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Dec 13, 2009

Colin rated it:

A reference guide to Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series published about halfway through the series (around the time of the 7th book), this book is a fascinating reference for fans of the series. Due to several factors, I wouldn't recommend reading it before the series or before finishing at least the first few books - otherwise many references will not make sense and there are "spoilers." Unfortunately, the book is very incomplete in that several things that were left out More...

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Jul 06, 2010

Dustin rated it:

Boy, if you thought the artwork on the book covers was bad, this book will make you think again. Absolutely awful. The book is written from the point of view of a frustrated historian writing a synopsis of the known history through book... 7? Either way, this work, rather than encompassing the entire series, leaves off details from later books, and leaves question marks lingering over peoples, kingdoms, and events that become very well known throughout this world in the course of later books, More...

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Dec 01, 2011

Daniel rated it:

The first three books are excellent epic fantasy. As the series progressed, it the books began to groan under the weight of so many plot threads and character arcs. Also, he relies on certain descriptive phrases that become really repetitive by the middle of the series. The low point in the series -- which occurs after you're hooked on the world he has created -- is doorstop sized book that covers one week of time in which the characters effectively do nothing of significance. Fortunately, tho More...

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May 05, 2008

Jess rated it:

The information and history written in the book are great, but there's a reason it's called the Big White Book of Bad Art. >_<

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Jan 24, 2010

J. Argyl rated it:

This book is kind of silly. The illustrations are not very good and the information is claimed by Jordan to be only semi-accurate and intentionally so. This was kind of frustrating and so I didn't take it very seriously. There are some interesting bits of information about Shara, the Seanchan, and so on. However when you can't verify that the information is legitimate it seems like a fool's errand to read the thing.

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Jan 26, 2012

Caleb rated it:

This only loses a star in my eyes because I wish it had more information about the Age of Legends and less information about the various nations currently in existence, most of which I already knew from reading the series). But a detailed biography of each of the Chosen -- ahem, of each of the Forsaken -- now that's worth four stars all by itself as far as I'm concerned. Some of the artwork is a bit silly, but I think we fantasy fans have learned to expect that basically wherever we go...

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Apr 09, 2011

David rated it:

I got this book pretty late. Serves me right for not checking reviews first - sort of an impulse buy when I saw it. If you're planning of getting this book, try to find the smaller paperback instead (The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time). Why? Because the only worth it about this book is the text - unless you like big books. The artwork, as mentioned in so many reviews, is simply very amateurish, to put it politely.

The lore that you find in this book will definitely be of int More...

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Aug 29, 2011

Reetta rated it:

This book is called The Big White Book Of Bad Art for real reasons. The content is good, though. The sad thing is that the guide came out around book 7 and tries not to spoil anything, especially stuff coming after it. A new edition with updated information would be great.

Overall, I give the book 4 stars. A must have for real Wheel of Time fans.

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Jun 21, 2010

Melissa rated it:

I found a lot of interesting, helpful data in this book. I enjoy seeing the pictures of what the characters & places might look like and enjoy reading the extra data. My husband & I use it to look up questions we have about different things while reading the Wheel of Time books. It did have a few spoilers though.

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Nov 08, 2011

Michael rated it:

I've never liked the cover art, and this is a big picture book full of it. On top of that, there wasn't anything at all that you didn't already know from reading the books. If you're hoping for back-story like The Silmarillion or something, think again.

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Jun 10, 2010

Ben rated it:

This book does little to enlighten us on anything said or revealed after book seven. Though it does enlighten us on the topographical elements of the World of the Wheel, and provide inebriated water-color remnants, it is of little use.

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Nov 11, 2009

Jen rated it:

Okay, so when you first pick it up it looks like a textbook. That will probably turn some people off. For those people who've read all the WOT books, however, this might be a really helpful book. It explains the WOT world, describes the main players, and actually gives some new information that's not in the books. Sadly, it was written sometime in the middle of the series so it's not completely comprehensive but it's still extremely helpful. And as I'm one of those Robert Jordan readers who More...

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Nov 23, 2008

Kjavarelli rated it:

Although I thought the information contained was great, the art work was sub-par AT BEST. Compared to other books of the same kind, the artwork was truly disappointing. Just my opinion. thx for reading.

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Mar 05, 2009

Charlie rated it:

A solid read for fans of the series, but non-fans probably won't have much interest. Full of tidbits not described or seen in the novels, this will enlighten any WoT afficionado with trivia as well as valuable history.

A word of warning: the artwork is mediocre at best and downright poor at worst. The characters have strange, alien-like faces with eyes spaced too far apart (even Loial's). I'm not sure if RJ approved the art, but it is not how I envisioned the characters and not at More...

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May 10, 2011

Joe rated it:

I would prefer stick-art to most of what is in here. The info is ok, but it is more of just-for-fun book to thumb through. I was glad to get it as a gift, but I wouldn't drop the cash for it.

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Oct 28, 2009

Kelly rated it:

Yeah, great background information, for the most part, but the art looks like Darrell K. Sweet (the series' cover artist) ate a box of crayons and vomited on several sheets of flypaper. Seriously.

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Apr 15, 2010

Mark rated it:

This is a really delightful accompanying volume to the hardcore Wheel of Time fan which only goes further to show just how much detail there is in the world that Robert Jordan created.

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Mar 17, 2010

Mykl rated it:

Yes the art work is ummmmm interesting to be very generous. On the other hand the organization of the book and info on history and culture for the first half of the series is well done.

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Mar 12, 2009

Espresso rated it:

This book is a great resource for the roleplaying game, and well, anyone who wants to be able to keep in touch with what is going on in the convoluted plot-lines.

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Aug 22, 2010

Mel rated it:

Amateurish artwork coupled with a retelling of things the readers of books one through seven already know. Many spelling mistakes. A disappointment to say the least.

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Aug 23, 2007

Rachel rated it:

(Note: I made it through Dragon Reborn before stopping.)

As with most authors that I've tried but failed to stick with, Jordan is very skilled at world-building. He has very creatively worked out whole cultures, complete with millenia of histories, and a system of magic.

He has provided, ad nauseum, a vast array of elements to flavor, color, and fill out the cultures and physics of his world.

But the characters are boring. I don't care about their petty emotions. More...

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Jun 19, 2010

Mark rated it:

Had the Edition with pictures prior to an incident involving much water...liked the pictures better, though I still tend to draw my own visuals

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Aug 16, 2011

JoAnne rated it:

I think this is an okay way to reference the first half of the series. It's not bad, just put it in the bathroom when quick reading might be nice. The only thing that I really recommend, is to not look at the pictures. They are awful.

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Jan 04, 2011

David rated it:

Helpful for remembering and exploring such a lush world but incomplete since the series wasn't finished when it was written.

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Aug 27, 2011

Bloodymarie rated it:

didn't learn much I didn't already know and the illustrations, while interesting, were not what I expected.

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Jul 03, 2008

Michelle rated it:

An addition to the Wheel of Time series, this works more as an encyclopedia, delving in-depth to various elements of the books. More than just a gathering of facts, it expands the stories of the characters, the places, the times. I particularly enjoyed the section on the Age of Legends, with stories of the "wonders" of the time. I also liked the sections on the Forsaken, with backgrounds and details that aren't shown in the books.

This was a reread, I scanned before but read More...

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Aug 02, 2011

Heathereve added it

Based on the World of the Wheel of Time after only the first seven books were written.

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Jul 11, 2009

Soren rated it:

It's basically just a an information guide on Robert Jordan's world in the first eight or so books.

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Jan 12, 2011

Michele rated it:

Lots of information about the different characters and time periods found in the books.