 
Q: Hi there, and wonderful to see you on DM.
 
What is your preferred method of writing? I.e. using a desktop, laptop, or old style pen and paper? Do you carry something around to take notes on for when ideas strike you at odd times? DO ideas strike you at odd times?
 
A: My preferred method of writing is on computer, usually a desktop. I started out writing with a typewriter because my penmanship is lousy, and I get writer's cramp after a few hundred words, if not sooner.
 
Ideas do strike me at odd times, but I can usually remember them long enough to get back to where I can jot down notes [and those I do jot down at times with a pen].
 
 
Q: Hello, and welcome.
 
A persistent area of debate among WoT fans is around the treatment of gender issues in Jordan's books. Gender was a key component of your earlier Recluce novels, but seems to have become less important over time. Why is that? Have you simply said what you wanted to say on the matter, or is there another reason it has faded into the background?
 
Thanks.
 
Q: I love the Recluce saga and have read it a number of times. When it comes to stories I have read, I always come up with the same questions. I love behind the scenes things and what I wonder for you is, were there any scenes or moments that you wanted so badly to include but just couldn't find a way to make them work? Were there any unexpected occurrences that you wrote that surprised even you because it was just the logical course the character should have taken? Or are you more methodical with your writing and your characters go exactly where you want them to? I promise, last question, and it has nothing to do with writing: For an amusing, light-hearted read, what would you recommend?
 
Q: I really love the Imager books, but must admit that the Recluce tales are my favorite books. Do you think you will write more of them?
I read the Forever Hero saga last month for the first time, and the first thing I noticed was that your style of writing was completely different from the Recluce and Imager novels. Was this a conscious thing or not?
 
Q: Thanks for joining us, Mr. Modesitt. One thing that caught my attention in your Recluce novels was the third-person present tense you wrote in; not many writers use it and it was jarring at first, then kind of captivating. How did you hit on that, and what made you use it?
 
Q: Mr. Modesitt, it's a pleasure having you on DM, and I'd like to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer questions.
 
What sort of material do you draw your creative influence from? Do you listen to certain music or movies? Also, how do you develop a character's personality? Do you draw from real life people you know?
 
A: I'll try to answer several of your questions in one posting.
 
Recluce, Gender, and the Future of the Saga
 
Actually, I haven't gotten away from gender issues at all in the Saga of Recluce. The very latest Recluce book--Arms-Commander--deals with a number of those issues...and needless to say...there have been at least a few readers who didn't like it.
 
I'm somewhere in the middle on the question of "character control," because I know my characters well enough when I start writing that they end up largely where I felt that they would, but a number of times I've ended up changing the path they took to get there because it became obvious for various reasons [their character, the acts of others, culture] that what I'd initially considered wouldn't work or might not be true to their character.
 
I have plans for at least one more Recluce book, although it's likely to be more than a year from now before I can get to it, given what I'm already committed to writing.
 
Writing in the Present Tense
 
As a number of readers have noticed over the years, I'm one of a handful of writers who regularly writes books in the present tense. It's not for shock value, or to do something different, but because each tense has strengths and weaknesses. Third person past tense, which is the "traditional" tense, especially for F&SF, is the most accepted and the most forgiving. It's the easiest to handle, and it can cover a multitude of sins, and it allows a great deal of exposition without it being that obvious. Third person present tense, on the other hand, can be unforgiving and requires a tight focus on what is happening "now" close to the character. For certain books and characters, I've found that it is better suited for what I had in mind for the character and the story.
 
Styles
 
A number of my science fiction books are written in what might be called a harder-edged style than my fantasy works. That was a deliberate choice, based on the story and the characters. In some books, such as Archform: Beauty and The Eternity Artifact, the style changes with the character narrating that section.
 
Sources and Research
 
There's no way to pin down all the sources from which I draw. I read a tremendous amount of non-fiction and science periodicals; I worked full-time in a range of occupations for more than twenty-five years before I became a full-time writer, and I'm married to a singer, opera director, and academic whose brain I pick as much as possible.
 
I don't generally lift characters "whole" from people I know, although there are one or two exceptions where characters contain large "segments" of people I know, the most obvious being Anna Marshall and Johan Eschbach. I don't listen to music at all when I write; it's far too distracting, although certain musical themes and elements have made their way into my books.
 
Recommendations
 
I don't do the total "light-hearted" books, but one I recently read and enjoyed that has an uplifting tone and ending, at least to me, was Mary Robinette Kowal's Shades of Milk and Honey.
 
 
Q: What other authors do you think have most influenced your own work--and what other authors do you admire?
 
A: Most likely, every author I've ever read has influenced what and how I write, either in a negative or positive way. In the F&SF field, I tend to admire specific works, rather than authors. Some of those that influenced me stand out at the moment [others might stand out at a different moment], and those are Creatures of Light and Darkness (Zelazny), Soldier, Ask Not! (Dickson), The Stars My Destination (Bester), and The Left Hand of Darkness (LeGuin).
 
I also have great fondness and respect for the poets William Butler Yeats, T.S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, and W.H. Auden.
 
 
Q: So, what do you do with the time that you aren't writing? Any hobbies like hiking, piano,...painting?
 
Also, after you finish a book, do you "go crazy" and take a vacation or something, or do you jump right in and start something new?
 
A: I'm not much of a "hobby" or "gadget" guy, nor a collector. I do take a fairly long morning walk at a good pace through the hills near the house, combining exercise and pleasure, pretty much every morning before I get cleaned up and start writing. I did paint at one time in my teens and twenties, but gave it up because my physical abilities weren't equal to my mental concepts...as was also the case with playing the clarinet. The same was true of wood-working. But, in the end, what I find enjoyable is the life of the mind in a healthy body, and I try to keep both mind and body in shape.
 
 
Q: Would you like to live in any of the "worlds" you have created? If so, which one?
 
A: Over the years, I've been asked that question a number of times, and I have to answer indirectly. There is a Chinese curse, and it is a curse, that runs, "May you live in interesting times." As a writer, I write about "interesting times" in the worlds I've developed. Interesting times are times of turmoil and conflict, and I've lived through enough interesting times in my own life that I have no desire to live in interesting times elsewhere. In addition, as I've noted before, although I don't generally emphasize this side of my writing in talking about it, because, despite my cynicism, I'm an optimist by nature, all of my books have a dark side to the cultures I'm depicting...if you as a reader look closely. Anyone who thinks I write about pollyanna worlds or characters isn't looking beyond the obvious. Just take Lerris, in The Magic of Recluce. By the end of the second book, he's lost all but one person of all those he loved and who loved him. Or Anna Marshall of the Spellsong Cycle...or Rhenn of the Imager Portfolio...
 
The human toll is high in my books, and that's because of the cultures and situations, and I'm really not interested in living in those situations.
 
 
Q: Do you enjoy doing book tours and other aspects of the public life of an author, or would you rather be at home writing?
 
A: I like meeting people when I do tours and conventions, but I dislike the actual travel, largely because from where I live any appearance, except in Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, requires air travel, and that's gotten to be more and more of a hassle. I generally have been traveling for book-related appearances 4-6 weeks a year, and for me that's about all I really want to do. More than that gets physically exhausting, in addition to cutting into writing, and I still get a feeling of satisfaction from creating and completing books.
 
 
Q: You have been publishing SF/F since before the Internet and PCs. How has writing changed in that time? How has the market shifted in style and preference?
 
A: I was first published when the most advanced method of physically producing a story was the electric typewriter, and indeed, my first story was written [because I've always written prose on a keyboard of some sort] on a portable electric typewriter, a Smith-Corona, as I recall. Technology, in the form of the computer, has indeed made a change in writing...and indeed in the entire publishing business. Those changes, as with most changes, have not been uniformly good. The good news is that I don't have to retype an entire manuscript for each draft, and for each set of editorial requests. The computer does make the production of a manuscript and subsequent revisions much easier, but it also has resulted in changes in the editorial process. Because changes can be made more easily, it seems to me that editors are asking for more changes. Second, it has changed the entire submission process. When I started writing, anyone could send a manuscript "over the transom," if you will, to almost any publishing house, and the likelihood was great that it would be read. It might be rejected, but it would be read, and that was, in fact, how I first got published, with blind submissions to magazines and then to publishing houses. Today, while this is still possible in the magazine field, only one or two major publishing houses [if that] now accept unsolicited manuscripts, and that means that new writers have to either find agents or network well enough to get an editor at a publishing house to agree to look at a manuscript. Why has this happened? Because the computer made production of a manuscript so much easier that publishing houses found themselves deluged with manuscripts. Since publishing is a comparatively low margin business, the publishers have effectively pushed the "screening" of manuscripts back onto agents. In my view, this has tended to stifle originality, because agents are in business for the money, and most don't feel that they can afford to spend time and effort to send a manuscript that has limited appeal to a score of editors--at least not very often. It took me more than a few rejections to find an editor who liked what I wrote, and even to this day, only a comparatively small number of editors like my style. I suspect that I'd have an even harder time breaking in today, and so will new writers whose work doesn't bear a similarity to other work already published.
 
The other difference I see is that young writers tend to be more imitative in their style, but I honestly can't say whether it's because the market only publishes imitative fiction or because that's the majority of what's being written.
 
