The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time is an epic fantasy series by Robert Jordan, currently consisting of eleven books in the original series (Plus the twelfth written by Brandon Sanderson), and a prequel (New Spring). Jordan died in the middle of writing the twelfth, A Memory of Light, which he had promised would wrap up the series once and for all, even if the publisher had to invent a new book format. His wife and editor selected Brandon Sanderson to complete the series based on notes left behind by Jordan.

Sanderson has decided to write three books to complete the series, and so far he has done an excellent job of resolving various plot threads in his first book, the Gathering Storm. The next two, Towers of Midnight and A Memory of Light, may actually provide a good ending to the series. It is unfortunate that Jordan was unable to complete the series himself, but at least we know with Sanderson that it will end. I'm looking forward to reading more.

That said, I wanted to talk a little bit about the backstory of Wheel of Time. The Wheel of Time series is a rare gem exploring technological regression and redevelopment. Thousands of years before the time of the first book, during the Age of Legends, humanity had the Aes Sedai (magic) equivalents for airplanes, elevators, trains, cars, artificial fibers, air conditioning, and various other goodies that we modern Earthlings have in bunches. Then, in an effort to find a power source to fuel their increasing technology, the Aes Sedai scientists discovered a limitless power source underground. They bore a hole into it to tap the energy, but discovered that the energy had a will of its own (this is the Dark One, the big bad for the entire series). Released from its underground prison, the Dark One sowed chaos in the world, and the Age of Legends was lost.

I am very curious to learn more about that world, because it sounds incredible. We also get strong hints that Aes Sedai from the Age of Legends were not as adept as modern Aes Sedai at all the magic that modern Aes Sedai perform. Instead, the Aes Sedai from the Age of Legends (including the Dark One's chosen servants) relied on technology. Many of the Chosen, reputed to be the strongest Aes Sedai in the world, have proven that they aren't all that strong individually at all. Much of their power is borrowed from the Dark One or based on knowledge and experience. Several modern Aes Sedai are still able to beat them despite that.

Furthermore, modern Aes Sedai are rediscovering many of the tricks lost during the Age of Legends. And Rand's academies of science have produced interesting items such as telescopes, the combustion engine (trains, cars), and electricity. For all we know, after Rand breaks the world, we will have another Age of Legends. It makes me really curious about what the original Age of Legends was like, and what the world will be like afterwards.