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WoT Interview Search
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Wheel of Time News
An Hour With Harriet
2012-04-30: I had the great pleasure of speaking with Harriet McDougal Rigney about her life. She's an amazing talent and person and it will take you less than an hour to agree.
The Bell Tolls
2012-04-24: Some thoughts I had during JordanCon4 and the upcoming conclusion of "The Wheel of Time."
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WoT Interview Database
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Interviews: SciFi.com Chat
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1
Moderator
Robert?Robert Jordan
Yes?Moderator
Ready? -
2
Shawnyve
How exactly do Wells work, if a person is in a place where they cannot sense saidar then how do they embrace to channel from the Well? And can you use a Well when you are shielded from the Source?Robert Jordan
Read and find out!Tags
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3
Kell
What are your feelings about the card game and upcoming role-playing game based on WoT?Robert Jordan
So far I've heard only good things. I don't know how much I'll be involved.Tags
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4
Mathew-E
Sir, I truly enjoy reading the sword fighting scenes, could you give us some background information on where you got the names for the various forms used?Robert Jordan
The names are creations of my own, but they're based on Japanese and Chinese techniques and European techniques pre-gunpowder.Tags
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5
samugi
With the storyline as it is now it seems unlikely that the new book will finish the series. How many more books do you feel will be in this series?Robert Jordan
There will be at least three more books. I've known the last scene of the last book for 15 years, but I've always been overly optimistic about how much I can get into any one book, so hopefully three more.Tags
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6
ArabianKn
Mr. Jordan, since Gaidal Cain has been born only recently in the WOT universe, how is it that he will grow old enough to fight in the upcoming battle (Tarmon Gai'don)? It will take at least 15 years for him to grow big enough to fight. and what about the other Heroes? Will they also be reborn, or will they remain to be recalled only by the Horn?Robert Jordan
Who says that what Gaidal has been reborn to do is to fight the Last Battle? There is more to do to keep the Pattern on course than the Last Battle.Tags
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7
Rhodric
What was Lews Therin's age at the time of the sealng of the Bore, and was his prowess with the sword (and Sammael's) comparable to modern blademasters?Robert Jordan
Read and find out!Tags
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8
Jenn703
Mr. Jordan, do you ever find yourself "corrupted" by the ideas put forth in such places as on the FAQ?Robert Jordan
No I rarely go online. Occasionally I look at a website, but I'm writing my story for me. Not to please everybody else. :)Tags
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9
samugi
The Wheel of Time series is very popular and I believe the PC game using the unreal engine has done very well. Have there been any plans to branch into other media such as film or tv?Robert Jordan
Well, NBC has an option for a miniseries, but I understand the option is unlikely to be renewed. I guess you can write to the network.Tags
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10
phoenix1356
Mr. Jordan, as a witch I would like to thank and compliment you on your explanation of the elemental powers.Robert Jordan
I've been reading about elemental powers for years; glad you like it.Tags
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11
Balerion
There's a suggestion in the books that Lanfear was believed to be as strong as any female channeler could ever become. What was the reason for that belief?Robert Jordan
Read and find out!Tags
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12
Tamyrlin
Has a gholam ever been in Caemlyn?Robert Jordan
Read and find out! :)Tags
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13
Linda
If an Aes Sedai links with other Aes Sedai, will or can the others then sense if she is bonded? Also, can an Aes Sedai (at least as far as the Tower knows) 'unbond' a Warder? It's been suggested that they will set a man free/release him if he really wants to leave, but does that mean 'unbond' him or simply 'not pursue' him and release him from whatever oaths he's sworn as a Warder?Robert Jordan
No. They can't sense it. I think you may be thinking about an adaption of bonds.Tags
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14
LadyJ
Mr. Jordan, are you as into writing and telling us this story as you were when you started the series?Robert Jordan
Yes. Every bit. I don't take time to do much else. In large part because I enjoy the story.Tags
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15
Kelton
Mr. Jordan, I would like to thank you on behalf of everyone at the Dancing Dragon Tavern for creating such a wonderful series of books, if it weren't for you and your books we wouldn't be the group of close-knit friends we have become. Would you possibly consider mentioning the tavern in passing in one of your future books?Robert Jordan
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16
Fetch
Also, is there a set number of books that you are going to write?Robert Jordan
There is no set number. It takes as much space as it takes.Tags
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17
ArabianKn
Mr. Jordan, Whenever a channeler draws on the One Power, does he/she become temporarily outside the Wheel's control? I ask this because Min's viewings of Aes Sedai get fuzzy whenever they draw on the Power and in Lord of Chaos Egwene avoids Rand's ta'veren effect by drawing on saidar.Robert Jordan
Read and find out!Tags
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18
dragoman
How does Mat's medallion damage the gholam? Also, what significance to the Seanchan does his spear have?Robert Jordan
Laughing... Read and Find out. If I tell you, you get bored with the new books!Tags
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19
Mormegil
In Winter's Heart, Lews Therin says, "We are not builders, not you, or I, or the other one." Now I know if I ask who the other one is, I know I'll just get a RAFO, but should we be able to figure out who the 'other one' is?Robert Jordan
You should have some hints. Follow your hunches.Tags
