From: neel@erich.triumf.ca (MCNEELY, PAUL)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
Subject: The Shadow Rising (Spoilers)
Date: 15 Oct 1992 23:13 PDT
Organization: TRIUMF: Tri-University Meson Facility
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: erich.triumf.ca
Keywords: Jordan, Dragon, The Shadow Rising
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

I just thought I would add my two bits worth here (for the first time
at that).  The book was great and considering how long it took to get
to Canada I bouncing off walls waiting for it...I was even reading the
posts with spoilers as sort of like movie trailers.
Anyway, spoilers below...
























This book certainly had a number of surprises in it, but I was realy impressed
with one thing.  Finally, Jordan began ranking the Aes Sedia in terms of power.
It was obvious from book one that Rand was significantly more powerful than any
of the Aes Sedia around but when it came down to the Aes Sedia themselves it
was much more murky.  Egwene's comments on how much of the one power compared
to Moiraine she could draw cleared this up for me nicely.  I still find it a
tad annoying that so much emphisis is places on shear strength.  It isn't that
surprising for example that Nyneave is as strong as Moghedien but I am
surprised that she could win a fight simply because the Forsaken should know
more "tricks" and should be able to weave flows better than she could.  Alhough
I can understand this business of doing things but not understanding what you
are doing I think that Jordan was getting just a tad carried away.  

I was realy impressed with the way the characters have been developing.  Every
time Rand told Moiraine "You have to trust me" I was tempted to cheer!  I am
afraid that she is not one of my favorite people(not many(any?))of the Aes
Sedai are.  I especially liked at the end of TDR when he had his brief moment
of meglomania--a perfectly normal reaction I would think.  One person made a
comment about when Rand goes insane but to tell the truth I don't think he 
will.  First of all that just doesn't make sense in terms of defeating the Dark
One since rebreaking the world isn't much of a victory for the creator.  Second
when Egwene was going through the ter'angreal she found Rand controlling the
madness so obviously it is possible to do it.  

Another comment I found strange was that people didn't like the sections with
Perrin in the Two Rivers.  I didn't think he did anything all that extrordiary. 
From a military stand point things were perfectly ok.  There was no real reason
for him to be killed or captured by the white cloaks.

Some interesting food for thought on the comment Moiraine made about "knowing
the face of her husband".  The women that Verin listed as capable of using the
sa'angreal at trellmaking were: Suian, Moiraine, Elieda, and three others still
in training.  I don't have the book here so I can't remember if she added
something about one or two others...  Anyway Suian is stilled, Elieda is living
on borrowed time, and Moiraine is going to get killed.  The reasons are:  Lan
has to end up with Nyneave and Moiraine won't release him until she dies (or at
least that what she says),  I realy doubt she has a social life so I think the
only face she knows that well is death, it is not likely if she was alive
Egwene would become the Amyrlin.  

Another comment was made about the Aiel going to Tear again, my only reply
is--why?  The maps only show one pass through the Dragonwall and that's into
Cairhien.  There are a great many other reasons for the Aiel to march into
Cairhien as well.  If they take it they isolate Andor and Tar Valon(one of the
reasons I think Elieda is living on borrowed time) and basicly mean that after
taking Andor that Rand has no major military threats left but the Blight and
the Seanchan and maybe Illian.

It seems very likely that Aviendha will be the third woman in Rands life.  I
would have bet it would have been the granddaughter of the current Seanchan
empress up until the bit with Mat but unless it is suposed to be Lanfear:)
there doesn't seem to be any other candidates.  The bit about the Maidens
getting him drunk was a blast--acting as first sisters for Aviendha so she
could see him with no clothes (chuckle).  The first meeting of the the four of
them Min, Elayne, Aviendha and Rand should be a real interesting sight.  That
is also another reason why he will probably end up in cairhein since Suian is
hanging around Tar Valon trying to rally the Aes Sedia against Elieda and Rand
and Min have to get together.  On a slightly different topic what are the odds
of Rand bonding to Elayne?  Another good one is who Rand means to occupy the
Sun Throne...no clues in the book I could see.

Some one asked about Logain as I recall and his military ability.  It doesn't
really say in the books but remember it took an alliance of Cairhein, Andor,
Tear, Illian, and Tar Valon to bring him down -- I think that indicates a
certain amount of skill on his part.  It would make sense for Rand to use him
to lead say the armies in Arad Doman say--it would probably not work in the
east since the soldiers might not follow him.

Well that's probably enough its time to run for cover...
				Paul McNeely

New Klingon Proverb:  When fighting Romulans it is wise to keep rear weapons
charged at all time.