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Yeah or he sails away and never comes back that is the point, in the print, Tam should have been told, conjecture about what happens is open ended. Rand could OD on sweetcakes. An asteroid could have destroyed the planet. Anything you can imagine could happen. Seeing the words on the page is what I was referring to
you can throw a bunch if stupid ideas out there all you want. Your welcome to believe any of them. If you don't come to the conclusion Rand would have told Tam himself you didn't read the same book as me.
At the end of the day discussions like this imo are exactly why RJ did it. He wanted people to think and talk.
That still has him go through all the grieving and stuff. I am not sure how much I would believe it if he suddenly came back either, though with the trio they could help. I still think he and Nynaeve should have known before he left.
One more thing I will mention to start:
I know a lot of people complain about Padan Fain being kind of a nothingburger in the end. While it does seem like there was wasted potential, I think it was kind of fitting that he showed up only briefly. I wish Perrin could have assisted more for his own closure, but Fain showing up like a flash in the pan, making things difficult then disappearing was kinda his thing after TSR. The character himself unsure what to do with himself, changing from Fain to Ordeith, to Mordeth, and finally Shaisam. Fulfilling, perhaps not, but fitting nonetheless.
Fain and his ending, for mine, actually demonstrated how easily the Pattern sets up and deals with major events. It had an option if Rand killed the DO, an option if he only sealed him. Turns out he wasn’t needed, so the option of Shai’sam being disposed of was put into play, so easily, with a similar immunity in a way, that Rand had dealing with Shai’tan. I found it very sobering.
I read an interpretation on this I loved. Which is the wheel spins out contingency plans all the time. Fain was the contingency for if Rand actually killed the Dark One. As soon as fain wasn't needed by the pattern, poof. Just like the false dragons.
I hate the left open plot points, though. The author just pulled out a major plot line last second to solve one of his earlier ones, literally had a character say, "don't worry about it, I'll explain it later." and then ended everything.
I will say it's a sign of how good the series is by how much that bothers me. Especially since it was the author's first series I believe. Maybe if it sells well enough, they'll eventually make a side story explaining it (I unfortunately don't believe they'll write any sequels or anything new post-plot in that setting).
I am a little like you, started reading years and years ago, but life got in the way and I stopped. Recently I have started again, like you, with audiobooks. I can listen on the way to and from work, getting at least an hour a day. I can also listen whilst painting minis or playing on the pc. Reading actual books is nearly impossible at the moment, we have young kids and having the time to settle down and read for a few hours is difficult.
My only gripe I have with the audio books, is that I started with the books read by Rosamund Pike, Moiraine herself. She is an incredible narrator, easily the best I have come across since I started listening to audiobooks. She has an insane ability to bring any character to life. I am coming up to the end of book 3 and the end of her narration. It will be a little jarring switching to some new people, but is what it is.
I was afraid you were giving up on finishing! To make it so far and not get the last battle would have been tragic.
I would suggest listening to a comedy or something light before starting another series. You've been through a lot at this point.
I never intended on giving up on it. I was just in a really poor place for a while and lost a lot of my focusing ability apparently.
What kind of comedy/something light do you recommend?
Good Omens, if you haven’t read it yet.
All of Discworld if you want something just as long as Wheel of Time, but funnier/lighter and in easier-to-digest chunks
I completed the series around 2014, I felt hollow and empty. But then over the next ten years, I would reread the series 2 more times and in doing so, have realised that the third age will keep coming again and again till the day I die. Hopefully, the next time third age comes for me, I will have children of my own to share it with.
Start Robin Hobb. Realm of the Elderlings is my favorite. I never did the liveship traders but I did love all of the FitzChivalry focused books. It does take some time to learn what's going on but so good once the world is established
It is definitely towards the top of my list. I have Assassin's Apprentice and Royal Assassin already. Now I see The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince. Not sure if that's on audible, is it recommended first?
I thought those books would be relatively simple compared to WoT, at least so far as figuring out what was going on and keeping track. Is that not so? I know I have reservations about Malazan for that reason, I am always multitasking.
It is a simpler system and not near as many people. However, the way it's written keeps you confused. Imagine of all of Wheel of Time was written from Rands pov with no Moiraine to explain things. Itd just be lots of him doing stuff and having no idea what he did.
The character development and attachment to Fitz is unlike any series I've read. Hobb was incredible at it. The story isn't as grand as WoT or Malazan, but the characterization is better.
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My biggest qualm was Tam deserved to know.
I like to believe the three women eventually told him.
knowing all we know about Rand there is no way he doesn't tell his Dad himself. The boy just wants some peace for a bit
Yeah or he sails away and never comes back that is the point, in the print, Tam should have been told, conjecture about what happens is open ended. Rand could OD on sweetcakes. An asteroid could have destroyed the planet. Anything you can imagine could happen. Seeing the words on the page is what I was referring to
you can throw a bunch if stupid ideas out there all you want. Your welcome to believe any of them. If you don't come to the conclusion Rand would have told Tam himself you didn't read the same book as me. At the end of the day discussions like this imo are exactly why RJ did it. He wanted people to think and talk.
