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The Wheel of Time #reference
The Wheel of Time Companion
The People, Places and History of the Bestselling Series.
Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time® by Robert Jordan has captivated millions of readers around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters. Over the course of fifteen books and millions of words, the world that Jordan created grew in depth and complexity. However, only a fraction of what Jordan imagined ended up on the page, the rest going into his personal files.
Now The Wheel of Time Companion sheds light on some of the most intriguing aspects of the world, including biographies and motivations of many characters that never made it into the books, but helped bring Jordan's world to life.
Included in the volume in an A-to-Z format are:
An entry for each named character
An inclusive dictionary of the Old Tongue
New maps of the Last Battle
New portraits of many characters
Histories and customs of the nations of the world
The strength level of many channelers
Descriptions of the flora and fauna unique to the world
And much more!
The Wheel of Time Companion will be required reading for The Wheel of Time's millions of fans.
Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time® by Robert Jordan has captivated millions of readers around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters. Over the course of fifteen books and millions of words, the world that Jordan created grew in depth and complexity. However, only a fraction of what Jordan imagined ended up on the page, the rest going into his personal files.
Now The Wheel of Time Companion sheds light on some of the most intriguing aspects of the world, including biographies and motivations of many characters that never made it into the books, but helped bring Jordan's world to life.
Included in the volume in an A-to-Z format are:
An entry for each named character
An inclusive dictionary of the Old Tongue
New maps of the Last Battle
New portraits of many characters
Histories and customs of the nations of the world
The strength level of many channelers
Descriptions of the flora and fauna unique to the world
And much more!
The Wheel of Time Companion will be required reading for The Wheel of Time's millions of fans.
768 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2015
638 people are currently reading
3620 people want to read
About the author
Robert Jordan
680 books17.2k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.
Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977. He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.
He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797.
Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. However, "like his father and grandfather," he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. In his own words, "no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs."
On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intended to have a long and fully creative life.
He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in early April 2006. Jordan was enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis.
Jordan died at approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2007, and a funeral service was held for him on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Jordan was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. James Church in Goose Creek, outside Charleston.
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.
Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968 to 1970) with the United States Army as a helicopter gunner. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977. He was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe collecting.
He described himself as a "High Church" Episcopalian and received communion more than once a week. He lived with his wife Harriet McDougal, who works as a book editor (currently with Tor Books; she was also Jordan's editor) in a house built in 1797.
Responding to queries on the similarity of some of the concepts in his Wheel of Time books with Freemasonry concepts, Jordan admitted that he was a Freemason. However, "like his father and grandfather," he preferred not to advertise, possibly because of the negative propaganda against Freemasonry. In his own words, "no man in this country should feel in danger because of his beliefs."
On March 23, 2006, Jordan disclosed in a statement that he had been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis, and that with treatment, his median life expectancy was four years, though he said he intended to beat the statistics. He later posted on his Dragonmount blog to encourage his fans not to worry about him and that he intended to have a long and fully creative life.
He began chemotherapy treatment at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in early April 2006. Jordan was enrolled in a study using the drug Revlimid just approved for multiple myeloma but not yet tested on primary amyloidosis.
Jordan died at approximately 2:45 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2007, and a funeral service was held for him on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. Jordan was cremated and his ashes buried in the churchyard of St. James Church in Goose Creek, outside Charleston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 25, 2017
I’ve recently started reading book three after a break of around six months between books. I read a lot, so when I revisit a series after such a length of time, I also forget a lot. It’s only natural. So this book was a massive help to me.
I remembered the plot of the previous books fine; it’s just the character’s names that eluded me and their past. I recall the main cast fine, but the minor ones, the ones that appeared a few books ago or only in a single chapter escaped me completely. This is an absolutely huge fantasy world. It’s so easy to forget things. And this book is so good at reminding me. I can just flick through and find the name, and then it all comes rushing back. Obviously, this makes enjoying the series a lot easier. The book is easy to access, too, with it’s a-z format.
However, this book is extremely dangerous. There are absolutely no spoiler warnings in the text. Returning readers are fine, but if this is your first time reading through the series you need to tread very lightly. I stumbled across a massive plot spoiler; it ruined a later aspect of the books for me. I mean, I can guess how it will all end but that doesn’t mean I want those ideas confirmed. It ruins a lot of the excitement when reading and slows down the momentum drastically.
I only recommend this to those that have read the series through all ready. New readers look elsewhere, unless you are prepared to quickly close the book, and I mean quickly, when those all so juicy spoilers start dripping off the page.
I remembered the plot of the previous books fine; it’s just the character’s names that eluded me and their past. I recall the main cast fine, but the minor ones, the ones that appeared a few books ago or only in a single chapter escaped me completely. This is an absolutely huge fantasy world. It’s so easy to forget things. And this book is so good at reminding me. I can just flick through and find the name, and then it all comes rushing back. Obviously, this makes enjoying the series a lot easier. The book is easy to access, too, with it’s a-z format.
However, this book is extremely dangerous. There are absolutely no spoiler warnings in the text. Returning readers are fine, but if this is your first time reading through the series you need to tread very lightly. I stumbled across a massive plot spoiler; it ruined a later aspect of the books for me. I mean, I can guess how it will all end but that doesn’t mean I want those ideas confirmed. It ruins a lot of the excitement when reading and slows down the momentum drastically.
I only recommend this to those that have read the series through all ready. New readers look elsewhere, unless you are prepared to quickly close the book, and I mean quickly, when those all so juicy spoilers start dripping off the page.
September 12, 2017
So far, I'm not terribly impressed. There are no pronunciations--NONE. And the majority of the illustrations are fairly low quality, especially in comparison to the very few that are good. And outside the extreme main crew, the featured secondary characters seem arbitrary, with a distinct lack of MANY crowd favorites.
