Theoryland of the Wheel of Time

Hey everyone, I think my words per post count is going way up.

So here is my report from The Gathering Storm book signing last night in Portland, OR.

First off Powell's book store is enormous. It is roughly three times as big as my local Barnes and Noble/Borders stores. It is by far the biggest book store I have been in in my life. And it isn't even the biggest in Portland; its downtown store I'm told covers an entire block, is 5 stories tall (I believe that is what I was told) with a parking garage on top.

I arrived at about 5:30 and was about the 30th person there (one of the gentlemen I ended up talking to most of the night had been there since 10:00am). Another girl had driven 600 miles from central Idaho to come to the signing. Her father had come with her and walked up to Brandon and thanked him for making his daughter's night. Brandon got up and shook both their hands.

At 7:00 the Storm Leaders came out and Brandon followed about five minutes later. I know, that like me, many of you have followed his signings and what he talks about and probably have it memorized, but I'm telling this story. :)

He talked about his love of reading, and mentioned going into his local bookstore and seeing The Eye of the World for the first time. He had to come back and get it a week later because he was broke. He mentioned how RJ and the WoT is the reason he chose to become a writer.

He then talked about perusing the internet one day and finding out about RJ dying, how it was like finding out all his childhood friends had died at one time. He talked about the eulogy he wrote for RJ. How he came down stairs one morning (noon) and got the message from Harriet asking to talk to him. He finally decided to write the books because he could not think of another person who was a huge fan who had studied the story as much as he has and was also a published writer. He talked about flying to meet Harriet at her house, she invited him in with an offer of food, and asked him what she could get him. He said "the ending of the book and who killed Asmodean". I too have read this many times before but the impact of hearing it was phenomenal.

brandon on reading

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brandon on writing wot

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harriet

BWS then took a few questions that have been answered to death.

One question he took that I hadn't yet seen was: Was Masema just having visions or was someone actually there with him?

BWS answered Masema is crazy, but he is not deluded about someone being there.

This question was explored further here and here.

masema

I then asked, has Demandred's alter ego been seen since Crossroads of Twilight?

Samadai

Brandon Sanderson

demandred

The question segment ended and Brandon sat down to start signing books. I was talking to several people around me when I heard, 'Is there a poster named Samadai from Tor.com here?' Needless to say I was shocked to hear someone announce that, I turned around raised my hand and said, "that's me". Well the Powell's book store worker said to me, "well we have Forkroot from Tor.com right over here." I looked over to see him waving at me, he came over and told me how he ended up there (which he talked about in his posting). As forkroot mentioned we also collected a gathering of people to talk to.

They called the ticket holders up 10 people at a time and so I was in the third group of people near the end of the line #28. When I was at the front of the line I introduced myself to Brandon. I told him my screen name at Tor.com said I heard He at met Freelancer at another signing, he remembers you. I then mentioned that we all had come of with some more questions for him and were wondering if he had time. He told me to stick around to the end and he would spend some time with us (I told him about Forkroot as well). Done with my time, I went back and hung out with Forkroot and the others, where we discussed all the same things we all discuss on here. Forkroot then had his turn. After he was done there were a few more people, and then the Storm Leaders had the picture and signings. Forkroot and I had our picture taken with Brandon, then we all went outside after profusely thanking the Powell's store staff, and enviously thanking the Storm Leaders.

Out in front of the store, Forkroot, myself and a couple of our new friends gathered around Brandon. Forkroot asked his questions first which he already posted up there at 2535. Then we got down to the questions that you guys gave me.

Have the effects of the Bowl of Winds been fully realized?

Yes, but the weather patterns are so huge that it will still take a long time to normalize everything.

bowl of the winds

Will we hear anything more about Shara or the Land of Madmen?

That was our first RAFO.

land of madmen

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shara

Has Egwene's Dream of having her head on a block and an axe falling come true?

Samadai

gawyn

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egwene

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dreams

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min's viewings

RobMRobM had me ask three questions. Will we find out where Morgase learned the Two Rivers speech? Will Tam end up with a wife? Was Kari al'Thor related to Morgase?

