A MEMORY of LIGHT - Anticipation

[Jon]

The release of A Memory of Light is still months away, but I needed some place to post tidbits I glean from Tor and other web sites.

First link, released today from Tor, an excerpt of the Prologue.

[Jon]

Tor announced and released Michael Whelan's cover art for A Memory of Light this morning.

Amazing, as I expect from Michael.

Enjoy, Jon

[Dana]

Oh, wow... it looks great!

[Heidi]

Love it!

[Amelia]

Wow! That is an awesome cover! Very fitting for the last book.

[Lindsey]

An amazing cover and a nice tribute to the original cover artist.

There was some debate on the thread on that page about who the two women on the back cover are. Thoughts?

[Jon]

Lindsey wrote: "An amazing cover and a nice tribute to the original cover artist.

There was some debate on the thread on that page about who the two women on the back cover are. Thoughts?"

I believe they are Morraine (in blue) and Nynaeve (in yellow).

[Jon]

I couldn't help myself. I bought the ebook edition of the Prologue over lunch today.

By Grace and Banners Fallen: Prologue to A Memory of Light

Here's a link to the announcement from Tor (spoiler warning): http://bit.ly/RDilvj

First paragraph contains links to all the major retailers. All Tor ebooks are now DRM free.

[Scarlet]

I'm itching to buy the prologue, But I think I'll wait, better to read for the whole thing , right?

[Daphne]

Oh man I read both the prologue and the whole chapter 1 just left me wanting more I hope and don't get sick the week the book comes

[Jon]

Daphne wrote: "Oh man I read both the prologue and the whole chapter 1 just left me wanting more I hope and don't get sick the week the book comes"

I finished the prologue last night and loved it. I plan to read chapter one this evening as well.

I may just have to call in sick on Jan. 8th, 9th, 10th, ... until I finish reading it. The world will cease to exist for me until I finish reading that book.

Perhaps then I can move on with my life? :P

[Daphne]

Same her my sis has already booked time off for that. Maybe it might come out in Nov well a girl can dream **

[Jon]

I got a chance to read the first chapter over lunch today. Wow! What a difference from what I remember at the end of the last book. January can't get here soon enough.

[Jon]

I received a question recently about why the e-book won't be released next week when the hardcover and audiobook editions are released. Here was my 'off-the-cuff' reply:

Purely for profit, I'm sure. Since all Tor ebooks are now DRM-free, and this book represents the single most anticipated book Tor will ever publish, they are raking in as much money a they can before releasing the ebook.

Here's a link to the press release from last March from Tor about the delayed ebook release: http://bit.ly/VAm3sn

Dragonmount also had a post about the same thing a bit earlier in February: http://bit.ly/12XYksq

The hardcover and audiobook editions will be released next week on January 8, 2013. The ebook will be available April 9, 2013.

[Gary]

I can't wait for this to be released' will it be released as an e-book at the same time as the paperback/hardback

[Jon]

Gary wrote: "I can't wait for this to be released' will it be released as an e-book at the same time as the paperback/hardback"

As I noted in the previous message:

"The hardcover and audiobook editions will be released next week on January 8, 2013. The ebook will be available April 9, 2013."

So, no, it will not be available as an ebook for another three months.

[Scarlet]

It's really not fair, I live in the middle east, they don't sell fantasy books here, and having it shipped is almost impossible.
So, I'll have to stay off the internet for three months if I don't want the book spoiled for me, Thanks a lot Tor!

[Evilynn]

I'm pretty sure it's all for profit as well. I would actually prefer it if they sold the e-book at the hardcover price the first couple of months instead, because I'd really rather not have to read the door stop version, but I'm convinced I won't be able to wait until April to read it. I think A Dance with Dragons was priced like that (although I ended up buying both the hardcover and the e-book version of that, because I'm clearly certifiable. :|), and the e-book was available straight away.

[DavidO]

Doesn't the e-book go on sale at teh hardcover price anyway when it comes out?

[Jon]

David wrote: "Doesn't the e-book go on sale at teh hardcover price anyway when it comes out?"

In most cases, an ebook edition comes out at the same time as the hardcover edition, usually for between $11.99 and $16.99, depending on the popularity of the author.

In this case, there really isn't any 'good' excuse to not release the ebook at the same time as the hardcover - publishing houses have been doing it for months now.

