tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post1252560132885574303..comments2023-10-25T03:40:54.655-07:00Comments on Neth Space: Review: The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon SandersonNethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-76769985756608036222010-07-21T15:01:38.749-07:002010-07-21T15:01:38.749-07:00@Anon
You are not alone in noticing this Jordan&#...@Anon<br /><br />You are not alone in noticing this Jordan's apparent obsession with spanking. I'm re-reading the series again now (well, actually listening on audio) and I'm noticing this more than ever. I'm on ACOS and it's getting quite tiresome (lots of references to Bryne spanking Siuan). I think the earliest references come sooner than Perrin and Faile, but I haven't kept track of it that close.<br /><br />On Sanderson's use - I know that the spanking is something that he's not really thrilled with. He said as much when I talked with him and he's repeated it elsewhere. Wherever he can, Sanderson is preserving things as RJ planned them (and often wrote them before passing on). This includes spanking and such. He has specifically said that he probably would have done that scene differently, but RJ had already at least outlined it (he wasn't specific about how complete it was). I think Sanderson is right to preserve RJ's wishes as much as possible - as a fan that's how I want, annoyances and all.<br /><br />At the time I found the scene rather amusing, but then I hadn't done a reread in a long time. Now in context with just how much spanking is done in this series, I'm not a big fan of it. It really does seem to be an obsession. It makes me wonder if anyone has ever had the guts/gaul to ask Harriet about it ;)Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-42980365888706130962010-07-21T14:48:45.947-07:002010-07-21T14:48:45.947-07:00Neth: Just curious about your opinion. Longtime re...Neth: Just curious about your opinion. Longtime reader of the series and I've dabbled in enough of Jordan's Conan writing to know that he has at least a faint obsession with spanking. I confess that I was very disappointed that Sanderson not only didn't let go of Egwene's being endlessly spanked in the tower, but that he used spanking in another key scene, as a means of one character's getting through to another character (to put it in a non-spoilerish way). Am I the only one who's noticed the persistence of this regrettably lurid Jordan-ism? I think the first appearance of it in the WOT was when Perrin applied some husbandly discipline to Faile in the fourth or fifth book. Since then, we've gotten more and more of it. Are you bugged by it at all? Am I alone in my distaste?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-66131466906863918852009-11-15T20:50:48.558-07:002009-11-15T20:50:48.558-07:00I read TGS in two days, I couldn't put it down...I read TGS in two days, I couldn't put it down; to say that I was a thirsty fan is an understatement. As a whole, I enjoyed this much more than some of the later RJ novels; where some fans loved RJ's scene descriptions, towards the last couple of books, it didn't go anywhere.<br /><br />Not so with this novel. The pacing was perfect. Loved Egwene's storyline, although I always have loved her. In terms of Mat, I feel like one of the few where I could take him or leave him. The last couple of books, his chapters were the ones that I found least interesting.<br /><br />As for Rand's storyline, I won't mention specifics, but it was beautiful and I was so happy to read it.<br /><br />Under the LightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-42047721495829925942009-11-12T20:43:24.368-07:002009-11-12T20:43:24.368-07:00Ya, I would agree Mat, Nynaeve, and Aviendha were ...Ya, I would agree Mat, Nynaeve, and Aviendha were different, but like Neth mentioned, they are displayed differntly due to their part in the book. Aviendha needed to make the transition to wise one eventually. Mat didn't do anything but set up the plot for whatever was in the envelope. Finally, I personally just hated reading from Nynaeve's point of view because of how conceited she was, so I think it's much better in this book. Other than that, I didn't pick up any major differences either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-2500971232874569612009-11-10T22:09:01.926-07:002009-11-10T22:09:01.926-07:00Good review, and it is an excellent WOT book - eas...Good review, and it is an excellent WOT book - easily in the top three (and the Rand parts are my favorite in the series).<br /><br /><i>Nynaeve seems less annoying, which I think is a good thing.</i><br /><br />Yup. I usually dislike the Nynaeve parts, but I actually liked the ones she had here.<br /><br />Mat was off, but I'm giving Sanderson some leeway on that - he was probably a tricky, idiosyncratic character to right, with his own peculiar sense of humor.Brettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-64314533979480203002009-11-09T12:32:26.361-07:002009-11-09T12:32:26.361-07:00@Josh
