This volume serves as a comprehensive encyclopedia of the setting, history, and mythology found in the first seven novels of the series. It documents the creation of the world by the Creator, the nature of the One Power, and the eventual breaking caused by the Dark One. Patterson provides detailed accounts of the Ten Nations, the rise and fall of Artur Hawkwing, and the specific political structures of regions like Seanchan and Shara. Illustrations and maps clarify the geography of the Westlands and the specific aesthetics of cultural groups such as the Aiel and the Aes Sedai.
The book is intended for dedicated readers who want to understand the underlying mechanics and chronologies that are only hinted at in the primary narrative. It functions as a reference manual for identifying historical figures and clarifying the complex hierarchies of the White Tower. Readers finish the text with a technical understanding of the series’ legal systems, military history, and the specific prophecies that dictate the path of the Dragon Reborn. It provides the background data necessary to track the broader movements of the various factions across the continent.
Outward-looking and clear-cut; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1997
- Language
- EN
