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Your search for the tag 'prophecies' yielded 88 results

  • 1

    Interview: Jul 19th, 2005

    Week 10 Question

    In The Great Hunt, who wrote the Dark Prophecy on the dungeon wall in Fal Dara? And why, after Ingtar released Padan Fain from the dungeon, did Fain decide to go to Toman Head? We know he was rebelling against Ishamael's orders (he was supposed to follow the Myrddraal to Shayol Ghul) but why did Fain go to Cairhien and then to Toman Head?

    Robert Jordan

    A Myrddraal wrote the Dark Prophecy on orders, as a threat. I might want to use some of the reasons, so the rest on that is RAFO.

    Fain (now amalgamated with Mordeth) was seeking his own power base, something he would try again with Pedron Niall and Toram Riatin. He wanted enough power to be able to kill Rand, Mat and Perrin, though most especially Rand, and to protect himself against agents of the Shadow. Because of Darkfriend reports, the Myrddraal who wrote the prophecy already knew who the strangers on Toman Head were, or claimed to be: Artur Hawkwing's armies returned to reclaim the lands stolen from Hawkwing's heirs. He knew that they collared women who could channel, which appealed to Fain/Mordeth, since one disliked Aes Sedai at best and the other purely hated them. The Myrddraal didn't simply give this up to Fain, you understand. Fain is one of the few people who could successfully torture information out of one of the Eyeless. As for why he went to Cairhien first, he knew the location of the Waygate there (along with several others and how to read the guidings in the Ways, this last from Mordeth) and preferred to use the Ways rather than make the longer cross-country journey from Fal Dara to Toman Head.

    Tags

  • 2

    Interview: Oct 19th, 1994

    Compuserve Chat (Verbatim)

    Kevin

    Are Min's visions absolute foretellings or probabilities?

    Robert Jordan

    Her visions are absolute foretellings. The problem is, she doesn't always know what it means. The only changes from that are two visions she's had which indicated the possibility of the future forking, an "either/or." And that's the only time she's ever had anything like that.

    Footnote

    These two visions are: 1) A viewing of Gawyn: [TSR 47: Gawyn kneeling at Egwene's feet with his head bowed, and Gawyn breaking Egwene's neck, first one then the other, as if either could be the future....The things she saw were very rarely as clear in meaning as those two, and she had never before seen that fluttering back and forth, as though not even the viewing could tell which would be the true future. Worse, she had a feeling near to certainty that it was what she had done this day that had turned Gawyn toward those two possibilities.], and 2) A viewing of Rand, about Perrin: [LOC 46: "Twice he's going to have to be there, or you..." She peered into her goblet so he could not see her face. "If he's not, something bad will happen to you." Her voice sounded small and frightened. "Very bad."]

    EWOT: Prophecies

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  • 3

    Interview: 2010

    Terez (30 July 2010)

    Does Min's comment to Corele mean that the Dark One can subvert her viewings BEFORE the Pattern is destroyed?

    Terez

    Asked in reference to the viewing that Elza would serve Rand. Or did it simply not imply she would serve forever?

    Brandon Sanderson (30 July 2010)

    Elza did serve Rand, in her own way. It did not mean forever. That was not a subverting of the viewing. (Or wasn't meant to be.)

    Terez

    Thanks! That's what I thought but some will still say you didn't answer the original question lol. It's Theoryland.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Robert Jordan taught me to give Aes Sedai answers.

    Terez

    Fair enough. :)

    Terez

    There is one case in which I suspect that RJ gave an Aes Sedai answer and the reporter may not have gotten it exactly.

    Terez

    Q: Was Else always Lanfear? RJ: No. Else did exist as a separate human but was played by Lanfear after Else was expelled.

    Terez

    Strange, because of the personality 'Else' showed, and the Tear trap being Mesaana's trap, not Lanfear's. Any comment?

    Brandon Sanderson

    MAFO.

    Maria Simons

    (later) I cannot find anything to clarify the question.

    Terez

    PS, thanks for taking time to do Q&A here. Far superior to tour reports, since the Aes Sedai answers are direct from you. ;)

    Terez

    ...not to mention the quick responses, and the fact that you have more time to think the answers out. You are awesome!

    Terez

    By the way, not knocking the tour reporters. They rock; we have a lot of good stuff because of them.

    Terez

    I am just reminded of Tam. 'Tell me what she said. Her exact words, mind, just as she said them.' And Thom too. :)

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sure. Of course, I'm not convinced half of Theoryland hasn't joined Twitter only to follow/question me...

    Brandon Sanderson

    When I'm on tour, do be aware that I don't have notes handy and I'm usually very tired. All answers are suspect.

    Terez

    As for stalking you...someone has to do it to keep the Q&A organized, and I elected myself (also before you came along).

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ha. Just seems that I get a surprising number of tweets from people with no profile picture, and who are only following me. :)

    Brandon Sanderson

    I don't feel stalked at all. This is how I use Twitter, and I'm happy to answer questions.

    Matt Hatch

    No profile pics and only following you? That sounds like my twenty other Twitter accounts...

    Footnote

    Min and Cadsuane told Corele that she sees pieces of the Pattern, but if the Dark One destroys the Pattern as he aims to do, then her viewings will be irrelevant. Those that are in reference to things after the Last Battle will only come to pass if they prevent the Dark One from destroying the Pattern. Some took this to mean that Shaidar Haran (essentially, the Dark One) subverted Min's viewing that Elza would serve Rand when he ordered Elza to help Semirhage torture and control Rand.

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  • 4

    Interview: 2010

    Azral Hanan (2 August 2010)

    Why is the Dragon 'one with the Land'? Is it just due to him being ta'veren or is there more to it?

    Brandon Sanderson (2 August 2010)

    More to it. More about being the Dragon than being ta'veren. Who he is.

    AZRAL HANAN

    So it's more than a title or being ta'veren and Hero of the Horn? The Dragon plays its own unique role in the Pattern?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Note that Prophecy says that the Dragon specifically is reborn time after time.

    Azral Hanan

    RJ said the soul is immortal. But Hopper says dying in the Wolf Dream is likely permanent. Is Hopper wrong?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO, for now. Ask again after the last book is out.

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  • 5

    Interview: 2010

    Ty Margheim (8 November 2010)

    Are the prophecies competing a la The Belgariad (by David Eddings), or are they complementary?

    Brandon Sanderson (8 November 2010)

    Not competing like The Belgariad, and certainly not intelligent like in The Belgariad.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Some may be interpreted wrong, others may be recorded wrong, but there is not a this/that nature to them.

    Footnote

    The questioner is probably referring to the dark/light prophecies, as this makes the best comparison for Eddings. Brandon is saying that they will all be fulfilled, whether dark or light. (The Seanchan prophecies are another matter altogether, and Brandon was hinting at this in his last tweet; there is good reason to believe that the Seanchan prophecies have been corrupted.)

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  • 6

    Interview: 2010

    Shivam Bhatt (8 November 2010)

    [Towers of Midnight] Chapters 48-49.—was that all in Jordan's notes? So so sad and dark!

    Brandon Sanderson (8 November 2010)

    I'm avoiding answering questions about what was specifically in the notes and what wasn't, for now.

    SHIVAM BHATT

    Ok, well, can you comment on your own feelings of those chapters, as a fan?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Awesome but very disturbing. As a fan, they're discomforting.

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  • 7

    Interview: 2011

    Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Brandon Sanderson (10 January 2011)

    Curious: First mention of the Fisher King concept happens when Rand is dreaming, still half-sick, in the back of Bunt's wagon.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Is this our first Lews Therin moment? Bunt wouldn't have mentioned it, and neither would have Ishamael. Unless it's actually something Thom said.

    TEREZ

    I assumed was a True Dream, including Thom's connection to the queen, and Rand & Tam with the sword.

    TEREZ

    But the first Lews Therin moment was in chapter nine when Rand recognized Shayol Ghul (and maybe Ishamael too).

    MATT HATCH

    I'd say Ishamael recognition is a fact in chapter nine. There are some nice comparisons with the prologue.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Well, you probably have a point there. Though you might argue that this is a shade of Lews Therin speaking to him, for the first time.

    TEREZ

    I might, but I wouldn't. :D It's more interesting to me the other way, and Rand didn't dream Lews Therin's dreams much.

    TEREZ

    He remarked on the strangeness of it in The Path of Daggers before Lews Therin came back (after having been chased away by Cadsuane).

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Wait. What?

    TEREZ

    I remembered it wrong. Lord of Chaos 19: 'Lews Therin's dreams. That had never happened before, not dreaming the man's dreams.'