YES. I am bitching about the lack of pictures. Don't advertise the "awesome" pictures if you don't want people bitching about how not awesome they are. I mean, bloody hell . . . Cadsuane looks like Glenn Close with a large spider on her head.
YES. I am bitching about the lack of pictures. Don't advertise the "awesome" pictures if you don't want people bitching about how not awesome they are. I mean, bloody hell . . . Cadsuane looks like Glenn Close with a large spider on her head.
November 6, 2015
Since its debut in 1990, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series has captivated millions of readers around the world. Over the course of fifteen books and millions of words, Jordan created a rich and detailed world. Yet only a fraction of Jordan's imaginings ended up on the page, with the rest going into his personal files.
The Wheel of Time Companion finally reveals a wealth of previously-unreleased information about the world of the Wheel of Time, as well as expanding on many known details.
The Companion includes:
* A detailed entry for each named character
* An inclusive dictionary of the Old Tongue
* New maps of the Last Battle
* New portraits of many characters
* Histories and customs of the nations of the world
* The strength level of many channelers
* Descriptions of the flora and fauna unique to the world
* And much more besides!
The Wheel of Time Companion is unmissable reading for fans of this bestselling series.
When this almighty tome landed at my front door I was excited. As a life long fan of Robert Jordan and The Wheel of Time I was hopeful that this companion would live up to the hype and publicity it has been getting these past few months. And, after giving it an initial flick through, I am happy to report that my hope was not misplaced.
At over 800 pages long this companion is massive and incredibly detailed. Everything is covered, from insightful looks at each and every character through to the strength level of the many channellers that appeared throughout the story. Cultures are explored, and customs outlined and explained. In fact whilst I was skimming through I was (yet again) blown away by the gargantuan amount of world building that Jordan put into his books. It simply boggles my mind, and goes a long way to explaining why his books were so rich and alluring to epic fantasy fans. And respect must also go towards the editors of this companion. They have done a masterful job of piecing it together with encyclopaedic detail, and by incorporating tidbits that were absent from the novels (entires for characters that didn't appear much in the novels sheds light on their overall role in the world) they have also added to the rich heritage and legacy of Jordan.
If I had one small criticism it would be that I wanted to see more artwork and maps. Whilst it is wonderful to be able to look up entries for obscure things such as rare flora and fauna, or to check the updated strength level of a particular channeler that has popped up, I still found myself wanting to see more then just an encyclopaedia. The other warning that I must air is that this companion contains significant spoilers (pretty much all of them). If you are new to The Wheel of Time (welcome, you have made a good choice) then I would suggest that you use this companion sparingly at first. However, if you like me and have consumed the books with glee already then this companion will be the best friend you need to embark on the journey all over again, or to settle that nerd fight you may be having online one night.
All in all The Wheel of Time Companion is an incredibly impressive addition to the already rich tapestry of Robert Jordan's work. A must have for any fan of the series.
3.5 stars out of 5.
A review copy was provided.
The Wheel of Time Companion finally reveals a wealth of previously-unreleased information about the world of the Wheel of Time, as well as expanding on many known details.
The Companion includes:
* A detailed entry for each named character
* An inclusive dictionary of the Old Tongue
* New maps of the Last Battle
* New portraits of many characters
* Histories and customs of the nations of the world
* The strength level of many channelers
* Descriptions of the flora and fauna unique to the world
* And much more besides!
The Wheel of Time Companion is unmissable reading for fans of this bestselling series.
When this almighty tome landed at my front door I was excited. As a life long fan of Robert Jordan and The Wheel of Time I was hopeful that this companion would live up to the hype and publicity it has been getting these past few months. And, after giving it an initial flick through, I am happy to report that my hope was not misplaced.
At over 800 pages long this companion is massive and incredibly detailed. Everything is covered, from insightful looks at each and every character through to the strength level of the many channellers that appeared throughout the story. Cultures are explored, and customs outlined and explained. In fact whilst I was skimming through I was (yet again) blown away by the gargantuan amount of world building that Jordan put into his books. It simply boggles my mind, and goes a long way to explaining why his books were so rich and alluring to epic fantasy fans. And respect must also go towards the editors of this companion. They have done a masterful job of piecing it together with encyclopaedic detail, and by incorporating tidbits that were absent from the novels (entires for characters that didn't appear much in the novels sheds light on their overall role in the world) they have also added to the rich heritage and legacy of Jordan.
If I had one small criticism it would be that I wanted to see more artwork and maps. Whilst it is wonderful to be able to look up entries for obscure things such as rare flora and fauna, or to check the updated strength level of a particular channeler that has popped up, I still found myself wanting to see more then just an encyclopaedia. The other warning that I must air is that this companion contains significant spoilers (pretty much all of them). If you are new to The Wheel of Time (welcome, you have made a good choice) then I would suggest that you use this companion sparingly at first. However, if you like me and have consumed the books with glee already then this companion will be the best friend you need to embark on the journey all over again, or to settle that nerd fight you may be having online one night.
All in all The Wheel of Time Companion is an incredibly impressive addition to the already rich tapestry of Robert Jordan's work. A must have for any fan of the series.
3.5 stars out of 5.
A review copy was provided.
December 6, 2020
Very important: it contains lots of spoilers, so it's better to finish the series before reading it.
This is strictly a companion for the Wheel of Time series, and is in fact a glossary with character names and other terms and events from WoT, explained in detail, kind of like the Wiki of the series. Some of these you can also find, at least partially, in the glossaries at the end of the main books.
I must confess I didn't remeber quite a lot of names ("very secondary" characters, so to speak) and I even skipped some I didn't care about.
What annoyed me most is the lack of consistency from the very start, e.g. some names are explained as "first name last name" (Merana Ambrey), others as "last name, first name" (Ambrey, Merana), while some in the form last name, first name send you to See "first name last name." (Ambrey, Merana - see Merana Ambrey) - no logic whatsoever. Also, it would have been useful if pronunciations were provided.
