Which should I read first? New Spring (The Prequel) or The Great Hunt (Volume Two of The Wheel of Time)

[Samuel]

I have read The Eye of the World and I think it was a pretty decent story. I needed to take a break before moving on with this series, but once I finish some of the books I am currently reading, I plan to read either New Spring or The Great Hunt. I am interested in anyone's opinion about which book is best to read first or how big a difference it makes which book I read first. Does anyone think it would be a good idea to read both at the same time? Also, is Robert Jordan's Conan the Barbarian series worth the read?

[Teresa]

Samuel wrote: "I have read The Eye of the World and I think it was a pretty decent story. I needed to take a break before moving on with this series, but once I finish some of the books I am currently reading, I..."

New Spring is pretty short. If you feel like you need space between the Wheel of Time books, you might read New Spring next. You don't really need it to advance the story, but it gives good information about Moiraine's and Lan's relationship and Moiraine's and Siuane Sanche's relationship.

[Gianluca]

Read The Great Hunt first. Don't read New Spring until you've read at least the first 3 books in the series.
I think you'd enjoy the prequel more that way, and avoid possible spoilers.

[[deleted user]]

New Spring should be read in publication order (after book 10), or after book 7 the earliest. It contains some spoilers: nothing groundbreaking, but still.

The Strike At Shayol Ghul can be read at any time. It is written as a historical document which means it is as dry as desert sand, but short and free. It will give you better understanding of what was going on in the prolog of the Eye of the World.

Conan books by Jordan are completely different from the Wheel of Time to the point I really wondered whether they were written by the same person. They are OK, but nothing to write home about.

[Samuel]

Thanks folks. I'm interested in any one else's opinion, but I'm convinced to read The Great Hunt and at least The Dragon Reborn before I read new Spring. Also, I've noticed that authors of fantasy tend to write prequel novels after they write the sequel series, or at least they are usually published in that order. The Hobbit was published before the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, but The Silmarillion as retold by Christopher Tolkien and Guy Gavriel Kay was published posthumously after Lord of the Rings. Although I could give some insight, I'm curious as to why prequel series and novels tend to be published after sequel series.

[Alex]

Well, by definition you can't have a prequel before the thing it is predating. Generally, I think, authors tend to have a story in mind at a crucial moment of crisis for the world they're building--that's the main story--but as they develop the world, and as readers get more interested in its history and the past of the characters in it, a desire builds to delve into some of the events that set up 'the present.' The main sequence is the story the author wants to tell, but the prequel contains important and/or interesting information to support it.

I echo those who advise you to hold off on New Spring. Probably wouldn't hurt to read it after Dragon Reborn, but it's best to read it after Crossroads of Twilight (book 10).

[Samuel]

Alex wrote: "Well, by definition you can't have a prequel before the thing it is predating. Generally, I think, authors tend to have a story in mind at a crucial moment of crisis for the world they're building..."

I see what you mean.

Also, I might as well ask in case anyone who has read or is reading fantasy by David Eddings sees this discussion- is the case different for books written David Eddings (and some of these books were also co-written by his wife Leigh Eddings by the way)?

Should I read The Mallorean before or after Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgarath the Sorceress? Should I consider reading the Redemption of Althalus before or after I finish with the Belgariad's family of series?

I ask partly because I am wondering if the unrelated series work off each other or foreshadow each other.

And for the fun of it, would anyone like to comment on Moiraine vs. Belgarath or Polgarath and Kal Torak vs The Dark One? Both inexperienced (having not read much of either series) and educated opinions are welcome.(Try to avoid giving spoilers).

[Adam]

New spring should be read after book ten. A chapter in book eleven is much more powerful if the events of new spring are fresh in your mind

[Peter]

Samuel wrote: "Alex wrote: "Well, by definition you can't have a prequel before the thing it is predating. Generally, I think, authors tend to have a story in mind at a crucial moment of crisis for the world the..."

The Redemption of Althalus is a stand-alone and totally unrelated to anything else they wrote.

All of them were co-written by Leigh, btw. Refer the Rivan Codex.

[Alex]

Adam wrote: "New spring should be read after book ten. A chapter in book eleven is much more powerful if the events of new spring are fresh in your mind"

Very good point, Adam--I didn't think of that but it's so true.

[Adam]

Alex wrote: "Adam wrote: "New spring should be read after book ten. A chapter in book eleven is much more powerful if the events of new spring are fresh in your mind"

Very good point, Adam--I didn't think of t..."

I can't even think about that scene without getting the chills. Tai'shar Malkier

[sailor _stuck_at_sea]

Go for the Great Hunt. You're in for a long, long uphill slog with this series, no reason to make it any longer than it needs to be.

[Diana]

I read the books in the order the author has written them. Loved Eddings books. I have read them at least several times. I loved The Wheel of Time too. I have to admit I was pretty upset when Jordan died. I only find my attention wandering in one book and it was only in one part. Great!

[Jesse]

You should definitely read the Great Hunt, and then the Dragon Reborn. After that you can put the series away and start on something good. Of course, your mileage may vary. New Spring was also a novella in the first Legends anthology. Not sure if the book adds more to it, as I've never read it.

[The following is a grumpy old man rant, skip to the next paragraph if you prefer}
I take exception to the way you describe the Silmarillion. It's not a prequel to the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings, and it wasn't "retold" by Christopher Tolkien and Guy G. Kay. Christopher edited it together with G. G. Kay's help from hoards of papers that JRR never thought was quite complete. It was never published in JRR's lifetime because he was never finished with it. It's not even a novel, really. You can find out more about it in the History of Middle-Earth series, available at your local library.

Speaking of Guy Gavriel Kay, have you read any of his stuff yet? If you need a break from Jordan take a stab at any of his books. The Fionavar Tapestry leaves a little to be desired, but it's his most "fantasy epic" and has some neat parts. Tigana is a good starting point, a done-in-one fantasy that hits pretty hard.

[Peter]

Tigana wasn't bad.