The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myths is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a Beginning.

In my life I have read many books by many authors. Books that have made me laugh and cry. Some of these books have even made me think about life in so many different ways. But Nothing has ever affected me as Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. A fantasy series that is unlike any other that has come before it. Dare I say It will be better than anything that comes after it.

And it came to pass in those days, as it had before and would again, the the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and green things failed, and hope died. And men cried out to the Creator, saying, O Light of the Heavens, Light of the World, let the Promised One be born of the mountain, according to the prophecies, as he was in ages past and will be in ages to come. Let the Prince of the Morning sing to that green things should grow and the valleys give forth lambs. Let the arm of the rd of the Dawn shelter us from the Dark, and the great sword of justice defend us. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

The world that Robert Jordan created is so vast and rich, that you will come to love his characters as you never have any other. This series dwarfs Tolkien in every way. No writer that I have read has brought to life anything near in scope as The Wheel of Time. The various bonds of love and friendship. The depth of hate the Forsaken and Padin Fain have for Lews Therin. The magnified sense of duty his heroes posses. The world itself. And the many eras we visit, recounting the ages that have come before. There is a strong feeling of doom at the inevitable fate of Rand Al’Thor. But also hope is ever present. Mysteries that pull you in and make you thirst with anticipation. Nothing can compare with this series.

And it shall come to pass that what men made shall be shattered, and the Shadow shall lie across the Pattern of the Age, and the Dark One shall once more lay his hand upon the world of man. Women shall weep and men quail as the nations of the earth are rent like rotting cloth. Neither shall anything stand nor abide…

Yet one shall be born to face the Shadow, born once as he was born before and shall be born again, time without end. The Dragon shall be Reborn, and there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth at his rebirth. In sackcloth and ashes shall he clothe the people, and he shall break the world again at his coming, tearing apart all ties that bind. Like the unfettered dawn shall he blind us, and burn us, yet shall the Dragon Reborn confront the Shadow at the Last Battle, and his blood shall give us the Light. Let tears flow, O ye people of the world. Weep for your salvation.

Many a author weave stories of prophecy. But never have I witnessed an author really write the prophecy for his entire world. Not just the main protagonist. Jordan crafted lives that were intertwined. Characters that thrived from the agony that they went through. He really brought meaning to the term “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”. And more often than not, the characters really had to die first.

And his path shall be many, and who shall know his name, for he shall be born among us many times, in many guises, as he has been and ever will be, time without end. His coming shall be like the sharp edge of the plow, turning our lives in furrows from out of the places where we lie in our silence. The breaker of bonds; the forger of chains. The maker of futures; the unshaper of destiny.

There is no mistake that there seems to be a very strong religious undertone to the series. Right away some people would get offended and just drill into me for even implying such a thing. But, I can only speak what I know. And I know the Bible. As you read these Prophecies you’ll also see many parallels to content in the Bible. Much more than you usually find in fantasy novels. Many writers us the Christ figure for their heroes. Although I have never seen it to this extent. Needless to say you don’t have to know ANYTHING about religion to enjoy the series. it is not about that at all. The story just relates particular similarities, that’s all. I love anyway though.

The Shadow shall rise across the world, and darken every land, even to the smallest corner, and there shall be neither Light nor safety. And he who shall be born of the Dawn, born of the Maidens, according to Prophecy, he shall stretch forth his hands to catch the Shadow, and the world shall scream in the pain of salvation. All Glory be to the Creator, and to the Light, and to he who shall be born again. May the Light save us from him.

And when the blood was sprinkled on the ground where nothing could grow, thw Children of the Dragon did spring up, the People of the Dragon, armed to dance with death. And he did call them forth from the wasted lands, and they did shake the world with battle.

Join me as the end of this great series starts on it’s way to the end. Robert Jordan was not able to finish this great work. He passed away before that final job was complete. But he always said he knew the ending. “The last paragraph of the last page”. Yes that’s what he said. He knew it. At a book signing Jordan began to quote. Just out of the blue. It shames me that I can’t remember what he said. But I have a feeling that when I read it, I’ll remember. Because I believe he may have been quoting the ending of The Wheel of Time. Brandon Sanderson has been blessed with finishing Robert Jordan’s Legacy. He is a great writer. Don’t believe me? Check out the Mistborn Trilogy. Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Join us on October 27 as we star down the path that will lead to Tarmon Gaidon, “The Last Battle”. Book 1 of Memory of Light. The Gathering Storm.

With his coming are the dread fires born again. The hills burn, and the land turns sere. The tides of men run out, and the hours dwindle. The wall is pierced, and the veil of parting raised. Storms rumble beyond the horizon and the fires of heaven purge the earth. There is no salvation without destruction, no hope this side of death.

The lions sing and the hills take flight. The moon by day, and the sun by night. Blind woman, deaf man, jasckdaw fool. Let the Lord of Chaos rule.

The unstained tower breaks and bend knee to the forgotten sign. The seas rage, and stormclouds gather unseen. Beyond the horizon, hidden fires swell, and serpents nestle in the bosom. What was exalted is cast down; what was cast down is raised up. Order burns to clear his path.

There can be no health in us, nor any good thing grow, for the land is one with the Dragon Reborn, and he one with the land. Soul of fire, heart of stone, in pride he conquers, forcing the proud to yield. He calls upon the mountains to knell, and the seas to give way, and the very skies to bow. Pray that the heart of stone remembers tears, and the soul if fire, love.

Master of lightnings, rider of storms, wearer of a crown of swords, spinner-out of fate. Who thinks he turns the Wheel if Time, may learn the truth too late.

Who would sup with the mighty must climb the path of daggers.

On the heights, all paths are paved with daggers.

The seals that hold back night shall weaken, and in the heart of winter shall winter’s heart be born amid the wailing of lamentations and the gnashing of teeth, for winter’s heart shall ride a black horse and the name of it is Death

And it shall come to pass in the days when the Dark Hunt rides. when the right hand falters and the left hand strays, that mankind shall come to the Crossroads of Twilight and all that is, all that was, and all that will be shall balance on the point of a sword, while the winds of the Shadow grow.

And he rode the winds of the rising storm, We ran to the sounds of the thunder, We danced among the lightning bolts, and tore the world asunder.

The sweetness of victory and the bitterness of defeat are alike a knife of dreams.

What man can truly take the place of another man? Who would find themselves worthy to finish a great mans legacy? Every man is a nation unto himself. Having his own dreams. His own desires. His own beliefs. What man can lay aside himself to abide in the dreams of another? Ask yourself these things. But don’t answer. All we can do is follow Mat Cauthon and take a chance.

“Dovie’ andi se tovya sagain”, “It’s time to toss the dice.”

Good luck Brandon Sanderson

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