What I liked most were the illustrations (though too few of them) and detailed maps, plus the step-by-step explaining of the Last Battle.
This is strictly a companion for the Wheel of Time series, and is in fact a glossary with character names and other terms and events from WoT, explained in detail, kind of like the Wiki of the series. Some of these you can also find, at least partially, in the glossaries at the end of the main books.
I must confess I didn't remeber quite a lot of names ("very secondary" characters, so to speak) and I even skipped some I didn't care about.
What annoyed me most is the lack of consistency from the very start, e.g. some names are explained as "first name last name" (Merana Ambrey), others as "last name, first name" (Ambrey, Merana), while some in the form last name, first name send you to See "first name last name." (Ambrey, Merana - see Merana Ambrey) - no logic whatsoever. Also, it would have been useful if pronunciations were provided.
What I liked most were the illustrations (though too few of them) and detailed maps, plus the step-by-step explaining of the Last Battle.
November 2, 2023
Rating: 5 stars
Had a little party around the house this morning because I finished this book. After 108 days, but still. I finished it. Focusing on the positives here. I could use the excuse that it was over 1000 pages so of course it was going to take me longer, but I read a total of eight >1000 page books last year and they only took me an average of 11 days to read. And we're not going to even talk about 2020 because that was crazyI read 18 over 1000 page books and it took me on average just over a week to finish each one but like I said, we are not going to mention that. Positives. So what if I am severely critical of myself and this time have the figures to prove it?
But this book. (I swear this is how 99.999% of my reviews start: ramble ramble ramble oh! reviewing time) Fortunately for my sanity, this was more of a reference book/dictionary rather than a novel, so there was no storyline that I had to keep track of (which would have been a feat and a half over 108 days). It was like I could read a paragraph (aka one entry) then not have to remember it explicitly in order to understand the next passage.
And for all of you people complaining about the lack of pronunciation guides, I have one word for you (italicised for emphasis): audiobooks. Honestly, give me the book, chapter and word, and you will have the cannon pronunciation right in your (figurative) hands. Sometimes the pronunciation can fluctuate a bit over the series (examples that come to mind are Birgitte, which went from "burr-GIT" to "burr-GEET-a"; or Taim: "TAME" to "tie-EEM"; and I think Tarmon Gai'don changed as well, but I can't remember the first pronunciation) but that is going to happen with a series as long as this, and given that audiobooks were still a fairly new medium when the first one was recorded on cassette tape. (That's right, before digital audiobooks, before the Darth Bezos’s Empire and Audible, we had audio-cassettes. I think my parents had a huge box of tapes that made up an audio Bible. Actually, I may still have a stereo shoved in a box somewhere that plays cassettes, wow. But anyway, side tangent.)
Also, the "new portraits of many characters" promised on the back was kind of a lie. Well, more of a stretching of the truth. While I loved seeing the Ariel Burgess art instead of the, ah, questionable images from when the series was first out, there wasn't "many" and they also weren't "new" even when the book was published. And why did we have to have the picture of Tylin? Especially doing that? There were so many characters much more important than Tylin we didn't get pictures of. Like what about the Forsaken? Even just a group picture of them would have been more appropriate than that image we got of Tylin. Siuan? Galad? Gawyn? Heck, I would have even been happy with a Tuon. But whatever.
Regardless, The Wheel of Time Companion was great. (I just realised I hadn't even mentioned the name of the book this review is even supposed to be about. Eh, it ceased being a review a long time ago and just turned into me complaining about my slower reading pace in my current slump and reminiscing about cassette tapes.) It actually served as a great refresher for bits of the series you often forget about, and I loved reading all the extra information about characters, especially Aes Sedai, that helped RJ work out the societal and/or political rankings of them in-world but were not necessarily things the reader needs to know while going through the series. Anyway, I'm giving it 5 stars because I'm biased and also because no one can stop me.
Had a little party around the house this morning because I finished this book. After 108 days, but still. I finished it. Focusing on the positives here. I could use the excuse that it was over 1000 pages so of course it was going to take me longer, but I read a total of eight >1000 page books last year and they only took me an average of 11 days to read. And we're not going to even talk about 2020 because that was crazy
But this book. (I swear this is how 99.999% of my reviews start: ramble ramble ramble oh! reviewing time) Fortunately for my sanity, this was more of a reference book/dictionary rather than a novel, so there was no storyline that I had to keep track of (which would have been a feat and a half over 108 days). It was like I could read a paragraph (aka one entry) then not have to remember it explicitly in order to understand the next passage.
And for all of you people complaining about the lack of pronunciation guides, I have one word for you (italicised for emphasis): audiobooks. Honestly, give me the book, chapter and word, and you will have the cannon pronunciation right in your (figurative) hands. Sometimes the pronunciation can fluctuate a bit over the series (examples that come to mind are Birgitte, which went from "burr-GIT" to "burr-GEET-a"; or Taim: "TAME" to "tie-EEM"; and I think Tarmon Gai'don changed as well, but I can't remember the first pronunciation) but that is going to happen with a series as long as this, and given that audiobooks were still a fairly new medium when the first one was recorded on cassette tape. (That's right, before digital audiobooks, before the Darth Bezos’s Empire and Audible, we had audio-cassettes. I think my parents had a huge box of tapes that made up an audio Bible. Actually, I may still have a stereo shoved in a box somewhere that plays cassettes, wow. But anyway, side tangent.)
