The Wheel of Time is a saga in its own right that deserves to have a great legacy and occupy the ranks of the greats of fantasy.
In the vast fantasy universe where myths and legends have been created in the pages of books that cross generations, a series stands boldly claiming its place among heroes. “Wheel of Time,” in its narrative grandeur and world-building, competes neck and neck with Tolkien’s epics, unfolding a tapestry where magic, power, and humanity dance in an eternal cycle.
The legacy of contrasts and parallels
At the heart of this literary brawl is a complex web of seven o’clock assassins, doomsday weavers and secret keepers in a prologue that captures the imagination from the first moment. Penholder Robert Jordan invites us on a journey that began in 1990 with the title “Eye of the World,” his first fourteen-volume symphony that redefines the essence of fantasy.
Unlike Tolkien, who, inspired by Western mythology, painted his canvas with good versus evil, Jordan is ethical, morally intertwined, and cultures merge in an East-West mosaic. His vision, a synthesis of global inspirations, challenges traditionalism, rarely exploring cultural differences in genre.
Echo in time
Jordan’s influence has recognized not only avid readers but also critics and authors. “Jordan has mastered the world Tolkien had begun to reveal,” declared the New York Times in 1996, a testament to the series’ indelible influence on modern fantasy writing. George RR Martin, whose own stories are steeped in moral ambiguity, acknowledged that the series “helped redefine the genre”, a tribute to Jordan’s broad vision.
While the magic in Tolkien’s Middle Earth is ethereal and mysterious, in “The Wheel of Time,” Jordan takes an almost scientific approach, detailing the threads of power that weave the magical essence. This integrated approach not only deepens the reader’s understanding, but also enhances the mystery and danger of the dark arts, setting a level of storytelling beyond Tolkien’s.
Jordan’s sign on the virtual narrative
Jordan, like Tolkien, started in small communities, with the simplicity of rural life, but they quickly separated, breaking up the “community” into pairs that rarely appear in Tolkien’s works. It focuses on the growth and suffering of the characters, with a vision of a post-apocalyptic world filled with cultural and organizational elements, providing a unique and deeply human perspective on adventure.
The series redefines not only narrative conventions, but the relationship with magic, as a forbidden technology, shrouded in superstition and fear. This anti-hubris message is woven throughout the plot, presenting magic not as a divine gift but as a force to be treated with care and respect, adding another layer of complexity to the richness of Jordan’s narrative.
The importance of The Wheel of Time
“The Eye of the World”‘s long prologue and careful development of characters and settings are more than Tolkien’s attention to detail, his own way of telling the story, not the other way around. . Longer than Tolkien’s works on Middle Earth combined, “The Wheel of Time” is not only a colossus in fantasy literature, but a must-see for genre fans and now moviegoers as well. It is expected to begin its third season in 2025.
As the “wheel of time” continues to turn, its legacy becomes increasingly intertwined with the fantasy narrative, proving that, like the legends that inspired their creators, some stories are timeless, reverberating through the ages, a testament to their power. Fantasy and narrative.