    TEREZ

    In A Crown of Swords 41 while Lews Therin is gone, Rand still hears the voice in a dream.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Oh, I see what you're saying. (I think.) Is your argument this: "Lews Therin doesn't talk to Rand in dreams. Therefore, this isn't Lews Therin?"

    LUCKERS

    I think deep down her argument is probably more 'Lews Therin doesn't talk to Rand at all'. ;)

    TEREZ

    Whether Lews Therin really talks to Rand at all or not, this would be quite atypical & strange. As Thom? Why?

    LUCKERS

    Why would Lews Therin speak as Thom? The moustaches baby, the moustaches.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Curious. So who do you think is speaking to Rand the Fisher King words, if it's not a Lews Therin memory?

    TEREZ

    It's a dream. Why does there have to be a 'real' ;) person involved?

    TEREZ

    But I do appreciate the hint. :) [That is, the hint that Lews Therin was also one with the land, and was aware of it. This might be what Brandon was getting at with his Easter egg thing.]

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I don't normally dream things that happen to be word-for-word true prophecies. Rand's not a Dreamer. He got the info somewhere.

    TEREZ

    Now I'm going to cry. :( Why can't Rand be a Dreamer?? So chapter nine was completely fabricated by Ishamael? That is weird.

    TEREZ

    None of the other dreams influenced by Ishamael were anything like that. How did he create all of those people in Tar Valon?

    TEREZ

    Why would Ishamael first prevent Rand from reaching Tar Valon, and then force him to go to the Tower? Makes no sense. :(

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Lol. I'm not sure if you're being serious or not. Is there some theory on Rand being a Dreamer that I should know?

    TEREZ

    I'm being serious. There's a hint Asmodean's warding might prevent True Dreams. Also...

    TEREZ

    Egwene was guided to it, but Rand had no one to guide him if he was a Dreamer. And everything in The Eye of the World nine was true.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Either it's Lews Therin, it's something someone told him in the real world, or it's Ishamael giving him the info.

    TEREZ

    Maybe he had heard The Karaethon Cycle from Thom at fireside on the way to Baerlon, though. Would make sense.

    TEREZ

    Well, not on the way to Baerlon, since he mentions them for the first time in Baerlon. But maybe on the Spray.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I'll entertain an argument that it's basically 'known' information, or that Thom mentioned it.

    LUCKERS

    Did you see my cultural idea? That it might be Rand's subconscious—like the way everyone knows the Dark One's name?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    But it really seems like a memory, and we've never seen people mentioning it, while naming the Dark One we see.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I'll look up answers on this one for sure; right now, I'm just speaking by instinct. But I read the Fisher King concept as...

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    ...coming from Lews Therin/Rand's subconscious and being fed through Thom's mouth as Rand's mind fit it into the dream.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I'm also pretty sure Rand's not a Dreamer, though he does have uncommon power over his dreams.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    But he does not see specific prophecies in his dreams (other than a few debatable moments) nor enter Tel'aran'rhiod spontaneously.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    But I'll look into it. I rebel against it because Dreaming is basically Egwene's thing.

    TEREZ

    Also, didn't Perrin pretty much just show her that it wasn't HER thing any more? :p

    TEREZ

    And yeah, I know his prophetic dreams only happen in Tel'aran'rhiod. But I just want a male Dreamer dangit!

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Perrin does something different. Also, Egwene was caught off guard and had been spending a lot of time lately doing other things.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    It would be unwise to assume that Perrin is better at Tel'aran'rhiod than she is because of that moment. He had just spent weeks training...

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    ...specifically to fight like that in Tel'aran'rhiod, while Egwene has been forced to fight other fights and let herself get a tad rusty.

    TEREZ

    haha, yeah I know. I have argued much the same against Egwene-haters. I did enjoy that moment though.

    TEREZ

    Why do all the prophets have to be female? Foretelling I can see because of the taint, but the rest? Except Perrin.

    TEREZ

    The Thom dream used to make me think I was missing something, or maybe a deleted scene. Very odd.

    TEREZ

    Also, even with the taint seems like we should have had a male Foretelling by now, or a dreamer. Something.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Well, out of fondness, I'll let you know that I DO know of at least one male (other than Perrin) who can see the future.

    TEREZ

    lol. The male Aelfinn?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Dang. You're too clever. Okay, then, I promise you there's actually a man—human—who meets your requirements.

    Footnote

    In retrospect, it seems most likely that RJ did in fact pare down Thom's earlier conversation about the prophecies (in The Eye of the World Chapter 13, or in another place), not wanting to give too much away. The dream in Chapter 34 should have been a recollection of what Thom had told him. It's possible that Brandon was correct and it had something to do with Lews Therin, but I find it unlikely for many reasons (some covered in the conversation). Also worth noting is that in the previous chapter, during Rand's fever dreams, Thom mentioned the Black Ajah, which had not previously been mentioned to Rand on screen. Also, this hint from Brandon was the first of many concerning the male prophet; the other clues make it pretty clear that Moridin is a Dreamer.

    Tags

  • 8

    Interview: 2011

    Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Brandon Sanderson (18 January 2011)

    Foreshadowing some probably missed in The Great Hunt chapter seven. Prophecy of the Shadow found in the prison: "Which hand shelters? Which hand slays?"

    Brandon Sanderson

    (For further reading on that foreshadowing I mentioned, look for a chapter titled "The One He Lost" in The Gathering Storm.)

    Terez

    Ah yeah, I remember reading it now. Seemed to me to be more of a poetic connection than a real one, though.

    Terez

    I phrased that badly, but I don't know if I would have put it in the 'foreshadowing' category. Maybe 'retroshadowing'.

    Brandon Sanderson

    The connection there is poetic. The foreshadowing isn't of that moment, but more the concept.

    Footnote—Terez

    I think I pretty much figured it out before he responded—it makes a good deal of sense in reference to his Lews Therin dilemma and the dilemma of his harem. I tweeted about all that but Brandon responded to my first tweet, so I spared you.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, there is other foreshadowing in the books that I'm not telling you about because it references A Memory of Light.

    Terez

    I will hopefully catch some of those, though I'm bound to catch a few red herrings as well. :)

    Brandon Sanderson

    I just passed a big one in The Great Hunt.

    Terez

    haha, and you know I will be scouring the pages of your vicinity looking for it. :D

    Terez

    My first guess: Mat is immune to Fain's dagger. (chapter seven) Second guess: foreshadowing of Cyndane's importance in A Memory of Light.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nope and nope. It's a very innocent line, and I won't tell you more than that. You'll spot it once you read A Memory of Light.

    Terez

    Third: Slayer's role in A Memory of Light. Fourth: Perrin puts on a crown and speaks in High Chant. (the crown at least seems likely)

    Footnote—Terez

    Brandon was responding to my first two guesses, not the third and fourth (as you can see by clicking on the link for his 'nope and nope' tweet, which should show the specific tweet he responded to). He almost certainly saw guesses three and four, but he didn't comment on them.

    Matt Hatch

    Readers, let's go HCFF on an "innocent" comment by @BrandonSandrson re: an A Memory of Light foreshadowing in The Great Hunt, discuss! http://bit.ly/gMZvLI

    Brandon Sanderson

    I've seen someone post on the innocent comment before, FYI. In fact, it was recent.

    Brandon Sanderson

    And Terez has sniffed at it before, I know.

    Terez

    Do you mean sniff as in turn my nose up at it? Or as in I got in the ballpark? Important distinction.

    Terez

    Also, I do not sniff.

    Brandon Sanderson

    "Sniff" as in I've seen you poke at the line before, and ponder if it has meaning.

    Footnote—Terez

    I don't think that Brandon follows me around on Theoryland, and knowing that I haven't really 'sniffed' at much in these chapters, I think it's most likely he is referring to my fourth guess: the line about Perrin wearing a crown and speaking in High Chant. The update to the glossary entry on Saldaea in Towers of Midnight seems to be another hint in that direction, and of course, Min had a viewing of a Broken Crown for Perrin in way back in The Eye of the World. In order for this to be fulfilled in A Memory of Light, both Tenobia and Bashere will have to abdicate or die (as it was also confirmed in Towers of Midnight that Faile is second in the line of succession).

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  • 9

    Interview: 2011

    Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Brandon Sanderson (14 March 2011)

    Man, this Shadow Rising ebook cover really is full of awesome, isn't it?

    MICHAEL GIGLIOTTI

    Mat looks so dark; it's a very stark contrast to his personality.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    That was one of my first thoughts too, but he does get grim once in a while. Particularly after being killed...

    BRANDON SANDERSON (20 MARCH)

    Another one for the "Huh, never noticed that before" file. Some Aiel tell Mat is death for him to enter Rhuidean. And they're right.