Also, the "new portraits of many characters" promised on the back was kind of a lie. Well, more of a stretching of the truth. While I loved seeing the Ariel Burgess art instead of the, ah, questionable images from when the series was first out, there wasn't "many" and they also weren't "new" even when the book was published. And why did we have to have the picture of Tylin? Especially doing that? There were so many characters much more important than Tylin we didn't get pictures of. Like what about the Forsaken? Even just a group picture of them would have been more appropriate than that image we got of Tylin. Siuan? Galad? Gawyn? Heck, I would have even been happy with a Tuon. But whatever.
Regardless, The Wheel of Time Companion was great. (I just realised I hadn't even mentioned the name of the book this review is even supposed to be about. Eh, it ceased being a review a long time ago and just turned into me complaining about my slower reading pace in my current slump and reminiscing about cassette tapes.) It actually served as a great refresher for bits of the series you often forget about, and I loved reading all the extra information about characters, especially Aes Sedai, that helped RJ work out the societal and/or political rankings of them in-world but were not necessarily things the reader needs to know while going through the series. Anyway, I'm giving it 5 stars because I'm biased and also because no one can stop me.
February 28, 2022
I bought this book in Hardback when it was first published, and am using it extensively now as I reread (yet again) the magnificent Wheel of Time series. It is invaluable to check details – and spellings when I am listening on audio. Although I have read the books so many times, I do not always remember things correctly – in particular the right order. This reference book helps enormously.
As you might expect, it is full of spoilers, if you haven’t read the whole series, and is probably only of interest to Wheel of Time afficionados and nerds like me – but to us it is an essential goldmine.
As you might expect, it is full of spoilers, if you haven’t read the whole series, and is probably only of interest to Wheel of Time afficionados and nerds like me – but to us it is an essential goldmine.
August 25, 2016
Although WoT is my favorite fantasy saga of all times, this encyclopedia was a tedious reading (and I hopped a lot through it). Written in a dictionary style, has all the names (of characters, cities, objects, etc) written alphabetically, with few (or more) words on each. From time to time, a portrait or a map turns up and gives a little 'colour'. And despite the fact that the illustrations are much better here, scarce as they are, I still liked better The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time.
Anyway, in the end, it is just a refreshment of the myriad places and names which delighted us in the main series.
Anyway, in the end, it is just a refreshment of the myriad places and names which delighted us in the main series.
June 23, 2025
Very helpful read. I wouldn't have enjoyed the series half as much without it.
November 4, 2015
All this is is a big glossary with a few things expanded upon. the previews they gave are very very misleading making one thing there would be articles on different aspect of the story somewhat akin to the 97 companion, which bad art aside is much better then this thing. I am sorely disappointed in this one.
November 11, 2015
It pains me to rate this TWO Stars. I absolutely adore The Wheel of Time. I began reading this series at age 14 and finished it at age 34. These characters are so real to me as I have grown up with them dancing across my imagination.
I was super excited to hear about this Companion edition to the series. What ended up being released is just an oversized glossary. I thought this book would get special treatment sort of like what Subterranean Press does with their special limited edition books. There is nothing special in the binding, it's printed on super cheap low quality paper. Feels almost like newspaper in your hands.
It's a shame. Tor could have done something super unique and of high quality here but they didn't. I'll put this on my shelf next to the rest of the series, but it won't stand out as that special companion set it was made out to be. What a disappointment.
I was super excited to hear about this Companion edition to the series. What ended up being released is just an oversized glossary. I thought this book would get special treatment sort of like what Subterranean Press does with their special limited edition books. There is nothing special in the binding, it's printed on super cheap low quality paper. Feels almost like newspaper in your hands.
It's a shame. Tor could have done something super unique and of high quality here but they didn't. I'll put this on my shelf next to the rest of the series, but it won't stand out as that special companion set it was made out to be. What a disappointment.
November 14, 2015
I love the Wheel of Time series, but I feel cheated after having bought this book, if I could I would ask for my money back. It is supposedly an encyclopedia, but is nothing more a glossaries, and the descriptions that are given are not complete. Encyclopedias as you know they give comprehensive explanation. There is absolute no new or in-depth information here; it just repeats what you have already read… Seriously!
December 15, 2015
I read the encyclopedia for fun as a kid. This book is like an encyclopedia for the Wheel of Time books. So, to me: HEAVEN. It's a great (and old-fashioned, non-Wiki) way to keep everything in the series straight. And I think it does a good job of making a lot of details clear that were a bit glossed over in the books themselves.
June 20, 2025
I skimmed it, does that count?
In addition to being nothing more or less than a very complete dictionary, this book contains:
A dictionary of the old tongue within the pre existing dictionary format.
A full list of all of Linis sayings ever mentioned in the entire series.
A full list of every song name ever mentioned in the entire series.
A full list of all the sword moves ever mentioned in the entire series.
Small drawings of the female characters that look like the same generic Caucasian female with different hair and clothes.
Full page illustrations of all the male characters, with background and costume detail.
Battle maps of the last battle (that was alright)
All the maps from the book reprinted.
Inconsistent art (why does thom look like an anime character. And the tylin/mat portrait, what??)
What this book does not contain:
Literally anything else
In addition to being nothing more or less than a very complete dictionary, this book contains:
A dictionary of the old tongue within the pre existing dictionary format.
A full list of all of Linis sayings ever mentioned in the entire series.
A full list of every song name ever mentioned in the entire series.
A full list of all the sword moves ever mentioned in the entire series.
Small drawings of the female characters that look like the same generic Caucasian female with different hair and clothes.
Full page illustrations of all the male characters, with background and costume detail.
Battle maps of the last battle (that was alright)
All the maps from the book reprinted.
Inconsistent art (why does thom look like an anime character. And the tylin/mat portrait, what??)
What this book does not contain:
Literally anything else
November 11, 2015
YES YES YEEEES GIVE ME MORE.
April 13, 2022
This is not a book. It is just a giant index.
(Don't confuse this with "The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time" which is more of an illustrated map of the universe, with a focus on the interesting parts. This isn't that.)