I can only surmise Tor wants to squeeze the Stone for all it's worth since this is the end, hyped beyond all belief, of the Wheel of Time series.

[Alfredo]

Im looking forward to read that!

[Jon]

Alfredo wrote: "Im looking forward to read that!"

I received my signed copy in the mail yesterday and started reading it last night. I should have called in sick to work today. :P

[Amelia]

Jon wrote: "David wrote: "Doesn't the e-book go on sale at teh hardcover price anyway when it comes out?"

In most cases, an ebook edition comes out at the same time as the hardcover edition, usually for betwe..."

From what I understand, the delayed release date for the e-book is due to Harriet's wishes. She doesn't like e-books, so I think the delay kind of makes up for that. I think we're pretty good to get it in e-book format. I don't think Harriet wanted it out in that format originally.

[Amelia]

As for anticipation, I only have a little less than an hour before I can go home and start reading it. Both of my brothers are fighting over who gets to read it next. I keep telling them they should buy their owe copy, but I guess they're ok waiting for me to read my copy first.

This book had better resolve (view spoiler)[the problem at the black tower. That section in Towers of Midnight really creeps me out. Something very bad is happening there. I don't know why Egwene is having such a hard time with Rand's plan to break the remaining seals of the Dark One's prison. It makes sense to me. Mat still rocks! I love his trip into the Tower of Ghenjei. I'm sad about his eye. It'll be interesting to see how that affects him. (Probably not much, if his demonstration with throwing his knife behind his back is any indication of it.) I'm also excited to see Moiraine back in action. We didn't really get much of her in the last book after she was rescued. (hide spoiler)]

[Mridupawan]

The book is on the way!! Am going to have a sleepless night. Can't wait for the delivery guy. If i was a girl, i would've kissed him!

[Jon]

Bestfantasybooks are giving away a copy of AMoL
http://bestfantasybooks.com/blog/give...

[Jax]

Scarlet wrote: "It's really not fair, I live in the middle east, they don't sell fantasy books here, and having it shipped is almost impossible.
So, I'll have to stay off the internet for three months if I don't ..."

I feel your pain - I'm in South Africa, our bookstore Fantasy sections are dismal!!
Have you tried The Book Depository?
They ship worldwide for free... and you can pre-order new releases so that they ship to you as soon as they're released.

[Lindsey]

RE: The Ebook Question

Brandon Sanderson's latest blog post says this:

"Question: Why a delayed ebook release for A Memory of Light?

Answer: This is not my decision or Tor's decision, but Harriet's. She is uncomfortable with ebooks. Specifically, she worries about ebooks cutting into the hardcover sales. It isn't about money for her, as the monetary difference between the two is negligible here. It is about a worry that her husband's legacy will be undermined if sales are split between ebooks and hardcovers, preventing the last book of the Wheel of Time from hitting number one on either list. (Many of the bestseller lists are still handling ebooks in somewhat awkward ways.)

As the last books have all hit number one, she doesn't want to risk one of these not hitting number one, and therefore ending the series on a down note. (Even though each Wheel of Time book has sold more than its predecessor, including the ones I have worked on.) I personally feel her worries are unfounded, and have explained that to her, but it is not my choice and I respect her reasoning for the decision. She is just trying to safeguard Robert Jordan's legacy, and feels this is a very important way she needs to do so. After talking about the issue, we were able to move the ebook up from the originally planned one-year delay to instead come out this spring."

Totally jealous of everyone who's gotten theirs already (and sympathetic to those with an even longer wait). Mine arrives tomorrow (*fingers crossed*). The weekend is going to be too short!

[Jon]

Lindsey wrote: "RE: The Ebook Question

Brandon Sanderson's latest blog post says this:

"Question: Why a delayed ebook release for A Memory of Light?

Answer: This is not my decision or Tor's decision, but Harrie..."

Thanks for sharing that Lindsey. I didn't have a chance to read Brandon's blog today (too many darn meetings).

[Evilynn]

Hmm, I think those fears are unfounded and that they missed out on sales because of it, but then again, I might be the only person crazy enough to buy the hardcover, realize it's giving me tennis elbow and then immediately buy the ebook...