    TEREZ

    Are they?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    By Mat's perspective. Though he's not 100% sure.

    MANAR

    Wait. No. Mat does not die in Rhuidean, does he? I thought his death came when Rahvin strikes him with lightning.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Mat thinks it counts. Of course, that whole Rahvin thing isn't something he remembers...

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  • 10

    Interview: Nov 21st, 1994

    Robert Jordan

    Ye means "I." He is "sin," she is "sar," you is "asa," and it is "aso."

    One of the difficulties is context and flexibility: for example, al can mean "the" or "of the." The word cuebiyar can mean simply "heart," or "my heart," or when capitalized, "the heart" as in the heart of a people or nation. The word moridin means "grave" or "tomb," but when capitalized it means "the grave," standing for "death." It is intended to be a language of subtlety, where the meanings of words can change to a great extent according to context. Remember Moiraine's comments on the difficulty of translation.

    The Fourth Age titles are not Old Tongue, though influenced by it. Some common names are from the Old Tongue, and some aren't. Sorry I can't go into more detail, but we're talking a treatise.

    Well. I am going to have to cut this off, now. Thanks for writing. Keep me posted on your deductions. One of these days, maybe I'll have time to give congratulations on the hits and point out the misses. One clue to some: sometimes when words are combined and the end of the first word is the same as the beginning of the second, they overlap.

    With best wishes, I am,

    Etc, etc.

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  • 11

    Interview: Apr 5th, 1996

    Robert Jordan

    Mat's amulet blocks both saidin and saidar. Jordan answered this one straight-out when asked. He pointed out that the amulet only blocks actual weavings of the One Power, not the physical effects that could be caused by a weaving. For example, Elayne was able to use the One Power to hurl a rock at Mat. Rahvin was able to create a bolt of lightning which struck Mat. (Jordan noted that Mat's death by lightning and subsequent undoing of his death when Rand balefired Rahvin, fulfills a prophecy about living, dying, and then living again.)

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  • 12

    Interview: Apr 5th, 1996

    Robert Jordan

    Berelain is Perrin's hawk (seen in Min's vision). I really don't know how anybody could have failed to make this connection, and Jordan was similarly incredulous when someone asked him. "What is the symbol of the Mayene?" he intoned heavily. "And who wears that symbol on crown, above her brow? Who is descended from Artur Hawkwing? And who is chasing Perrin like a bird of prey?" Those words aren't Jordan's verbatim, but they're close.

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  • 13

    Interview: Apr 5th, 1996

    Robert Jordan

    Tam "knows" that Rand is the Dragon Reborn. Jordan said that Tam has all the clues he needs to figure out that Rand is the Dragon Reborn. Whether or not Tam will admit it to himself is another matter. Jordan said that Tam merely finding Rand as a baby on the slopes of Dragonmount wasn't enough of a clue—even if Tam were familiar with that prophecy then, few people think about those things or expect them to happen literally to them—but that, plus the fact that Rand has disappeared off with Aes Sedai who say he's important, and the fact that the world is going crazy, should give Tam enough information to make the conclusion.

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  • 14

    Interview: 2011

    Twitter 2011 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Terez (17 August 2011)

    Regarding my first question on Gawyn (near the top), would you still answer it the same way, knowing...

    TEREZ

    ...the dream predicted Gawyn's death rather than Egwene's? (You didn't let me finish telling you the dream. :p)

    Brandon Sanderson (17 August 2011)

    Hm... I'm going to have to look back at that dream again. Got a page number for me?

    TEREZ

    I have hardbacks (A Crown of Swords 10, pp 201-2), but @e_wot might be more helpful (CTRL-F 'marry') http://bit.ly/nCVVAB

    TEREZ

    I realized the wording wasn't very clear on @e_wot. Here's the full quote:

    In the way of dreams she floated above a long, straight road across a grassy plain, looking down upon a man riding a black stallion. Gawyn. Then she was standing in the road in front of him, and he reined in. Not because he saw her, this time, but the road that had been straight now forked right where she stood, running over tall hills so no one could see what lay beyond. She knew, though. Down one fork was his violent death, down the other, a long life and a death in bed. On one path, he would marry her, on the other, not. She knew what lay ahead, but not which way led to which. Suddenly he did see her, or seemed to, and smiled, and turned his horse along one of the forks... And she was in another dream.

    FOOTNOTE—TEREZ

    Brandon never responded (not that I expected him to), but it would not surprise me if he just didn't remember that dream correctly. And therefore, his original answer about the Egwene dream doesn't necessarily mean that the prophecy is fulfilled because he believed it referred to Egwene's possible death.

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  • 15

    Interview: Apr 5th, 1996

    Question

    When did Mat die and live again?

    Robert Jordan

    He said something that implied that the die and live again prophecy-fulfillment was the lightning incident in The Fires of Heaven, and not the hanging incident in The Shadow Rising. I was always sure it was the other way around. To paraphrase the Humblest Man on the Net: Who's this guy to tell me such things? He just wrote the books.

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  • 16

    Interview: Apr 5th, 1996

    Robert Jordan

    Elaida and her Foretelling: Most Foretellers' Foretellings are very vague and poetic-sounding, making it difficult to tell what, actually, WAS foretold before it actually happens. Elaida, on the other hand, has very clear, definite Foretellings. She says stuff like "John will die"—not much vagueness about that. (Of course, Elaida often misinterprets it.)

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  • 17

    Interview: Jun 26th, 1996

    Compuserve Chat (Verbatim)

    Brendan T. Lavin

    I have found the prophecies in your books very structured. Would you recommend a prospective author structuring any prophecy in this way? And, did you establish the main prophecies in the series early on and think to yourself, "Now how am I going to fulfill that one?"

    Robert Jordan

    Well, it is a matter of knowing what I wanted to happen in the story, and how I wanted the story to go, and placing prophecies that would foretell these events, sometimes in very shadowy ways. As far as structuring prophecies for your own work, I think you should do it however you want to do it; it's the only way you can!

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  • 18

    Interview: Jun 27th, 1996

    AOL Chat 1 (Verbatim)

    Belsamar

    OK. Let's see if this works. Hello, RJ. Just out of curiosity, do your predictions (Foretellings and Min's viewings) have a well, Delphic quality by accident, or by choice? And did you ever think of writing a copy of The Prophecies of the Dragon?

    Robert Jordan

    There's very little in the books that's by accident—very little...and no, I've never thought of writing out the complete Prophecies of the Dragon. As already stated in a previous book, they would comprise a volume of some 300 to 400 pages.

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  • 19

    Interview: Jun 16th, 1995

    Robert Jordan

    On the question if it is possible to find out who is "the one who is no longer" RJ answered: "Possibly".

    Footnote

    This was Setalle Anan, who is no longer Aes Sedai. (She was probably Martine Janata, who burned out while experimenting with ter'angreal.)

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  • 20

    Interview: Oct 9th, 1996

    Question

    Who was the one who is no more? The innkeeper or the guy on the barrel?

    Robert Jordan

    [an amused look] RAFO.

    QUESTION

    Is the innkeeper an ex-Aes Sedai?

    ROBERT JORDAN

    RAFO.

    Footnote

    This refers to a dream shared by Amys, Melaine, and Bair referenced in Lord of Chaos. We get a clue in The Path of Daggers that Setalle Anan was Martine Janata—an Aes Sedai who burned out while studying ter'angreal—and it's near-confirmed in Knife of Dreams when Setalle takes a particular interest in Mat's medallion. Thus she was 'the one who is no longer [Aes Sedai]', and she was the key to finding the Bowl. The guy on the barrel was Jain Farstrider (Noal Charin).

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  • 21

    Interview: Oct 19th, 1998

    John from Front Royal, Virginia

    Mr. Jordan, were either of the Aes Sedai seen at Rhuidean in The Shadow Rising Deindre, the Aes Sedai from the beginning of the Breaking? Is Deindre responsible for Foretelling the entire Prophecies of the Dragon? Thank you for taking time to respond to our questions this evening.

    Robert Jordan

    No, she wasn't, and you're welcome.

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  • 22

    Interview: Oct 19th, 1998

    DS from www.wotism.org

    Was the Dark Prophecy in The Great Hunt ("Now the Great Lord comes...") a real prophecy, or was it a taunt?

    Robert Jordan

    Read and find out.

    Footnote

    RJ suggested in the TOR Questions of the Week that it was indeed a prophecy (simply by referring to it as a prophecy).

    Tags

  • 23

    Interview: Nov 11th, 1998

    Slayer

    Do Min's viewings always predict the future, or do some tell about the past, mainly the seven towers around Lan in The Eye of the World?

    Robert Jordan

    Um, her viewings are always concerning the future.