The laziest thing about this compendium of Robert Jordan's notes is that it doesn't even bother to point you to the interesting material. Somewhere in this book, you can find Robert Jordan's ranking of the power of the various Aes Sedai – but it won't tell you where. (Note that this _isn't_ the best ranking – there are better rankings that take careful account of the descriptions in the books themselves on various fansites.) There is probably some other good material, but I don't know where it is. (Maybe the list of Cadsuane's ter'angreal under her entry?)
So is this book reading? Only if you're _extremely bored_ and willing to search for something that isn't about an NPC in Robert Jordan's ginormous universe. But better to search any of a number of fansites (tarvalon, dragonmount, tor, or fandom) for that material than this glossary.
(Don't confuse this with "The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time" which is more of an illustrated map of the universe, with a focus on the interesting parts. This isn't that.)
The laziest thing about this compendium of Robert Jordan's notes is that it doesn't even bother to point you to the interesting material. Somewhere in this book, you can find Robert Jordan's ranking of the power of the various Aes Sedai – but it won't tell you where. (Note that this _isn't_ the best ranking – there are better rankings that take careful account of the descriptions in the books themselves on various fansites.) There is probably some other good material, but I don't know where it is. (Maybe the list of Cadsuane's ter'angreal under her entry?)
So is this book reading? Only if you're _extremely bored_ and willing to search for something that isn't about an NPC in Robert Jordan's ginormous universe. But better to search any of a number of fansites (tarvalon, dragonmount, tor, or fandom) for that material than this glossary.
January 2, 2022
Hardcore fans may find themselves reading this cover-to-cover, but it’s really ore of a reference. A good resource for keeping straight especially minor characters and details and remembering allegiances. There ARE series-spoilers, so probably best for those who are rereading (the back of the book indexes will be more helpful for first-timers since they only reveal info up to that book, although much more limited in scope, of course). There is some new information and post-script-type info in the entries!
April 29, 2023
This book was very valuable for me on my first reread of the Wheel of Time series, but I must warn at it is straight spoilers for people reading it the first time.
The Wheel of Time is a very complex series, telling a story that takes place around a world with literally hundreds of places and characters. This helps see the connections!
The Wheel of Time is a very complex series, telling a story that takes place around a world with literally hundreds of places and characters. This helps see the connections!
April 15, 2023
Wonderful maps, illustrations, and explanations.
October 2, 2023
This is an amazing addition to your wheel of time read-through.
October 3, 2021
Unrelated to my rating, the search feature in Kindle doesn't work correctly with this book, which makes it disappointing to use.
March 30, 2019
Não é algo único mas é bem interessante e muito útil pra se ter a mão numa releitura.
November 12, 2015
Originally posted to Geek of Oz here.
---
The world lost a writing legend in 2011, when author Robert Jordan - born James Oliver Rigney, Jr. - passed away from amyloidosis, midway through penning the final volume of his decades-long The Wheel of Time series. While the story was eventually finished by Brandon Sanderson it was a bittersweet thing, especially since Jordan did not to live to see the end of his magnum opus.
Whatever The Wheel of Time's flaws - and believe me, there are a few - it was still a formative series for me when I was beginning to get into reading fantasy doorstoppers. I first read The Eye of the World at the age of 13; though the beginning was a slog, I eventually grew to love the world of Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene and all the others. It's the kind of narrative that has stayed with me even as I've explored the likes of Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss and others who've built upon what Jordan started. Even though I tapered off the series a little towards the end - especially with the damnable Crossroads of Twilight, which redefined Purple Prose and padding - I still look back on my time with the Wheel with fondness, and not a little bit of sadness at Jordan's abrupt passing.
With that in mind, reading this Companion was, similarly, a bittersweet experience. It reminded me, once again, that for all the twisted directions and aimless plot threads Jordan may have introduced later in his run, he still made a remarkable, fleshed out world that rivals the likes of master writers like Tolkien, Moorcock and even Jordna's successor himself, Brandon Sanderson.
There's not an awful lot I can say about The Wheel of Time Companion, other than the fact that it is thorough. This is the most compendious, studious work of collecting facts about the Wheel's world ever to be published. Seriously, it's large enough that you could probably use a few hundred of them to build a decently-sized shed.
They've really cut no corners here, folks. The book supplants The World of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time, another companion-like reference book published in 1997 that was, until now, the last word on filling in the Wheel's backstory through appendices. The Companion delves into characters, locations, items, languages, history and events with commendable dedication, with particular praise aimed at a multi-page written and visual breakdown of the logistics of the Last Battle from A Memory of Light. The book is structured like a dictionary, using alphabetical entries that make it a much lengthier version of the glossaries found at the ends of other Wheel of Time books. Be warned, however, that characters have pretty much their entire life stories detailed in each entry of the Companion, so spoilers abound for those not caught up with the end of the story.
It is abundantly clear, given how richly detailed the Companion is, that those who followed up on Jordan's legacy here did so with love and care. His wife and editor, Harriet McDougal, has been instrumental in continuing the series following her husband's death, so it's only fitting that she, along with Alan Romanczuk and Maria Simons, is here to put the definitive capstone on The Wheel of Time. This is as much an informational text for the series as it is a love letter for the fans who stuck with the story for twenty-three years of history. If, like me, it's been a while since you remembered the Forsaken, or what balefire does, or who ends up claiming the Lion Throne, or whether that minor character showed up six books after their debut, then The Wheel of Time Companion will almost certainly make you want to go read the whole thing once again (an urge made difficult to resist given how pretty those new covers are).
However wistful or nostalgic you may get after reading it, it's undeniable that The Wheel of Time Companion is the most painstakingly meticulous account of the Dragon Reborn ever put to page. It also looks really, really pretty on a bookshelf.