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20
Shawnyve
An odd question, What exactly does it mean when you describe the clothing in the Wheel of Time as being 'blue slashed with cream'? Is there any historical dress in that still to get a more accurate picture of how you describe it?Robert Jordan
Yes. There is a historical dress much like it. A gap that can close or open. It's been used throughout European history.Tags
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21
Monkeyman
Nobody who can channel saidin or saidar can sense the True Power. And, since the Forsaken don't seem to notice Moridin channeling the True Power, is it detectable at all (besides by a gholam)? That is, can someone already holding the True Power sense another using it?Robert Jordan
No. Not by any method we've seen yet.Tags
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22
LadyJ
Mr. Jordan, How much of the story is already planned out in your mind, and how much is supplied as you go along in the writing process?Robert Jordan
I know the major outline of the story. Various characters' lives. Who lives and dies. The fates of nations. And I know the final scene. Minor details, or smaller details, I leave until I'm writing. It flows organically that way. I thought it would take five books, by the way. :) I was optimistic!Tags
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23
Fetch
Did you draw on folklore and mythologies for your books? Specifically, Mat as a parallel to Odin, with his spear that has Thought and Memory on it (Odin's ravens) and the distinct possibility that he's gonna lose an eye sometime soon?Robert Jordan
I've tried to reverse engineer myths and legends. As if this was a game of whispers. By the time the whisper travels around the room it changes. The legends of the world today are what the last child said. I'm trying to remember what was on the original paper. Yes, Odin, yes Rand has Arthur in him. But the stories have changed so... So the legends are ultimately not at all alike.Tags
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24
Ran
Are Dreaming and Dreamwalking essentially just different names for the same Talent, or are they separate Talents that often occur together? The illustrated guide seemed to confuse the issue somewhat.Robert Jordan
No. They're very different. A Dreamwalker can enter dreams. But a Dreamer only "understands" dreams, though Dreamwalkers are generally Dreamers, too.Tags
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25
Vsove
Are you going to put out an updated Guide? The old one's becoming increasingly out of date.Robert Jordan
Well, probably not until the series finished. But I do think it would be a great thing to do then. I have some notes for it.Tags
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26
Jahar
Mr Jordan. I was a bit disappointed in Winter's Heart. The last chapter in The Path of Daggers has the Salidar Aes Sedai stepping through a gateway in eyesight of Dragonmount. In Winter's Heart, you have them still in Murandy. Did they get too cold to stay??Robert Jordan
No. Winter's Heart overlaps the ending of the last book.Tags
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27
Vsove
What events looked like they had Demandred's hand in them? I refer to the comment about proxies.Robert Jordan
Read and find out!Tags
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28
Nevik
Can you give some more details on how the taint was cleansed? I was sort of confused reading the book.Robert Jordan
Sorry...I can't.Tags
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29
LadyJ
Mr. Jordan, How do you keep track of all the sub-plots and names and lives? Do you have a room decorated with color-coded index cards?Robert Jordan
I keep track of them in my head. I have some files if I need them. And I have many cultural files. But the story and the lives are all in my head.Tags
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30
Vsove
What exactly IS a Nine-horse hitch? C'mon, tell us ;) We can handle it...we're all big boys and girls.Robert Jordan
If you don't know already REALLY you aren't old enough.Tags
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31
Crysa
I was wondering if there have been any other authors approach you about writing other ages, such as the Age of Legends or Hawkwing's time? If they did, would you allow it?Robert Jordan
I've never been approached. And no, I wouldn't. When I'm done I'll move on to another Universe.Tags
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32
Akira
Mr. Jordan, do you have any advice for aspiring fantasy writers (such as myself)?Robert Jordan
Write. When you've written something send it out. As soon as it's in the mail write more. Never stop writing and never stop sending material out. Write and keep writing. And keep trying to get published. If a story is on the shelf it isn't writing. Whatever you've written isn't complete without a reader.Tags
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33
Star
What religions have influenced your creation of the Creator and the Dark One?Robert Jordan
Christianity. Islam. Judaism. And bits of heretical writing within those faiths. I hasten to add I'm not endorsing anything. I'm just a writer. I tell stories.Tags
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34
Brian
Are some characters easier to write than others? As I write I find that to be the case.Robert Jordan
In general, female characters are harder to write. I have a tough time getting into their skin. Obviously I've never been a woman. It's also hard to get into the skin of really evil characters. Rand is the easiest.Tags
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35
Alystrial
Mr. Jordan, I know that this series has been your life's work, and great work it is. What I would like to know is how old were you when your had you first "insight" to or for the series, and what inspired you to write the Wheel of Time?Robert Jordan
I guess I began thinking about what would become the series in my 20s and that was a long time ago. I spent ten years juggling things in my head before I even tried writing it down.Tags
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36
Moderator
Thanks Robert. I know you've had a long day. Good night.Robert Jordan
Good night. Thanks for having me. Read the book everybody!Moderator
Thanks for the great questions everybody, we'll be chatting with another author in two weeks. Remember...This chat was cosponsored by Asimov's Science Fiction, www.asimovs.com. You'll also find great stories here on SCIFI as part of our SCI Fiction series edited by Ellen Datlow. We'll open the floor now.