I do have a copy of Brown's book from T...@Josh<br /><br />I do have a copy of Brown's book from Tor. It looks good and it's been getting pretty good reviews so far. I plan to read it, though I don't know when I'll get to it. <br /><br />He's doing a signing in Arizona next week - I hope to go to it, but it's looking doubtful at the moment.<br /><br />And yes, I've seen the video - that one and a number of others are embedded in other posts on this blog.Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-66451695964611105982009-11-09T10:50:57.056-07:002009-11-09T10:50:57.056-07:00Have you seen the video on Amazon With Brandon San...Have you seen the video on Amazon With Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordans Widow? (sorry I don't remember her name, Harriet?)<br /><br /><a rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m33WT5KE5TG260</a><br /><br />I haven't read the Gathering Storm yet.<br /><br />I just finished a book you all would love (in fact Neth I would love to read your review of it) <br /><br />Servant of a Dark God by John Brown<br />here is a link: <a rel="nofollow">http://johndbrown.com/novels/</a>Josh Carr Superstarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15806588543774935483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-10205752934220766812009-11-01T21:56:52.353-07:002009-11-01T21:56:52.353-07:00I've been reading these books since I was in G...I've been reading these books since I was in Grade 11. I'm now in my 30s and a parent (weird).<br /><br />I thought the Prologue and early chapters were the most awkward (that farmer in the beginning is brutal), but Sanderson really hit his stride with the Egwene and Rand storylines. The characters around them (with the exception of Gawyn, who is at loose ends most of the time) also read well. <br /><br />Aviendha's storyline had little to go on for most of the book -- I think that's why her voice felt a little off. You can only have someone sitting around for so long before it gets tedious. I'm willing to bet the same would be true if Jordan had written it.<br /><br />Likewise, Perrin felt a bit hollow, but we didn't get to see him doing anything of significance. <br /><br />The truest criticism I've seen is that Sanderson hasn't grasped Mat's sense of humour. His interactions with Tallamanes were also a bit off. <br /><br />But based on the bulk of this novel, I'm willing to give Sanderson the benefit of the doubt and see what he does with Perrin and Mat in the next book. <br /><br />I enjoyed this installment and am pleased to see two major plotlines come to an end.MWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13112192979971086742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-62169392900721587272009-10-30T19:13:08.379-07:002009-10-30T19:13:08.379-07:00I found that the characterizations and description...I found that the characterizations and descriptions were a bit cruder in TGS than in the other books. Characters expressed opinions that they didn't have in the previous books, that wasn't anything like in the previous books, issues that were on the periphery before have been discussed for no real reason, and many characters seem gentler. This doesn't mean that TGS is a bad book, it isn't but there are these differences all the same.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11559994750389539786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-13501618456500656592009-10-29T12:22:05.286-07:002009-10-29T12:22:05.286-07:00I've skipped a lot the review, no spoilers for...I've skipped a lot the review, no spoilers for me, but like you I haven't reread the series in a few years. I did mean to before this came out, but just haven't had the time. The book is coming to work, I know because I ordered 3 copies of all the series for our libraries so I'll read it then. I prefer to buy the pbks, they fit together on the shelves much nicer :)Fencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04478271943214944729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-20220537453149413072009-10-29T11:39:14.140-07:002009-10-29T11:39:14.140-07:00@anon
