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Brandon Sanderson / Re: Brandon To Write Wheel of Time Book 12
« on: December 16, 2007, 05:35:29 AM »
So despite my lifelong scifi/fantasy addiction, I hadn't come across Brandon Sanderson's work prior to hearing that he would be writing the twelfth volume of the Wheel of Time. I'd be interested to see a chart showing his Amazon sales rank following the announcement, because I assume there are a lot of people like me who immediately went out and bought some of his books. I'll admit I was a bit nervous.
Over the past 24 hours, I've finished mistborn and am working on well of ascension. I've loved them both, and I'm also looking forward to Elantris (had to order that one online).
I'm no longer worried about having Brandon finish the Wheel of Time. Only one issue gives me pause. I realize that when I registered for this forum I agreed not to post anything "sexually oriented." I hope this doesn't qualify, though it's indicative of my worry that his forum has this qualification. Robert Jordan's books contain sex. While I have yet to finish the Well of Ascension, so far I've found nothing "sexually oriented" in the books (I don't count a few kisses and lap-sitting). This certainly doesn't keep me from enjoying the books. I don't even think it lessens my enjoyment of them. But the characters in the Wheel of Time have sex; they have explicit adult relationships, both in and out of marriage. And I want that to be part of book 12. I remember sitting seven years ago with a friend discussing when Elayne would finally hook up with Rand. I loved reading about it when it finally did happen (book 8? 9?), and reminiscing with that same friend, who by then lived across the country.
These books have been an important, continuing part of my life. Like many others, I haven't loved how the later books have expanded the plot lines almost beyond the point of no return. But unlike many of my friends, I've continued to love and read and reread the books. I started reading them when the Dragon Reborn was in hardback. Since 1991 I've been reading them (I just looked that up). That's 16 years now.
Based on how much I like his books, I think Brandon is eminently capable of finishing the series masterfully. I can't wait to read his addition. I just hope that it models the tone and content of the books that Robert Jordan wrote. An earlier poster listed the things he wanted to see in the final book. I want to see all of those as well. But I also want to see Tuon and Mat move beyond kissing. I want to see Egwene and Gawyn's relationship develop. I want to see Rand's women interact as they deal with being in love, and sleeping, with the same guy. I want more of Faile's blushing sexual innuendo. I love the relationships that the characters have - I've come to care about them. If everyone becomes suddenly prudish in the final book, or if sex is only alluded to obliquely, I'll be very disappointed.
I grew up in Utah, and many of my very good friends are LDS. I grew up reading Orson Scott Card's books, and loving them. But I do worry that an LDS writer won't give me all that I'm looking for in the last Wheel of Time book. And that's really it. It's just that so much of what Jordan's characters are is derived from their fully developed adult sexuality, and I hope that remains a major element of Brandon Sanderson's contribution. Maybe my worries are unfounded and as I read further into the Well of Ascension the characters will start hooking up like mad. We'll see. But all of my friends who like fantasy are probably asleep by now, and I needed a place to vent my worries.
Good luck Brandon, I think you're a captivating writer, I wish you all the best, and I'll be buying all your books - WoT or otherwise - in the future.
Over the past 24 hours, I've finished mistborn and am working on well of ascension. I've loved them both, and I'm also looking forward to Elantris (had to order that one online).
I'm no longer worried about having Brandon finish the Wheel of Time. Only one issue gives me pause. I realize that when I registered for this forum I agreed not to post anything "sexually oriented." I hope this doesn't qualify, though it's indicative of my worry that his forum has this qualification. Robert Jordan's books contain sex. While I have yet to finish the Well of Ascension, so far I've found nothing "sexually oriented" in the books (I don't count a few kisses and lap-sitting). This certainly doesn't keep me from enjoying the books. I don't even think it lessens my enjoyment of them. But the characters in the Wheel of Time have sex; they have explicit adult relationships, both in and out of marriage. And I want that to be part of book 12. I remember sitting seven years ago with a friend discussing when Elayne would finally hook up with Rand. I loved reading about it when it finally did happen (book 8? 9?), and reminiscing with that same friend, who by then lived across the country.
These books have been an important, continuing part of my life. Like many others, I haven't loved how the later books have expanded the plot lines almost beyond the point of no return. But unlike many of my friends, I've continued to love and read and reread the books. I started reading them when the Dragon Reborn was in hardback. Since 1991 I've been reading them (I just looked that up). That's 16 years now.
Based on how much I like his books, I think Brandon is eminently capable of finishing the series masterfully. I can't wait to read his addition. I just hope that it models the tone and content of the books that Robert Jordan wrote. An earlier poster listed the things he wanted to see in the final book. I want to see all of those as well. But I also want to see Tuon and Mat move beyond kissing. I want to see Egwene and Gawyn's relationship develop. I want to see Rand's women interact as they deal with being in love, and sleeping, with the same guy. I want more of Faile's blushing sexual innuendo. I love the relationships that the characters have - I've come to care about them. If everyone becomes suddenly prudish in the final book, or if sex is only alluded to obliquely, I'll be very disappointed.
I grew up in Utah, and many of my very good friends are LDS. I grew up reading Orson Scott Card's books, and loving them. But I do worry that an LDS writer won't give me all that I'm looking for in the last Wheel of Time book. And that's really it. It's just that so much of what Jordan's characters are is derived from their fully developed adult sexuality, and I hope that remains a major element of Brandon Sanderson's contribution. Maybe my worries are unfounded and as I read further into the Well of Ascension the characters will start hooking up like mad. We'll see. But all of my friends who like fantasy are probably asleep by now, and I needed a place to vent my worries.
Good luck Brandon, I think you're a captivating writer, I wish you all the best, and I'll be buying all your books - WoT or otherwise - in the future.