    Tags

  • 24

    Interview: Apr 6th, 2001

    Sander

    The Prophecies of the Dragon are a fair-sized book. Do the prophecies of the Sea Folk, the 'Jendai Prophecy', have a similar size, or is it much smaller? And who or what is or was 'Jendai'?

    Robert Jordan

    The Jendai prophecies are smaller in length but similar in scope to the Dragon prophecies but limited to the Sea Folk.

    Tags

  • 25

    Interview: Jan 7th, 2003

    David Funke

    When RJ signed my copies of Winter's Heart and Crossroads of Twilight, I asked him a question. Because of wording he uses when describing the Finn and their meeting with Mat, I thought that maybe Min’s viewings had some relation to them. RJ describes the Finn as looking, not at Mat, but at the air around Mat’s head. I thought this was similar to the way Min sees her viewings. Are they related, I asked him?

    Robert Jordan

    No, he said flatly.

    David Funke

    Shucks, I said to his assistant. I was so sure!

    Tags

  • 26

    Interview: Jan 7th, 2003

    Question

    I thought that maybe Min’s viewings had some relation to them. RJ describes the Finn as looking, not at Mat, but at the air around Mat’s head. I thought this was similar to the way Min sees her viewings. Are they related?

    Robert Jordan

    No.

    Tags

  • 27

    Interview: Jan 16th, 2003

    Tim Kington

    My friend Josh and I had been talking about how Rand and Mat spent a week in Rhuidean, and so he asked how long Mat was hanging.

    Robert Jordan

    Long enough.

    JOSH

    Long enough for what?

    ROBERT JORDAN

    Long enough to be ALMOST dead.

    TIM KINGTON

    (Emphasis mine) I was pretty sure this was where Mat died and lived again, but I guess that's out of the question now.

    Tags

  • 28

    Interview: Feb 9th, 2003

    Bill Thompson

    In the wake of book nine, Winter's Heart (2000), Jordan confided that he might prefer that the 10th volume be the capstone of the story. But there will be two more books, at least.

    Robert Jordan

    "I tried, but I've had a problem with that from the beginning. I knew the last scene of the last book in 1984. When I started writing I knew where I was going. But some things had to be pushed forward. The story hasn't expanded; it's just taken me more time. In Crossroads of Twilight, things are reaching that stage where everything really is balanced on the point of a pin, or of a sword, if you prefer. There are a lot of things that could go in many directions. Good or evil can win in any number of different places and different levels."

    Bill Thompson

    If the book marks a departure from its predecessors, it rests with one particular device.

    Robert Jordan

    "One big departure is that each of the major segments of the book begins on exactly the same day, and it's a very significant day in terms of these books. The characters are reacting to the effects of that one significant day, as well as reacting to what is happening around them."

    Bill Thompson

    While Jordan hopes to bring matters to fruition in two more volumes, some of the more devoted fans would be only too happy if he took ten more books to complete the saga. When such ardent calls fall on the ears of the folks at Tor Books, Jordan is moved to cry, "Don't listen to them! Don't listen!"

    Robert Jordan

    "I have spent 18 years of my life on this, and I would like to finish it. I thought I was signing up for a 10K run. I knew it was not a stroll in the park. I knew I was doing something that was going to be longer than usual. But when I first started I thought that 'longer than usual' meant five or six books. I honestly thought I would finish it in five. But I discovered it wasn't a 10K run. It was a marathon, and I want to cross the finish line. Because these books are the way they are, I have to finish it for them to mean anything. After I complete the cycle I can take a breath. I can really go on a vacation."

    Footnote

    RJ is referencing here the header of Crossroads of Twilight: "And it shall come to pass, in the days when the Dark Hunt rides, when the right hand falters and the left hand strays, that mankind shall come to the Crossroads of Twilight and all that is, all that was, and all that will be shall balance on the point of a sword, while the winds of the Shadow grow.—From The Prophecies of the Dragon, translation believed done by Jain Charin, known as Jain Farstrider, shortly before his disappearance"

    Tags

  • 29

    Interview: Mar 8th, 2005

    CBR

    Gun powder is not the only fearsome weapon in Jordan's world. There is also a mysterious and deadly power.

    Robert Jordan

    "The biggest single political power in their world is the great city of Tar Valon, home to the White Tower, which is the headquarters of the Aes Sedai, women who can tap into the power that drives the universe and turns the Wheel of Time, the One Power."

    Men are not able to manipulate the power like women can, the dual nature of the power is often too much for them. "Men can't do that safely. A man who channels the One Power, which has a male half, saidin, and a female half, saidar, will eventually go mad and die," Jordan explained. "Only until he dies, he's a madman who can do horrific things with the Power. The fly in the buttermilk is this. Prophecy says that a boychild will be born who is humanity's only chance to win the Last Battle, when the Dark One breaks free of the prison where he was confined by the Creator at the moment of creation. And that boychild will be able to channel the One Power."

    Tags

  • 30

    Interview: Sep 3rd, 2005

    Question

    The auras that Min sees, would they ever show the person's past or other elements that are simply unique to that person?

    Robert Jordan

    No, it is the future.

    Tags

  • 31

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2005

    Question

    You have said you are going to keep the series to twelve books. Since we are on eleven, what comes after book twelve, what do you plan to do after that?

    Robert Jordan

    At some point I will do the two prequel novels that I talked about, the two other prequel novels, besides New Spring. But, primarily I will give Harriet a small hand on a project she has signed a contract for; she's gonna do an encyclopedia of the Wheel of Time which will have all of the characters, all of the terms, all of the invented words, and roughly and a roughly eight hundred fifty to nine hundred vocabulary in the Old Tongue.

    What I will be starting with is a trilogy called Infinity of Heaven, which will be a different universe, different world, different set of rules, different cultures. One culture that you meet eventually will be as close to being inside the Seanchan empire as you can come, but this culture is even more stratified both vertically and horizontally than the Seanchan empire, much more like ancient Japan truly was, or really like medieval Japan truly was.

    It's funny I talked about a book I'm gonna call Shipwrecked, some of you may have heard of that. Shipwrecked is actually the second volume of the Infinity of Heaven trilogy, because I realized I needed more of the setup and as I did more of the setup I realized I had another novel here. It could not be the first part of the novel to do that, it had to be this was a novel in itself. So in these things I had thought ten or twelve years ago, would be a trilogy, has become two trilogies, but I intend to try and hold it to that very tightly.

    Question

    I guess I have two questions after hearing that. One is, are we going to see a full version of the prophecies of the Dragon in the encyclopedia?

    Robert Jordan

    No, the prophecies would be a volume in themselves, and I don't think I am going to go into that. I will admit I have not written out a complete set of the prophecies. I have the prophecies written out that I needed, but not the others.

    Tags

  • 32

    Interview: Oct 26th, 2005

    Question

    Is the rest of the world (non main continent) aware that the Last Battle is at hand?

    Robert Jordan

    Depends on who you ask in each of the lands. Each land has it own prophecies and beliefs. As to what those beliefs are ... RAFO.

    Tags

  • 33

    Interview: Oct 29th, 2005

    Hermano de lobos

    But one person asked something to the effect of: How valid are the viewings and prophecies, given that the Pattern has been loosened? There was also a comment by the person about how the viewings and prophecies are readings of the Pattern.

    Robert Jordan

    Jordan responded, (not word for word) The viewings and prophecies that occurred before the loosening of the Pattern are very valid. But those that occurred at, or after, the loosening have a higher chance of not coming true.

    Hermano de lobos

    I thought this was pretty big news. I don't have the best memory in the world, so my wording may be a little off. Feel free to correct me if you were there.

    Tags

  • 34

    Interview: Oct 27th, 2009

    Question

    We know that The Karaethon Cycle and The Essanik Cycle are different. Is that because there were different contributors to each, or some other reason (like tampering by Ishamael)? Which is more correct?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Essanik Cycle is had only in Seanchan and there were different contributors. Which is more correct? I’m not going to say which is more correct. There has been tampering...

    QUESTION

    In both?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    People are not perfect, alright? Let’s just say that and there are lots of forces at work. The Essanik Cycle, they have tried to preserve it as perfectly as they can. If the Outriggers ever get written there will be more information about what The Essanik Cycle is. It is had only in Seanchan. It was given by damane in Seanchan, so nobody knows about it on the main continent.

    Tags

  • 35

    Interview: Oct 27th, 2009

    Question

    Is the Court of Nine Moons something that moves with the Empress? In other words, wherever the Empress is holding court is that the Court of Nine Moons?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I think that would be subject of debate, depending on what...I think that if the Empress were to declare herself on a different continent she would expect that it would and I think there would be those that would argue with her and wouldn’t expect that it would. Does that make sense? So, my answer would be that it would move with the Empress, but there are those that would disagree with me and with the Empress, may she live forever.

