The Eye of the World: Book One of ‘The Wheel of Time
Robert Jordon
Tor, May 8 2012, $15.99
ISBN: 9780765334336

The Trollocs unexpectedly attack Emond’s Field. While the surprise assault on the village continues unabated, a Myrddraal targets three young men (Rand al’Thir, Matrim Cauthon and Perrin Aybara. The trio assumes they are the true focus of the hostilities so to save the townsfolk from further slaughter they flee. Joining them on their exodus is Egwene al’Vere, Moraine Damordred the Aes Sedai, Warder Al’Lan Mandragoran and Thom Merrilin the Gleeman. Led by the Myrddraal, the Trollocs pursue while Nynaeve al’Meara the Wisdom of Emond’s Field join the beleaguered band on the run

The weary travelers reach the evil city of Shadar Logoth where only Mashadar the malevolence lives. Rand, Mat and Thom head to Whitebridge while the Myrddraal closes in on them. The deadly adventures have just begun.

This reprint of the opening act in the epic Wheel of Time holds up nicely due to the tremendous creating of the Jordan mythos. Magic is deftly introduced as elemental but left somewhat shadowy with a fabulous twist on yin and yang theory tainted by the end of the last age leading to a matriarchal society, which becomes clearer in later entries. The cast is solid with women as the stronger gender flaunting their superiority. Although there is a ton of books that followed, many not as powerful as book one, The Eye of the World is a wonderful epic fantasy.

Harriet Klausner