Timewaster's Guide Archive

I started the series when I was 12, and I've reread it a good ten times since then (I'm 18.) Mat is by far my favorite character. Ever. I wasn't too sure of him in TGS, because I wasn't used to the playful banter - it just seemed mat was done with that. I digress - I love Egwene way more than I ever did growing up. She really grew on me the past three books, especially her tower chapters. Nyneave is a hate/love. Depends on the book. TGS Nyneave is epic win for me. She's finally standing up for herself. I've always loved Lan. Hate Elayne. Hate Faile. I detest Perrin during the whole fail/captured bs. Moody Perrin doesn't work for me. He's grown very randlike the last couple of books and It's a real shame considering he used to be my favorite character. Now, Rand. Rand is a definite fav. You gotta love the main character - even though he isnt always the headline. He's troubled, and quite insane by TGS. His story arc is supposed to be tragic. So I just don't have it in me to hate that pure powerfully amazing Rand. He's the dragon reborn I mean really. Back to Mat. While growing up, Mat was always the most realistic, which a lot of people can attest to on this forum. He grew, was put through some crazy difficult stuff, and came out way better at the end of them.

Just to throw my two cents in - Elend also repeatedly described Vin as a force -almost like a god herself. He trusted in her wholeheartedly and even joined the church of the survivor. I could easily see how Vin's contact with Elend was established because of Elend's trust and belief in what Vin is. Same goes for Kel and Spook.

Well, in short I hate you. This was really quite enthralling, and I wish I could write something along these lines. It's very well written, you had great foreshadowing I thought, by mentioning Jimmy at least a few times throughout the story. The big reveal at the end to me was expected but also nicely done. I loved the whole 'dead head" thing being a neurotic of sorts. Your dialogue  flowed easily, and fit the characters nicely. I loved the whole laughing during combat thing, that kind of sick stuff makes a story more real for me. I could definitely feel the tension through Escobar and the rest of the team. I'm not sure if this is a first chapter of a novel or a short story, but it easily works as both, especially short story.

One thing did bother me however -  there was a point in the story where Escobar is searching for mines and finds the grenades, and he says "just as I thought" and then again right after it at a different spot, it pulled me out a little bit because thinking "just as I thought" seemed a redundant thing to say in that situation, and there wasnt any previous statements that solidified what escobar said other than that one line. If that makes sense? I couldnt find any foreshadowing in that thought line, it just seemed to show up to me. I'd try adding a bit of thought foreshadowing before that, or using a different line, it could work I guess for the second time, but I just didnt feel like Escobar would say that in his head.

Overall - fantastic job, I seriously loved the story.

Hey, I'm Aginor (yes, WOT reference), but I'll go by Tyler too, doesnt really matter. I've been lurking for a while on the writing threads so I decided to join. I'm a senior in high school and applied to university of south Florida with the intent of majoring in creative writing and minoring in English.
   I write fantasy with magic but no elves, dwarves or other Tolkien related propaganda. I'm currently working on a middle grade fantasy, actually thats kind of the wrong word. To say I'm "working on it" is wrong because I haven't actually seriously written it yet. I write the outlines and think of what I want going on, but I never get past the opening before writers block. So hopefully I get pushed into actually finishing my brainchild. I did some writing in elementary school - entered a contest for screenplays and wrote a monster that made absolutely no sense about space monkeys and flying hamburger rockets.
   Yea I know, anyway I stepped away from writing after that and read a lot more, and came back to it in my freshman year. Where -  lo and behold, I wrote another monster that made no sense. I have since joined a journalism class and two college English classes, and I think my writing has significantly improved.