New Spring [Paperback]

The book doesn't pull you in. I didn't feel any more attached to these characters than I did from the previous ten books. The story is for those that are curious about Moraine and Suian and how they started the search for the Dragon Reborn...that is all.

Although I don't think this is a good place to start, I definitely enjoyed the story, but not so much as to pay more than a few dollars for it. I got it at the local library, and if I were you, I'd do the same. I'll add it to my collection when I can find it in the bargain bin at my local used book store. It seems that all of Jordans books are ending up this way. The only thing that keeps me in this series are the characters and how well the first six books gave me a connection to them. I love this series no matter what anyone says about it. I will still be there when book 11 comes out. Jordan's ability of characterization is phenomonal. You won't be disapointed in starting this series however long and arduous it seems. Even the so called bad books in the series are worth you time just not your money.

"New Spring" begins with Moiraine and Siuan in Tar Valon as Accepted (the rank below being a full Aes Sedai). We witness an event that Moiraine will later allude to in the main series 20 years later: Gitara's foretelling that the Dragon has been reborn. It is the event that the Aes Sedai have been waiting for and dreading. This will become Moiraine's mission in life, to find the boy who will grow up to be the Dragon and to keep him safe until the Last Battle. This novel is filled with details about the White Tower that we never got a chance to see before. The time Moiraine and Siuan spend as Accepted is much different that what we later see with Egwene and Elayne. We are given glimpses of what the White Tower was really like before the Dragon is reborn and before Rand's existence changes everything. We even get to see a little bit of the inner workings of the Blue Ajah. This novel begins Moiraine's quest to find Rand (though she will not know it is Rand for another 15-20 years) before the Dark One can.

I know that I did not describe the basic plot of the book very well, but this is the sort of novel that even though it is a prequel and is set years before the events of Book 1, it is really directed at those who have already read the main series. Starting the Wheel of Time with "New Spring" destroys the sense of mystery and questioning that we get in "The Eye of the World" because "New Spring" already opens up the scope of the world while "The Eye of the World" slowly unfolds what we know about Rand, and what we know of Aes Sedai. "New Spring" seems to assume that we already are familiar with the characters and the concepts presented here.

I understand there are complaints because Robert Jordan took the time to write a prequel novel rather than continuing on with his main series that we hope he will finish before he dies. That is a valid complaint, but it doesn't address something very important: was "New Spring" a good book and did it entertain? The answer for me is yes. "New Spring" reminds me of part of the reason why I first started to enjoy the Wheel of Time series and also reassures me that the man is capable of writing a novel that is relatively shorter and tightly paced. He can, and he did, and I hope that he does it again. While I am still waiting for book eleven, this was an excellent diversion from the main series and was Jordan's best book in some time.

Lo and behold, this wasn't half bad, especially the last 100 pages. Much is explained about Moiraine's and Lan's motivation for their quest in the WOT. Both grew during the novel, rather than being static and stagnant characters (unlike EVERYONE in the WOT, books 6-10). Siuan's background, too, is developed.

There are some annoying things:
1. Too many of the important Aes Sedai in the WOT seem to be Accepted and Novices at the same time as Moiraine and Siuan. When such a premium is placed on age, how could so many relatively young (Moiraine is 40-50 during the WOT, as are many others) Aes Sedai be in such important positions?

2. RJ is still obsessed with description, especially women's clothes. Is he a cross-dresser? What's the deal here?

Bottom line: don't waste your money on the hardcover, wait for the paperback if you are interested. It's worth a read if you're a WOT fan.

One last observation: did anyone notice how the series started to tank when he made Moiraine disappear (who will obviously be rescued from the clutches of the Aelfinn by Thom-it's clear she ain't dead)? I don't think it was an accident. She was the glue that held this all together and one of the few characters that stayed interesting until she was gone. She came to terms with her fate and what she could do with Rand (or Bland Rand as people have taken to calling him). It is sad: Jordan could have had a magnificient and memorable series if he had aimed at ending WOT in 6-8 books. Instead, we've got a greedy jerk of an author who's out to screw fans. It makes it all the more remarkable that he was able to write a semi-interesting book. Then again, he was working with two of his best characters, starting from scratch.