Wheel of Time letter No. 8: Starting Crown of Swords

Dear Robert,

I’ve finished Lord of Chaos and started Crown of Swords, and here’s what’s happening.

Elayne and Nynaeve went to Ebou Dar to talk to the queen about the ter’angrial they saw in a dream. The queen says she knows where it is, but the part of town it’s in is very dangerous.

Loial comes back to Caemlyn and meets up with Rand and Perrin. 

Some of the Aes Sedai from the tower are in Caemlyn as well and some Aiel make an attempt on the life of one of them. The Aes Sedai survive, but a bunch of them go to the palace to try to intimidate Rand into loosening some restrictions he put in place. He refuses. Then, some more Aes Sedai show up in Caemlyn, bringing their number to 13, enough to overpower and control a man who can channel. 

This whole book, Lews Therrin has been causing a ruckus in Rand’s head, trying to grab the source and just generally screeching and whining about stuff. He seems to be in denial about being dead, and Rand is afraid Lews Therrin will take control of him and use him to destroy things.

Anyway, the Aes Sedai overpower Rand and stuff him into a chest and torture him on the way to taking him to the White Tower. Perrin realizes something is wrong and assembles an army to chase down the Aes Sedai and get Rand back from them. Meanwhile Egwene rallies the rebels in Salidar to depose Elaida. Also, Masrim Taim shows up with the Asha’man to kill some stuff. There’s a big battle that is not told in any real detail. Robert Jordan is big on military planning, but depicting the execution of battle plans, much like depicting meaningful interpersonal relations, is not his strong suit. Before I knew it, everyone on Rand’s team was cheering because they won. Eventually the rebels, the Aiel and Perrin’s army are  successful in saving Rand. 

One of the grossest parts is where the Aes Sedai stuff Rand in the chest and leave him there for days in the heat, so there’s a layer of sweat covering the bottom of the chest and Rand smells pretty terrible! Nevertheless, Min, who is still madly in love with Rand, wants to be near and around him right after he’s freed from the chest. I can’t imagine how awful he must smell.

Another really dumb thing happens earlier in the book in Cairhein. I had mentioned before that Rand had placed Berelain in charge in Cairhein. In book 3, Berelain tries to come on to Rand and he rejects her. Then, still in book 3,  she tries to seduce Perrin, who is already committed to Faile. Berelain again tries to ensnare Perrin in Lord of Chaos. Perrin is still deeply in love - and married to! - Faile. A long stretch of the story, told from Perrin’s point of view, shows Perrin trying to spend all his time with Faile and avoid Berelain. Perrin senses Faile by smell, and can smell her jealousy and disappointment. Then, he tries to stay away from both Faile and Berelain and go hunting with his one Aiel buddy. The most annoying part of this stretch is that at no point did he think it was a good idea to sit down with Faile and explain what was happening with Berelain! Faile’s jealousy was unwarranted because she and Perrin are in a committed relationship, but also communication is key! Faile and Perrin really need to go to couples’ therapy. Is Robert Jordan capable of writing healthy, committed relationships?

The last thing I’ll say about Lord of Chaos is that Moghedian finally outlives her purpose and Arangar, one of the forsaken who have been reincarnated into the world, comes to collect her. 

While Lord of Chaos had some interesting plot elements, and I’m very much attached to the characters, it was probably the most disturbing book in this series yet. 

The beginning of Crown of Swords starts with Elaida in the White Tower, grown truly mad with power, putting scheme on her agenda. I know your buddy Frank felt this mechanic in Wheel of Time was kind of annoying, but I thought it was interesting how the audience sees her making plans without knowing what has happened with Rand and the Aes Sedai from the tower. I think I’ve said this before, but I enjoy the way the reader gets to be omniscient while the characters bumble around with the knowledge they have because of the slow and muddled way information is disseminated in this universe.