Wheel of Time 101

Where to start?

Map by Elissa Mitchell

I’ve had a few questions about where to start with The Wheel of Time.

So I thought I would write a short post about the books, show, and community that I could point people too. I talked quite a bit about my connection to Wheel of Time (WoT) in my recent podcast chat with

Morgan Harper Nichols

after she brought up the maps from The Lord of the Rings (LOTR).

As part of processing I’m a human - not a brand, maybe I will occasionally post deep dives into things I love. 🥰

These books came into my life at a time that was very formative and needed and they are essentially etched into my bones. Considering the time they were written (the first book was published in 1990) they were incredibly forward thinking and ambitious. If you’re a fan of fantasy books or television you’ve probably read or seen stories that were influenced by this series.

The first book purposely mirrors Tolkien’s world.

But it soon expands and comes to include a diverse cast of flawed and interesting characters. Compared to LOTR which completely sidelines women (don’t get me started) the most powerful people in the world of WoT are women and some characters even read as nonbinary.

While it is definitely true that some of the gender dynamics didn’t age super well, I feel confident that Robert Jordan would have added more nuance if he wrote the books now.

It was also purposefully diverse in a time that fantasy books were very white. And while the story begins with a male protagonist this is really an ensemble story.

Wheel of Time cast Season 1

This is a character driven story that takes place in a magical world.

It’s also rooted deeply in our own myths and legends. There are direct and indirect references to Arthurian legend, as well as Welsh folklore, and that of other cultures around the world.

The magic system is not hand waving; nor is it overly complicated and technical. I don’t think it spoils things to say that it is based in the elements (earth, air, fire, water, spirit) and described in a really interesting and captivating way. The way that “spells” are formed is called weaving, which I also find an artistic connection to.

Motherhood Interrupted, 2021

I will include a content warning for depictions of violence.

Robert Jordan was a war veteran and the themes he explores in the work are directly influenced from his time in service. He does not shy away from the horrors of war so if you are sensitive to onscreen violence the show may be too much. When I read the books my mind somewhat glossed over the horror and graphic elements, but the show is putting them front and center and reminding me just how dark some of these characters are. This is a story of good trumping over evil after all.

That said, this is not a show to watch with young kids.

I know I have a sensitive readership and want you to be fully aware of what you’re getting into. From my perspective the story is not centered on violence, but there are some disturbing images when it does occur.

Season 2 is out now!

If you want to explore the world of the Wheel of Time the Amazon show is a great place to start. The actors all fit their parts amazingly well and are doing a beautiful job of bringing this show to life.

The best thing about watching first is that you can carry the visuals into the book as you read.

The show runner Rafe Judkins is a long time fan of the books and his team is working with the source material in creative and interesting ways. They are taking hundreds and hundreds of pages and keeping the heart of the story while translating it to a new medium. To me it feels like they’re collaging the material together in new and interesting ways.

You can always jump into the books later on. (Or the audiobooks which are great!)

The Wheel of Time via Juniper Books

Selfishly, I’d love to see the viewing numbers skyrocket so we can get the whole series. They’ve already been renewed for Season 3 and started shooting that before the strikes.

Joining the WoT fandom

The Wheel of Time fandom is the best - statistically the best - when it comes to being welcoming and inclusive.

That said, there are some trolls (especially on reddit & Facebook) but those are generally outliers. If you see someone being hateful or racist they are not speaking for the larger WoT community.

Twitter of Time

If you’re a new watcher (or reader) the WoT community really loves hearing and seeing your thoughts. You can jump into the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #TwitterofTime. (I know, I know, but I only follow #TwitterofTime and it’s actually a nice place - we collectively block the trolls.) Most of us have accounts just for WoT content so it is not a dumpster fire like the rest of Twitter.

We are pretty careful not to spoil new readers, but you do need to be careful. Here’s a helpful thread of how to block spoiler hashtags on Twitter.

The Light’s Work Podcast

You can also subscribe to The Light’s Work podcast which is generally spoiler free.

The Dusty Wheel YouTube

Watch out for spoilers, but The Dusty Wheel is the heart of the fandom. Be sure to check spoiler levels on this channel so you don’t run into secrets before you’re ready.

There WoT cast interviews from Season 1 are pretty safe.

Let me know if you watch (or read!)

Keep in mind I love this series with my whole heart (while knowing it’s imperfect - everything is). If you only want to complain maybe find someone else to talk to. 😂

But I’d love to hear what you enjoy or find inspiring about the series.

What resonates? What Ajah are you? Who’s your favorite character?

Let’s nerd out together.