Many have the first volumes of the series accused a strong substantive proximity to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. And this is also quite rightly! Both the plot (three boys from the countryside live peacefully in front of him until they need to go on a journey (for the benefit and salvation of the world, of course), take this on Trollocs (Orcs?) Myddraal (Nazgul?) And various interesting figures, as well as the very complex structure of the world resemble Tolkien's work very much. However, it creates Jordan in the course of the first book to strip this impression and to put his world to the fore, which is also the absolute strength of the series. He has created a world full of rich detail drawn cities, landscapes, people and regions. Every nation has its peculiarities of his world, everything is described individually and lovingly. The richness of detail breaks Jordan but also almost neck. Out of sheer descriptions of the landscape, the people and everything else comes into the picture, is partly lost the tension and the book takes place. This is already happening Tolkien at first 300 pages of LotR (how many readers have probably until they meet at Frodo and Sam's journey of eternal Aragorn, the gun thrown into the grain?). However, the book in the course of taking the sometime again held action again ride on and a tear with in this world. The end is exciting and unexpected and is looking forward to the second volume and the exploration of many other cities and regions, of which one has heard so far only heard about.
Conclusion: I give Robert Jordan's first part 4 stars! 5 would have given it if voltage and depth of the world would have been combined, but that's probably a very difficult be reacted request. I'm curious to see how to evolve the work and the world and what surprises and scenarios even in the next 15 books on a wait. Therefore: Recommended reading for all fantasy friends who can tolerate less exciting 200 pages sometimes and can enjoy the many small details in the world and want.