Another difference lies in the distribution system. When I started, there were roughly 1,500 book wholesalers in the United States. Today, there are literally only a handful. This means that a handful of buyers determine what goes into the wholesale markets. In addition, the wholesale market has shrunk enormously. Thirty years ago, the main publication for a F&SF novel was in paperback, not hardcover. For high midlist or low bestseller list authors, 20 years ago, initial paperback print runs used to be 50,000-100,000 copies. Now, they're 20,000-50,000...and in recent years, publishers have decided not to print mass-market paperbacks of books that haven't sold well in hardcover. Ebooks, of course, were unheard of, and it will be interesting to see to what degree they either supplement or supplant hardcovers and mass-market paperbacks.
 
Although Tolkien came out in the US while I was in college, fantasy was almost non-existent as a genre when I started. Now, by some accounts, it's three quarters, if not more, of the F&SF market...and publishers are having a difficult time in finding good hard SF novels.
 
I could go on and on...but those are some of the more notable changes.
 
 
Q: One thing I'm curious about is, where would you recommend that someone new to your work start reading? (I usually recommend The Magic Engineer, but I might be biased as that was the first of yours that I discovered.)
 
A: One of the problems I have in recommending a "first" book of mine for readers new to my work is that even in one of my series the style, POV, and tense vary from book to book. In the Saga of Recluce, for example, the first book (The Magic of Recluce) is told in first person past tense. The second (The Towers of the Sunset) is in the third person present tense, and the third (The Magic Engineer) is in the third person past tense. I didn't even think about those differences when I was writing the books. In fact, I didn't even consciously think about that until I wrote this. I chose those tenses and viewpoints because, to me, they made sense for the story I was telling. Unfortunately, some readers are thrown by that kind of variation, and it makes recommending a "first" book difficult.
 
Based on current reader reaction, however, I'd actually recommend Imager, the first book in The Imager Portfolio. For more traditional fantasy lovers, in the Recluce Saga, I think, for today's readers, I might actually recommend the first book [chronologically] in the saga, Magi'i of Cyador, although I'm still quite fond of The Magic of Recluce, which was the first Recluce book I wrote, although the events in it come late in the timeline.
 
 
Q: What are some of the essential things that you think a writer needs to know?
 
A: Obviously, a writer needs to know the technical tools required to construct sentences, paragraphs, stories, chapters, and books, and if you're a poet, you need a thorough knowledge of rhyme, meter, and verse forms (in which areas all too many "modern" poets are lacking), not to mention a wide reading knowledge of not only the genre or forms in which you hope to write, but an even wider reading knowledge in non-fiction and the genres in which you never intend to write. I say this because, while I read science fiction from an early age, I never intended to write it. So I read pretty much some of everything and a great deal of history and science and politics and mysteries and thrillers, not to mention "serious" literature, and, of course, poetry.
 
In addition, I believe that every writer should cultivate a core basis of in-depth knowledge about something other than the craft of writing, call it detailed subject matter expertise. Most good writers have exactly that, and what that subject matter expertise is varies greatly. These sorts of knowledge are most valuable because in the end, as a writer, you not only need to know how to write, but you need to know enough to portray people, societies, cultures, and the institutions and technologies, not to mention the economics and politics, that support the culture in which you set your story.
 
It also helps to have a profession other than writing. One of the greatest advantages I've had as a writer was that I didn't write a novel until I'd been working full-time at other things for almost twenty years. Too many young writers [but definitely not all] run out of background and experience before they run out of life, and that leaves them burned-out shells at an early age.
 
Hope this helps.
 
 
Q: So, Mr. Modesitt, what do you have coming in the future? What new books and/or stories?
 
A: The next book that will see print will be Scholar [November 8th], the fourth book in The Imager Portfolio, and the first in a new "subseries" which takes place hundreds of years before the first three books. Yes, I know...the dreaded "prequel" books...but these are far enough back that readers won't find spoilers in the first three books, and in fact they may find their preconceptions pushed askew. After that will come the sequel to that, Princeps, which is scheduled for release next May [2012]. And after that will be the third book about that character, which is completed, but not through final editorials, which means that I don't have a publication date, but it's likely to be in early 2013.
 
In between that I have two new stories appearing in anthologies: "The Bronze Man of Mars" in a collection entitled Under the Moons of Mars, which is a tie-in to next year's John Carter movie, and "A More Perfect Union," appearing in The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination. I'll also have a "theme" story appearing online at Tor.com most probably sometime next year.
 
After I finish the four volume Imager Portfolio subseries, I'm committed to a science fiction novel for Tor, and after that I hope to do another Recluce novel, but...we'll see.
 
 
Q: You mentioned that your past experiences have helped you in your writings. Have you made the conscious choice to pull certain experiences into a story, or has it been more of an afterthought that you notice after the story is finished? I am curious as to where the artistic skills shown in Imager came from, and will we ever get to see this work?
 
A: There's an old saying about writing what you know. With the exception of metal-working in the Recluce Saga, I've had some experience with the crafts and skills and professions portrayed in my work, although my experience with music is based on years of exposure to the profession through my wife [and several years of very bad playing of the clarinet on my part]. Needless to say, the first book which had metal-working in it took longer because of the research. I took up painting when I was in high school and painted in oils, on and off, for a little more than ten years. I do have a few paintings hanging in a basement back hall, which probably represents more exposure than they deserve, but that's all the showing they're ever going to get. There is a certain artistic background in the family, since my uncle was a most successful commercial artist [his rendering of "Uncle Ben" still adorns rice packages after almost 70 years], but my physical abilities as an artist weren't anywhere close to his skills or up to my mental concepts, as I mentioned earlier, and I haven't painted in years [except walls]. I also no longer do woodworking, although my daughters do share a cradle I crafted all too many years ago.
 
I do make a conscious decision to write about skills, crafts, and abilities I know, but that's so that I can portray them realistically.
 
 
Q: Speaking of artistry, your covers have been awesome. Do you have input with the cover art at this stage in your career? Or is that still left up to the Marketing Dept.? Would you like more control? Do you have friendly relationships with the artist(s) that do them?
 
A: The choice of the artist is left up to the art director at Tor, and there's some back and forth between my editor and the art director. I generally get a look at the preliminary sketch, but in recent years, I've not had problems with this process [we won't talk about some of the covers earlier in my career, since one, in particular, was a disaster]. I did press to get John Picacio to do the cover for my short story collection (Viewpoints Critical), and Tor was kind enough to commission him to do it--and I still think that cover is awesome.
 
As a matter of fact, I've only ever met three of the artists who've done covers for me, but my relations with those three have been most cordial, and I actually have original cover artwork from each of them.
 
I don't really need more control, so long as I continue to get sketches, just so I can make certain that the cover represents the "spirit" of the book.
 
 
Q: Do you outline everything, or do you wing it? How do you get around times in your story when you don't know enough yet?
 
A: As I've noted elsewhere, I don't outline everything. I do outline as much of the background details--location, geography, maps, culture, government, technology, economics--as I can possibly think of before I start writing in earnest, but often discover that I've left out or forgotten something. So I'm adding to the background outline as I'm writing the story. As for plot...I have the general storyline in my head before I start writing. I also don't always write in sequence, but may write chapters much farther on in the story [of course, I often end up revising them considerably].
 
All in all, I'd have to admit it's a hodgepodge of outline, advance details, rethinking, unthinking, and feeling out. I also work out many details and problems in my mind on my morning exercise walk, and I'm fortunate to be able to keep much of the unwritten part of the story in my mind.
 
 
Q: Mr. Modesitt,
 
You've slowly become my favorite author. I would not be the honest, thoughtful, patient, insightful person I am today without your influence. Still have a ways to go though, keep writing.
 
A: Thank you.
 
I do intend to keep writing, at least so long as my work meets my own standards and so long as readers wish to buy it and read it.
 
I think the greatest, honest fear that a writer should have is the fear that he or she won't know when it's time to set aside the pen, typewriter, or computer. The problem is, of course, that some writers retain their abilities until the day they die (or close to it) and others don't.
 
Again...my thanks for your kind words.
 
 
Q: What authors do you think really hit the idea of magic influencing the environment, as you strive to do? Any before you that you felt particularly influenced this particular aspect of your style?
 
A: It's late, at least for me, as I write this, but frankly, I don't know that many authors, even today, who factor in the impact of magic on the environment. I know that, in at least one book, Brandon Sanderson does to some degree, as does Sharon Shinn in one book. I honestly can't think of any who did so before I did [not that there may not have been some, but if so, I either didn't read them or can't recall them]. That lack of interrelation and impact was one factor motivating me to write The Magic of Recluce.
 
This, of course, brings up the question of whether magic systems the way I write them are truly fantasy. There have been readers and other writers who claim that my approach is not fantasy at all, but science fiction disguised as fantasy. I don't think so, obviously, but there are those who do.
 
 
Q: The late Robert Jordan lived in Charleston, SC and mentioned on several occasions that the storytelling nature of the Southern Culture found in the city had effects in his writing. I noticed that you have lived in Utah for some time which, as I am sure you know already, is also the home of Brandon Sanderson and Orson Scott Card. That is just a sample of the top-notch SF/F talent that appears to call Utah home. Do you feel that the cutlure of the region has affected your writing? Do you feel the region is conducive to the development of so many good writers, or is it just coincidence?
 
Beyond any of the aforementioned regional influences, who/what do you feel has influenced your writing the most?
 
