Robert Jordan (1990)
Genre
Fantasy
Reading Time
12-15 hours
Key Themes
See below
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With the Horn of Valere stolen and the Shadow's influence growing, Rand al'Thor must accept his role as the Dragon Reborn while hunting for the artifact in a world near war.
After the events at the Eye of the World, Rand al'Thor, Mat Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara live in the Fal Dara fortress. Rand struggles with being the Dragon Reborn, a figure prophesied to either save or break the world. He talks to Moiraine Damodred, who advises him on his destiny. While in Fal Dara, Fades and Trollocs led by Padan Fain breach the fortress. They steal the Horn of Valere, an artifact that summons heroes, and a cursed dagger Mat carries. Lord Agelmar, Fal Dara's commander, is upset by the loss, as the Horn is important for the Last Battle.
Lord Agelmar sends Shienaran soldiers, led by Ingtar, to chase Padan Fain and recover the Horn and Mat's dagger. Rand feels responsible for the dagger's theft and Mat's worsening condition, so he joins the hunt. Perrin, with Loial, also volunteers to protect his friends. Moiraine, Lan Mandragoran, and Verin Mathwin, an Aes Sedai of the Brown Ajah, join the group. They recognize the danger the stolen artifacts pose. The group leaves Fal Dara, heading south into the Blight-scarred lands, following Fain and his dark followers.
As the hunt continues, the company splits. Moiraine, Verin, and Lan take Egwene al'Vere and Nynaeve al'Meara to the White Tower in Tar Valon to train their channeling abilities. Egwene wants to learn, while Nynaeve is hesitant but feels responsible. Meanwhile, Rand, Mat, Perrin, Ingtar, and Loial continue after Fain. Along the way, they meet Selene, a mysterious woman who claims to be a lost noblewoman. Rand is drawn to her, despite Moiraine's earlier warnings about trusting strangers. Selene's knowledge of the land and her persuasion begin to influence Rand.
During their chase, Rand, Loial, and Selene get separated from Ingtar's company. They find a Portal Stone, an ancient artifact that allows travel between realities. Selene, with her knowledge, encourages Rand to activate it. Using Rand's channeling and the stone's power, they go to an alternate world. This reality is a desolate, overgrown version of their own, where the Dark One seemingly won the Last Battle. They see distorted versions of familiar places and face existential dread. This forces Rand to confront the possible results of his destiny. They eventually return to their world, disoriented but changed.
Egwene and Nynaeve arrive at the White Tower and begin training as Novices. They quickly learn about the Aes Sedai's strict hierarchy and political complexities. Egwene does well, while Nynaeve struggles with discipline but shows great raw power. During this time, news reaches the Tower of an invasion on the western coast of Almoth Plain. The Seanchan, a seafaring empire from across the Aryth Ocean, arrive with strange beasts, a hierarchical society, and the ability to control women who can channel, whom they call *damane*. Their brutal conquest sends shockwaves through the Westlands, showing a new, powerful threat.
The Seanchan establish a base in Falme. Elayne Trakand, Min Farshaw, and Gawyn Trakand, who also went to Falme, are caught in the invasion. Egwene, Nynaeve, and Elayne, who left the White Tower to follow a lead about the Black Ajah, are captured by the Seanchan. Egwene is collared and made *damane*, enduring the reality of being controlled. Meanwhile, Ingtar's company, including Rand, Mat, and Perrin, tracks Padan Fain to Falme. There, they learn the Horn of Valere is with the Seanchan High Lady Suroth. The story's threads meet in the besieged city.
The Shienaran forces, led by Ingtar, attack Falme to get the Horn of Valere. In the chaos, Ingtar reveals he is a Darkfriend, but he sacrifices himself. Rand, using the heron-marked blade, fights and defeats High Lord Turak, a skilled Seanchan blademaster, and reclaims the Horn. As the battle rages, Rand accepts his destiny. On Falme's walls, he unleashes Saidin, fighting a Myrddraal and a Darkfriend. He proclaims himself the Dragon Reborn to the world. His image appears in the sky, seen by many.
During the battle, Mat, remembering his responsibility, grabs the Horn of Valere. Despite not wanting to be a hero, he blows the Horn. This summons the Heroes of the Horn, including Artur Hawkwing, an ancient emperor, and other mythic figures. These spectral warriors, bound to the Horn, join the fight against the Seanchan, changing the battle's course. Their presence is a sight that inspires awe and terror, showing the Horn's power and the weight of Mat's actions. The Seanchan forces are overwhelmed and retreat from Falme.
Amidst the confusion and the Seanchan retreat, Egwene is freed from her *damane* collar. The experience leaves her traumatized but determined to fight oppression. Nynaeve and Elayne also help resist the Seanchan and ensure Egwene's safety. With the Seanchan temporarily pushed back and the Horn of Valere secure, the group assesses the aftermath. Rand is shaken by the public revelation of his identity and the power he used. The Heroes of the Horn fade, their purpose done, leaving Mat with the Horn's guardianship. The victory is costly, and the world now knows the Dragon Reborn has returned.
