The Great Hunt (Book 2) - Discussion Thread WITH SPOILERS

[HareBrain]

Thanks for taking the time to give that measured assessment, Hoops. I think I'm probably not as involved a reader as you when it comes to plot twistiness, and I don't tend to spend much effort trying to solve mysteries; also (like Gumboot in the other thread) I'm not keen on prophecy and foretelling, which seem to play quite a part in this series. Still, I might well give it a go next time I'm stuck for something to read and I'm in the mood for a load of trollocks.

 

[ratsy]

Thanks for taking the time to give that measured assessment, Hoops. I think I'm probably not as involved a reader as you when it comes to plot twistiness, and I don't tend to spend much effort trying to solve mysteries; also (like Gumboot in the other thread) I'm not keen on prophecy and foretelling, which seem to play quite a part in this series. Still, I might well give it a go next time I'm stuck for something to read and I'm in the mood for a load of trollocks.

I would say that prophecy takes a back seat in this series. They do talk about it and maybe foretell a few things but not in a way that is annoying. It is very opposite of say Goodkind. So if that is a turn off for you, it shouldn't bug you in this series.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Haha, load of Trollocs.

I'm really not one for prophecy, so the Pattern Weaving and...er...that word that describes the group (tar'ven? Whatever) is the bit I'm just putting up with (I've put the book down now and then to get on my soapbox about destiny in general and why I dislike it to No One ) Really, these books should be most things that I dislike, but something's keeping me going!

It does appear to be quite a marmite series, so it definitely seems to be a personal thing as to whether people will enjoy and carry on.

 

[Erin99]

Rushing... rushing... I haven't been here all day, and I've been wanting to reply to PMs and this!! Will have to do the rest tomrrow...


Hoopy, thanks for such an honest review. It's good to see your thoughts - and see how much more Jordan's got to impress you before you *really* like it! I hope by the end of the next book you'll see how Jordan's turned some of your initial impressions on their head (as he did this time, too). You'll definitely look at a couple of points differently, though I'd love to address them now!!! But I won't. Spoilers, an' all that...


One of the hints I wrote yesterday, Hoops - about re-readng the end of book one - would give you a clue to one of the ways Jordan will surprise you at the end of the next book. You won't think things are so lame if you can work it out.


Well, I was wanting to write a better post than this, but I've only got a couple of mins before I rest for the night.

 

[Erin99]

Just a further thought, Hoops... (well, a cut-and-paste job from Wiki, actually) This might stir up some musings by you. It's a roundup of events in book one's end:

"Loial warns Moiraine of a threat to the Eye of the World, which is confirmed by vivid and disturbing dreams Mat, Rand and Perrin have had. The Eye of the World was created by Aes Sedai who sacrificed themselves to create a pool of Saidin untouched by the Dark One's taint, and is hidden in the Blight. The Eye of the World is protected by Someshta (the Green Man) and contains one of the seven seals on the Dark One's prison, the Dragon banner of Lews Therin Telamon and the Horn of Valere.

Loial guides the group through the Ways (passageways built by the male Aes Sedai during the Breaking of the World, which are now tainted by the same evil that tainted Saidin) in order to reach the Eye of the World. The group enters the Blight, in search of the Eye of the World guided by The Green Man. The Eye is revealed to be a pool of Saidin, pure and untainted. The companions are confronted by the Forsaken Aginor and Balthamel, and learn that another escaped before them. Balthamel dies at the hand of the Green Man and Aginor and Rand battle for control of the Eye of the World. Rand defeats Aginor and guided by blind luck uses the pure Saidin to decimate the Trolloc army and defeat Ba'alzamon.

Afterwards Rand realizes to his own horror that he has channeled the One Power and is therefore condemned to a fate of insanity and horrific death. It is revealed that Moiraine believes Rand is the Dragon Reborn."


While I disagree about the "blind luck", since that's the Ta'veren at work, this summary raises some interesting points... Oh, and I don't really think of Ta'veren as "fate" even though I suppose it is, in a way - I see it as something that's on the world. The world isn't Earth (I don't care what some people believe!), and people and Ages are bound to the Wheel, and Ages come and pass and come again, always repeating themselves. Special people who always play major parts have some measure of influence on the Wheel's events... in the sense that the Wheel weaves threads around them rather than tying them up. Oh, that didn't come out right! Bah! Tired.

 

[Jonathan C]

The world is supposed to be Earth. Its another Tolkein reference (where Middle Earth is Earth about 40,000 years ago). Whether we are a past of future Age is still a question.

 

[Erin99]

Nooooo!!! No! I can't hear that! I won't here it!

*puts fingers in ears*

I heard that some said it was Earth because of an object a character found - a circle with a star inside - and reasoned it was a Mercedes badge.

I'd rather believe it's a secondary world and love it for being unique.

 

[Jonathan C]

To be fair, its deliberately ambiguous. But a lot of the mythos is meant to be either the basis of legends or what they end up becoming. Or both, since the Wheel turns and Ages come and go.

Looking at the map, I think the entire world is the remnants of North America (though thats a pure guess).

 

[HoopyFrood]

There's a part in the second book where the people from the Age of Legends appear and Rand (probably him) recognises them and also hears their other names, such a Michael instead of Mikel and...well, that's about the only one I can remember, but it's another link, as they are all 'earth' names.

Maybe our earth is one of their could-be worlds. Take the right portal stone and they'll end up in the middle of the Birmingham Bull Ring.

 

[Erin99]

Some fantasy writers use Earth-style names, though, so I wouldn't necessarily think it meant something.

(I'm desperately fighting the notion!)

With that Ying-Yang-style Aes Sedai symbol, I'm surprised it's not somewhere in the east...

Oh! And didn't Jordan make some references to Earth in one of those alternate worlds? Book one? Book two? About flying machines and technology or something? I remember thinking that sounded like Earth.

 

[HoopyFrood]

It's the only time 'earth' names have been mentioned so far, about three in one go and as alternate names for the Age of Legends people, and it definitely had a feeling that it was referring to saints and famous figures as we'd know them. Which is why it made me think so the many-world thing.

 

[chongjasmine]

Finished this reread a couple of days ago.
Loves how Rand changes from a village boy into a lord.