A: I'd already been published for twenty years before I moved to Utah. So I don't think that the Utah "culture" had much to do with nurturing or inspiring me in that respect. Also, Brandon Sanderson grew up largely in Idaho, and Orson Scott Card lived in California and Arizona growing up, as well as in Utah, although both attended BYU. Likewise Dave Wolverton [aka David Farland] grew up in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Utah. Still, for whatever reason, Utah has generated--or attracted--a disproportionate number of F&SF writers, but it may be that "western" states generate writers...or...the possibilities are many. It's definitely an area that's "writer-friendly," especially to the F&SF genre.
 
Certainly, Utah and its geography and its culture have inspired a number of my novels, as well as some short stories, and the Utah culture has certainly influenced both my life and my writing, directly and indirectly, and likely always will.
 
It's extremely hard to say, at least for me, that there was a single influence on my writing that overshadowed all others. My parents introduced me to the written word, and my mother was the one who introduced me to F&SF, while a handful of teachers in high school and college refined and spurred that interest, as have the works of all the writers and poets I've read over the years.
 
 
Q: By the tale of the clock, we have come to the end of our Q&A with SF/F novelist L.E. Modesitt. I want to sincerely offer my thanks to him on behalf of the members and administration of Dragonmount for taking time from his busy schedule to talk with us.
 
If you would like to continue to follow Mr. Modesitt, he has a really awesome website: http://www.lemodesittjr.com/
 
I would like to encourage everyone to read Mr. Modesitt's books; they will give you a lifetime of enjoyment that you can relive again and again.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Thursdays with Tynaal: Book Review (The Sum of All Men)

David Farland - The Sum of All Men
 
This is one of those books that I randomly bought, not because the cover art was great - although I do quite like it - nor because the summary seemed particularly interesting, but simply because it's part of a series of books and not a stand alone novel.
 
I found that it had been a good buy, since I enjoyed the book immensely. At first, it seemed like the typical plotline. A prince goes to woo his princess and then disaster strikes. Well, that is how it started, but then there were no great battle scenes. It turned out that the antagonist, Raj Ahten, had a voice and face to sway even the toughest of warriors. This resulted in an invasion of a country with blood hardly being spilled.
 
How is it possible that a master of war would be such a pretty boy? David Farland built a world in which it is possible for one person to receive endowments from others. They could be major endowments such as metabolism, stamina, brawn, or wit, as well as minor endowments such as sight, smell, or hearing. Raj Ahten strives to be the Sum of All Men, which he hopes to achieve by receiving so many endowments from others that he becomes ageless and invincible.
 
Our prince, Gaborn Val Orden, is the main protagonist. With a sharp wit and common sense, he manages to scare away Raj Ahten in the final battle of the book.
He seems to be the one character that will be Raj Ahten's good counterpart. The great thing is that the story doesn't turn out like a fairy tale; instead, the good side also takes hard blows. Characters die and prove to be weak when you thought they'd be steadfast and eternally good.
 
The book is written in an excellent style that keeps you guessing about the political intrigue and which side really is the good side. Gaborn might be fighting for the people of his country selflessly, but is he seeing the whole picture? Could Raj Ahten be the sensible entity who will save the world? Since the characters seem so incredibly powerful, the reader always expects some twist in the story. Believe me, there are plenty of those twists and none of them play out the way you would have expected.
 
The Sum of All Men is definitely a good read if you're wanting an exciting book, but please, stay away from it if you're planning on only reading a chapter or two. Believe me, you won't be putting this one down.
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: September 25-October 1, 2011

It's hard to believe that October is already nigh! I know that we will have some interesting events for you in the coming month. Let's see what the denizens of our forums are doing to close out the month of September.
 
L.E. Modesitt, Jr. has graciously offered to stay with us until Thursday, September 29th. That means it's not too late to head over to this thread in the General Discussion forum and participate in his Q&A session. Due to the extension of Mr. Modesitt's visit, I will be posting the compilation of the Q&A on the front page this Friday night, September 30th, instead of the originally proposed date of the 26th.
 
Here's an unusual discussion topic--the people in our General Wheel of Time Discussion forum are chatting about Aes Sedai and pregnancy. Come share your theories about whether Aes Sedai "agelessness" would affect the ages at which they could get pregnant.
 
The Black Tower Social Group wants to know which game is your favorite in their September Shockwave Competition. If you are a member of this Social Group, you can earn points just for voting.
 
If you want to read a well-written, well-researched role play, check out Dancing Among Golden Leopards. Well done, guys!
 
Our very own Jason Denzel is currently visiting the home of none other than Brandon Sanderson! Follow us on Twitter and watch for Jason's updates about his adventure.
 
It looks like everyone's still recovering from our birthday bash last week. Pardon me while I wander off to get some leftover cake. See you all next week!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

It Works in Theory: "No man can stand in the Shadow so long that he cannot find the Light again"

Cheers, tenacious transients of Dragonmount! Welcome to another weekly installment of "It Works in Theory," Dragonmount's theory blog headed by none other than myself. I've been looking forward to covering the topic of this week's blog for quite some time, so without further ado...actually, let's have a little more ado with our 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! The contents of "It Works in Theory" have been gathered, formulated, and written under extreme pressure and should be considered extremely volatile, highly flammable, and very likely to incite serious fervor and debate. Never puncture or incinerate the blog, and do not expose it to prolonged sunlight or store it in temperatures exceeding zero Kelvin.
 
Alright, so this week's blog is going to take a slightly different approach, but I have a good feeling many will still be excited about the subject matter. We are going to be discussing the Forsaken, particularly their relation to a famous line repeated a few times throughout the series, beginning in the very first book:
 
 
This quote has been bandied about many times, and it very well could be foreshadowing for an event that happens in the next book, The Great Hunt. Near the end we find out that Lord Ingtar, a Shienaran warrior from House Shinowa, is actually a Darkfriend moments before he sacrifices himself to help save Rand and hopefully redeem his soul somewhat for the dark deeds he has committed. Indeed, he even mentions this line right before charging out to meet the Seanchan and crying out "The Light, and Shinowa!" a bunch of times (I always loved that battle cry; it's almost like he throws in "and Shinowa" as an afterthought). For now, though, let's go ahead and assume the quote might be foreshadowing a much bigger event: the redemption of one, or possibly more than one, of the Forsaken.
 
We'll examine them one by one, and speculate as to the likelihood that they will turn back to the Light in the last book, or would have if they were still alive. To simplify things somewhat, we'll base the likelihood they redeem themselves on a scale of 1-10, 1 being there's no way they turn back, 10 being they're assured to rejoin the forces of the Light. I'm not going to include any more quotes, since I don't want to strain my readers' eyes too much, and because much of this hypothesizing comes from Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson quotes as well as The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, alongside characterizations of them gained throughout the entire series.
 
Aginor (AKA Osan'gar, AKA Dashiva)
Age of Legends name: Ishar Morrad Chuain
Age of Legends occupation: Biological Scientist
 
Aginor was both brilliant and extremely powerful in the One Power, being lower in strength only to Lews Therin Telamon and Ishamael, and possibly Lanfear. He chose to turn to the Shadow because his interest in experimenting with animals was discouraged by the forces of the Light; it was only after turning to the Dark One that he was able to begin to create Shadowspawn. His creations include Trollocs, Myrddraal, Gholam, Jimura, Draghkar, and others. One of the first of the Forsaken to be released from the Bore, he was also one of the first to be killed when he confronted Rand at the Eye of the World. He was resurrected again, only to be vaporized by Callandor at the cleansing of saidin in Winter's Heart.
 
He doesn't have the most rock-solid reason for originally joining the Shadow, but at the same time, his intentions weren't exactly noble either. He doesn't strike me as particularly sadistic; he does what he does out of his love to seek out new discoveries. They are discoveries that have the potential to kill millions of men, true, but hey, all in the name of science, right?! If given the choice, I doubt he'd ever relinquish his love for the dark side of research, and it's doubtful it will ever be considered kosher to experiment on animals in Randland. I know Bela wouldn't allow it.
 
Verdict: 2 out of 10
 
Balthamel (AKA Aran'gar, AKA Halima)
 
Age of Legends name: Eval Ramman
Age of Legends occupation: Historian
 
Balthamel was also one of the first Forsaken we meet on screen and suffers an even more embarrassing death at the hands of the Green Man, Someshta, when he's crushed to death. He was drawn to the Shadow simply for the promise of immortality, which is somewhat amusing considering he dies more than most characters in the books. He is reputed to have a great temper; in fact, it was this temper which is said to be the reason he didn't achieve an honorary third name.
 
As Eval Ramman, he was a womanizer and was known for being a gambler. When he is transmigrated into a female body known as Aran'gar (using Halima as his/her alias), his cruelty and fickleness shine. Generally speaking, those who gamble like to play the odds, so it is possible that under the right circumstances he would chance the Great Lord of the Dark's wrath and turn back to the Light. That being said, his temper and unpredictable nature make it unlikely he would stay in everyone's good graces that long.
 
Verdict: 3 out of 10
 
Sammael (AKA Lord Brend, AKA Mashadar meat)
 
Age of Legends name: Tel Janin Aellinsar
Age of Legends occupation: Athlete, Sportsman
 
Sammael is the jock of the Forsaken. He prides himself on his physical prowess (he is one of the best swordsmen who ever lived) and keeps his frame well sculpted so he can admire his glutes in the mirror. His main reason for turning to the Shadow was his hatred of Lews Therin. Considering himself to be one of Lews Therin's chief rivals, it's very doubtful he'd ever consider rejoining the Light with Lews Therin still on that side. It's also somewhat amusing that all his training and formidable physical gift meant nothing when it came to escaping Mashadar. I really don't think Sammael is smart enough to realize it might have been best to join the Light.
 