    Footnote

    This was asked in reference to the Karaethon prophecy stating that Rand will 'bind the nine moons to serve him'. A similar question might have been asked about the Crystal Throne.

    Tags

  • 36

    Interview: Nov 9th, 2009

    Ted Herman

    Brandon Sanderson

    I also asked if the Tinkers have their own set of prophecies and he said that if they did, we would know about it by now.

    Ted Herman

    Now, that's an Aes Sedai answer. LOL.

    Tags

  • 37

    Interview: Nov 9th, 2009

    Brandon Sanderson

    I asked if there any Tinker prophecies about the Dragon and he replied that if there were, we would have seen them already.

    Tags

  • 38

    Interview: Nov 15th, 2009

    Question

    Is there a connection between the spoilage of food and Rand's temperament?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Look at the Fisher King prophecies, and the prophecies in WoT that mention that the "land and the Dragon are one."

    Tags

  • 39

    Interview: Nov 14th, 2009

    Matoyak

    Have the visions and other such prophecies about Egwene and the Seanchan (such as the running one and the one with the sword) have they been fulfilled yet?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, none of those have been fulfilled other than the attack on the White Tower. She still has more to go.

    Tags

  • 40

    Interview: Nov 14th, 2009

    Question

    Are all the different cultural prophecies from a common source, and is it evil?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It's not that simple.

    Tags

  • 41

    Interview: Nov 19th, 2009

    Question

    Some kid, to much laughter, asked if Rand was really going to die.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sanderson said something to the effect of 'What did the Finn say?' He then said that the prophecies must be fulfilled or the Pattern will break.

    Tags

  • 42

    Interview: Nov 15th, 2009

    Question

    Has Narishma fulfilled the prophecy regarding Callandor and "who draws it out shall follow after"?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 43

    Interview: Nov 15th, 2009

    Question

    Did Ishamael have a hand in how the Seanchan prophecies have come to differ from those of the westlands?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO+.

    Tags

  • 44

    Interview: Nov 16th, 2010

    Question

    Someone else asked if Rand's internal state of affairs was affecting the world around him.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon said there are two things going on—ta'veren and the Fisher King prophecy which says the Dragon is tied directly to the land. He says it seems to Rand that more bad stuff was happening in The Gathering Storm but that this could be either just Rand's perception or what is really going on. We should remember that ta'veren is supposed to be 50/50—an extra equal amount of good and bad going on. He would not tell us at this point whether there was really more bad stuff happening in The Gathering Storm or whether its Rand's perception as there was purposefully very few viewpoints from Rand himself in Towers of Midnight. Like the third book The Dragon Reborn, Towers of Midnight is meant to step away from Rand and view him from the viewpoints of others.

    Someone also asked if Rand's ta'veren nature would affect people on the other side of an open gateway. Brandon said that the Pattern considers that Rand is where he is and not on the other side of the gateway, so he would not affect a place just by having a gateway open there and not actually being there.

    Tags

  • 45

    Interview: Nov 8th, 2010

    Question

    Is Aviendha the only one to go forward in time through the ter'angreal?

    Brandon Sanderson

    As far as we know, yes.

    Tags

  • 46

    Interview: May 30th, 2011

    jarno87

    Brandon made some nice remarks on prophecies. Knowing we wouldn't get anything specific he was asked about some general questions. Someone asked whether the differences between the Seanchan prophecies and The Karaethon Cycle were completely intentional, or just from natural changes in telling a story for a thousand years from generation to generation.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon said it was a bit of both. He compared it with the story of Beowulf, how a scribe creating a new copy would change one line to make it more Christian, or to make their interpretation more clear. This combined with some influence by the Dark One and his minions make it complicated. He added that it is not that one of the two is true and the other false. They might be on some things, on others both can be true even if it seems to be a contradiction. It's all in the interpretation of the prophecies which is a tricky business. He also remarked that the Darkfriends also have their prophecies, Foretellings and Dreamers, whose predictions are just as valid as the ones from the Light. Being dark prophecies doesn't invalidate them.

    Tags

  • 47

    Interview: Apr 17th, 2011

    Terez (herid)

    When you said some Forsaken are Dreamers, you meant they have prophetic dreams, right? Or are they just Dreamwalkers?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I did mean Dreamers. People have been trying to pin me down on that one.

    Terez

    Yeah, everybody has been like convinced that you were just confused...

    Brandon Sanderson

    ...that I was just confused. No. I meant Dreamers. I DID INDEED MEAN DREAMERS.

    Terez

    I know you did, but...just verifying.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. And I’m like 95% on that one. We’ll put an asterisk on it. I actually sent Maria deeper into the notes, but I know at least one is, and I’m pretty sure one of each gender is.

    Footnote

    The most likely candidates seem to be Moridin, Cyndane, and Moghedien, who are undeniably the most skilled at getting into people's dreams and using Tel'aran'rhiod. These talents seem to go together, and all three of them are still alive as of Towers of Midnight (out of five remaining Forsaken).

    Tags

  • 48

    Interview: Nov 16th, 2010

    Jonathan B

    I also asked if there was anything in A Memory of Light like the big unnoticed thing in Towers of Midnight that we should look for.

    Brandon Sanderson

    He said there are lots of little things that come to fruition in interesting ways.

    JONATHAN B

    I said yeah, I can't wait to see how "his blood on the rocks of Shayol Ghul" turns out. Do you know there are some people that think Elayne will have her babies on Shayol Ghul and that will fulfill the prophecy?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    He said well, Elayne is like four months pregnant at this point... Lots of things are possible with the One Power though.

    JONATHAN B

    In my mind, this debunks that theory somewhat.

    Tags

  • 49

    Interview: Nov 16th, 2010

    Julien

    He also asked what was the riddle that the Snakes & Foxes told Rand that gave him the answer about how to cleanse saidin. We know their answer to "How can I win the Last Battle?", "How can I survive the Last Battle?" and we know the result of Rand's third answer about cleansing the source but we don't know what the riddle was.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon was not sure if he could tell us this without giving something away so he got an email and find out on this question.

    Tags

  • 50

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2011

    Reddit AMA 2011 (Verbatim)

    rileysweeney ()

    Are Rand and Aviendha going to get some time on screen together in A Memory of Light? They had such an interesting dynamic and they have barely spoken for several books.

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. (You knew that was coming, eh?)

    Though...it should be noted that prophecy says that Aviendha will have Rand's children...so, that's going to be kind of tough if they don't see one another again.

    Tags

  • 51

    Interview: Oct 15th, 2011

    Ted Herman

    Will we see more abut the Amayar/Time of Illusions prophecy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Possibly in the encyclopedia.

    Tags

  • 52

    Interview: Jul 11th, 2010

    Stefan

    Has Mat's answer from the 'Finns about living and dying already happened?

    Brandon Sanderson

    In the books, Mat says that he's "Pretty Sure" that he'd already died. So use that as a guide.

    FOOTNOTE

    A better guide might be the two Balticon reports, both of which claim RJ said the Caemlyn death fulfilled the prophecy. RJ also confirmed that Mat was only 'almost' dead in Rhuidean to Tim Kington in 2003, and in 1999 in Sydney he noted that Mat hopes the prophecy was fulfilled in Rhuidean (because he doesn't remember dying in Caemlyn).

    SEMIRHAGE666

    Wasn't that fulfilled when he was hung from Avendesora?

    STEFAN

    That's what I'm wondering, whether that was it or not.

    EAST COAST GIRL

    But I thought Mat DIDN'T die when he got hung, just came really close ...

    MAGICKAL MAN

    Mat died and then Rand used balefire and turned back time.

    STEFAN

    Right *facepalm* I don't know how I forgot that.

    RLRHORROCKS

    If he had actually died when he was hung, Rand wouldn't have been able to bring him back. (i.e.: crazy puppet girl in the Stone)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Re: Another Mat being hung confirmation. Like I said, Mat's pretty sure that counted for him dying. He really doesn't want to try anything like that again...

    Footnote

    Brandon has consistently presented a "confused" front on this issue; he was still doing it in 2011. Most likely he is trying to be clever about it, maybe playing on RJ's 2009 interview, but all it does is stir up the fans who happen to know what RJ said about it (which is a good number of them; it's common knowledge).

    Tags

  • 53

    Interview: Nov 11th, 2011

    forkroot

    Min has said that Perrin would need to be there for Rand twice to save him from something very bad. Assuming Dumai's Wells was the first time (which BWS confirmed), was Perrin's presence in Tel'aran'rhiod at Dragonmount during Rand's time there the second time? Or, in another phrasing, has the second time happened yet?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, that was not it. We have not yet seen the second time, but we will. (In other words, it's coming in A Memory of Light.)

