QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News Service, June 26) – “The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legends. Legends fade to myths and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave birth to it comes again…”
For fifteen years, this line started every book from the first-ever fantasy novel series that I followed. And I must say, the “Wheel of Time” series has always been a favorite.
I started reading it when I was in first year high school. It is composed composed of 14 books, with the final book being released in 2013. As you can see, I followed this series for seventeen years.
There was also this heart-breaking moment, when the author of the series, Robert Jordan died. As an avid fan, I felt the loss keenly, since the series was unfinished and it seemed that I have to say good-bye to the world of the “Wheel of Time” without closure.
Fortunately, the estate of Robert Jordan decided to continue the novel, asking fantasy author Brandon Sanderson to continue the series. At first, I was apprehensive that Sanderson may not capture Jordan’s style but my fears were for nothing.
The “Wheel of Time” is about the end of the Third Age, where the prophesied Dragon Reborn faces the Dark One. It is about a man – a lowly shepherd, who was chosen to fulfill the prophecy. At first, he did all he could to reject it but eventually accepted his fate and shouldered his responsibility. It is also about his friends – residents of an isolated village, who were thrust into important roles for the coming Last Battle, teaching us that even if you think that you are a nobody, you have it in yourself to be more than what life has given you.
In Jordan’s universe, Time is envisioned as a seven-spoked weaving wheel that weaves the Tapestry, with the lives of every human being as the thread. Powering the wheel is the True Source. Some humans have the ability to tap the True Source. Called “Aes Sedai” which means “servant of all”, this exceptional humans laid the foundation for a utopian society where a person’s status depends on how much he has served society and his fellow men.
This utopian society ended when the Aes Sedai, in their search for more power, unwittingly unleashed the Dark One from his imprisonment. The War of Shadows followed, with several powerful Aes Sedai siding with the Dark One. The Dragon, the most powerful male Aes Sedai, lead the forces of good and succeeded in imprisoning the Dark One once again, but the Dark One’s counter-stroke cursed male Aes Sedai to insanity. The Breaking of the World was caused by insane male Aes Sedai, with incredible power in their hands, unleashing said power without restraint against everyone and everything around them.
Civilization returned with the death of the last male Aes Sedai. The female Aes Sedai rallied and tried to regain their place as leaders of men but were not able to overcome the distrust that is now attached to all Aes Sedai – male or female. All the while, the Dark One is endeavoring to once again break from his prison and the Dragon Reborn – a male Aes Sedai – is the world’s only hope.
With its epic scope, intricate plot, and a detailed meta-universe, the “Wheel of Time” series sets the bar high for other fantasy writers.
(ENS, written by Jay Paul Carlos additional research by Vince Alvin Villarin, images from Google Books)