---
The world lost a writing legend in 2011, when author Robert Jordan - born James Oliver Rigney, Jr. - passed away from amyloidosis, midway through penning the final volume of his decades-long The Wheel of Time series. While the story was eventually finished by Brandon Sanderson it was a bittersweet thing, especially since Jordan did not to live to see the end of his magnum opus.
Whatever The Wheel of Time's flaws - and believe me, there are a few - it was still a formative series for me when I was beginning to get into reading fantasy doorstoppers. I first read The Eye of the World at the age of 13; though the beginning was a slog, I eventually grew to love the world of Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene and all the others. It's the kind of narrative that has stayed with me even as I've explored the likes of Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss and others who've built upon what Jordan started. Even though I tapered off the series a little towards the end - especially with the damnable Crossroads of Twilight, which redefined Purple Prose and padding - I still look back on my time with the Wheel with fondness, and not a little bit of sadness at Jordan's abrupt passing.
With that in mind, reading this Companion was, similarly, a bittersweet experience. It reminded me, once again, that for all the twisted directions and aimless plot threads Jordan may have introduced later in his run, he still made a remarkable, fleshed out world that rivals the likes of master writers like Tolkien, Moorcock and even Jordna's successor himself, Brandon Sanderson.
There's not an awful lot I can say about The Wheel of Time Companion, other than the fact that it is thorough. This is the most compendious, studious work of collecting facts about the Wheel's world ever to be published. Seriously, it's large enough that you could probably use a few hundred of them to build a decently-sized shed.
They've really cut no corners here, folks. The book supplants The World of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time, another companion-like reference book published in 1997 that was, until now, the last word on filling in the Wheel's backstory through appendices. The Companion delves into characters, locations, items, languages, history and events with commendable dedication, with particular praise aimed at a multi-page written and visual breakdown of the logistics of the Last Battle from A Memory of Light. The book is structured like a dictionary, using alphabetical entries that make it a much lengthier version of the glossaries found at the ends of other Wheel of Time books. Be warned, however, that characters have pretty much their entire life stories detailed in each entry of the Companion, so spoilers abound for those not caught up with the end of the story.
It is abundantly clear, given how richly detailed the Companion is, that those who followed up on Jordan's legacy here did so with love and care. His wife and editor, Harriet McDougal, has been instrumental in continuing the series following her husband's death, so it's only fitting that she, along with Alan Romanczuk and Maria Simons, is here to put the definitive capstone on The Wheel of Time. This is as much an informational text for the series as it is a love letter for the fans who stuck with the story for twenty-three years of history. If, like me, it's been a while since you remembered the Forsaken, or what balefire does, or who ends up claiming the Lion Throne, or whether that minor character showed up six books after their debut, then The Wheel of Time Companion will almost certainly make you want to go read the whole thing once again (an urge made difficult to resist given how pretty those new covers are).
However wistful or nostalgic you may get after reading it, it's undeniable that The Wheel of Time Companion is the most painstakingly meticulous account of the Dragon Reborn ever put to page. It also looks really, really pretty on a bookshelf.
April 23, 2022
As the title suggests, this book is basically an extended version of the glossaries that appear at the end of each volume of the Wheel of Time. By extended, I mean this thing is huge. Every character in the series is here, even if they only had a single line of dialogue - if they were given a name they're here. Every kingdom, city, town, landmark, noble house and battle. Just to give you an idea of how extensive this book is, it's in alphabetical order and you don't even hit the B's until almost 100 pages in.
It's a very useful reference book considering how many characters are in this series. By book 7 or so I'd honestly forgotten most of the names of the various Aes Sedai, Wise Ones, and nobles that were outside the core group of characters, so this is a quick way to refresh your memory. That said, there is one major thing to be aware of:
I wouldn't even begin this until AFTER you finish the series. It gives background and summaries on every character so you can unwittingly expose yourself to some major spoilers if you look at this too early. I can only imagine how disappointing it'd be to look up a character in this and discover they're secretly a darkfriend, or how they're about to be horribly murdered. Definitely a book to browse through only when you're done with the Wheel of Time, or are rereading this series and want a reminder of who the heck (insert character name here) is.
I'm giving it a three because it's a useful add on, but not a necessary one to enjoy the series. Also, at the time of writing this review, it's more expensive then any volume of the regular series which seems a little odd for what is essentially an expanded glossary.
It's a very useful reference book considering how many characters are in this series. By book 7 or so I'd honestly forgotten most of the names of the various Aes Sedai, Wise Ones, and nobles that were outside the core group of characters, so this is a quick way to refresh your memory. That said, there is one major thing to be aware of:
I wouldn't even begin this until AFTER you finish the series. It gives background and summaries on every character so you can unwittingly expose yourself to some major spoilers if you look at this too early. I can only imagine how disappointing it'd be to look up a character in this and discover they're secretly a darkfriend, or how they're about to be horribly murdered. Definitely a book to browse through only when you're done with the Wheel of Time, or are rereading this series and want a reminder of who the heck (insert character name here) is.
I'm giving it a three because it's a useful add on, but not a necessary one to enjoy the series. Also, at the time of writing this review, it's more expensive then any volume of the regular series which seems a little odd for what is essentially an expanded glossary.
November 9, 2015
Well, as others have mentioned, this is just a complete glossary of the terms and characters in the Wherl of Time. After looking forward to his since the release of A !emory of Light, I had expected and extensive, color artwork compendium with tons of new background information much like the 1997 World of the Wheel of Time. Instead this is just a bugger version of what comes at the end of every WoT book.
Hoping for loads on info on the Age of Legends? Not in this book. How about Forsaken back stories? Nope. Any significant revelations that we were hoping for after AMoL? Aside from the power level scale, I can't think of any.