I'd argue that it's you that has no...@anon<br /><br />I'd argue that it's you that has no understanding of what a spoiler is - revealing that Matt and Verin meet is not a spoiler (or at the very most an extremely minor one), particularly after we know from KOD that Verin was seeking out Mat. <br /><br />If I had discussed the details/outcome of that meeting, that would be spoiler. I said to read at your own risk since people have different ideas of what a spoiler is, you seem to be on the extreme end of this spectrum and I'd advise you to not read any reviews with such a definition of spoilers.Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-34575488314011051912009-10-29T11:30:13.594-07:002009-10-29T11:30:13.594-07:00Sorry, but I'll never read one of your reveiws...Sorry, but I'll never read one of your reveiws again before reading the book. You specifically said 'NO spoilers' and went to great length to reassure me that you wouldn't ruin anything.<br /><br />Then one of the first things you mention is a meeting between Matt and Verin. Don't you know what a spoiler is? Apparently not.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-77633152962944653672009-10-28T07:08:49.635-07:002009-10-28T07:08:49.635-07:00Matt was off. Aviendha was way off in my opinion....Matt was off. Aviendha was way off in my opinion. Overall good but I had some real issues with several parts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-52256639412897499262009-10-27T16:33:05.160-07:002009-10-27T16:33:05.160-07:00@Anon,
It's hard to say. Rand and Egwene were...@Anon,<br /><br />It's hard to say. Rand and Egwene were spot on. Nynaeve seems less annoying, which I think is a good thing. Mat also felt a bit off - but I think that's more of an issue that he shouldn't have been in the book at all. His chapters felt forced to be in the book - I think (hope) that's the real issue.Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-82975830795914493502009-10-27T16:31:04.526-07:002009-10-27T16:31:04.526-07:00Did you feel, like Pat, that some of the character...Did you feel, like Pat, that some of the characterizations were off? As he puts it: like they were being played by different actors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-73453078154474219062009-10-27T10:43:29.534-07:002009-10-27T10:43:29.534-07:00Thanks all.
-Tia, the book don't actually res...Thanks all.<br /><br />-Tia, the book don't actually reside there - they are properly shelved with the other books. I just though it make a nice photo in that spot. Usually there is a nice mineral specimen of malachite, azurite and a few others in that spot.Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-18973762220469905532009-10-27T07:54:51.331-07:002009-10-27T07:54:51.331-07:00Well done. Thanks, Ken. I can't wait to get ...Well done. Thanks, Ken. I can't wait to get mine. Unfortunately, I'll have to shelf something in favor of it, but since I like WoT, Jordan and Sanderson, I can't possibily lose on this one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-136924721118709272009-10-27T07:44:27.412-07:002009-10-27T07:44:27.412-07:00What a great review! Thanks, also, for spoiler-fre...What a great review! Thanks, also, for spoiler-free hints; I won't be able to get my copy until Friday, so I'm avoiding the fan forums to stay unspoiled. Luckily, your review was a perfect antidote- able to enjoy the excitement without ruining all the surprises. Well done.<br /><br />From what you (and others who had advance reviews, like Jason of DM and Leigh from Tor... etc) have said, I'm so unbelievably pumped. Despite her flaws, I've always been a huge Egwene fan, so I can't wait to see her kick butt and take names in this book. Hurrah!Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09398904417243102605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-87417436822886534992009-10-27T03:03:00.396-07:002009-10-27T03:03:00.396-07:00Wow; I really love that bookshelf! Makes me wonder...Wow; I really love that bookshelf! Makes me wonder which author I would honor by a spot in the middle like that.<br /><br />Sadly, book six was the last one that I read. I loved all of them until that novel, but I decided to buy the rest of the novels in WOT when the last one came out. I thought there would be 9 or 10 books, but I'm still waiting.Tia Nevitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05489109929908389257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17224228.post-87301189888506595062009-10-26T21:43:53.364-07:002009-10-26T21:43:53.364-07:00I was waiting for you to get into the good meat of...I was waiting for you to get into the good meat of what you liked about the book, and you delivered with that last paragraph. <br /><br />Will be checking this out, very soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com