Verdict: 1 out of 10
 
Be'lal (AKA High Lord Samon)
 
Age of Legends name: Duram Laddel Cham
Age of Legends occupation: Lawyer
 
We can probably stop right there; everyone knows being a lawyer is one of the seven deadly sins. Just to go through the motions, though... He was known as the Netweaver for his ability to manipulate situations and create finespun webs of deceit and malice. Usually, someone who thinks he is especially skilled at manipulation thinks he can plan for anything; we saw in The Dragon Reborn that Be'lal was drastically wrong in his preparations and eats balefire for it. Even were he to choose to switch to the forces of Light, he most likely wouldn't be truly committing anyway and also wouldn't be trusted.
 
Verdict: 1 out of 10
 
Mesaana (AKA Danelle Sedai)
 
Age of Legends name: Saine Tarasind
Age of Legends occupation: Teacher
 
Mesaana is unique among the Forsaken in being the only one who wasn't a remarkable standout in her field. She was rated average and assigned to a teaching job even though she preferred more of a research position. This constant feeling of being undervalued helped lead her to the Shadow; she wanted revenge on those who doubted her ability. She taught propaganda to young students in order to turn them against their society and their parents. If she still had a fully functioning brain, she would be one of the least likely candidates to willingly turn back to the Light, but it's possible that after many simple lessons, she might learn to stop drooling over herself long enough to grasp that "being nice is good."
 
Verdict: 4 out of 10
 
Semirhage (AKA Anath Dorje, Tuon's Truthspeaker)
 
Age of Legends name: Nemene Damendar Boann
Age of Legends occupation: Physician, Restorer
 
Now this one is one bad mamma jamma. She is one of the Forsaken I can look at and easily guess she was evil long before turning to the Shadow. A particularly cruel sadist, she found her calling in the position of Restorer because it gave her such great opportunity to practice her wicked experiments on willing patients. She brags of how much she has learned of the ability to get anyone to do her bidding if enough pain is enacted. When she is discovered to be committing these atrocities, she is left with either the choice between criminal binding or being severed from the Source; she promptly chooses to roll with the Dark One. Of all the Forsaken, I feel she comes closest to delivering the biggest blow to the forces of Light. Had she succeeded in forcing Rand to kill Min in The Gathering Storm, it's very likely he would have been unable to prevent his own descent into madness afterwards and the Light would have lost.
 
Verdict: 1 out of 10. Ain't no way.
 
Rahvin (AKA Lord Gaebril)
 
Age of Legends name: Ared Mosinel
Age of Legends occupation: Military General, Governor
 
Rahvin is considered another master manipulator, known for using compulsion subtly but often to ensure he has complete control of the situation. He has a weakness for self-centerdness, though, and seems over-confident in his abilities to control everything around him. He is similar to Be'lal in that I doubt either one could ever truly be sincere in trying to turn back to the Light. Then again, he does seem more prone to panic than Be'lal, and might do whatever he can to keep from being killed.
 
Verdict: 2 out of 10.
 
Demandred (AKA King Rhoedran--okay, maybe that's not confirmed yet, but really, it's kind of the only one that would make sense)
 
Age of Legends name: Barid Bel Medar
Age of Legends occupation: High ranking public official, General
 
Demandred had the extremely bad luck of being born in the same age as Lews Therin Telamon. Were it not for the Dragon, Demandred would have been the most prominent, most powerful figure in the Age of Legends. Born literally one day after Lews Therin, no matter what he accomplished in life, Lews Therin was always there doing it better. His jealousy grew into something so much more than the common variety experienced by the masses; it was the most bitter, intense rivalry that itself ended up pushing Demandred to the Shadow. He also seems to have a bigger gripe than even Sammael, and he's still around to possibly be the one who can help take down the Dragon Reborn.
 
He's done a much better job of staying in hiding than many of the other Forsaken, and thus has been able to build his plans for longer and set who knows how many dreadful gambits in motion. I suspect we will be seeing a lot from him in the last book. Besides the fact that there really wouldn't be enough time for him to turn back now, I think Demandred's hatred for Lews Therin is so deep-seated he will never be able to turn away from the Shadow.
 
Verdict: 1 out of 10
 
Moghedien (AKA Gyldin, AKA Marigan, AKA one of Moridin's cour'souvra bondees, AKA Shaidar Haran's plaything)
 
Age of Legends name: Lillen Moiral
Age of Legends occupation: "Advisor for Investments" (basically a Wall Street Trader)
 
Ah, the Spider. She is an interesting one because she has gone through the largest metamorphosis of any of the Forsaken. We all know she started out as extremely cautious; she only acted when she felt completely safe from any recourse. Somewhere along the line, though, Nyneave happened. The level to which Nyneave completely owned Moghedien, forcing her to train powerful channelers on the side of the Light, completely flipped Moghedien's world upside down. Once she was freed, she still had to answer for her ineptitude and became one of Moridin's mindtrapped semi-slaves.
 
Now that she isn't quite so timid, you get a sense she is much more quick to panic, quicker to act, and much more desperate. This is demonstrated by her attack on Nyneave in A Crown of Swords. I feel that desperation actually works against the likelihood she'll turn to the Light; even if she thought there was a chance she might be captured again, she would be sure to flip out and try to take out as many as she could with her as she died.
 
Verdict: 3 out of 10
 
Asmodean (AKA Jasin Natael)
 
Age of Legends name: Joar Addam Nesossin
Age of Legends occupation: Composer, Musician
 
This male Forsaken had by far the strangest reason for turning to the Shadow. He grew up a child prodigy, and many around the world expected great things from him, seeing his potential. He didn't quite fulfill this potential, though, and this left a bad taste in his mouth. When given the opportunity to gain immortality through linking with the Dark One, Asmodean accepted, thinking that with more time he could end up fully realizing his potential.
 
He was beaten in the confrontation with Rand al'Thor in The Shadow Rising and bound by Lanfear in order to deliver to Rand the perfect tutor. Once captured, however, it became obvious that the evil that existed in Asmodean in no way compared to the evil inside the likes of Semirhage. I couldn't find the quote amidst all the "who killed Asmodean" questions for the author, but I do remember hearing that Robert Jordan confirmed that Asmodean had indeed turned towards and was walking in the Light.
 
Verdict: 9 out of 10 to play it safe
 
Graendal (AKA Lady Basene)
 
Age of Legends name: Kamarile Maradim Nindar
Age of Legends occupation: Psychologist
 
How very fitting for us to next visit (Spoiler Alert!) Asmodean's killer. Graendal held an impressive position in the Age of Legends; she was world-renowned for her ability to cure madness of the mind. Before she turned to the Shadow, she lived a very ascetic type of lifestyle, preferring modesty and simplicity over extravagance. Something clicked inside Graendal, however, and she soon abandoned all notions of conservatism or modesty and filled the gap with extreme hedonism.
 
Lately, though, she's had a lot go against her. Plans of hers have fallen apart left and right, and it's clear that the Dark One and Shaidar Haran are not happy with her. I could actually see her coming back to the Light if given the chance, both because she's desperate and because whatever shifted her viewpoint the first time might just shift back.
 
Verdict: 6 out of 10
 
Lanfear (AKA Daughter of the Night, AKA Selene, AKA Cyndane, AKA Silvie, AKA Keille Shaogi)
 
Age of Legends name: Mierin Eronaile
Age of Legends occupation: Researcher
 
And we start coming to the end of the list, not quite rounding it out with Lanfear, considered one of the most vile Forsaken, and the most attractive as well. One of the original members of the team that drilled open the Bore, she has had a central role in storylines throughout the series. It is assumed she died in the land of the 'Finns and was transmigrated into the body of Cyndane. Her reason for joining the Shadow is maybe one of the most classic themes in literature: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." She was intimately involved with Lews Therin at one point before he broke off their relationship.
 
Many have actually speculated that Lanfear will be one of the Forsaken to betray the Great Lord of the Dark and turn to the Light. The big reason for a lot of this conjecture is the epilogue in Towers of Midnight, in which we see Rand dreaming about "Mierin" being in trouble. Personally, I just think this is another gambit of hers. She's seemed to change her way of thinking concerning Lews Therin, and would much rather be the one who gets to kill him than try and get him back with her again. It's still a possibility, though.
 
Verdict: 4 out of 10
 
And then we finally come to the Nae'blis...
 
Ishamael (AKA Ba'alzamon, AKA Moridin, AKA Heartfang)
 
Age of Legends name: Elan Morin Tedronai
Age of Legends occupation: Philosopher, Author
 
The baddest of the bad, the darkest of the dark, the Nae'blis, the maddest of the mad, the Betrayer of Hope himself. If Rand al'Thor is the Champion of the Light, then Moridin is almost assuredly the Champion of the Dark. Ishamael has been poised to be the Shadow's best chance of foiling the Dragon Reborn the whole series, and in his mind for the entire infinite history of the Wheel of Time, so there's no chance he converts to the forces of the Light, right?
 
Not so fast, Mr. Hotfoot. Let's take a second to look this over. It appears the main reason Ishamael first turned to the Shadow (and he was the first by the way) was an existential quandary. Unlike many of his peers, he saw no glory or benefit in the promise of immortality. Instead, he was actually searching for an end to what he thought was a cosmic joke being played on all the citizens of the world of the Wheel of Time. Endless turnings of the wheel with no differences, no growth, no lessons learned--all that held no interest for Ishamael.
 