[DavidO]

Evilynn wrote: " I might be the only person crazy enough to buy the hardcover, realize it's giving me tennis elbow and then immediately buy the ebook..."

I think I have a permanent indent in my chest from reading books 1-13.

[Jeffrey]

Jon wrote: "I received a question recently about why the e-book won't be released next week when the hardcover and audiobook editions are released. Here was my 'off-the-cuff' reply:
Purely for profit, I'm s..."

I think thats obviously true. Afterall Tor was clearly complicit in trying to milk every last dime from the series even before they decided to publish the last book as three books

[Heather Lynn]

I'm a devoted Kindle reader, and I STILL ordered AMOL from Amazon in hardcover form. It's KILLING me to not read it in bed (my favorite place to read) because I tried it with ToM and cracked the spine of the hardcover. *sob*

The sheer size of the hardcovers is why I have both hardcover and paperback versions of every book from Knife of Dreams on. I HAVE to have the hardcover -- I'm that much of a WOT geek -- but I want to read them in bed, and I've decided not to buy the whole series for my Kindle. Paperbacks work better in bed. :-)

On another note, I received my copy of AMOL on Wednesday, and I'm reading it sloooooowly, savoring every word. I didn't even get out of the prologue without tearing up a little. *sigh*

[Evilynn]

DavidO wrote: "I think I have a permanent indent in my chest from reading books 1-13"

Hah! I'd almost forgotten, but when I was a teenager, book 6 or so actually left a bump on my hip (I dropped it on myself while I was reading), and at first I thought it was a cyst of some kind, until I realized that dropping a brick of a book on yourself will probably leave some kind of mark. ;)

WOT injuries.

[Jonathan]

Is there any chance of getting a spoilerific thread for discussing MoL going?

I'm done and really want to discuss it with other enthusiasts (outside of spamming Brandon Sanderson on twitter).

[Mridupawan]

Bloody hell. what a book!!! What a book!

[Evilynn]

Jonathan wrote: "Is there any chance of getting a spoilerific thread for discussing MoL going?

I'm done and really want to discuss it with other enthusiasts (outside of spamming Brandon Sanderson on twitter)."

I'm guessing it's okay to put that kind of discussion in the entire WOT series massive spoilers thread, but it'd be nice to have some threads spoiling up to certain chapters as well. :)

[Jon]

Evilynn wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Is there any chance of getting a spoilerific thread for discussing MoL going?

I'm done and really want to discuss it with other enthusiasts (outside of spamming Brandon Sanderson ..."

Since we are not 'officially' discussing this until May, I was reluctant to open a thread for the 'by chapter' type of discussion until then. I did go ahead an open a non-spoiler thread for the 'planning to read/first impressions' of A Memory of Light.

I will open up a 'finished' reading AMoL sometime this weekend.

Feel free to use the one for the entire series to discuss anything spoilerish about any of the books in the Wheel of Time series. That's what it's there for.

Thanks, Jon

[Raivo]

Just finished with the book as well. And am sad now ,should have taken longer than three days to read, 'cause now it's all gone :(

[Troy]

I am reading it faster than I think I've ever read a book (I generally read very slowly to digest it), and it's fantastic. But like others, I dread reaching the end. Because... it's THE END. :(

[Thomas]

I read it in two days and then went right back to "Eye of the World" It is an amazing series.

[DavidO]

So...you are stuck in and endless loop?

[Thomas]

DavidO wrote: "So...you are stuck in and endless loop?"

No because the new Peter V Brett is released next month. No mobius strip for me brother.

[DavidO]

Phew!

[Thomas]

lol

[Jihaad]

I just have to wait 2 weeks (which is when my sister comes back from her trip to the UK) and I'll finally have my hands on it, can't wait!

[Jihaad]

Thomas wrote: "DavidO wrote: "So...you are stuck in and endless loop?"

No because the new Peter V Brett is released next month. No mobius strip for me brother."

I've been waiting for that for sooo long, so it's confirmed and not just a rumor that it's coming out next month?

[Raivo]

It better be..hehe, been waiting for it as well.

[Mark]

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/p...

Confirmed, unless they delay it.

[Maikel]

I guess many people have read aMoL already. My last reread of the series was about a year ago. Would you reckon I should do another in order to be able to fully grasp everything that's going on in aMoL or can I read it right away?