    Tags

  • 54

    Interview: Nov 21st, 2011

    Terez

    Ask him if Rand's question about how to 'win and survive' the Last Battle counted as two questions.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Terez: the win and survive counted as ONE question, very direct answer there. :)

    Tags

  • 55

    Interview: 2012

    Brandon Sanderson (20 December 2011)

    Still hard at work on A Memory of Light. Today's scenes involve lots of loud noises.

    MARK HOWARD

    Just curious, have you read the end scenes that RJ wrote? Or are you waiting till you get there?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I read them as soon as I got them. I needed to use them as a target 'goal' for the book.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Now, on to a scene that finally, at long last, fulfills something Min saw long ago...

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I've finished all characters except Rand and Mat. (Note, I'm not writing in order; other characters have already-written scenes after this.)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Now, I have to finish Mat's climax, write a few more Rand scenes, then add in RJ's ending material. Then we're done. Very close now.

    PATRICK

    What are your thoughts on ending the WoT series that Robert Jordan started so long ago? :)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Solemnity.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    After a few hours with the family, am back at work on A Memory of Light. It's slightly possible that I'll finish it sometime during the night.

    JENNIFER LIANG

    Would that make tonight A Memory of Light Eve?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Ha. Yes, I guess it would.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    You can follow along, if you wish. I have twenty small points on my outline left to hit. Maybe 10k words or so. I'll tweet as I pass them.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    First scene out of twenty finished. (Note that I'm using 'scene' here liberally to mean a point on the plot outline.)

    FRANK KWIATKOWSKI

    Can you tell us who has the last chapter?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Afraid that would spoil too much.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Note that as I approach an ending, my writing speed goes up, as I get momentum. 10k tonight is not impossible. (Though most days I do 2-3.)

    BRENT WEEKS

    Good luck!

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Thanks!

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Two out of twenty scenes done. Eighteen left, and A Memory of Light will be finished.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Three out of Twenty of the remaining scenes in A Memory of Light have been finished. (If you're just now seeing this, check back to my last few posts.)

    MARCUS ENGSTROM

    How long was it after the first two books were finished until they were published?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    For the first one, about a year. For the next, about six months. This will probably be closer to the first than the second.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene four was slightly shorter than the others. 4 out of 20 finished so far tonight.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene #5 finished. 25% through the ending of A Memory of Light. Feeling good about these scenes. All is going very well.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Some of you have asked if I got the Magic cards you sent me off of my Amazon wishlist. I did! I'm waiting to open them until I'm done with A Memory of Light.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    A few of these scenes are pretty emotional ones for me. It's been a long, long road. I started reading the WoT twenty-one years ago.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Just finished scene #6 out of the 20 remaining in A Memory of Light.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene seven is done. Thirteen more to go. This one...this one was tough to write.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I've apparently inspired a drinking game with this on both Twitter and Facebook. I'd join in, but: 1) Mormon. 2) BUSY WRITING END OF WOT. :)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene #8 is a tricky one. I know how it has to go, I just need to do it carefully. Getting close to having it right.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene #8 is finished. This is going well. I often build momentum like this during a powerful book ending, and this one is very powerful.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    We shall see. We've still got three or four hours before I'd normally turn in for bed. If I start to get sleepy, I'll call it for the night.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    No sense in pushing on if the quality starts to flag. Knowing myself, though, I'll be too excited to be tired for a while yet. Onward!

    LOCALPCGUY

    Glad to hear things are ending well! I can't wait to read it. Think I have time for a full re-read before A Memory of Light?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Depends on how quickly you read. :)

    DAVID MACKAY

    Cannot wait, but I agree. Is it really going to take a year to edit and publish?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I've done a dozen drafts each of the previous two books. That kind of thing takes a little bit of time...

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I just did something to Mat that I've been gleefully waiting to do for three years.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Don't stress the thing I did to Mat too much. It's a little (and fun) thing I've wanted to see him do for a long time.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I have finished scene #9 out of 20 I need to write before A Memory of Light is done.

    AVI DOBKIN

    Best of luck to @BrandSanderson as I turn in for the night. I'm giddy for A Memory of Light.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Hopefully, you will wake to find the book finished.

    CHRISTINA BOULARD

    It's almost 3:30am here and I SHOULD be in bed, but I feel like I need 2 stay up and cheer you on and also to witness THE END!

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Ha. Well, there are still hours left to go, I suspect. I started at...what, 9:00 here? I'm to 1/2 and it's almost 2:00?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    For those asking, it's almost 2:00 am here. The night is still young.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Just finished Scene #10. Halfway there!

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I don't expect it to go longer than those. After editing, I'm pretty sure we'll settle at 350-360k words. (About 10% longer than Towers of Midnight.)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Brace yourselves. I just finished the last Mat Cauthon scene that, in all likelihood, will ever be written.

    FRANK KWIATKOWSKI

    General writing question: after The editor edits, is it typical for an author to add/rewrite, or only the editor?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Only the author rewrites or adds. Never the editor. (in most cases.)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    The fourteenth scene was Mat's, and now I've finished the fifteenth scene. Five more to go, and A Memory of Light is done.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Just finished scene #16. Four more to go. Guess I'm not stopping tonight, eh?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene #17 is finished. I was a tad on the longer side for the ones I'm doing here, as are the last three. 5:00 am here.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I keep flashing back to times I've read the WoT books through my life. Looking back, you could call Rand/Mat/Perrin my oldest friends.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene #18 is done. Two more to go.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Scene #19 is done. Deep breath. I'm beginning the last scene I will write in the Wheel of Time, then will add RJ's ending.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I've been listening to Pandora as I do this, but am wondering if I should pick a specific song to listen to as I finish. Suggestions?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    My choice for a song to play as I write the last few paragraphs here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0G_FI61a8

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Ladies and gentlemen, A Memory of Light—the final book in The Wheel of Time—has been finished.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Now I'll open a metric gigaton of Magic cards that have been sent to me by fans, sleep for a day, and rest until next week.Then: revisions!

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    As for when the book will come out, Tor should do an announcement soon. Revisions will take a good six months. So fall, I expect.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Another common question: How many revisions will I do? The last two took about a dozen. (On non-WoT books, I do about seven or eight.)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Also, it's going to be tough to give direct replies to questions right now, what with like 1000 people tweeting/facebooking at me. :)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    But lots of people are asking about outriggers/prequels. The answer is still the same. We'd rather not risk exploiting RJ's legacy.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    It is a step I don't think we want to take. Better to stop while we're ahead. I'm sorry, but they probably won't ever happen.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    And now, yes, I will go to sleep. 7am here. That's 10 hours of solid writing after a full day of solid writing, so I'm beat.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Thank you all for the good wishes. May you find water and shade.

    BRANDON SANDERSON (AFTER A NAP)

    Ah. Good morning, all. (Yes, it's five in the afternoon here.) Checking email, and...INBOX EXPLOSION. I guess I was expecting it. :)

    Tags

  • 56

    Interview: Dec 5th, 2000

    Br00se

    The next lady asked some question about one of Min's viewing of Rand with three women. She was confused because Min didn't recognize someone in the viewing that she should have known.

    Robert Jordan

    RJ had to repeat three or four times that the viewing wasn't clear at the time. He seemed to be stressing that Min's inability to recognize the person didn't mean anything important. Her viewings don't always tell everything. This is only important because it means that you can't use anything that was missing from Min's viewings as proof of anything.

    Tags

  • 57

    Interview: Dec 17th, 2011

    Loialson

    Aviendha told Rand in Lord of Chaos that ji'e'toh was who the Aiel were, at their core. Do the Aiel need to find some other purpose/faith besides ji'e'toh to avoid the calamitous future that Aviendha saw in the Way-forward ter'angreal?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I would say that...a half yes. They don't need to abandon ji'e'toh or find a new ji'e'toh but they may have to adapt ji'e'toh to certain other things....

    Tags

  • 58

    Interview: Apr, 2012

    Luckers

    Okay, so, there have been three incidences where characters have ignored the Choedan Kal in favour of Callandor—or well, not even that. Just ignored the Choedan Kal. Shaidar Haran in The Gathering Storm when Elza took the Domination Band, Solinda during Rand’s flashbacks was the one who gave the ter’angreal to the Aiel, but made no efforts to secure the Choedan Kal like Callandor, and the Aes Sedai who was looking to fight Ishamael during the breaking who took sa’angreal from the Aiel, but left the Choedan Kal. So I guess the question is...