Verin Mathwin, who watched the events at Falme, reveals that the battle and Rand's public declaration fulfilled ancient prophecies about the Dragon Reborn. She explains that the 'Dragon on the winds of time' refers to the image of the Dragon that appeared in the sky, seen by many across the Westlands. This confirms to Rand, and to the world, that he is the prophesied figure who will stand against the Dark One. The implications are huge, setting the stage for nations to gather and for the final confrontation with the Shadow. The Wheel of Time turns, and the Great Hunt has ended, but the real hunt for the Dragon Reborn has just begun.
The Protagonist
Rand accepts his identity as the Dragon Reborn, publicly proclaiming it at Falme and beginning to embrace his burgeoning powers and the weight of his destiny.
The Supporting
Mat's health deteriorates due to the dagger, but he ultimately overcomes his fear and reluctance to blow the Horn of Valere, summoning the Heroes and fulfilling a crucial prophecy.
The Supporting
Perrin further develops his connection to wolves, learning to communicate with them and beginning to understand the implications of his unique abilities.
The Supporting
Egwene begins her Aes Sedai training, endures the trauma of Seanchan slavery, and emerges stronger and more determined to fight for freedom.
The Supporting
Nynaeve begins her Aes Sedai training, showing immense power but struggling with its discipline and her own temper.
The Supporting
Moiraine continues to guide Rand, subtly manipulating events to ensure he fulfills his destiny, and helps bring Egwene and Nynaeve to the White Tower.
The Supporting
Lan continues to protect Moiraine and the Emond's Fielders, his developing relationship with Nynaeve showing a crack in his stoic facade.
The Antagonist
Fain continues his relentless pursuit of Rand, stealing the Horn of Valere and Mat's dagger, and eventually leading the Seanchan to Falme.
The Antagonist
Selene attempts to seduce and manipulate Rand, subtly pushing him towards embracing his power, foreshadowing her true identity as the Forsaken Lanfear.
The Supporting
Ingtar leads the hunt for the Horn, grappling with his secret as a Darkfriend, and ultimately redeems himself through a heroic sacrifice at Falme.
This theme explores how characters deal with who they are versus who they are meant to be. Rand al'Thor constantly struggles with his identity as the Dragon Reborn, fearing the madness and destruction linked to his predecessor, Lews Therin Telamon. His journey through the Portal Stone, where he sees a world where the Dark One won, forces him to face the weight of his destiny. Mat's hesitation to be a hero despite his link to the Horn, and Perrin's struggle with his wolfbrother nature, also show this theme. Characters must accept or reject their paths, often finding their true selves in the process, as when Rand declares himself the Dragon Reborn at Falme.
““The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills, but men's hearts are not the Wheel.””
The novel shows how power, both magical and political, can corrupt. Mat's possession of the Shadar Logoth dagger slowly poisons his body and mind, making him paranoid and sick, a clear example of corruption. The Seanchan's use of the *a'dam* to control channelers, turning them into *damane*, represents a brutal and dehumanizing form of power, stripping individuals of their will. Even Rand's growing ability to channel the One Power, *Saidin*, is dangerous, as it is tainted by the Dark One and risks madness. Power without morals can lead to tyranny and destruction, making caution essential.
““Power is a knife. It can cut the world in two, or it can cut your own throat.””
This theme explores atonement and its costs. Ingtar Shinowa, a seemingly honorable Shienaran lord, is a Darkfriend who swore oaths to the Shadow. His internal struggle ends in a heroic sacrifice during the Battle of Falme, where he fights against the Seanchan and Darkfriends. He chooses to die for the Light rather than live under the Shadow. This act of redemption, though costly, shows that even those who have fallen can find a way back, and that true heroism often involves selflessness. His death is a powerful moment, showing that choices, even late ones, can define a person's legacy.
““The Light, and the Shadow. You can run from the Shadow, but you can never escape it. You have to fight it.””
The Great Hunt looks at the complexities of good and evil, often blurring the lines. Padan Fain's transformation into pure malice, a mix of Darkfriend and Mordeth, shows a deep evil. However, the book also presents characters like Ingtar, who serve the Shadow but keep a spark of goodness, struggling with their choices. The Seanchan, while antagonists, believe they bring order and peace. This shows that evil can be seen differently by those who commit it. This theme suggests that evil is not just a force, but a choice, and that even in the darkest places, hope for redemption can exist.
““Evil is a choice, not a destiny.””
Prophecy guides and burdens the characters. Rand's existence is defined by ancient prophecies of the Dragon Reborn, forcing him into a role he never wanted. The Horn of Valere, a legendary artifact, is tied to prophecies of the Last Battle and the summoning of heroes. Verin Mathwin's explanation of how the events at Falme fulfill specific prophecies reinforces that destiny is a powerful, inescapable force. The characters constantly grapple with the meaning of these prophecies, understanding that their actions are part of a larger, predetermined pattern, yet still making their own choices within that framework.