This is still a cool book of information, but ultimately I think its best as a reference book while reading the series (although you have to avoid some entries due to spoilers). I'm kind of disappointed. I think is series has way too much secrecy involved, after all what would it have hurt to explain who Nakomi is, or why Rand could light his pipe with a thought? In the end it's just a made up story, and I wish they had the decency to respect the fans and give us some closure rather than play it up even more.
Hoping for loads on info on the Age of Legends? Not in this book. How about Forsaken back stories? Nope. Any significant revelations that we were hoping for after AMoL? Aside from the power level scale, I can't think of any.
This is still a cool book of information, but ultimately I think its best as a reference book while reading the series (although you have to avoid some entries due to spoilers). I'm kind of disappointed. I think is series has way too much secrecy involved, after all what would it have hurt to explain who Nakomi is, or why Rand could light his pipe with a thought? In the end it's just a made up story, and I wish they had the decency to respect the fans and give us some closure rather than play it up even more.
January 7, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway much to my enjoyment as I had already planned to purchase it. I must say I did enjoy it for what It is. Which is a companion to the novels. If as some reviews mention its is not giving full details and merely a glossary that may be because as mentioned it is a companion, not a book. If you want the full stories of characters, places, items etc. try reading the series at 14 books (which I highly recommend) I am sure you will find all the information you could want. However if your looking for something to help look up those characters or places to jog your memory while reading the books I highly recommend The Wheel of Time Companion. This may be especially enjoyable to those who like reading along with re-reads (Tor.com has not only a re-read but a re-read of the re-read for this series on their site). I would recommend this Companion to any fan of the Wheel of Time.
October 31, 2022
Watching the recently released Amazon Prime show based on the series has sparked my interest in re-reading the entire series once again, and this book was a step in that direction.
The companion is a glossary covering the characters, history, concepts and much more of the Wheel of Time. I found it very handy as a reference as I had forgotten much since reading the books.
The companion is a glossary covering the characters, history, concepts and much more of the Wheel of Time. I found it very handy as a reference as I had forgotten much since reading the books.
May 23, 2017
I got this book a little bit ahead of publication date. Sometimes that happens.
I finished The Wheel of Time series a few years back (I believe it was 2013 or 2014 sometime, I forget which year; but I've documented all my Wheel of Time reviews.)
I haven't "read" this book, and that's because it's essentially an A-Z companion of the entire saga. One COULD read the book, cover to cover, AS a book but that's the intent for its existance.
So how can I review it then??
Because judging from the size, and nature of the contents, I know enough to give it a rating, and write about it.
First of all, the edition I got was the (trade) paperback (which, size-wise is about the size of a hardback, except it's made a paperback). I've always gotten The Wheel of Time as paperbacks. Way back when I started reading / buying the series, I believe the most recent book to be published in (mass market) paperback would have been Book 10, "Crossroads of Twilight." Since then, I strive for uniformity / matching formats within a series. Anyway, so the (trade) paperback of the Companion is the first published. there very could be the smaller, thicker, mass-market someday...but it wasn't the first to be published. In fact, to better explain, the book DEFINITELY matches the re-issues that TOR have been putting out here and there over the past few years. It'll definitely match with those. But since it's a Companion book, and not "Book #__" for instance, it's ok if it doesn't "match" the other titles. The fact that it's a Companion benefits the larger size. Maybe because of that it won't exist as a mass market brick of a book?
Like The Wheel of Time series, this book isn't perfect. There are possible errors in it, as indicated in the foreword itself. This is because the body of work is quite vast (14 books long, each being no shorter than 700 pages long, in mass market) and that Robert Jordan has passed away; therefore fact-checking more difficult than usual because of that.
The book serves as a great companion to the 14 books. There isn't a Table of contents, as it's A-Z formatted. However, the back cover [picks book up] states: "included in the book in A-Z format are: an entry for each named character, an inclusive dictionary of the Old Tongue, new maps of the Last Battle, new portraits of many characters, histories and customs of the nations of the world, the strength level of many channelers, descriptions f of the flora and fauna unique to the world, and much more. However, looking at what the book contains, finding some of those may be a tad tricky, if you don't know what to look under. the maps of the Last Battle, it makes sense they would theoritically be under the Last Battle entry. However, it could have been benefecial to separate portions of the Companion into sections. Not the entire thing. Have an A-Z listing, and then afterwards, perhaps group all the maps. Following the maps section, perhaps give the Old Tongue its own section. For all I know, that may have come up, but it's something I noticed about the book.
Another point I wish to address is spoilers. They mention spoilers in the beginning of the book. But how 'spoiler-y' are they? Would one ruin the reading experience if they were to use the Companion AS they read?? Again, as I haven't 'read' or 'used' this book yet, it's difficult to say. In fact, I just looked up a character and the book tells you EVERYTHING about them. Because of this, for anyone who's familiar, the book appears to be more akin to what Robert Foster's Comple Guide to Middle-earth is to The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, rather than a 'guide'.
So I can easily recommend this to anyone who owns, and enjoyed, all 14 books. As well as those that plan to buy, or are purchasing, the 14 book series. I will caution its use, however, as it appears to be beneficial for re-reads, or best use post-series.
There is lots here that the readers and fans will love. If you've got all 14 books already, go for this one. If you are buying, or plan to buy all 14, get this; but get it last.
I finished The Wheel of Time series a few years back (I believe it was 2013 or 2014 sometime, I forget which year; but I've documented all my Wheel of Time reviews.)
I haven't "read" this book, and that's because it's essentially an A-Z companion of the entire saga. One COULD read the book, cover to cover, AS a book but that's the intent for its existance.
So how can I review it then??
Because judging from the size, and nature of the contents, I know enough to give it a rating, and write about it.
