Why the Wheel of Time is so Long

Because I didn’t annoy Wheel of Time fans enough last week, I thought I’d try again this week. I’m currently about two-thirds of the way through The Fires of Heaven, so, if this were a venn diagram, I’d be right where “Visiting every city ever mentioned” crosses over with “Men not understanding women” and “Women thinking they understand men, but getting it completely wrong,” with a bit of “Actual plot development” thrown in for good measure. I suppose, though, that this could point to nearly any part of any book between volumes 5-10, so…

EDIT: I should make it clear that I didn’t create this pie-chart, just found it somewhere in the depths of the Internet (meaning, probably Pinterest.) Credit goes to the original creator.

EDITEDer: Thanks to my wonderful reader, Aaron, we have an artist, the lovely Jenn L. from the now defunct Tor.com Wheel of Time Facebook page.

Discussion
  • Doug M. March 27, 2012 at 10:14 am

    I’m sorry, but I’m fairly certain that any internet conversation today that doesn’t pertain to “Pottermore finally releasing the damn ebooks” is against all rules.

    But if I could just quickly say that I love the char—

  • Carl Duzett March 27, 2012 at 10:31 am

    I liked your other Wheel of Time post a lot more.

    Fires of Heaven was my favorite of the books.

  • Jay March 27, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    It’s missing the amount of braid tugging and smoothing of skirts.

  • marc waldman March 27, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    Love the WOT books, but I think you are spot on! LOL. It just get more diluted.

  • Melissa McPhail March 27, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Having myself made it through the entire series so far (for which I think I should get some kind of medal or at least accolades), I think there should be some subsection of highly annoying women complaining about the men and the men wondering about whether or not to say something to the highly annoying women about being so highly annoying.

    Oh, and the braid-tugging is very spot-on.

  • Aaron March 27, 2012 at 4:11 pm
  • Aidan Moher March 27, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Thanks, Aaron. That is where I originally found it. Added the link to the main article.

  • AnimeJune March 27, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    Most. Accurate. Pie chart. Ever.

    Everything’s better when said with pie – although I do have to say we needed more braid-tugging!

  • Cazalinghau March 28, 2012 at 12:15 am

    Personally, I find it very hard to visualize any narrative involving female characters where the neckline and brocading of their garments is not described in exhaustive detail. Have you ever tried to read any Jane Austin? Nowhere is it made clear the type of fabric Elizabeth Bennet’s dress was made out of, whether any embroidery was used around the hem or neckline, or whether any embellishments like sashes or bows were employed. What are we meant to do? – somehow fill in the gaps with our imagination?

  • Grant March 28, 2012 at 6:36 am

    I like the WOT books, but found GRR Martin’s books long and boring.

  • Frank February 3, 2013 at 1:53 pm

    Don’t forget the constant “sniffing”