The Dragon Reborn (The Wheel of Time, Book 3)

Submitted by Reviewer (not verified) on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 23:34

Science Fiction

Robert Jordan: The Dragon Reborn

Author	Robert Jordan
Made	Macmillan Audio
Date	2004-11-04
Media	Audio CD
Catalog	Book
Sales Rank	30772
Availability	Usually ships in 24 hours
List Price	US$59.95
Our Price*	US$37.77

*Price subject to change

Amazon.com US$37.77

Amazon Canada CDN$55.41

Reviews:

Rating 4.0/5 from 289 reviews

A bit slower paced, but still a good read

Rating: 4/5 (6 out of 6 think this is helpful) 2008-07-15

This is the 3rd book in the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. This book starts off a few months after the ending of the 2nd book, The Great Hunt. To give a brief timeframe, for those who care, the Eye of the World began and ended during the spring (I would guess April/May). The Great Hunt started a few weeks to a month after that in mid-summer, June/July, and ending in late autumn. So, roughly a year has passed since the Eye of the World and in that year a lot has happened to the characters of the Wheel of Time world.

Rand has become more and more suspicious of the Aes Sedai, Moiraine, and he still is unconvinced of who he is and what his place will be in he world. In the beginning of the book, he ends up disappearing in the middle of the night to escape Moiraine and you don't get many pages devote to Rand. The rest of the party, Perrin, Loial, Moiraine, and Lan realize that Rand is headed to Tear and follow his trail. Although the title of the book is The Dragon Reborn, Rand only makes brief appearances throughout the book. Most of the book is told from the perspectives of Egwene, Nynaeve, Mat, and Perrin.

Egwene and Nynaeve get involved in a special matter for the Amyrlin Seat, investigating the Aes Sedai Darkfriends (the Black Ajah), and their discoveries lead them to believe the city of Tear is central in the Black Ajah's plans and set off for Tear.

We learn a bit more about Mat, as in the last 2 books he was under the power of the dagger from Shadar Logoth so he wasn't playing as active a role, but since being Healed by Aes Sedai he becomes free of the dagger's taint and he becomes a bigger part of the story in this book, getting more page time. Eventually, he also makes his way to the city of Tear. (hmmm....everyone going to Tear, could this be important?LOL).

Compared to the prior 2 books in the series, this book is a bit more slow going, there aren't as many scenes of action except for the very last few chapters when everyone meets in the city of Tear, in the Stone of Tear, where the sword that cannot be touched is waiting for the Dragon Reborn to claim it.

I still found this book a good read despite the slower paced portions of the book. In my opinion the next book, The Shadow Rising, is a lot better and picks up the pace considerably (The Shadow Rising is one of my favorite books in the series).

The best so far

Rating: 5/5 2008-07-01

This book improves on the previous two in most ways, largely due to the larger role Mat plays in the story. Mat is your stereotypical rogue in some ways but in this book both his powers and his character become more interesting. The worst part about the story is Perrin's meeting of Faile, who turns out to be fairly irritating as had been documented quite well in other reviews. The story moves along at a surprisingly un-Jordanian pace for most of the book, despite a couple of tangents (Perin decides to visit a blacksmith for no particular reason other than some clumsy attempts at symbolism - will he choose the axe or the hammer?)

The few blemishes on an otherwise good book:
1) Unneccessary plot events - three groups sailing with three different captains simultaneously - this is not great where we have Perrin, Faile etc on one boat, Nynaeve Egwene and Elayne on another and Mat and Thom on another still! Try remembering so many characters names at once.
2) Jordan has difficulty writing action / fighting scenes. Therefore he seems to hurry them.
3) Undue influence on the detail of minor characters, and the wrong information. You can learn more about someone from what they say than what they are wearing.
4) Too many "not essential" characters who do not move the plot along

I think most people have a good enough imagination to picture people without getting everything about what they are wearing. This is not the best device for making the imagination work. Also, you get the feeling Jordan has made an excel spreadsheet of all attributes (including clothes) for each character, and therefore he feels the duty to proudly report the fruits of his labours. Also I think coincidence is a good enough literary device, and good writers have spent centuries making minor characters serve multiple roles, rather than having the same experience of meeting 100 different innkeepers who all are relatively similar (in fact I challenge you to tell me offhand any differences between them).

Despite these and many other flaws, this is still a fine work of fiction, and represents the strongest part of the series, which is horribly destined to go downhill after book 6.

Another good installment

Rating: 4/5 2008-04-03

'The Dragon Reborn' is book three of the 'Wheel of Time' series. This installment finds our heroes traveling towards the city of Tear to fulfill another prophecy concerning the Dragon, the fabled Sword of Callendor. The prophecy states that only the Dragon can take the sword (ala Arthur and the Sword in the Stone).
Although Rand as usual is the center of events (being the Dragon Reborn and all), he is offstage for most of the book. The narrative centers on Perrin, Mat and Egwene. I found it enjoyable but there is a definite slowing to the pace of the meta-narrative. At first I found the constant dreams a little much, but it resolved into a plot point (the dreamworld that Perrin and Egwene can enter)

Excellent continuation of the series

Rating: 4/5 2008-03-15

The book is action packed, full of suspense, and keeps me looking forward to the next in the series!

Jordan still going strong

Rating: 5/5 2007-11-20

The third book in The Wheel of Time maintains the pace and flow that have hooked millions of readers in the first two volumes. Everything that fans have come to crave from Jordan is here--action, adventure, surprise plot twists, old/new characters and the reality of the not so cut-and-dried struggle between good and evil. Jordan continues to impress in this volume and is sure to keep fans hungering for more.

Editorials:

Product Description

The Dragon Reborn--the leader long prophesied who will save the world, but in the saving destroy it; the savior who will run mad and kill all those dearest to him--is on the run from his destiny.

Able to touch the One Power, but unable to control it, and with no one to teach him how--for no man has done it in three thousand years--Rand al'Thor knows only that he must face the Dark One. But how?

Winter has stopped the war-almost-yet men are dying, calling out for the Dragon. But where is he?

Perrin Aybara is in pursuit with Moiraine Sedai, her Warder Lan, and the Loial the Ogier. Bedeviled by dreams, Perrin is grappling with another deadly problem--how is her to escape the loss of his own humanity.

Egwene, Elayne and Nynaeve are approaching Tar Valon, where Mat will be healed--if he lives until they arrive. But who will tell the Amyrlin their news--that the Black Ajah, long thought only a hideous rumor, is all too real? They cannot know that in Tar Valon far worse awaits...

Ahead, for all of them, in the Heart of the Stone, lies the next great test of the Dragon reborn....

[ latest article | « Hamster Highlight | The Beginning » | 37 reads ]