Incidentally, Rand himself actually experiences this same internal conflict during the famous scene "Veins of Gold" in The Gathering Storm. He almost comes to the same conclusion his dark counterpart comes to, but at the last second has a sudden epiphany of what makes it all worth it: love. What does this have to do with Ishamael? Remember, there is a very real link between the two, and foreshadowing has hinted of either a merger or swap between the two since the very first book. During said transfer of souls and/or minds, maybe Ishamael will suddenly be able to see what he's been missing out on all these millenia. This fresh new perspective helping Ishamael to return to the Light might even be one of the keys to helping the forces of Light win.
 
Verdict: 8 out of 10
 
Alright, folks, 'till next time! As always, comment and tell me what you think. If you have any ideas for good theories for us to potentially discuss, please send me a PM or email me at hazelkrs110@hotmail.com.
hazelkrs1
hazelkrs1

Fan Art Friday: Stuff I Like

Yeah, sorry about the lame title. I'm about to fly out to FenCon this weekend where JordanCon is bidding to host the 51st DeepSouthCon in 2013 and I didn't want to skip two weeks in a row. Anyways, you aren't here for my tired excuses, you are here for some sweet, sweet fan art love. Onward!
 

 
Is that Min wearing a crop top and leather pants? Regardless, this is a pretty bad ass picture of Our Heroes gearing up for the Last Battle by Webcomicfan. It looks like a movie poster!
 

 
I first saw this picture at the Atlanta signing for The Gathering Storm tour in 2009. The artist brought the original to show Harriet and Brandon. At the time, I kicked myself for not getting contact info from Edsel, so I'm very glad to see he decided to upload it to Dragonmount.
 

 
I don't really think this needs commentary from me. Good job Sus_b.
 
And that's all I've got for tonight. I've got to finish packing now.
JenniferL
JenniferL

Thursdays with Tynaal: Spotlight on Younger Members

This week I decided I would put the spotlight on a matter very close to my heart. Anyone who has had any interaction on these boards must have taken note of the fact that there is such a great variety of ages among the members. We have young teenagers and then the more mature, older variety that are still so young at heart.
 
One of my worries when I first became a member of Dragonmount, or applied for any staff positions, was that my age would work against me. I worried that people would judge me by that rather than what they have seen me give the community. However, Dragonmount is filled with such amazing people that this was never the case. I interviewed three of our younger members on this experience and I'd love to share their original expectations, their experiences, and what Dragonmount has come to mean in their lives.
 
 
When joining the site, what was your first reaction when you noticed the age difference between you and many of the members?
 
Heh, well, I joined at 13, (the minimum age limit) so I knew that I would probably be the youngest or one of the youngest people on the site, but honestly, I didn't really think much about it. (Maybe because I couldn't think beyond my need for WoT addiction to be sated.) Mostly, I was actually kind of looking forward to talking to non-teenagers since I wasn't a huge fan of my age group at school.
(Locke - joined at age 13)
 
I was extremely intimidated. Honestly. When I joined I also forgot I had because I had just started reading the series so I didn't join anything. Last year, I found my way back and joined everything because I had loved the series that much. Well, not everything, but mostly everything. The older members were totally awesome though with helping me find my way around.
(Lessa Nikia - joined at age 15)
 
I thought it was great. I love the diversity, not only in age but also location. You pick up on all kinds of things about the world and different generations. You also learn to think from a wider range of perspectives.
(Naked~Frog - joined at age 16)
 
 
Did you ever find that people judged you by your age rather than your behavior?
 
I never really noticed that kind of thing. But I do find it a bit weird that I have authority over people who are way older than me. It's only at one place but I still find it weird. Not as weird as when I found out Locke is younger than me. That's insanely creepy! Totally kidding.
(Lessa Nikia, Age 17 - Storm Leader of the Light in the Black Tower Social Group)
 
I think perhaps a bit when having serious discussions with the inexperience factor, but other than that, people mostly got to know me based on my posts before knowing my age and thus judged me mostly by that.
(Locke, Age 15 - Leader of the Light in the Black Tower Social Group)
 
No. Very few members seem to pay attention to anyone else's age. In fact, I'm pretty sure you have to actually go to other people's profiles just to see their ages and it's easier to just reply to whatever the person said. I've been offered virtual alcohol on a number of threads and when I say that in real life I am below the legal limit some people are shocked by how young I am...and others say I am older than they thought.
(Naked~Frog, Age 18 - Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild Game Project Leader)
 
 
Has Dragonmount had an impact on your life at all? Would you be a different person if not for it?
 
In some ways. I have made a lot of friends on this website and a number of Dragonmount members are also my friends on Facebook. I guess it helps to know that there is a bigger world out there, and that even if the people around me are mean to me at times I will still have other people to talk to. I'm not sure if I would be different without it so much. I'm sure I would have found another dorky thing to do without it. I do like this site though and I have probably spent an unhealthily large amount of time on it in the past.
(Naked~Frog)
 
I would be making a statement that isn't true if I said that Dragonmount hasn't impacted my life. Dragonmount has been a rather large part of my life since I joined 2 years ago. This is mostly because it became a social outlet for me. This was really the only place that I could just comfortably enjoy talking to people. Because there are just so many wonderful people that are a part of this community. (I have sometimes wondered if there was a secret requirement of being awesome to join Dragonmount since almost everyone was just that.) I have had the privilege of getting to know some of the members here, and they have become some of my most favorite people. Truly a blessing.
(Locke)
 
I can honestly say that yes, Dragonmount has had a huge impact on my life. I met my Warder and current boyfriend here and although we're far apart, we're happy. I would be a totally different person if I didn't have him and all the friends I've met here. It's great that I'm able to be part of this amazing group.
(Lessa Nikia)
 
 
And that's it for now from our younger members! I hope you've all gained insight into the amazing, accepting nature of Dragonmount's members. Until next week, folks!
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

JordanCon Bids to Host DeepSouthCon 51

This weekend, representatives of JordanCon will be attending FenCon/ DeepSouthCon 49 in Dallas, Texas. JordanCon is bidding to host the fifty-first DeepSouthCon in 2013 and the voting will take place at the annual business meeting of the Southern Fandom Confederation at that convention.
 
What is DeepSouthCon? DeepSouthCon is the South's regional fan convention. Each year it's hosted by a different southern city or convention. Previous DeepSouthCon guests have featured authors such as Larry Niven, Lois McMaster Bujold, Orson Scott Card and many more. Each year, DeepSouthCon awards the prestigious Phoenix and Rebel awards to the fans and professionals who have done the most to bring positive attention to the South, its fans, and the writers connected to this region. It also plays host to the annual Hearts Tournament of the Universe, a fun and social event.
 
JordanCon is thrilled at the possibility of hosting this unique event. As JordanCon was founded in honor of one of the most famous and successful fantasy writers in memory, it seems only natural that we host a DeepSouthCon. Additionally, DeepSouthCon has not been hosted in Atlanta, Georgia since 1988 and hasn't been in Georgia since 2000's "Son of the Beachcon" held on Jekyll Island. JordanCon feels it is past time for Georgia to take its turn hosting again.
 
To participate in the site selection for the 2013 DeepSouthCon you must be a registered member of Fencon/DeepSouthCon 49 and attend the business meeting at 10AM on Sunday, September 25th.
 
JordanCon 2012, "Car'a'con," will take place April 20-22 at the Doubletree Inn Roswell, just outside of Atlanta, GA. Guests will be Hugo award winning author Mary Robinette Kowal and Chesley award winning artist Sam Weber. Pre-reg for JordanCon 2012 is $45, discounted from $65 for the whole weekend.
JenniferL
JenniferL

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: September 18-24, 2011

Welcome back, everyone! We have tons of extraordinary things happening this week, so be sure to stop by the forums.
 
As promised, L.E. Modesitt, Jr. is currently visiting our forums and answering your questions! He has already answered several questions and will be here until September 25th. I will be posting a compilation of the questions and answers right here on the front page on September 26th. In the meantime, head over to this thread in our General Discussion forum to participate in the Q&A session.
 
It's our 13th birthday! That's right, Dragonmount is now a teenager. Help us celebrate by playing in our birthday board. You can even be entered in a random drawing to win a copy of The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel if you post about why you enjoy our site.
 
The Aiel Social Group has cordially invited the other Social Groups to its Post-Raid Ball. The ball will commence this Thursday, September 22nd, so watch this space on that day so you can join the party!
 
I can haz LOLcats, plz? The Shayol Ghul Social Group seems to be having a blast picking popular LOLcat images to match their members' temperaments. Even if you don't know the members, you'll be rolling on the floor laughing at what they've come up with so far.
 
So, you think you're a true Wheel of Time geek, do you? The White Tower Social Group invites you to test your mettle against other players in the "Know Your WoT Quotes?" game. See if you can identify who said which quotes and guess the books in which those quotes can be found.
 
I had never seen a Wheel of Time role play done from the point of a menagerie member until I stumbled upon A Day in the Life of a Menagerie Member today. Come check it out!
 
The Black Ajah members in the A Bit of Tea on the Dark Side role play continue to be up to no good. What dastardly plot could they be hatching?
 
It looks like JordanCon is now on Twitter! Go here to be one of the first followers. You can also find juicy tidbits of information on Dragonmount's Twitter and Facebook pages.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

It Works in Theory: Y'all Bow Down to the Empress, Y'hear?

