Matt Mauldin

This is the first review for my re-reading of The Wheel of Time series.

I finished reading The Eye of the World a couple of days ago.  I think Jordan does a great job of:

• weaving in historical events and the current climate of the world in which the characters live.
• introducing many of the main characters and giving them distinct personalities.
• Tying in quite a few of the sub characters (e.g. Morgase, Elidia, several Children of the Light, etc)
• beginning the major plotlines (or even just hinting at them) that will run throughout the series.
• giving us just enough information about each character to create suspense, or anticipation for the next book.

This last point struck me the most.  In fact, I was a little surprised.  After a couple of read-throughs of the series – especially an 11-book series – you really get to know each of these characters. But during this re-read, what struck me the most was how little of each character you really get to see.  I’m talking about Rand, Mat, Perrin, Elayne, Nynaeve, Moraine – the whole group who went to the Eye of the World.  Except one…

Lan.  I was honestly surprised at the depth of Lan’s character that we learn in comparison to the other characters. In Fal Dara, we learn the history of Lan’s family, the destruction of Malkier, and why Lan does not accept his crown.  There are a number of episodes between Moraine and him that allude to their history.

The connection between Nynaeve and Lan developed much faster than I remember, too.  Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention last time.  Maybe I didn’t care or was just annoyed at all the times Nynaevegot pissed for no reason and pulled her hair (what a stupid reaction).

In fact, I think almost all of Lan’s character traits, history, relationships with other characters, and feelings (especially towards Nynaeve) that are repeated over and over during the rest of the story are introduced in this first book. And although Lan is a supporting character (even a primary one), the amount we learn about him in comparison to every other character in the book.

I will be paying very close attention to him as I read further to see what other details are revealed about Lan that are not mentioned here.

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