Theoryland of the Wheel of Time

I just came from the book signing in Half Moon Bay and it was quite enjoyable. Mister Jordan is a warm, inviting, and well spoken man. He was looking well when he appeared, and I almost did not recognize him because he looked thinner and younger than his last book signing.

He talked about the series, his experiences in writing, and a possible new book that he might write after Wheel of Time is over. He gave one tidbit about it, saying it would take place on a Pangaea-like continent.

infinity of heaven

There were a few questions about his series, one that I asked was: if channeling was genetic, did the Forsaken need bodies that were genetically compatible for them to be able to use the Power?

His answer was that channeling is not just a recessive or dominant gene, rather both genetic and in the soul.

forsaken

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transmigration

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souls

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channeling

Another interesting question was about the scene with all the flies in the house in book two.

This scene where Rand sees the same thing over and over again was actually Fain's doing, a trap devised by him to put Rand in a time loop forever.

The scene is in The Great Hunt, Chapter 10. RJ's assertion that it was Fain who set the trap was also reported by Caychris, who might possibly be the same person. (One report is from Wotmania; the other is from Dragonmount; sometimes people write separate reports for separate forums.) This Q&A was confirmed randomly on Facebook years later by the person who asked the question, Seth Suchy.

In Robert Jordan's notes, he explains that it was Lanfear who set the fly trap, and why:

[Lanfear, of course, laid the trap for him in the village. None could trigger it but one who could channel. Her own test, perhaps, to see if he really is who Ba'alzamon claims him to be, or at least if he might be. If he is the Dragon Reborn, he must be, at least potentially, one of the most powerful channelers in history, and it would take a powerful channeler to escape from that loop. It would also serve the purpose of pushing him to use the Power.] (HUNT CONTINUITY 2, p. 12)

He also noted in the same file that Verin knew the Power had been used in that village:

NOTE: Verin came through the village where Fade was nailed to the door. She knows Power was used there, but not how, since the trap was dispelled by Rand's escape. She would be uneasy about this, perhaps ask if they had encountered an Aes Sedai. (HUNT CONTINUITY 2, p. 1)

We are not sure whether RJ changed his mind, or whether he had forgotten his notes by the time he was asked this question and just made something up on the spot.

fain

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rand

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lanfear

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verin

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rj's notes

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one power

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the great hunt

On a personal note I must say it was a humbling experience. Mister Jordan speaks so well that one can recognize his superior cognitive skills in his eloquent dialogue with the many fans. After asking a few questions and listening to him, I realize that his mind is on a whole other plane of thinking. It was very humbling.