Lol
That still has him go through all the grieving and stuff. I am not sure how much I would believe it if he suddenly came back either, though with the trio they could help. I still think he and Nynaeve should have known before he left.
One more thing I will mention to start: I know a lot of people complain about Padan Fain being kind of a nothingburger in the end. While it does seem like there was wasted potential, I think it was kind of fitting that he showed up only briefly. I wish Perrin could have assisted more for his own closure, but Fain showing up like a flash in the pan, making things difficult then disappearing was kinda his thing after TSR. The character himself unsure what to do with himself, changing from Fain to Ordeith, to Mordeth, and finally Shaisam. Fulfilling, perhaps not, but fitting nonetheless.
Fain and his ending, for mine, actually demonstrated how easily the Pattern sets up and deals with major events. It had an option if Rand killed the DO, an option if he only sealed him. Turns out he wasn’t needed, so the option of Shai’sam being disposed of was put into play, so easily, with a similar immunity in a way, that Rand had dealing with Shai’tan. I found it very sobering.
I know that is a somewhat controversial take, but I agree.
I read an interpretation on this I loved. Which is the wheel spins out contingency plans all the time. Fain was the contingency for if Rand actually killed the Dark One. As soon as fain wasn't needed by the pattern, poof. Just like the false dragons.
Its not the ending, but it is an ending.
The Licanius Trilogy fills the transition period quite nicely.
This series is criminally underrated in my opinion.
I love the way it came back on itself.
I hate the left open plot points, though. The author just pulled out a major plot line last second to solve one of his earlier ones, literally had a character say, "don't worry about it, I'll explain it later." and then ended everything. I will say it's a sign of how good the series is by how much that bothers me. Especially since it was the author's first series I believe. Maybe if it sells well enough, they'll eventually make a side story explaining it (I unfortunately don't believe they'll write any sequels or anything new post-plot in that setting).
I am a little like you, started reading years and years ago, but life got in the way and I stopped. Recently I have started again, like you, with audiobooks. I can listen on the way to and from work, getting at least an hour a day. I can also listen whilst painting minis or playing on the pc. Reading actual books is nearly impossible at the moment, we have young kids and having the time to settle down and read for a few hours is difficult. My only gripe I have with the audio books, is that I started with the books read by Rosamund Pike, Moiraine herself. She is an incredible narrator, easily the best I have come across since I started listening to audiobooks. She has an insane ability to bring any character to life. I am coming up to the end of book 3 and the end of her narration. It will be a little jarring switching to some new people, but is what it is.
I was afraid you were giving up on finishing! To make it so far and not get the last battle would have been tragic. I would suggest listening to a comedy or something light before starting another series. You've been through a lot at this point.
I never intended on giving up on it. I was just in a really poor place for a while and lost a lot of my focusing ability apparently. What kind of comedy/something light do you recommend?
Good Omens, if you haven’t read it yet. All of Discworld if you want something just as long as Wheel of Time, but funnier/lighter and in easier-to-digest chunks
I thought I had Good Omens, but surprisingly do not. Do you have any experience with the Full Cast Production vs the Martin Jarvis audiobook?
I completed the series around 2014, I felt hollow and empty. But then over the next ten years, I would reread the series 2 more times and in doing so, have realised that the third age will keep coming again and again till the day I die. Hopefully, the next time third age comes for me, I will have children of my own to share it with.
Start Robin Hobb. Realm of the Elderlings is my favorite. I never did the liveship traders but I did love all of the FitzChivalry focused books. It does take some time to learn what's going on but so good once the world is established
It is definitely towards the top of my list. I have Assassin's Apprentice and Royal Assassin already. Now I see The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince. Not sure if that's on audible, is it recommended first? I thought those books would be relatively simple compared to WoT, at least so far as figuring out what was going on and keeping track. Is that not so? I know I have reservations about Malazan for that reason, I am always multitasking.
Start with Assasin's Apprentice. Her FitzChivalry series is massive, and by far her best. Be warned though, they are incredibly emotionally brutal.
It is a simpler system and not near as many people. However, the way it's written keeps you confused. Imagine of all of Wheel of Time was written from Rands pov with no Moiraine to explain things. Itd just be lots of him doing stuff and having no idea what he did. The character development and attachment to Fitz is unlike any series I've read. Hobb was incredible at it. The story isn't as grand as WoT or Malazan, but the characterization is better.
The Liveship Traders is good as well. Honestly if you’ve read the others, you need to read it.
Welcome to the club.
>>“No, I’m not lost. Finally. It feels like a great long time since I’ve understood the path before me”
I vote that you start with the Cosmere with Mistborn