Thursday, February 28, 2013

New Essay on Symbolism


By Linda

As I read A Memory of Light, I noticed that the climatic scenes had a lot of alchemical symbolism. In fact, I realised that the weaves of the One Power illustrate or act out alchemical operations.

So I've written an essay on Alchemical Symbolism throughout the series. And there's a lot of it, so it's a long essay and it contains SPOILERS for A Memory of Light. In some ways it's a whole different take on what happened in the books. Or why it happened. And it really does show why Rand is the Dragon, Sol and King, and why channelling and the Dragon go together.

And this is why I haven't posted much on the blog for the last few weeks. This essay took a while to research and write.

I've written other (shorter) essays on WOT symbolism:

It Does Add Up: Number Symbolism

Not Just the Dragon: Animal Symbolism

Now I'll be steadily updating articles for A Memory of Light and info from the booksignings.

Monday, February 18, 2013

WoT Encyclopedia Q&A with Team Jordan!



Now's your chance to learn more about the upcoming Wheel of Time Encyclopedia!

Waygate Foundation will be hosting a Q&A with Team Jordan, including editor Harriet McDougal and continuity editors Maria Simons and Alan Romanczuk, and want your questions.


Q&A Details:

- Submit your question by commenting on their Facebook post.

- See a question you want answered? Like it! We'll try to answer the most popular questions.

- Questions will be collected via Facebook until Monday, February 25 11:59 PM Eastern US time.

- Answers will be posted on Facebook beginning Monday, March 11 (subject to change based on questions received).

- We'll try to answer as many questions as we can, but be aware that some questions may not be answered due to spoilers or sheer number of questions received.



So far the most popular questions are (in their own words, not mine):

1. What are the three oaths which bind darkfriends?

2. Info about the two outriggers that won’t be published (Tam's life while he was away from The Two Rivers and what led Moiraine and Lan to the Two Rivers)

3. What were Moiraine's questions, answers and wishes to the Aelfinn and Eelfinn, and what was Rand's third question and answer? What were Lanfear's three wishes, or why didn't she get any wishes?

4. How did Tam come to have a heron-mark sword?

5. Did Hawkwing meet with Tuon and if so what words were exchanged?

6. Will there be a list of the prophecies of the dragon and the dark prophecies? Also the other prophecies from the Aiel the atha'an miere?

7. How did Rand light the pipe at the end of MOL? Is he more than a man and a Channeler?
Is he somehow connected more to the pattern than ever before?

8. Who is Nakomi?

9. Descriptions of the Old Tongue and translations?

10. Will the tinkers ever find their song?


Waygate's mission is to support and engage science fiction and fantasy authors and fans in global philanthropic endeavors. Board members include Harriet McDougal, Robert Jordan's cousin/brother Wilson Grooms, and me. Maria Simons is also a director, and the driving force behind the whole thing is Karen Campbell. Waygate's current campaign is called "A Story Begins . . ." and has a goal of raising $10,000 partially for Patrick Rothfuss's Worldbuilders charity—exactly the sort of charitable endeavor that Waygate wants to help other writers and fans become involved in. When the campaign's goal is met, Waygate will share a sneak peek at the forthcoming Wheel of Time Encyclopedia that Team Jordan is hard at work on.