    Brandon Sanderson

    Why are they choosing Callandor over the Choedan Kal?

    LUCKERS

    Well, not even that, really, because two of those have nothing to do with the Callandor. I guess it’s more, was there something dodgy... did they know something about the Choedan Kal... why did they leave it?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    There is a reason. It has to do with Callandor being key to the ending, and the Choedan Kal not.

    Tags

  • 59

    Interview: Apr, 2012

    Luckers

    Faolain refers to something she is working on that is as good as anything the Wondergirls have made. Do you know what it is, and can you tell me?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes I know, and no I can’t.

    Tags

  • 60

    Interview: Apr, 2012

    Luckers

    What was the stylized raven that Min viewed around Carlinya?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I thought that had already been answered. Did Jim not answer this?

    Luckers

    No. Everyone thought it referred to Carlinya being da’covale to the Empress. But no, it hasn’t been answered.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh. Oh, okay. Well, I will RAFO/MAFO it. You can email Maria and me about it, but I may have to RAFO it.

    Maria Simons

    The raven is a symbol of the Dark One as well as the Seanchan; Carlinya was killed fighting the Black Ajah.

    Footnote

    The reason why fans thought it was surely in reference to the Seanchan is because Min thought it looked like a tattoo. (See The Fires of Heaven Chapter 26.)

    Tags

  • 61

    Interview: Nov 14th, 2009

    Brandon Sanderson

    The prophecy of the land being one with the Dragon Reborn, and the Dragon being one with the land will play a big role in these last three books.

    Tags

  • 62

    Interview: May, 2012

    Terez

    The tor.com post about the Whelan art is copied in full and parsed for tagging, but there are some plot-relevant bits from a friend of Whelan's in the comments that are recorded at the bottom, and I've clipped the relevant bit about the DKS art from Tor's tribute post.

    Irene Gallo

    The scene depicts Min, Aviendha, and Elayne gathered on a battlefield around what is presumably a funeral pyre for Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn. What we recognize as a yin/yang appears in the clouds, possibly signifying a unity that has evaded male and female channelers for over 3000 years.

    DARRELL K. SWEET

    Tags

  • 63

    Interview: May, 2012

    Irene Gallo

    We are very excited to reveal the cover to A Memory of Light, the final volume of Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The artwork for this final edition is by, arguably, one of today’s most beloved illustrators, Michael Whelan.

    The task of jumping into a 14 volume series on its last installment must have been a daunting one but Michael rose to the occasion. Harriet McDougal, Jordan’s editor and widow remarked, "that is the Rand I have waited to see for twenty years” when she saw the image. And while the artwork clearly has all the earmarks of a Whelan painting, its theme and coloration make it a fitting heir to Darrell K. Sweet’s series of Wheel of Time covers.

    In keeping with the series’ covers, the scene gathers elements from a key scene in the book. Here, Rand stands with Callandor on the rocks of Shayol Ghul, heading down into its depths to confront the Dark One even as the sun itself vanishes from the world. Two Aes Sedai follow the Dragon Reborn into the mouth of darkness, two women who have been with Rand since the very beginning.

    MICHAEL WHELAN

    Tags

  • 64

    Interview: May, 2012

    Terez@232 (9 May 2012)

    Mr. Jackson (your name isn't Michael is it? because that would be unfortunate),

    Thanks for the reassurances. Do you happen to know if specs were given for the eclipse? We're wondering if we can assume it's accurately portrayed from the perspective of an astronomer (we have one of those at Theoryland, and a hobbyist as well). That's not to say we can figure anything out about it right now, or even that we'll be able to figure it out when the book comes out judging on recent portrayal of chronology. Just curious. No worries if no particular care was taken to portray it accurately; I understand it's complicated, but it could have been made simple if RJ left notes about it. Also curious as to why it didn't show up until the final draft.

    MRJackson@235

    We didn't talk about it, but I can ask him. Michael has more than a passing interest in astronomy so it's possible.

    And M and R are my initials...

    MRJackson@238

    Michael's response:

    Michael Whelan

    The few pages of manuscript I was given to work from didn't have any mention of an eclipse. The subject didn't come up until I had done several conceptual renderings. After sending some of them to TOR I got an email from Irene telling me that if I showed the sky through the mouth of the cave I might want to work an eclipse into the scene.

    For reference I looked at a lot of photos of eclipses and liked the idea (for symbolic reasons) of indicating an imminent annular eclipse, the kind where the moon doesn't entirely cover the sun but leaves a thin ring of light in the sky.

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  • 65

    Interview: Nov 9th, 2009

    Question

    The Sea Folk, and the Aiel both have prophecies regarding the Dragon Reborn. Do the Tinkers have one also?

    Brandon Sanderson

    If the Tinkers had a prophecy we most likely (and the emphasis was definitely there) would have heard about it by now.

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  • 66

    Interview: Nov 9th, 2009

    Question

    Is there a Perrin wolf dream/vision that is fulfilled in the time from when Rand almost kills Tam to his epiphany at the top of Dragonmount?

    Brandon Sanderson

    If you mean Perrin’s dream with the bandage over his eyes, and dressed like a beggar than yes, that dream was fulfilled by Rand’s actions from Tear to Ebou Dar to Dragonmount.

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  • 67

    Interview: Jan 12th, 2011

    Luckers

    Was Lews Therin one with the land like Rand is?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Dragon is one with the land...so the answer is yes.

    Matt Hatch

    He went on to say that it says the Dragon, not the Dragon Reborn, making the point that it most definitely applied to Lews Therin. (I riffed off a second related question from Luckers which was: Did he have the same extra abilities?) Instead I asked:

    Question

    Considering what you mentioned regarding Lews Therin's ability to sense the lack of inhabitants within miles of the spot he was at in the Prologue, is this ability something that comes from being the Dragon, being ta'veren, or a Talent?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (paraphrased) It's not a Talent, but I won't say whether it is a factor of being the Dragon or something about being ta'veren.

    Matt Hatch

    Luckers, I asked this question because the way Brandon answered the first it seemed apparent to me that the Dragon is Lews Therin is Rand, as far as 'one with the land' and abilities. My interest then became that specific ability he noted in Lews Therin during the re-read.)

    Tags

  • 68

    Interview: Nov 16th, 2010

    Ayyad Azryelle

    What Aviendha saw in Rhuidean is something that MUST happen (a fixed point in time?) or COULD happen (anything could happen, it's in flux)?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 69

    Interview: Oct 30th, 2009

    jharoldson

    I...asked Brandon a question regarding Graendal possibly not being dead. I started by saying that Graendal was ordered to keep Arad Doman in chaos. After she was killed Rand was forced out of Arad Doman because all of the food he brought spoiled all at the same time, not in random intervals like had happened before due to the Dark One's touch. My question to Brandon is was this food spoilage caused by the Dark One or could it have been a strong channeler with inverted weaves, perhaps someone who was ordered to make sure that Rand's plans in Arad Doman failed?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon told me explicitly that this was not caused by someone channeling but instead it was caused by Rand. Robert Jordan evidently left strong notes regarding the fact that the quote we heard early on in the story from Thom about "The Dragon is one with the land and the land is one with the Dragon" will be emphasized towards the end of the story. When people complained that only bad ta'veren things happened in Bandar Eban when Rand was there with no offsetting good things this was an example that as Rand has hardened and become darker the land has also grown more dark. The spoiling of all the food at once was also caused by the darkness in Rand.

    Tags

  • 70

    Interview: Apr, 2012

    JordanCon 2012 - Terez (Paraphrased)

    Question

    Is there any relationship between Perrin's dream visions and Min's viewings? Does she see into Tel'aran'rhiod?

    Maria Simons

    I don't know. I might be able to find out.

    Tags

  • 71

    Interview: 2013

    Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Aaron Oster (23 January 2013)

    If, hypothetically, there was a body switch in WoT, how would it happen? Would it be an actual switch or illusion?

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    There are far more reasons, worldbuilding wise, to believe it was real than to believe it was illusion.

    TJ

    Is Rand's soul in Moridin's body?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ha. Right to the point, are you? Let's just say that trickery is not likely in this case.

    TJ

    Can you confirm that Rand's body was burned at the end of A Memory of Light?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay, fine. Yes, I will confirm that Rand's body was indeed the one that was burned. :)

    Jonathan MacAlpine

    Why didn't anybody notice when a supposedly-dead Moridin got up and walked away?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'd say coincidence. But there aren't many of those in the WoT world.

    Siraaj

    Seems like a conversation between the Creator and Rand was missing where "switch" and Alivia's role in it are laid out—thoughts?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I believe that RJ included everything he wanted in this sequence.