Ni Hao, die-hard devotees of Dragonmount! Welcome to another weekly installment of "It Works in Theory," Dragonmount's theory blog, in which I get to unload all my various rambling! As you've probably noticed, Dragonmount's front page has been very busy lately, and we're also celebrating our birthday, so check in often just to make sure you don't miss out on any updates or announcements. To help alleviate the extra traffic, please visit our store and buy stuff so we can continue giving you such a great place to revel in your Wheel of Time fandom! And now for our 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! Side effects of reading "It Works in Theory" may include abnormal dreams, anxiety, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, flu-like symptoms, flop sweat, night chills, loss of appetite, the "itis," increased appetite, loss of limbs, and severe abdominal distensions. Should any of these side effects not occur, please consult a physician immediately as your eyesight probably needs to be checked.
 
I'm particularly excited about today's entry. We shall be discussing the Seanchan and their role in the Last Battle. I was always fascinated by the Seanchan, but became even more transfixed with them once I found out their accents were supposed to be somewhat Texan sounding. Here's the link to the old WOTFAQ concerning nations and their real life counterparts. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a list of some of the accents Robert Jordan imagined each nation to have. I'm from Texas myself (even though I don't have much of an accent), so I was very happy to see the quote by Johan Gustafsson and decided to use it for the title of this week's blog.
 
Okay, so where to begin? We know the Seanchan have attacked the White Tower once and are planning a second, larger attack. We know Tuon resisted Rand's ta'veren pull when he tried to intimidate her into submission. This means the Seanchan must be dealt with in some way before the forces of Light face the forces of Shadow, unless they want a two-pronged war that would most likely help the chances of the forces of Shadow winning. We have a good idea that the Seanchan practice of leashing damane may soon be changing, in light of the recent revelations concerning their handlers, the sul'dam, and their potential in being able to learn to channel themselves. This last little tidbit has potentially dire consequences which will threaten the stability of the entire Seanchan empire: the Empress herself has the innate ability to learn to channel, and I find it unlikely she'll submit to being leashed herself.
 
First of all, let's examine something that looks to be impossible in a way, or at the very least, confusing. Here's a snippet from one of Egwene's first dreams:
 
 
There's a slight problem here: Aes Sedai who have been collared are still unable to use the One Power as a weapon, except against Shadowspawn and Darkfriends, due to the Three Oaths. So, how are they being forced to call lightning against the White Tower? One explanation might be that the ones channeling against the Tower are Accepted who have not sworn on the Oath Rod yet. I find this somewhat unlikely, however, because Egwene's dream indicates there will be a large number of women wearing Great Serpent rings. Plus, the Seanchan may think the Aes Sedai who are unable to use the One Power as a weapon are doing so out of spite and will bring them to watch their Tower crumble and hopefully break their spirit even more. There is also the possibility this wasn't a true Dream and was just a nightmare like Egwene hoped, yet I once again find this unlikely.
 
While we're discussing Egwene's dreams, there are a couple more that are relevant to this issue:
 
 
 
 
It's apparent that Egwene will end up forming an alliance with a Seanchan woman and will, in fact, be saved by one. There's some debate about a couple of these quotes; some think the golden hawk in the second quote refers to Berelain since the golden hawk is featured on Mayenne's standard. It seems more likely that it signifies the golden hawk of Artur Hawkwing's empire, which the Seanchan use for the royal line. The last quote is even more obscure in its own way, as it's not clear if the woman who helps Egwene is one woman in particular (Leilwin Shipless or Tuon) or instead representative of a multitude of women since the faces are constantly changing. All things considered, I feel it makes the most sense for the woman who ends up being so connected with Egwene to turn out to be Tuon.
 
It would make sense that when Rand confronts Egwene, if she had Tuon with her, it would be a huge bargaining chip in trying to convince Rand not to break the seals. Rand will break the seals regardless, but he might see the only way he can do this once he sees Tuon is to get Tuon to come to his side by kneeling to her, satisfying Tuon's interpretation of her land's Dragon Prophecies.
 
So, if the Seanchan attack Tar Valon again, why in the world would Egwene turn around and ally with the woman who ordered the attack?! Okay, I think this is as good a time as any to reveal what I think might happen: Yes, the Seanchan will march on the White Tower, but after Traveling there they will find the Tower occupied with another invading force: a mini-horde of Shadowspawn and Dreadlords sent to destroy Tar Valon while it is at its weakest. The sudden revelation that the tales of Trollocs and Myrddraal have not been mere myth and superstition will force Tuon to drastically alter her plans, and she will end up giving aid to the Aes Sedai by helping to eradicate this surprise attack force of Shadowspawn. Her collared Aes Sedai will be able to channel lightning against the forces of the Shadow, fulfilling that part of Egwene's dream.
 
There's some other huge plot points that can happen in this potential confrontation. What if Suffa, the "loyal" damane (you might remember her as Elaida, the previous Amyrlin Seat), is part of the Seanchan force, and her sul'dam is conveniently killed during the fight? Freed from her enslavement by Shadowspawn, perhaps even by a Dreadlord or even a Forsaken, who's to say that she might finally switch allegiances after everything she's been through? Another confrontation between Egwene and Elaida, who has recently turned to the Shadow, would most likely be pretty epic.
 
Here's another thing I could see happening with this idea that I love: Mat still has to go back to Tar Valon to retrieve the Horn of Valere. It would truly be kismet if he were to arrive at the Tower at the same time the attack is happening, and while trying to rescue the Horn, is mortally injured. Who happens upon him but none other than Tuon, who in an emotionally charged scene embraces the side of her that has the spark and Heals Mat (and later Bonds him as her Warder). This event leads her to confront the "ancient wrong" her people have been committing and decree that all damane shall be freed and all a'dam destroyed.
 
Alright, I think I might be enjoying this whole wild predictions thang a little too much. Till next week, folks! Y'all come back now, y'hear? I'm fixin' to show y'all a thing or two about some dang 'ol Forsaken!
hazelkrs1
hazelkrs1

Happy Birthday, Dragonmount!

Thirteen years ago today, someone started spamming the existing Wheel of Time message boards with links to his "cool, new site" called Dragonmount. The Path of Daggers was about to be released and all the Wheel of Time discussion sites were buzzing with theories and conversation. Dragonmount wasn't very pretty, it wasn't fully staffed yet, and I didn't know any better, so I volunteered to be the site's Amyrlin Seat. Thirteen years, some staff shuffles, some more releases, and more ups and downs than I care to count later, I'm proud to call myself Jason Denzel's partner in running Dragonmount.
 
We've had some rough times, and there have been days both of us wanted to pack it all in and go home, but overall, the good times outweigh the bad and we both feel that we've done our part to make the online Wheel of Time community a better place. Whether it's organizing volunteers for book signings, producing the first Wheel of Time podcast, running one of the largest Wheel of Time role-play forums, or just providing a place for fans to hang out and share their love of the series, Jason and I have been honored that so many fans have chosen Dragonmount as their Internet home.
 
To celebrate our thirteenth birthday, we've partnered with Tor Books to give away one copy of the recently released The Eye of the World graphic novel adaption. To enter, visit our dedicated birthday forum and post why you enjoy Dragonmount so much.
 
Sound the Horn! The Hunt is on, and may Dragonmount be your hunting-place!
JenniferL
JenniferL

Brandon Sanderson's 2011 Tour Schedule for The Alloy of Law

Brandon Sanderson's latest Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law, will be released on November 8, 2011. This story is set three hundred years after the Mistborn trilogy ends. The dates for Sanderson's signing tour have been announced, and yes, he is coming to Canada!
 
Here is the full schedule:
 
Tuesday, November 8th – Midnight (doors open 9 PM)
BYU Bookstore
Wilkinson Student Center (WSC) / University Hill (Brigham Young University)
Provo, Utah 84602
 
Wednesday, November 9th – 7:00 PM
Mysterious Galaxy
7051 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92111-1040
 
Thursday, November 10th – 7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
7881 Edinger Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
 
Friday, November 11th – 7:00 PM
University Books
@ University Temple United Methodist Church
1415 NE 43rd St. Seattle 98105
 
Saturday, November 12th – 2:00 PM
Chapters Metrotown
Metropolis, Metrotown 4700 Kingsway
Burnaby, British Columbia V5H 4M1
 
Monday, November 14th – 7:00 PM
Joseph-Beth Booksellers
161 Lexington Green Cir # B1
Lexington, KY 40503-3323
 
Tuesday, November 15th – 6:30 PM
Murder by the Book
2342 Bissonnet St
Houston TX 77005
 
Wednesday, November 16th – 7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble Park Slope
267 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
**Signing Only**
 
You can pre-order The Alloy of Law now at Amazon.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

In Memory of Robert Jordan

Today, September 16th, 2011, marks the four-year anniversary of Robert Jordan's death. He is remembered fondly by those who knew him, and gratefully by those who read his books.
 
Our warmest regards go out to Harriet, Wilson, and Jordan's entire family during this bittersweet remembrance.
 
One of our longtime members, Isabel, posted one of his quotes today, which I gladly share with you here:
 

 
RIP, Robert Jordan. Your legacy lives on.
 
If you are interested, here's the written report from Robert Jordan's funeral back in 2007.
Jason Denzel
Jason Denzel

Towers of Midnight Paperback Release

Towers of Midnight, book thirteen of The Wheel of Time, will be released in paperback form in the USA on October 4, 2011. It was the second Wheel of Time book published after Robert Jordan's death, and thus the second book in the series featuring the writing of Brandon Sanderson.
 
