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Its really been a while since we recorded a new episode, but in preparation for The Towers of Midnight we thought we must share a few of our thoughts.
This episode includes:
Thoughts on charging for the prologue
Our thoughts on publishers ebook strategies/piracy. Turns into a pretty interesting discussion. If you want to skip please go to 21:50 mins into the episode.
Our thoughts on reading devices
Thoughts on the Ebook Artwork
Discussion of The Prologue(or rather the 2 sentence blurb that came along with the announcement that the Prologue would be released ahead of the book)
Lan in the prologue
Perrin and Faile
Galad
Discussion of the Book Jacket text.
Who is Perrins unseen foe?
Big Time Tangent on Mat and Semhirage
Other Topics:
What happens when Moirraine comes back
Insanely convoluted discussion on what the Seanchan are going to do in this book.
Whats the White Tower doing?
Whats happening on the Blight?
All Posts
Glad to see you guys are back! I didn’t listen too closely to the podcast b/c I haven’t read the prologue yet. I don’t mind paying for it, but I don’t feel the need to read it without having the rest of the book to dive into right afterward. But I’m definitely looking forward to your thoughts on the whole book when it finally comes out.
And on a side note, if either of you got some crazy email about me being mugged in England, I’m so sorry! My account was hacked and it was quite a disaster. Wiped out my contact list too.
I’ll edit the post where I mention the Prologue. We werent discussing the prologue itself, but the blurb that came out when they announced that they would be releasing the prologue ahead of the full books release.
Thank you Heather…it’s good to be back. *listens to Back in Black by AC/DC*
This post contains no spoilers. Neither Amit or myself have the prologue yet.
Glad you weren’t mugged. Are you going to be a Storm Leader again this year btw?
Glad you’re back too! I’ll give it a listen over the next little bit. I really like your viewpoints on the series and hope you’ll keep doing monthly podcasts after ToM comes out.
I hope we are able to this more regularly too. The problems mainly coordinating schedules to make the time to record. The actual recordings a blast and editing doesnt take much time, cause I take out only the most terrible flubs.
Wow, thanks guys. Great podcast. I typed my thoughts as I listened. Beware of ONE SPOILER from Dragoncon reading that BWS did of the ToM Prologue. Also, my thoughts are LONG:
Responses and opinions to this Wotcast:
Paying for the prologue: IMO, you’re paying for the privilege to get the prologue early, not for the content itself; however, I like the idea of being given the prologue for free early if you pre-order the book.
The new e-book covers and current covers: Agreed that they are AWESOME; however, Darrell K. Sweet’s are bad not just because he’s not so good. He isn’t given more than a few pages to base each cover on, and they don’t want spoilers on the front cover. With the current E-book covers, spoilers aren’t an issue since the books have been out for so long, so the covers can actually show stuff that is cool/interesting from the books. Also, Sweet must have dirt on Tom Doherty because he keeps getting hired to do the covers when clearly there are better artists out there.
Pirate copies/online content: Bummer that it’s so hard to get TV shows and books and movies out of the US at the same time as we do. I feel bad that I have Netflix and Hulu access.
Prologue comments-Lan: Don’t forget all of Lan’s POVs in New Spring. Almost half of the book as a matter of fact. True though, “current Lan” POV hasn’t happened.
Prologue comments- “Creeping through Blight”: Agree that Slayer is the one creeping through the blight, though many think it is Fain (I disagree). Their argument: Why would Slayer “creep” through the Blight?
Prologue comments-SPOILER: Galad in harms way = Asunawa (The Questioner guy). Was read at DragonCon, so I read.
Prologue comments- “Unseen Enemy” is theorized by many fans to be the “unseen eyes” of Tel’aran’rhiod.
Semirhage recognizing Mat: I don’t think that the Forsaken have ever cared about Mat/Perrin until Moridin specifically told them to. Though Sammael did send that Aiel Maiden with the 9 bees dagger to kill Mat. I’m pretty sure Semirhage’s focus was the Seanchan and she didn’t know about Mat/Perrin. IMO, Sammael recognized Mat because he had previously sent an assassin to kill Mat, also, he knew that Mat was coming at Illian with the Band of the Red Hand in book 6 (as part of Rand’s plan to trick Sammael into thinking he was sending armies at him).
Hopper: He’s still alive as of TGS, though many think he will die in ToM. Theory: Maybe Slayer will kill him and his soul will become a Darkhound?
“Unseen Foe” more: Like the Demandred as the “Unseen foe” idea. Good call. We have seen him spying on others in the World of Dreams before, namely Elayne.