RobM you get the triple RAFO award.

morgase

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kari

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tam

Nightbaron had three questions as well.

Is Shara or the Land of Madmen involved in the Last Battle?

Fifth RAFO.

shara

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land of madmen

Was Moridin aware of Shaidar Haran's plans with Semirhage?

His answer was, word for word: The Dark One trusts Moridin more than any other Forsaken.

moridin

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dark one

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shaidar haran

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semirhage

Is the big clue no one is talking about in books 4 thru 6 or books 4 and 6?

He answered, "It is in the section of books 4 thru 6, but not necessarily in all of them. It could be only in one of them, two of them, or all three."

BUT

Are there any Forsaken around Elayne?

Samadai

Brandon Sanderson

forsaken

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elayne

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demandred

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cyndane

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moghedien

Will the Salidar Aes Sedai and Tower Aes Sedai delegations to the Black Tower be 13x13'd?

And so we had our sixth RAFO.

salidar

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white tower

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aes sedai

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black tower

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13-13

Did RJ leave notes or records of how he used symbols in the WoT, for example, colors: white meaning life, black meaning death and the Dark One?

He left extensive notes that we would have to wait for the encyclopedia that Maria is going to put out after the books are finished.

rj's notes

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encyclopedia

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maria

Did Egwene squeeze Moghedien for information on the Dream World?

That was our First MAFO (Maria And Find Out).

He also said that Egwene is a powerful Dreamer and it seems unlikely that she didn't squeeze her for the information.

MARIA SIMONS (VIA LUCKERS)

This one is basic enough that I feel pretty confident that Egwene would have certainly asked Moghedien about Tel'aran'rhiod. Egwene threatened to execute Moghedien if she lied; I would think that with the knowledge that Egwene gained from the Aiel Wise Ones she might use that as the occasional test, and see where it went. I think that Egwene asked Moghedien about pretty much anything that popped in her head.

FOOTNOTE—LUCKERS

Maria claims the right to amend this later.

egwene

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moghedien

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dreams

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tel'aran'rhiod

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dreamers

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mafo

Did Moridin sense when Rand channeled the True Power through him?

Our 7th RAFO. But he did say, "We don't know if that is what happened or not, and that might or might not have been Moridin's plan all along. We don't have enough info to decide that yet."

rand

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moridin

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true power

Did Shaidar Haran know Moridin had forbidden the Forsaken from rescuing Semirhage?

Yes he did, no further comment.

shaidar haran

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moridin

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semirhage

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forsaken

Moridin vs. Shaidar Haran, who is the boss?

He again stated that Moridin is the Forsaken the Dark One trusts the most and not enough information is known about Shaidar Haran.

moridin

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shaidar haran

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dark one

The last question I asked was, will Elaida be able to withhold Traveling from the Seanchan?

He gave us another look, and with a smirk said, "I will say that is going to be an onscreen RAFO."

Right after saying that he said. "Let me ask you this, Do any of you believe Elaida has the will to resist the a'dam? We all said 'No' right away, he gave us a smirk and shrugged his arms.

Now although that wasn't a definitive statement, done with his body language, it damn near locked it up.

elaida

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seanchan

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traveling

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a'dam

We all thanked him profusely for his time (20-30 minutes). Forkroot and I told him we thought he did a great job and we couldn't think of another person who is more suited to finishing the books. We said goodbye to the others, Forkroot and I shook hands and we went home (Forkroot, I am very sorry I didn't offer you a ride to your hotel).

I forgot to put this up there but while BWS was signing, the Storm Leaders were walking around giving out cool things. I got three bumper stickers, "I killed Asmodean", "Bela is a Darkfriend", and the WoT symbol. Also a map of Randland, a bookmark, and two flyers, one for a writer's conference with BWS in Los Angeles, and the other for JordanCon 2010.

I promised pictures and will get them on here but I can't do them here at work. So after I get home I will put them here.