The Eye of the World (Wheel of Time Series #1) »

A Vietnam veteran who got his start in fantasy by extending the popular Conan the Barbarian series, Robert Jordan introduced a series of his own in 1990 and became a cult favorite. The Wheel of Time saga casts an epic struggle against evil in a complex, compelling world that keeps bringing readers back.

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

"Jordan is able to take ... familiar elements and make them his own, in a powerful novel of wide and complex scope. Open religious and political conflicts add a gritty realism, while the cities and courts provide plenty of drama and splendor. Women have a stronger role than in Tolkien.... Each character in this large cast remains distinct.... Their adventures are varied, and exciting.... The Eye of the World stands alone as a fantasy epic."—Locus

"Robert Jordan has created a fantasy world as tangible and credible as history. He has a fine eye for detail and a vivid sense of drama."—Morgan Llewelyn

"Robert Jordan's The Eye of the World proves that there's still plenty of life in the ancient tradition of epic fantasy. Jordan has a powerful vision of good and evil— but what strikes me as most pleasurable about The Eye of the World is all the fascinating people moving through a rich and interesting world."—Orson Scott Card

"Jordan's world is rich in detail and his plot is rich in incident. Impressive work, and highly recommended."—ALA Booklist

Gale Research

Set in a world where two kinds of magic exist, one female and the other male, the Wheel of Time series features the hero Rand. Rand is on an epic quest to unite the diverse peoples of his planet against the Dark One, who threatens to destroy their world. His quest takes him through a series of complex and well-delineated alien cultures. Jo-Ann Goodwin in New Statesman and Society calls the Wheel of Time books "high fantasy that demands to be taken seriously. . . . [Jordan] has been rightly praised for creating an entirely convincing and compelling alternative world, complete with social systems, cultural differences and competing motivations."