Is the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan too long?

The eminent Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan is famous in the high fantasy circuit as a modern classic. But, it's also one of the longest, coming in at 14 books, over 4 million words, and over 2,700 named characters. Is it too long? In this video I explore both sides of the issue: the Wheel of Time is too dang long or the Wheel of Time is just perfect as it is. What do you think?
Side note: If you do a pushup every time I say the word "additionally" you'll be in shape by the end of the video.

[MetalCharlo]

*Well yes but actually no* is actually the only possible answer to this question lmao

[doc_adams]

Every author needs an editor, an impartial one who isn't afraid to say no. In the absence of one, writers tend to grow self-indulgent over time. The biggest weakness of the WOT is the needless recapitulations of fashion. Yes, we have figured out the different Ajahs tend to wear some version of their Ajah colors. We don't need to know what shade of red Pevara is wearing in every scene in which she appears. The same goes for hairstyles. Ultimately, a good editor would have helped RJ solve the timeline problem that plagues Path of Daggers, Winter's Heart, and Crossroads of Twilight. There is something to be said for less is more.

[jimmydehand]

OK, so, i remember when this series was first released. I read the first book in 3 days while in jail.

[murraysharpe]

For me the pacing slowed too much after book six. I think one aspect that affects many readers perception of the pacing has been overlooked. I started reading this series in 1992. I finished reading it (at the earliest possible opportunity) in 2013. Twenty one years. When you are waiting so long between books in a story that you are incredibly invested in it can be frustrating when the story doesn't move forward very much and then you have another long wait before the next hit in your wot addiction. It's a long wait for the pay off!

My perception is also (right or wrong) that Robert Jordan's illness probably affected him far more that people (or he himself for that matter) realised and that would make it even harder to draw together all those complex threads in his ongoing work. He disclosed his diagnosis in 2006. My understanding (and again I may well be wrong) is that the disease was often diagnosed when it was well advanced and he may have been quite unwell for some time without knowing why. Hell my sleep apnea can greatly affect my focus and ability to write. He may have had a lot going on health wise for a while.

You mentioned editing which really interests me. His wife was his editor and he credits her with greatly improving his writing (no doubt true) but I wonder how much harder it would be to cut down some of that extra detail when it's your sick husband that you love? Would the series pacing and writing have played out differently if Jordan hadn't been so seriously ill? Both from the perspective of writing and editing.

[corypalmer]

This may or may not be a popular opinion, but I absolutely love that it is a 14+ book series. I know everyone states the "slog" as a reason why it's too long, however, even though the series did slow down during/after Winter's Heart up until Knife of Dreams I still really enjoyed them. Jordan has a way of writing his characters that makes you feel like you actually KNOW them ; like they're old friends. And his world bar none. Being 14+ books just gave you that much more time to be swept away into the amazing world he created and spend more time with the characters that you've grown to love (or hate) and I loved every second of it.
P.S. I also agree with your sentiments about Sanderson (I love Sanderson as well). He got the chance to wrap up all the plot lines, so ofcourse the books are going to be amazing, because you're getting the endings to all these story arcs that have been building for several books. Besides, I feel things began to pick back up in Knife of Dreams anyways.

[michaelm]

I think wheel of time could have been an incredible 10 book series, any shorter and u lose what makes it special but there is plenty of parts that could have been cut out or shortened to get the series to 10 books while keeping the best parts intact

[Nemspy]

I'd read another 20 books describing every meal, every character getting dressed, every step of every journey if I could. There are 14 books and I was still sad that it had to end.

[pinpunk]

Tom Doherty (from Tor books) said in an interview (found on youtube) that Robert Jordan pitched The Wheel of Time as one book (😂) and Doherty thought that it was too big for one book so Jordan agreed to a trilogy. Because Doherty was aware that Jordan tended to write long, he offered Jordan a six book contract instead. After the book series stretched beyond the six books, Jordan saw the series as a twelve book serie but when Sanderson picked the series, the remaining plot was too big for one book so he stretched it to three books. This is how we got a fourteen book series, plus a prequel. Keep in mind that Jordan wanted to write a three book prequel series but only got one written.

[zenthian]

The big issue with the flow of the books stems from the fact that Eye of the world was originally a stand alone novel. It was then expanded to a trilogy, then finally a open contract to what Jordan wanted to write. If the open contract had been in place from the start, I believe the whole story would have a different pace. You talked about all the descriptive writing like the pulling of the braids and things like the clothing and such, Jordan was also a master story teller and very good in the spoken form of stories. Its one of the things I personally love about his writing, he paints the picture in your mind that he wants to be there.

[alanh]

Totally agree. Trim down books 8 9 10 to one book and I think it would be perfect.
Although I do love it as is too. I've read it 4+ times and doing my 5th full reread now, mid way through the great hunt.

[jakwhyld]

I first read the series when I was much younger, and I have been rereading it ever since. Because of this, I can't really remember my first read through or what I thought about length, pacing, etc. Besides the fact I was too young to really grasp how such things effect a series. I actually didn't realize people had issues with WOT until I starting engaging with internet content on it, but that was already years after I had read the series for the first time. Now, I can understand why some people have the issues they do with the series, but personally I will never have those issues myself. I grew up with WOT, and it will always be perfect to me.

[magiciangob]

Really solid analysis. The slog with Winter's Heart and Crossroads of Twilight was particularly excruciating when you had to wait years for them to be published. Anyway I've recently started my third read through and I agree with all your points on both sides.

[Retw]

Personally I think they're the right length for what they are. I think over all the depth given to the world and characters is what makes it so unique. Without all of it so much of if would be lost. It felt so real and such a lived in world that still had so much mystery.

[robertj]

The reveal of Matt's "half the light of the world" prophecy was one of my favorite moments in any book I've read

[MrRjhyt]

I like your conclusion. 11 Books would seem right. However, I'd skew my answer the opposite direction preferring a 6 book version over the 14-15 written.
Love the video, thank you.

[josephnicholson]

One of the things that I think subconsciously make us appreciate Brando Sando's inheritance of this series is that right off the bat he killed off Masema. Whether it was his decision or it was Mr. Jordan's plan, it just gave us all a feeling of ahhhh, the second most un-enjoyable character is gone, let's get excited

[RaylanGivens]

Now I'm in the camp that bigger is better and all those books just add to this gigantic epic. When you read WOT, its a freaking commitment and weak-hearts need not apply! A lot of the hate is from when the books were first coming out and everyone had to wait for them. Waiting a couple of years to get Crossroads of Twilight sucked. Now, a reader can blow through them and the middle slog books are way better with that. I feel like the long build pays off big time with the final three books were it all comes together. Considering we are never getting anymore books from Robert Jordan, I'm glad it stretched out maybe a bit longer than it maybe should have !

[deadzeppelin]

I thought it was Crossroads of Twilight where nothing progressed and everyone was just reacting to that huge event caused by Rand and Nynaeve, which is at the end of Winter’s Heart.

[Balain]

I was one of the many that dropped out at Winter’s Heart. I did keep buying the books as they came out. Now I am reading them again, planning to finish them all.

[josephreusch]

Just finished book 6 of my reread. I think it is my favourite of the series this far. I know everyone's favourite is book 4 but I just love all the forsaken POV and everything going on with Rand and the Dark Tower. It also had the most iconic ending for me besides, Ironically, Winters Heart and the Cleansing of the source. I have a few other books to read before I jump into "the slog" so it will be interesting to see what I feel on this topic you brought up going forward :)