Go here to pre-order your copy from Amazon.
 
Here are some more helpful links about Towers of Midnight:

Book Information
Read Our Review
Watch Our Book Trailer

Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Thursdays with Tynaal: Wheel of Time Clothing

The last time I brought you information on Wheel of Time fan paraphernalia, it was all about jewelry and accessories. Well, this week, I'm going to bring some Wheel of Time clothing retailers closer to your home.
 
Despite my intense Internet searches, I only found two places other than Amazon which sell Wheel of Time themed t-shirts. The first and only officially licensed retailer is Ta'veren Tees, which you might recognize from other blog articles on the Dragonmount front page. They are a fledgling retailer, but are steadily increasing the amount of designs that they have for their shirts. There are seven female and six male ones. Whether you're a steadfast supporter of the Band of the Red Hand or Loyal to Loial, I'm sure you'll find a suitable shirt at Ta'veren Tees. If there isn't one to your liking, just keep an eye on their site and you might find new designs that get released or some specials to spice up the designs currently available.
 
Another place that has some Wheel of Time themed clothing is the TarValon.Net CafePress store. Their products are not aimed at the general Wheel of Time fans, though, but rather members of TarValon.Net. I'd say still give it a look and see if there isn't possibly something to your liking.
 
So, get out there, buy a shirt, and flaunt your love for the Wheel of Time on a shirt for all to see.
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

L.E. Modesitt, Jr. to Visit Dragonmount

L.E. Modesitt, Jr., the bestselling author of The Saga of Recluce and other popular series, will be visiting Dragonmount! He will be here for an entire week participating in a Q&A session hosted by our Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild. The Q&A will run from Monday, September 19th through Sunday, September 25th in our General Discussion forum. Anyone may post questions for Mr. Modesitt during this time, and he will answer them throughout the week.
 
Here is more information about Mr. Modesitt from his website:
 
 
Don't miss this exciting opportunity to pick the brain of a famous author!
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Dragonmount Weekly Roundup: September 11-17, 2011

I made it back from Dragon*Con in one piece and am ready to resume my weekly updates. All of you should consider coming to Dragon*Con sometime. It's a great way to meet fellow Wheel of Time fans.
 
It looks like plenty of exciting things have happened on the forums since I last was here. One interesting thread you should check out is in our General Wheel of Time Discussion forum, where people are talking about references in the Wheel of Time to real-world pop culture and history. The thread has a very comprehensive list so far.
 
Who is the best movie director of all time? Visit our Movies Discussion forum and see if you agree with anyone's picks.
 
The theme for the September Challenge in the Artists, Crafters, and Writers Guild is "Swap." The goal is for everyone to swap their usual creative medium for something new this month.
 
The Aiel Social Group is discussing holidays and their meanings. What do various holidays mean to you? Do you know the history behind why some holidays are celebrated around the world?
 
The Wolfkin Social Group is discussing their favorite autumn foods. My mouth is watering just from reading this thread!
 
Our role players have been hanging around the Blight lately. Check out "Discovery of a Puzzle" to see what adventure unfolds.
 
If you want to see some of our Twitter updates from Dragon*Con, go here. It looks like we have quite a few pictures from our Wheel of Time costume contest.
 
That's it for today! I'll see you all next week.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

It Works in Theory: A Faint Thread of Music Caught Perrin's Ear

Bonjour, my brilliant boarders of Dragonmount! Welcome back to another weekly installment of "It Works in Theory," Dragonmount's newish theory blog, which just so happens to be entrusted to my hands. I apologize for the extended delay between new entries; as many of you are aware, Dragon*Con was held this past weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, and I had the privilege to go this year for the first time. In short, it was simply a blast, and particularly exquisite because my birthday fell on the last day of the event. It was, in fact, the first convention of any kind that I had ever attended, and it did not fail whatsoever to impress me. I greatly urge any fans of the Wheel of Time series to try and make it out next Labor Day weekend or even this coming spring when JordanCon will be held in the same city. And now, onto our 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! This weblog of "It Works in Theory" is copyrighted by Despothera and Dragonmount for the private use and enjoyment of our audience. Any other use of this weblog or any pictures, descriptions, or accounts of the blog without consent from Despothera "signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, lost, found, queried, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighter" (from Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) is greatly encouraged. To be honest, I don't really think it is copyrighted per se anyway, but just to be on the safe side, maybe just include a link back here or something.
 
Alright, here's one more thing I wanted to get out of the way that I hope my editor won't mind terribly: I don't believe many of you know this, but in addition to having somewhat of a penchant for writing, I also happen to pretend to have minor musical talent as well. I am in a band that goes by the same name as my handle here on Dragonmount (Despothera). We recently got our website up and running to feature our newly recorded EP, so if anyone would like to check it out and see if you like it, just visit www.despothera.com. We play hard rock and metal, but have a broad spectrum of musical influences so many might be able to enjoy the songs on the site. I'm particularly proud of the song which I wrote, a 9-minute instrumental which I named "Tarmon Gai'don" in reverence of The Wheel of Time. Now that I have finished shamelessly self-promoting my band, let's go ahead and move on to the subject of today's blog.
 
I thought it fitting today after already bringing up my love of music to go into further detail about a subject I've referenced in earlier blogs: the importance of the Talent of Singing in helping to save the world of Rand and his allies. As I mentioned in my premiere blog entry, we now have a pretty good idea that the "Song" which the Tuatha'an (Tinkers, or Traveling People) have been seeking might not actually be a singularly important song, but rather a longing to return to the happier ways of their people when they were Aiel and used Seed Singing to help promote the health of the land around them. The Tuatha'an practice the Way of the Leaf and have a strong affinity both for nature and music, making them something of an oblique allusion to groups in our own society that dedicate their lives to following peaceful ways and jam bands (any Deadheads out there?). Luckers, one of our own site's admins, has written a very helpful article which talks about this subject in further detail: Demystifying The Song.
 
Many people, including myself, believe that it might be essential for the Talent of Singing to be rediscovered in order for the forces of Light to have any chance at winning. However, the big question is, how will it be rediscovered? One of the characters who is connected to this mystery most often happens to be my favorite character in the series: Perrin "Goldeneyes" Aybara. We'll get to why so many people believe he will have a central role in rediscovering the lost Talent in a moment, but first, I wanted to examine one of the character parallels that exist in the personage of Perrin.
 
If you haven't been to The Thirteenth Depository, a Wheel of Time blog headed by Linda Taglieri (who I had the pleasure of meeting this past weekend at Dragon*Con), please take time to visit there at some point. While I have a fantastic time writing my blog and am proud of what I've been able to put out so far, the theories and notions I have presented are a grain of sand on the beach compared to the many musings and thoughts that have been expressed by Linda on her site over the years. I'm particularly impressed by her ability to find the many historical, literary, and mythological references and allusions found in The Wheel of Time; Robert Jordan was simply a master of his trade when it came to selecting various figures and stories throughout the history of mankind and injecting derivatives of them into his tale. One of the connections Linda has made that I particularly enjoy is the parallel between Perrin and the fictional character of the knight Sir Percival from Arthurian Legend and Grail stories (you might have to scroll far down the page to get to that part).
 
It's my feeling that the story alluded to the most in The Wheel of Time is the story of King Arthur, The Fisher King, and the search for the Holy Grail. We won't get into the plethora of references and allegories to this legend, but it is a good idea to focus on the Perrin/Percival parallels to see how Perrin might end up being involved with the rediscovery of Singing. First of all, it's very easy to notice the similarities in their names. In fact, another name for Percival found in the early writings of Grail legend is Peredur, which is even more phonetically similar to Perrin. Percival was of noble blood but was raised in the forest in a simple upbringing until he was fifteen, when he saw a gallant group of knights that inspired him to become one himself. His genuine interest in doing the right thing is stressed almost to the point of naivete, but it is his purity of heart which singles him out to be the knight who is best equipped to find the grail.
 
We know about Perrin's modest upbringing in the Two Rivers. Although he wasn't entranced into a life of heroics, he has nonetheless been transformed into a hero, even a lord, by both the nature of him being ta'veren and the circumstances which have surrounded him. In spite of his transformation, he has kept the same noble and modest personality, and the purity of his heart has never come into question. Of the three ta'veren from Edmond's Field, he is easily the most noble; Rand has a constant struggle of internal torment at his role as the Dragon Reborn, and Mat, while very lovable himself, is somewhat of a scoundrel.
 
In the Grail stories, Percival is plagued by being in constant conflict with temptation in his quest for the grail, as Perrin is plagued by the conflict against succumbing to the wild, violent side of himself represented by the axe he leaves behind in Crossroads of Twilight. Percival was so afflicted with internal struggle in the face of temptation that he wounds himself by piercing his thigh with his own sword rather than lay with a temptress. Perrin is wounded badly in the thigh in one of his confrontations with Slayer in Tel'aran'rhiod in Towers of Midnight. One of the most important congruencies between the two characters, though, is their potential role in saving the health of the land.
 
We know how Percival helps to save the health of the land; by finding the grail, he is able to rejuvenate the Fisher King and, through him, the land. One of Min's visions gives us a glimpse of how Perrin might be connected to the health of the land:
 
 
The wolf image is obvious as Perrin is a wolfbrother. The broken crown is a reference to his connection to the Saldean crown, for which Perrin is now in the line of succession since his wife, Faile, is second in line after her father, Davram Bashere. The trees flowering all around him are a strange viewing for Min to have about Perrin. It would make sense if she saw the image about Rand, since we see in Towers of Midnight that Rand now has an aura about him which instantly brings health and vibrancy to the immediate area around him. Being that the image is around Perrin, though, it's likely that he will end up having an important role in rejuvenating the land even as the Dark One's shadow grows strongest. But how will he end up doing this?
 