Clarification, though you guys got it: Moiraine went to the Foxes. The Eelfinn. My theory: Moiraine may have wished herself home temporarily… to kill Asmodean
Lanfear/Cyndane: She could’ve been healed by a Black Ajah member which is why she isn’t as powerful. However, my theory is that Lanfear had some sort of Ter’angreal that made here seem more powerful than she really was. Cyndane is currently at Lanfear’s real power strength sans ter’angreal, IMO.
White Tower in ToM: I think we will see the Seanchan bloodknives in the White Tower wreaking havoc, but probably not much more, like you said. However, hopefully we’ll see Rand “know the Amyrlin’s anger” or whatever the Foretelling said. I’m guessing Rand will kneel to Egwene in public, with the understanding that he’s in charge in private.
Good point on the restricted subjects of Darryl Sweet covers.
I forgot about Asunawa but that makes sense. Hes got the Seanchan and the Questioners with him, so he definitely would make trouble for Galad.
Regarding Semhirage, thats exactly what I find odd, that she didnt know who Mat was. Sammael had more reason to keep an eye on Mat, but it seems strange that Semhirage wouldnt know who Mat or Perrin were.
Moirraine kills Asmodean never seemed right to me, but Graendal(I think thats the current fandom consensus) killing Asmodean seems even more like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. But the way you put it that seems possible. She is alive, she must have gotten her three wishes and one of them being that seems very very possible. But would she kill Asmodean when she had just warned Rand about the necessity of keeping an eye on him?
Great comments! Thanks
great to have you back! great podcast as usual
Good to have you back guys!
Always interesting to hear your theories rants etc.
With regard the prologue I wish I had the problem of deciding whether to splash out on it but as Marco mentioned it’s unavailable to me as well as I live in Ireland and the prologues unavailable in Europe. But thinking about it now I’m probably better off waiting on the actual release
The e-book cover art is indeed amazing! I’ve replaced my 5+ audiobook covers with the new ones on i-tunes and they look great in sequence. the choice of varying the artists was a great decision.
Very excited about the new book, I’m sure by now you guys have read the prologue (no spoilers please!) but a lan pov is well overdue! From feedback on dragonmount I’ve read the scope of the book is much wider than TGS so I’m prepared for that so long as we don’t get treated to a snails pacing a la book 10.
Very excited about Perrins arc! Some harsh words about him but i see where your coming from. always loved his character but he has had very little to do since winters heart apart from obsess over that dame of his. I always wished his “struggle with the wolf inside him” was more pronounced than a few trips to the world of dreams every so often.
I’ve read chapter 7 from Sandersons site and I’m still a little disappointed by his Mat “voice” I think he as a person and a writer, has trouble understanding mats attitude. I’ve always felt Mats humour comes from his internal reactions to the things presented to him rather the over the top sense of humour and penchant for bad puns Sanderson seems to think he has. I think Robert Jordan probably had that roguish quality in real life(Brandon methinks does not)
Overall though very excited for the new book and looking forward to hearing your feelings on it (this side of 2010 please!)
Thanks for all the comments guys.
Well, where to start? We will be recording soon and will def make mention of your comments and reply to them in *hopefully* a not-too-rambling way.
Also: I hope everyone SUITED UP! today.
Only know this because I had just read it before listening to the podcast.
Semhirage didn’t know what Mat or Perrin looked like until chapter 3, page 123 of Knife of Dreams. Moridin orders the Foresaken to find and kill Mat and Perrin.
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“If you want to kill someone,” he went on. “kill these two!” Suddenly the semblances of two young men in rough country clothes stood in the center of the circle, turning so that everyone could get a good look at their faces. One was tall and wide, with yellow eyes, of all things, while the other was not quite slender and wore a cheeky grin. Creations of Tel aran’driod they moved stiffly and their expressions never altered. “Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon are ta’veren, easily found. Find them, and kill them.”
Graendal laughed, a mirthless sound. “Finding ta’veren was never as simple as you made out, and now it’s harder than ever. The whole Pattern is in flux, full of shifts and spikes.”
“Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon,” Semirhage murmured, inspecting the two shapes. “So that is what they look like. Who knows, Moridin. If you had shared this with us before now. they might already have been dead.”
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Yes Sweet’s Covers are bad, all since Eye of The Of the World the only good one, but What I really hate is when the publishers change the covers in a series, I would rather 14 bad matching covers than 14 better all mixed up covers.