Wheel of Time

[EUOL]

That's an interesting analysis, Paper.  However, I must point out that the presence of a formula alone isn't necessarily indicative of an unentertaining book.

Most books and series follow patterns.  Whether the author uses the traditional heroic cycle, or a more modern narrative structure such as the 'detective/mystery' plot, formulas are quite common in writing.  In fact, if there ISN'T a formula, then many readers become confused and uninterested because they can't unconsciously predict the narrative flow and tension of the book.

The skill of an author, therefore, is not to defy plotting conventions, but to use them in a way as to make them invisible.  Depth of characterization, clever discoveries in the plot, general world submersion--these things, when done well, can make the most cliched plotting structure seem vivid and real.  That is why we can read virtually the same plot structure at the beginning of every Harry Potter book, yet enjoy them all thoroughly.

[Spriggan]

Ok who keeps on resurecting this thread! Some threads deserve to die in obscurity and this is one of them.

[Eagle Prince]

I think his point was more that the story could have finished in 3 books yet for some reason RJ insists that it can't and now we are moving into 10+ books.  And he is right, its getting even worse now.  The last book even worked in reverse, moving further from the ending.  Grrr, I must stop thinking about this now before I tear out my eyes.

[Oldie Black Witch]

I wish I could get paid to write a book with no plot, no action, and is worse than a fanfic.

[Peter Ahlstrom]

which fanfic?

[EUOL]

That comment barely deserves a response, so I'll barely give one.  

If they have no plot, no action, and terrible writing, why do people read them?  I guess the fantasy-reading public is just a big mass if idiots who can't distinguish quality.  I'm glad we cleared this up--now we can all go read James Joyce and Toni Morrison and forget that fantasy even ever existed.

[fuzzyoctopus]

Old One, (why did you pick that name? It doesn't suit you at all, and I have trouble associating the real you with it...)  You'll find that going around posting in threads that are over a month old is going to annoy people.

And in cases like this where we've already hashed out why we do and do not like Jordan, will apparently gain you nothing but contempt from EUOL.

Edit: I personally share your opinion of Jordan, but EUOL has hashed his views to death on this, and he's quite right.  Not everyone hates Wheel of time, some love it, some worship it, and enough people buy it to make him a very successful author.  

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

yes, your posting patterns indicate someone who is much younger in habits.  But at least you're either interested in fantasy or you can pretend to have some knowledge of it.

[fuzzyoctopus]

She's a bastion of trivia concerning Tolkien's mythology, for one thing.

[Oldie Black Witch]

I wanted to say 'Thanks" to fuzzyoctopus, but I wasn't sure whether you truly want this thread to go the way of Paul. For something that you are all so desperate to kill off, six posts in one day sure doesn't seem to help.

[The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers]

actually, what was more annoying was the contentless bashing of something that we'd already discussed. It was more about content than resurrection.

[Entsuropi]

Another Tolkien buff, heh.

The Golden Rule of forum conversations is: 'Does this post add anything to this conversation?'

Meditate upon it, little one.

[EUOL]

Golden Rule Two:

Never take anything we say TOO seriously.

[Oldie Black Witch]

I kinda figured that. It's a good thing I waited until this evening to reply or you'd all be subject to a blast of sarcasm. This is the first board I've been on where people get upset for bringing up old threads. Elsewhere it's encouraged as opposed to starting a new one.

Just out of curiousity, if an entire forum should fail to have a post for over a month, does the forum die? Or would the poster that resurrects a thread therein be also subject to such a blast of ire? And if you're looking to kill a thread, why don't you just wield that handy-dandy sysop power and delete it?

Just consider those to be rhetorical questions. And since you seem to feel that everything that could be said about Jordan has been said, and since I don't feel like defending my opinion on the subject, I'll go ahead and let this thread "die in obscurity."

BTW, fuzzyoctopus, I picked this name because Brenna never lets me forget my age. I'm what, 235 by now?

Ok who keeps on resurecting this thread! Some threads deserve to die in obscurity and this is one of them.

[Brenna]

close. You're 236 today.  Silly.