We're now going to venture into a subject that was talked about recently in our 4th Age Podcast: the mystery of Nakomi. Just as a quick refresher, Nakomi was the woman who appeared to Aviendha on her journey to Rhuidean, where she saw the bleak future of her people. Many theories have been raised regarding the identity of this strange figure, but one which I particularly enjoy and find to make the most sense has to do with one particular line in the book right before Nakomi's introduction:
 
 
Perhaps Aviendha wasn't awake at all during her encounter, but instead had drifted off to sleep with her mind filled with the problems her people faced. Aviendha has a history of doing things "accidentally," as when she first wove a gateway to get away from Rand to try and hide her shame, so it's possible that she slipped into Tel'aran'rhiod. Another possibility is that she was drawn there somehow in her need to find further clarity. Once in Tel'aran'rhiod, she is visited by Nakomi, who happens to be a Jenn Aiel who is a Hero of the Horn and resides in that dream world. It might be against their precepts to interfere or talk to people from the real world, but we already have a precedent for it and since there is a dire need for Aviendha to gain understanding about her people's predicament, it's probably okay in this circumstance to break the rules.
 
I also like other ideas about Nakomi, such as how she might be a spirit guide, or even possibly the Creator in person (remember how she has to go "see to nature"?), but let's roll with this idea for now. I don't think it's a stretch to imagine there will be a huge confrontation in Tel'aran'rhiod in the last book, especially if Perrin somehow has to save Rand from the clutches of the Dark One after Rand's death. In such an important encounter, the forces of the Light will use any tool they have to help give them an edge, so I expect to see Dreamwalkers, Wolfbrothers, and Heroes of the Horn, possibly including Nakomi.
 
Even should Nakomi not be present at the battle in the dream world, what if she still finds the time to make another appearance to Perrin at some point when he's traveling through Tel'aran'rhiod? Perrin is not just a warrior, but a blacksmith, and has the ability to create as well as destroy. The title of this week's blog is actually a direct quote from The Shadow Rising, from the last paragraph of chapter 40, and could be important foreshadowing. The music he hears is from a band of Tuatha'an he meets in the Two Rivers, and it turns out he's familiar with this particular group of Tinkers and their leader, Raen, from when he traveled with them for a time in The Eye of the World. Raen hails Perrin with the customary greeting a Tuatha'an will ask upon meeting someone in the world:
 
 
Perrin might not know the Song yet, and this might be a stretch, but perhaps Nakomi helps Perrin discover something else hidden deep inside himself. Perhaps, even as Perrin's hammer, Mah'alleinir, sings its own song of destruction as it carves swathes of death through ranks of Shadowspawn, Perrin Goldeneyes will let his voice resound against the Dark One himself at the sealing of the Bore. Leading a heroic grouping of Aiel, Tuatha'an, and Ogier (and maybe even a Nym), he will Sing the Song which ends up being the Light's salvation.
 
Wouldn't that be something?
hazelkrs1
hazelkrs1

JordanCon Announces 2012 Dates, Guests, and Hotel

JordanCon is pleased to announce its dates and initial guests for 2012's convention. JordanCon 4, "Car'a'con," will take place April 20-22 at the Doubletree Inn Roswell, just outside of Atlanta, GA.
 
JordanCon's Author Guest of Honor will be Mary Robinette Kowal, winner of the Campbell Award for Best New Writer and the 2011 Hugo for Best Short Story. Kowal's first novel, Shades of Milk and Honey, is available from Tor Books. Its sequel, Glamour in Glass, is forthcoming in April 2012. Additionally, Kowal is an award winning puppeteer who has worked on the hit TV show Lazytown.
 
New this year to JordanCon will be the Art Show. In honor of this, JordanCon will be having its first Artist Guest of Honor, Sam Weber. Weber is best known to Wheel of Time fans for his Chesley Award winning painting for the eBook edition of The Shadow Rising. Sam Weber's art, along with that of other fantasy and sci fi artists, will be on display at JordanCon.
 
Pre-reg for JordanCon 2012 is $45, discounted from $65 for the whole weekend. The host hotel is the Doubletree Inn Roswell, located an easy twenty minute drive from Atlanta, GA. JordanCon will be April 20-22, 2012. For more information, please visit www.jordancon.org
JenniferL
JenniferL

Fan Art Friday: Charles Vess

Hello all! I'm back from Dragon*Con and slightly more together than I have been for the last month. And as promised, I have a special treat to make up for being as flaky as I've been recently.
 
As previously covered on Dragonmount, Tor Books has been re-releasing the series as eBooks. The original plan was to release all the main series books, along with the prequel novel New Spring AND the young adult editions as eBooks complete with new cover art. For the young adult editions, they also commissioned new interior art.
 
To catch everyone up who might not know, The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt were each split into two books and marketed as young adult editions. Not only was new cover art painted by Charles Keegan, but interior art was commissioned as well.
 
Unfortunately, Tor has decided not to publish these editions as eBooks after all. Luckily for us though, Charles Vess and Tor Books have graciously given permission for Dragonmount to host these images in our gallery for fans to enjoy. I've selected a few to highlight for Fan Art Friday this week.
 

 
This is what would have been the "cover" of the eBook. It looks like it features all three ta'veren plus Egwene fighting Trollocs. One of the things I like about these images is the very old fashioned fairy-tale illustration quality they have. I'm not sure if it's as good a fit for the tone of the story, but it's very striking and distinctive. I particularly like the contrast between the brightly colored figures in the foreground, and the more drab Trollocs in the background. It makes things really pop.
 

 
This one looks like Trollocs attacking Emond's Field or the al'Thor farmhouse. The expression on the Trolloc's face is adorable. "Come back!" he says. "I just want to snuggle!" The detail of shading and line on this is just amazing. I keep stopping to look at it again.
 

 
Rand eavesdropping on Moiraine and Egwene. I love how it manages to be detailed and yet ethereal at once.
 

 
Ahhh! Moiraine! Scary, spooky Moiraine! This one is my favorite. I love her "This is totally no thing, guys. I do it all the time." half smile.
 
To see the other images (there are eleven total) please visit our gallery. http://www.dragonmount.com/forums/gallery/album/137-charles-vess-album/
JenniferL
JenniferL

The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel

When New Spring: The Graphic Novel became a bestseller, fans clamored for more Wheel of Time books in this format. I am pleased to announce that The Eye of the World, which was made into a comic book series, will soon be released in graphic novel form.
 
The first volume of the graphic novel is in hardcover and includes issues 1-8 of the comic series. It begins in the Two Rivers and follows the protagonists through their flight on the road to Baerlon. The rest of the story will be continued in future graphic novel volumes.
 
Chuck Dixon, who was the writer for New Spring: The Graphic Novel, worked closely with Robert Jordan's estate on The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel. He has written for DC, Marvel, and other major comic publishers. He is perhaps best known for his work on the Batman comics. Chase Conley provided the pencilling and inking in the stunning illustrations for the comics and graphic novel of The Eye of the World.
 
The Eye of the World: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1 will be released on September 13, 2011. You can pre-order the novel from Amazon here.
Dwynwen
Dwynwen

Thursdays with Tynaal: Our Discussion Boards

Hello again, everyone!
 
So, I've been having a great time telling you about various odds and ends in the Wheel of Time fandom. This week, I'm turning back to our home base, Dragonmount. I will be guiding you to a new place on Dragonmount every other week.
 
There is a lot more to this board than just information about The Wheel of Time. It's a fantastic platform through which fans can meet their fellow fandom members. Dragonmount offers a variety of features with which fans can interact on our forums. There are discussion boards, boards for creative-minded artists, writers, and crafters, and even game boards. Besides those, a large part of the forums is dedicated to Social and Role Playing Groups. Both base their structure on the various organizations that are found in the Wheel of Time books, but the Social Groups--as the name implies--are for social interaction of members. The Role Playing Groups concentrate on exactly that, role playing characters as though they were present in Randland.
 
This week, I'll bring closer to you a place that is a frequent first stop for new members. The discussion boards are a great place for people to voice their opinions--in a peaceful, non-flaming way, of course. There is a great variety of discussion topics available. We have entire boards for the discussion of individual topics, be it to discuss theories about our favorite series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson or to discuss other literary works in our General Discussion forum. For those needing a break from book-related matters, we have a Debates and Discussions board on which you do exactly that--debate. We also have Entertainment boards in which you can discuss games, tv shows, movies and sports.
 
So, next time you have some time on your hands and nothing to do, why don't you pop over and add your voice to the fray?
Tynaal Consen
Tynaal Consen

Podcast: #105 – The 4th Age Podcast – Old World Parallels

<p>Old World Parallels is the topic for the 105th Episode of The 4th Age Podcast. Your hosts for this episode are Andrew, Virginia, Spencer, and Carrie.</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, and Carrie</p><h6>Editor for this episode: Richard F.
Editor-in-Chief: Spencer</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-105.mp3">Download'>http://www.dragonmount.com/Podcast/Media/dm-4thAge-105.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-105.mp3">Download this Episode now</a></strong></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/4thAge/~4/kshjIjgNZzI" height="1" width="1"/>
Tialin
Tialin