The Gathering Storm

Book Details

Discerning Reader Editorial Review

Reviewed 12/01/2009 by Mark Tubbs.

Recommended. Called the heir to Tolkien's legacy, Jordan has created a fantasy series for the ages.

The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Book Twelve in the Wheel of Time fantasy series developed by Jordan, may well be the only review of a fantasy book you may ever read on this web site. But I feel it’s an important review to post, for a few reasons that I hope will become clear as the review progresses. Most notably, for those unaware of the author or the series, the book is currently #38 on Amazon’s bestseller list. Jordan’s books routinely make it onto the New York Times bestseller lists as well.

Jordan, who died in 2007 of cancer, was often called the heir to J.R.R. Tolkien’s legacy. Let me say up front that I cannot speak to that comparison, as I never made it more than halfway through The Two Towers, and I do not read any other fantasy series. But I mention it to demonstrate the esteem attributed to Jordan and his writing.

I would also note that Jordan was a staunch and devout Episcopalian who attended a historic church in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. Biblical allusions run rampant in his books, from the central messianic figure, to the good versus evil struggle (I am reminded of C.S. Lewis’ immortal quote, that he was as dualistic as Scripture allowed him to be, and that was quite a bit), and the inexorable march towards a final battle called Tarmon Gai’don, to mention but a few.

After Jordan’s death, fantasy author Brandon Sanderson was earmarked to continue the series and bring it to a conclusion. Sanderson’s mandate includes wrapping up the series without introducing any new characters (Jordan had a penchant for slipping in new characters even late in the series). Important events do occur in The Gathering Storm, but they seem to occur naturally in the scheme of things. Nothing is forced. The pacing isn’t rushed or artificial. Fans of Jordan will understand what I mean when I say that there is still plenty of dialogue.

However, in my opinion Sanderson doesn’t quite get the voices right for at least a few characters: Nynaeve and Gareth Byrne to a lesser extent, but most of all Matrim Cauthon. What Sanderson seems unable to do is merge Mat’s devil-may-care attitude with his innate sincerity. The character emanating from Sanderson’s keyboard is far more surly – too surly, although some may argue that recent plot events provide Sanderson with the warrant for this descent into surliness. I disagree.

Now, some may fault me for reading these books. Indeed I have asked myself the question, “Is there value in reading the fantasy genre?” My answer is that it depends. If an inordinate amount of one’s reading time – let alone one’s waking hours – is devoted to fantasy fiction, then an adjustment is likely in order. I recall a time when my brother would plow relentlessly through mystery, fantasy, and suspense books. He now rues it all as a waste of time.

But I do see a benefit in delving into these “other worlds,” and it was John Piper who started me down the path of thinking on these things, as he so often does. Drawing on philosopher Gottfried Leibniz’s best-of-all-possible-worlds theory, Piper half-seriously claims he is a seven point Calvinist. Desiringgod.org explains it thus:

The "seventh" point, the best-of-all-possible worlds, means that God governs the course of history so that, in the long run, His glory will be more fully displayed and His people more fully satisfied than would have been the case in any other world. If we look only at the way things are now in the present era of this fallen world, this is not the best-of-all-possible worlds. But if we look at the whole course of history, from creation to redemption to eternity and beyond, and see the entirety of God's plan, it is the best-of-all-possible plans and leads to the best-of-all-possible eternities. And therefore this universe (and the events that happen in it from creation into eternity, taken as a whole) is the best-of-all-possible-worlds.

How does Piper’s seventh point relate to Jordan’s series? Unlike the characters of The Wheel of Time, I do not fear the terrors of the night (Psalm 91:5). I could explain further, but wish to avoid committing a spoiler for those who may wish to read the series.

I do recommend Jordan’s series, but with the caveat that you will need time and patience to undertake the task of reading them all.