Timewaster's Guide Archive

Now if a similar scenario were to play out in real life, I think it's almost guaranteed the aggressor would be committing rape at some level.

   What, WOT is not real life?
   Just a little dig for fans who begin questions like, "If so and so can do (whatever), then why don't they..."  This is a world created by a brilliant-but-finite human being and is sometimes inconsistent for that reason.  I giggle when fantasy geeks like me lose touch with reality just a bit.  No offense meant to anyone.

   That said, I believe that there is a double standard for behavior such as that described for the Tylin character and I believe that, while not exactly fair, it is warranted in the real world because of basic human anatomy and sexuality.  Let's face it, were roles reversed, it would definitely be at least bordering on rape if not actual rape-by-coercion.  Aggressive seduction is simply more acceptable when female-instigated for obvious reasons, even when regret is voiced after the fact.  I don't believe Mat was raped, but I squirmed a bit (while laughing) at the role reversal.

   Oh and, Joe, I did warn you about CoT, but I commend you for getting through it.  I was really concerned with RJ's sanity/health after reading this book, long before he was diagnosed with the disease that ended his life, I think.  Once, I wrote a guide for a friend suggesting which chapters (almost everything set in Salidar and Caemlyn) to skip in order to at least follow the story line and try to enjoy the book.  New Spring and KoD were such a relief to me, being fully invested in this never-ending story... at least it seemed that way at the time.

This might be a good time for Joe to read New Spring! 

Goes on too long and the cover art sucks... where have I heard that before??? 
Definitely not Mistborn.  Brandon has been blessed with succinct writing and really nice
cover art.

"I have to go to Barnes and Noble to get Lord of Chaos... " from JoeC

   Be prepared for the next two books to get a bit, or quite a bit, darker.  I wasn't thrilled with that on my first read probably because I was worried that it would escalate (the dark content) and I'd have to give the story up.  I was highly invested in it then and I still am.   You seem like someone who will really enjoy where this story is going next.

   Listening to the recorded version for the first tme (I'm on Winter's Heart right now and enjoying it immensely) and knowing where the story goes makes LoC and A Crown of Swords much more palatable now, for me anyway.  I skipped the two books I hated, but Brandon says that they were not so bad the second time through.  I just remember wondering if RJ had lost his mind while reading PoD.  It ruined a great half-summer at the beach for me.

   I think some of us were so worried about Mr. Rigney (RJ) that Winter's Heart seemed amazingly good.  It is good, but not as good, really, as books 1-5 IMHO.  And nothing compared with New Spring, which I thought was excellent and very encouraging at the time it came out.  But then he wrote Crossroads of Twilight and I was back to worrying.

   I'm trying to stay general here and not give anything away.  I think it helps sometimes to realize when to not get your hopes up.  Maybe your expectations will be so low, Joe, that you actually enjoy that book!  I am curious about your reaction.  I highly recommend listening to The Path of daggers on audio, though.  Don't buy it, they are expensive; ask your library to find it for you!  Or read it and risk major WoT burnout...

Thanks also from me, Loud_G, for your thoughtful post.  I agree with every point you make and am forced to remember my two very-different reactions to the famous "first time" scene for Rand in WoT. 

I was disappointed by that sex scene in the first reading, hoping to be able to share these books with my then 15-year-old son at the time.  On subsequent readings, I was surprised at how appropriate that wild scene was and how unusually well-written.  The characters' reactions afterward were consistent, I thought--unusual in most modern fiction.  RJ struck a good balance for my taste most of the time between voyeurism and telling too little. 

On the other hand, there is such a thing as not enough sex in a novel!  I have just encountered that in Brandon's Well of Ascension, I'm sorry to say.  I think there should have been a few references to Elend's desires for Vin, especially in the early chapters.  I mean, c'mon!  Men and women have very different reactions to affectionate embraces and it seemed especially out-of-character for Elend to react (not react, really) the way Mr. Sanderson wrote him.  I again have to compare to RJ's treatment of Rand's thoughts about women as he came of age.  He was constantly berating himself for thoughts he called "lecherous" and trying his best not to show it.  That is human and understandable and, I think, not to be avoided. 

Brandon's treatment of the eventual relationship between his main characters was more tasteful than Mr. Jordan's and very easy for me to read.  Obviously.  His values are akin to mine and it's so nice to read about a wholesome beginning to a marriage.  Most unusual in modern fantasy!

I saw the premier of Life on Mars... i kind of liked it, but i havent really been following it since. I dont watch any of the shows that they plan on cancelling, though.

News flash!  ABC got their act together recently and we can now watch all episodes of Life on Mars.  New shows are coming soon, so catch up while you can!
http://dynamic.abc.go.com/fep/player?i=1&aff=&partner=comcast&show=143825&episode=144233

Joe, we can't get enough of this!  You're on my favorite book.  I think all the characters improve in the re-reading... at least for me they did.  Or re-listening.  I do recommend the audio versions while doing dishes.

Just started watching Daisies with the kiddos.  So much fun.  Fortunately, most old episodes are viewable on Fancast or similar sites or they can be downloaded somehow.  My sweet-sixteen did that for me today.  (Hey kids, how do you... ?)