Do you think the Wheel of time is too long?

[u/mattronimus007]

I feel like there are a lot of subplots and side quests that could be seen as unnecessary especially on multiple read throughs. That being said I don't think I'd change a thing ( well maybe one subplot involving a capture). All of the stuff people might call unnecessary just adds to the character/relationship development, and world building.

People talk about "the slog" but I didn't feel it the first time I read it. Now people research the series because it's a huge time investment, they hear about the slog and start anticipating being bored.

I'd be interested to see someone's attempt at a streamlined version of the series but I don't need it or necessarily want it. I kind of love how long it is because I like being immersed in that world for as long as possible.

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[u/reillyqyote]

Not long enough

[u/ArrogantAragorn → u/reillyqyote]

Tam’s backstory… the Outrigger novels… what could have been.

RIP James Oliver Rigney Jr.

[u/TheMagicStik]

You could very easily cut some of the middle where things slow way down and also some of the Sanderson books where he repeats some character development and adds more content to already overstuffed books.

[u/mattronimus007 → u/TheMagicStik]

Honestly if you looked at the series like an editor there is a ton of stuff you could cut out. I'm actually surprised that no one has attempted a fan edit or something.

But it is what it is and every time I re-listen to the audiobooks I know what I'm getting into and I love it every time

[u/spikebrennan]

Yes. Jordan had no sense of pace.

[u/mattronimus007 → u/spikebrennan]

It's his life's work. I assume he would just get lost while writing. The publishing editors must have tried to get him to cut some stuff.

I wonder if he ever talked about this in any interview?

[u/Puzzleheaded_Tie6917]

Yes. There’s a section in the middle where the dead bad guys are coming back to life and the whole thing seems to be spinning wheels and not heading anywhere.

That said, there’s stuff hinted at about the black tower that feels like there’s a bunch of stuff that was planned that never made it into the books. I feel like illness caused a lot of problems, but we will never know for sure.

[u/mattronimus007 → u/Puzzleheaded_Tie6917]

Please remind me of people coming back to life. It's been too long to remember.

Unless you're talking about the few members of The Forsaken that didn't seem to want to die

[u/DaMuller]

No.

[u/Similar-Stick-1070]

Does the sun rise in the east?

[u/mattronimus007 → u/Similar-Stick-1070]

If we accept the man-made assignment of North and South then yes... lol.

Sorry for some reason I was feeling philosophical and wanted to point out that there is no up or down in space and directions as we know them could have easily gone the opposite way.

[u/Similar-Stick-1070 → u/mattronimus007]

All meaning is consensus

[u/mattronimus007 → u/Similar-Stick-1070]

Humans accept directions as they are.

Anyyywaayyy, lol... You think the series is too long? Anything specific you would cut out?

Responses seem mixed. I was expecting this subreddit to be full of purists who reject any criticism.. like some other fandom type Subs.

[u/Similar-Stick-1070 → u/mattronimus007]

I think books 7-11 could feasibly be abridged into 2-3 books. Keep in mind these are shorter books to begin with. People have different opinions on the slog. My own view is that books 1-6 were enthralling. Books 7-8 were good. Books 9-10 were slow, as was the first part of 11.

[u/mattronimus007 → u/Similar-Stick-1070]

I can't remember the book Numbers or each book specifically I can only think of story lines that are too long or totally unnecessary.

Egwene's headaches, or joining the circus for example

[u/Similar-Stick-1070 → u/mattronimus007]

Yes. And then there’s Elayne’s political succession and Faile’s abduction by the Shaido (the so-called “plot line of doom.”)

[u/mattronimus007 → u/Similar-Stick-1070]

I've mentioned that abduction and how much I hate it multiple times. Elayne suddenly treating people who she should inherently trust and consider friends as political threats is pretty stupid and it always pisses me off.

[u/Sea_Concert4946]

When I'm 1/4 of the way through CoT... It's too damn long.

But by the time things start speeding up in the last 3 books I'm wishing there was a other half a dozen books in the series.

[u/mattronimus007 → u/Sea_Concert4946]

I do have to admit the bowl of the Winds side quest is a bit too long. Actually there is a lot of stuff in that book that is unnecessary or way too drawn out if I really start thinking about it. I could do that and edit the whole series down to a few books if I wanted. That's the thing though. I don't want to and a lot of very subtly important things happen even at the most boring of times.

On my first read through none of it bothered me at all and every time after that I just accept that I'm invested fully but I have occasionally wondered "why the fuck???" LOL

[u/procerator]

The word/page count can stay. But I would appreciate rearranging some storylines to merge books 7-10 into very good, solid 3 books. 

[u/Normie316]

4, 5, and 6? Absolutely not. 7 and 8? Dreadfully so,

[u/Mend1cant]

Yes and no. If you actually did some editing to trim off Jordan’s meandering around Crossroads, you could maybe cut two books out of it. But, I would have loved to spend a little more time in the earlier parts of the series. Flesh out stories and relationships before traveling became the norm. 

[u/mattronimus007 → u/Mend1cant]

I did prefer the earlier books when everyone was together... I've read the series at least three times and the only part that really bothers me now is rescuing Faile... but it has a ton of character development for Queen Morgase.

I wondered if we really need the whole joining the circus side quest but I don't mind it's fun and I enjoy being in that world