    Jason Cassidy

    Why did Rand switch bodies at the end and why is he going incognito now? Did not understand that part.

    Brandon Sanderson

    RJ wrote these scenes, and intended to leave them as is. I don't think me delving into explanations is what he'd want.

    El Brian

    Did the bonding between Rand, Nynaeve, Elayne, and Min transfer over to the new body?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, though I don't know how or why.

    Kamarile Sedai

    Why did the bond survive the body switch at the end of A Memory of Light?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I don't know. RJ did not explain this one to me.

    J Crosby

    How were Rand/Elan able to switch bodies?

    Sean Duffy

    How did Rand wind up with Moridin's body?

    James Starke

    Could you explain further about the body switch and how it was possible?

    Brandon Sanderson

    This is one that I'm not answering, I'm afraid. RJ wanted some things about the ending to remain ambiguous.

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  • 72

    Interview: 2013

    Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    sleepinghour (23 January 2013)

    Who was the Broken Wolf?

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    Perrin's spirit guide. Note that the "he" in the next sentence does not refer to the same creature.

    Darrell Wyatt

    Did the Shadow Prophecy at the end of Towers of Midnight come to pass? If so can you explain as I did not recognize it.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Everything in it happened, but not exactly as many would have interpreted.

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  • 73

    Interview: 2013

    Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Peter Wikberg (23 January 2013)

    What was Moiraine's purpose during the Last Battle?

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    To stop Rand and Egwene from going to the Last Battle separately, instead of together.

    Tags

  • 74

    Interview: 2013

    Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    David Forbes (23 January 2013)

    Can you shed any light on the raven picture Min saw around Carlinya? Or the axe and hand she saw around Elayne?

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    One thing that was made clear in the notes is that not everything seen by Min is to have significance for the books.

    Brandon Sanderson

    And others, such as Alivia, were to be things that people in world placed much import upon—but were actually minor.

    Footnote

    Maria answered this question here.

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  • 75

    Interview: 2013

    Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Ted Herman (23 January 2013)

    Was the "Twice dawns the day" prophecy fulfilled by the sun rising over Shayol Ghul or by something else? Thanks!

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    It was in relation to the eclipse, I believe. :)

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  • 76

    Interview: 2013

    Twitter 2013 (WoT) (Verbatim)

    Dave West (23 January 2013)

    Is the 'remnant of a remnant' line just meaning that there are only a few Aiel left, or was it something else?

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    There is a deeper meaning. But it's philosophical more than anything else.

    Brandon Sanderson

    It is in reference, in part, to their changing purpose.

    Tags

  • 77

    Interview: Feb 6th, 2013

    Question

    In The Shadow Rising, in the Stone of Tear, Moiraine tells Nynaeve, Egwene and Elayne that she knows the face of her husband. She hasn't been to Rhuidean, or even to visit the Aelfinn yet. Does she have this knowledge from a vision of Min's, and if not, where?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, she had been through the twisted doorway, hadn't she? You're sure? Then I don't know, perhaps that one can be asked of Maria.

    Footnote

    Min thought about unfulfilled viewings concerning Moiraine in A Crown of Swords, and Maria later confirmed that Moiraine's knowledge was as result of a viewing of Min's.

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  • 78

    Interview: Apr, 2003

    Galgóczi Móni

    The prophecies often shape the characters' lives in WoT. Do you believe that the stars influence human life and the future?

    Robert Jordan

    No.

    Tags

  • 79

    Interview: Feb 12th, 2013

    Wetlander

    Was Bao the Wyld part of Sharan prophecy? If so, was Demandred co-opting their Dragon prophecies?

    Brandon Sanderson

    "The Wyld" was part of Sharan prophecy; Demandred thinks he co-opted the Sharan version of the "dragon prophecies" but it was actually about him all along.

    Wetlander

    (I was surprised to get an answer to this; I expect some of it will show up in "River of Souls" anyway. An interesting follow-on question might be whether this means the Sharans were destined by the Pattern to fight for Team Dark.)

    Tags

  • 80

    Interview: Feb 11th, 2013

    Anna Hornbostel

    Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

    A fan asked him if Alivia's role in the epilogue was her fulfillment of Min's viewing and he said that it was very clear that that was all that that viewing meant. He said that fans are speculating that she played a part in the body swap but she did not.

    Brandon went in to little detail about the body swap, saying he knows as much about it as we do and the notes just didn't give more. He asserted that he has to do with the balefire streams touching and the fact that Moridin no longer wanted to continue to exist but that Rand very much wanted to continue to exist.

    Footnote

    The viewing was almost certain a "riding into the sunset" metaphor, which we know is idiomatic to the WoT world from The Great Hunt Chapter 49, where Loial reads To Sail Beyond the Sunset (which is also a reference to Heinlein) as Rand accepts the oaths of the Shienarans, the first Dragonsworn.

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  • 81

    Interview: Feb 21st, 2013

    Trae Cooper

    RJ left specific notes that Min's Alivia viewing was supposed to be incidental, and an example of unreliable narrator even in the case of Min's viewings. The Foretelling/dreams about the boat were supposed to be along the same lines.

    Tags

  • 82

    Interview: Feb 6th, 2013

    Freelancer (February 14, 2013)

    I received a reply from Maria Simons regarding one of my previous questions:

    Maria Simons

    I'm sorry to be so long in answering; it's been a busy week. But the answer to your question is that she (Moiraine) knew the face of her husband from a viewing of Min's.

    Maria

    Freelancer

    For the record, I can only imagine how her schedule has gone since the AMoL release, and with Harriet joining in on the tour, so I don't consider a couple of days as long to respond at all. Like everyone else associated with The Wheel of Time, she rocks. And a long-standing question finally confirmed!

    Tags

  • 83

    Interview: Feb 22nd, 2013

    Terez

    Alright, is Cadsuane's lesson to the Asha'man yet to come?

    Brandon Sanderson

    To the Asha'man? It is the same lesson that Rand learned, but they....they started to learn it.....

    Terez

    Yeah...

    Brandon Sanderson

    I would say that they have not completely learned it yet. Not until they have spent years...um...growing...

    Terez

    Well the distinction in Min's viewing is that none of them would like learning it from Cadsuane.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. Mmmhmm.

    Terez

    Yeah, so that's where everybody gets a little bit confused.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah.

    Terez

    But yeah, I got you.

    Tags

  • 84

    Interview: Feb 22nd, 2013

    Terez

    Was it actually Egwene talking to Rand, after...

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, I've left this one intentionally ambiguous.

    Terez

    I figured that's what you did.

    Brandon Sanderson

    That, and whether Lan actually died or not, are both ones that I'm not going to answer.

    Terez

    Yeah, and whether Perrin actually died or not, because he's in the dark prophecy too.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, but do remember that the dark prophecy people are misinterpreting that one a little bit, by intention.

    Terez

    Yeah... [Amusingly, Brandon is talking about the dark prophecy in Towers of Midnight, and I'm talking about the one in The Great Hunt.]

    Brandon Sanderson

    You know, they're supposed to misinterpret it, but one of the lines doesn't refer to Perrin; it refers to Hopper, and then the next line...

    Terez

    Well, not her new lover!

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah, yeah...

    Terez

    That's not Hopper, is it? (laughter behind)

    Brandon Sanderson

    Uh, no...

    Terez

    She's not into...okay. Good. (laughs)

    Tags

  • 85

    Interview: Feb 22nd, 2013

    Terez

    Was Min's "three ships sailing" inspired by the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I don't believe so. Wow, but I don't know, so I can't say on that one...

    Terez

    Oh, it wasn't yours?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Uh, no....ah...

    Terez

    It was in the last book: three ships sailing, insect in the darkness, red lights....

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. It's not the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María....

    Terez

    Yeah, well I thought it might have been inspired by that...

    Brandon Sanderson

    We'll have to dig into the notes on that one.

    Terez

    Allllll-right.

    Tags

  • 86

    Interview: Apr, 2013

    Question

    Will there be a list of The Prophecies of the Dragon and the dark prophecies? Also the other prophecies from the Aiel and the Atha’an Miere?

    Maria Simons

    We hope to include the prophecies that we know of; Robert Jordan did not have a complete Prophecies of the Dragon written—that would have been an entire book in itself. He knew the general gist of the prophecies, and came up with pieces as he needed them.

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  • 87

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2012

    Question

    Does Nicola’s Foretelling represent a single moment in time?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Which one is she talking about?

    QUESTION

    Three on the boat, and he who is dead yet lives. The great battle done, but the world not done with battle. The land divided by the return, and the guardians balance the servants. The future teeters on the edge of a blade

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    MAFO. I’m gonna MAFO that one. I think I know that one, but I don’t think I want to touch it.

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