““The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.””
A legendary artifact that summons heroes from the past.
The Horn of Valere is a crucial MacGuffin and plot device. Its theft by Padan Fain drives the initial pursuit of Rand's party. Its power to summon legendary heroes from the past, bound to the Horn, is ultimately unleashed by Mat Cauthon at Falme, turning the tide of battle against the Seanchan. This device not only provides a tangible goal for the characters but also introduces the concept of eternal heroes tied to the Wheel of Time, emphasizing the cyclical nature of history and prophecy. It also forces Mat, an unwilling hero, into a pivotal role.
Ancient artifacts allowing travel to alternate realities.
The Portal Stones are relics from the Age of Legends that allow instantaneous travel to distant locations or, more profoundly, to alternate realities. Rand, Loial, and Selene use one, transporting them to a desolate world where the Dark One seemingly won. This serves as a powerful foreshadowing device, showing Rand a potential future if he fails, and deepening his understanding of his own critical role. It also allows for the introduction of Selene's mysterious knowledge and further develops Rand's channeling abilities, pushing him to confront the vastness of the world and his destiny.
A magical collar and bracelet used by the Seanchan to control female channelers.
The *a'dam* is a powerful and horrifying plot device introduced with the Seanchan invasion. It consists of a bracelet and a collar, which, when linked, allow the wielder of the bracelet to completely control the channeler wearing the collar (known as a *damane*). This device highlights the Seanchan's brutal and oppressive nature, demonstrating a terrifying form of magical slavery. Its use on Egwene al'Vere is a traumatic event that profoundly shapes her character, fueling her hatred for oppression and solidifying her resolve to fight for freedom and control over her own power. It also serves as a stark contrast to the Aes Sedai's approach to channeling.
A sword signifying a blademaster, used by Rand.
The heron-marked blade is a symbolic and functional plot device. It signifies that its wielder is a blademaster, a master of the sword. Rand al'Thor inherits one, which he learns to wield with increasing skill. His use of it in combat, particularly in his duel with High Lord Turak at Falme, reinforces his growing prowess and his acceptance of his warrior's path. The sword is a tangible representation of his identity as a fighter and a leader, contrasting with his shepherd origins and foreshadowing his role as a military commander in the Last Battle. It connects him to ancient traditions of honor and skill.
“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.”
— The opening lines of the book, setting the epic scope of the series.
“Duty is heavier than a mountain, death lighter than a feather.”
— Moiraine Damodred often recites this Aiel saying, emphasizing the importance of responsibility.
“You can never know what you are doing until you are done.”
— Lan Mandragoran offers this piece of wisdom to Rand al'Thor.
“When you have to choose, choose the lesser evil. But don't ever think that there is no evil in it.”
— Moiraine advises Rand on difficult decisions he will face.
“The oak fights the wind and is broken; the willow bends before it and survives.”
— This is another proverb Moiraine shares, illustrating the value of adaptability.
“The only thing that makes a man a man is his honor.”
— Lan speaks to Rand about the core of a man's identity.
“What do you do with a man who can’t be bought, can’t be frightened, can’t be reasoned with? You kill him.”
— Padan Fain muses on the difficulty of dealing with his enemies, specifically Rand.
“Sometimes a man has to do what he has to do, even if he doesn't want to.”
— Rand reflects on the difficult path he is being forced to walk.
“A man who trusts everyone is a fool, and a man who trusts no one is a fool. We are all fools, if truth be told. But we have to choose the right fools to follow.”
— Ingtar shares his cynical view of trust and leadership with Rand.
“The Light shine on you, and the Creator keep you. May the last embrace of the mother welcome you home.”
— A common blessing and farewell in the Westlands, often used by characters like Loial.
“You speak of a time when men could channel. You speak of the Age of Legends. The world was broken then, and remade by the Breaking of the World.”
— Moiraine explains the history of the world and the dangers of the One Power to Rand.
“He who hesitates is lost. And he who acts without thinking is also lost.”
— Another piece of wisdom from Lan, highlighting the balance between action and thought.
“The Dragon Reborn has sounded the Horn of Valere. The Last Hunt is on.”
— Verin Mathwin's declaration after the Horn of Valere is sounded, marking a pivotal moment.
“There are no easy answers, only choices.”
— Moiraine frequently reminds her companions of the complexity of their journey.
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James Oliver Rigney Jr., better known by his pen name Robert Jordan, was an American author of epic fantasy. He is known best for his series The Wheel of Time which comprises 14 books and a prequel novel. He is one of several writers to have written original Conan the Barbarian novels; his are considered by fans to be some of the best of the non-Robert E. Howard efforts. Jordan also published historical fiction using the pseudonym Reagan O'Neal, a western as Jackson O'Reilly, and dance criticism as Chang Lung. Jordan claimed to have ghostwritten an "international thriller" that is still believed to have been written by someone else.
