Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan, Review
Knife of Dreams is 524th book in Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time fantasy series. Well actually its the 11th book, but it feels like a lot more than that by this time. The series is hugely popular, but all but the most dedicated of fans will tell you that over the course of the last 4 books things have gone badly wrong.
At the heart of the problem seems to be Jordan’s huge popularity and apparent desire to expand the series endlessly. It was very obvious by the 4th book in the series that Jordan had changed direction and significantly increased the scope of the story from that which he had originally set up in the first book. However at that point the pace of the writing and the twisting plot were sufficient to keep everyone interested in what happened next.
Unfortunately with each book, the pace slowed further. To the extent that its arguable that in book 10 nothing of any significance happened at all. So here we are with book 11, book 12 is supposed to be the final one in the series and Jordan appears to have written himself into a terrible mess. Can he write himself out of it again?
Yes, and no. This book certainly moves a lot faster than the last one and when I reached the end I did feel like we’d actually got somewhere. Unfortunately at least half of it was spent watching Jordan write solutions to irrelevent sub-plots that he’s spent the last 6 books creating. There were also so many viewpoint characters that I was frequently confused as to who I was reading about.
The other irritation in this book was the Jordanisms. All the female characters are overbearing, over-confident and never ever doubt themselves. One of the worst examples is Elayne, who idiotically puts herself in a position to be kidnapped and as a result causes the death of two other Aes Sedai not to mention hundreds of the men who are used to rescue her. And when she’s rescued? Nothing. She was right. No self doubt, no guilt. Nothing. I’m supposed to like this character?
Jordan is also strangely obsessed with women spanking each other, or strapping, or caning etc. Strangely enough while the women are eager to do this to teach other women a lesson, when it happens to them they don’t learn anything. It’s hard to belive that the entire population of Jordan’s world can be quite so close minded that they won’t change any of their beliefs no matter what the circumstances. This is the sort of stuff that becomes intensely irritating when repeated over the course of eleven giant books.
Really this may be the most pointless review I’ve ever written. It’s a book that people have already decided whether to buy or not buy the book. Lets face it if you’ve bought the last 10 you’re pretty much committed and no one would start reading the series with this book.
Eoghann Irving is amongst other things the creator and Editor of Solar Flare. He has a life long interest in all forms of science fiction and fantasy and a pressing need to share this interest with anyone who will listen. Find out more at his personal website eoghann.com..
5 Comments, Comment or Ping
john
“Lets face it if you’ve bought the last 10 you’re pretty much committed”
And that’s why he (and others) keeps churning out this drivel. John Sandford’s Prey series is another example - at least twice a year he churns out another cookie cutter book and damnit we keep buying them!
“Knife of Dreams is 524th book”
Sure does feel that way, doesn’t it?
Nov 8th, 2005
Wade
If this book accomplished anything, it will be a miracle. I have
not had a chance to read it yet but have read enough reviews to be
anxious to do so. You are quite right about the women in this book.
The author must have had an overbearing mother or grandmother to
create soooo many women into the same mold as Elayne, Nynaeve and
Egwene. Just once, I’d like to see Rand, Mat, or Perrin, just step in a tell the women to shut up,and then make them do it!! But, you are again correct, readers will buy it just to see if it ever ends. It is over 20yrs (gotta be!!)that this has been going on. Let’s hope the movie is not over three hours long. Jordan must be hoping for a movie since he changed the pace after the third book, don’t you think? I wouldn’t mind seeing one anyway. It would have to be as good or bettert than the Lord of the Rings.
Nov 15th, 2005
Leon
Can someone please tell me why the book is called “knife of dreams”? I can’t remember any
significant knives nor any significant dreams. Please, I need help.
Nov 25th, 2005
Talitha
I must say, I am so sick of these books that still seem to be going nowhere and he still hasnt tied up plot lines that he started in the 4th-5th book. Yet in saying that I am a sucker, I won’t spend the money to buy the book but I will borrow it from a friend or the library as soon as I can to read. They’re not bad books but just take forever to go anywhere and I’m not interested in the clothes embroidary or even in most of the female characters. I do give instructions to my brother an avid reader that he is not to read these books, but yet I will continue to read them in the hopes that they will eventually come to the conclusion I desire.
Nov 28th, 2005
James
It seems like Jordan has given up writing, and has relegated himself to merely reporting. The scene with Rand v. Semhirage was one of the most underwhelming in the series, and that’s saying something. She’s a Forsaken, for goodness’ sake: when you compare it to Rand v. Sammael, Rand v. Rhavin, even Moiraine v. Lanfear, it was a severe disappointment. I suspected before, but it seems obvious, now - Jordan hates women. Or at least thinks thay should all be subservient to men. All of Rand’s big battles were with men, as if the women couldn’t hold their own; Moridin has two as pets; all the Aes Sedai in power are spank-happy Lesbians. KoD was bordering on fetish, for a bit there.
The more I think about the disaster this book is, the more angry I become about the utter failure of Jordan to support this series - one that started so well - and turned it forst into a money-making machine and second into a burden that he needs to just finish an get over with in a clinical, school book report kind of way. I got as much out of reading synopses of the book as I did reading the book itself. I find myself questioning whether I’m going to finish the series. Just because I’ve read all the rest? I don’t think so. I’m not that desperate for closure in a series where the author has lost care for his characters. Bah.
Feb 3rd, 2006
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