First of all, the edition I got was the (trade) paperback (which, size-wise is about the size of a hardback, except it's made a paperback). I've always gotten The Wheel of Time as paperbacks. Way back when I started reading / buying the series, I believe the most recent book to be published in (mass market) paperback would have been Book 10, "Crossroads of Twilight." Since then, I strive for uniformity / matching formats within a series. Anyway, so the (trade) paperback of the Companion is the first published. there very could be the smaller, thicker, mass-market someday...but it wasn't the first to be published. In fact, to better explain, the book DEFINITELY matches the re-issues that TOR have been putting out here and there over the past few years. It'll definitely match with those. But since it's a Companion book, and not "Book #__" for instance, it's ok if it doesn't "match" the other titles. The fact that it's a Companion benefits the larger size. Maybe because of that it won't exist as a mass market brick of a book?
Like The Wheel of Time series, this book isn't perfect. There are possible errors in it, as indicated in the foreword itself. This is because the body of work is quite vast (14 books long, each being no shorter than 700 pages long, in mass market) and that Robert Jordan has passed away; therefore fact-checking more difficult than usual because of that.
The book serves as a great companion to the 14 books. There isn't a Table of contents, as it's A-Z formatted. However, the back cover [picks book up] states: "included in the book in A-Z format are: an entry for each named character, an inclusive dictionary of the Old Tongue, new maps of the Last Battle, new portraits of many characters, histories and customs of the nations of the world, the strength level of many channelers, descriptions f of the flora and fauna unique to the world, and much more. However, looking at what the book contains, finding some of those may be a tad tricky, if you don't know what to look under. the maps of the Last Battle, it makes sense they would theoritically be under the Last Battle entry. However, it could have been benefecial to separate portions of the Companion into sections. Not the entire thing. Have an A-Z listing, and then afterwards, perhaps group all the maps. Following the maps section, perhaps give the Old Tongue its own section. For all I know, that may have come up, but it's something I noticed about the book.
Another point I wish to address is spoilers. They mention spoilers in the beginning of the book. But how 'spoiler-y' are they? Would one ruin the reading experience if they were to use the Companion AS they read?? Again, as I haven't 'read' or 'used' this book yet, it's difficult to say. In fact, I just looked up a character and the book tells you EVERYTHING about them. Because of this, for anyone who's familiar, the book appears to be more akin to what Robert Foster's Comple Guide to Middle-earth is to The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, rather than a 'guide'.
So I can easily recommend this to anyone who owns, and enjoyed, all 14 books. As well as those that plan to buy, or are purchasing, the 14 book series. I will caution its use, however, as it appears to be beneficial for re-reads, or best use post-series.
There is lots here that the readers and fans will love. If you've got all 14 books already, go for this one. If you are buying, or plan to buy all 14, get this; but get it last.
September 29, 2025
Finished before it hit ten years on my goodreads Currently Reading by a month, whoops.
This is essentially Wheel of Time Dictionary: the book, an extended glossary with encyclopedia entries and art on plot-relevant characters, and as such not really a narrative which is why it took me nearly ten years to get through it (though really got through the last 50% in the last year or so). Newbies beware-definitely FULL SPOILERS for the whole series so this is mostly useful for the certified fan freak rereaders like myself or people who've finished but maybe can't keep all the S-named Aes Sedai straight. There is a an app on both Android and iOS named the WOT Compendium app that's more useful for new readers as you can filter spoiler levels.
There's some quirky editorial errors (the Ten Nations entry doubles the names of four of the nations, at one point there's "the Falme of Tar Valon" when talking about the Amyrlin's titles) but it is noted in the intro that some of these were pulled from his notes with little alteration, and others may be contradictory to show how writers change their mind on occasion (AMOL readers will notice that Harriet ). Still, I've found this to be invaluable in fandom discussions and am glad to have it on hand, especially when pondering how much the show DID pull deeply (Yassica is indeed the name of a Brown sister, for instance).
Anyway, mostly relieved to mark it as Read because I am bad at DNFing and was determined to finish.
This is essentially Wheel of Time Dictionary: the book, an extended glossary with encyclopedia entries and art on plot-relevant characters, and as such not really a narrative which is why it took me nearly ten years to get through it (though really got through the last 50% in the last year or so). Newbies beware-definitely FULL SPOILERS for the whole series so this is mostly useful for the certified fan freak rereaders like myself or people who've finished but maybe can't keep all the S-named Aes Sedai straight. There is a an app on both Android and iOS named the WOT Compendium app that's more useful for new readers as you can filter spoiler levels.
There's some quirky editorial errors (the Ten Nations entry doubles the names of four of the nations, at one point there's "the Falme of Tar Valon" when talking about the Amyrlin's titles) but it is noted in the intro that some of these were pulled from his notes with little alteration, and others may be contradictory to show how writers change their mind on occasion (AMOL readers will notice that Harriet ). Still, I've found this to be invaluable in fandom discussions and am glad to have it on hand, especially when pondering how much the show DID pull deeply (Yassica is indeed the name of a Brown sister, for instance).
Anyway, mostly relieved to mark it as Read because I am bad at DNFing and was determined to finish.
January 31, 2022
This is a glorified glossary. Don’t let the cover titled fool you. Now, that being said, it goes into, everything in the world. From beginning to end of anything and everything. But the way it is formatted, well it’s dull and a bit lifeless. It’s like reading a text book for school. Now they have pictures of characters and environments, and the map of The Last Battle, which is cool. Also, they have weights and heights for our main cast and some were very surprising. I’m a WOT simp, so I’ll get anything that’s related to it, but this is sort of a let down, but one that I’m proud to own…because WOT.
February 9, 2019
When I was reading this book series everything was full of ups and down. When I started to read the book, it lead me to other and then to other. For the whole series I'll rate the complete book series as 4 stars. There are many thoughts about the whole series. It really is a good book fantasy fiction series.
The characters are definitely good and really well developed in the series and the plot is good. I found the book interesting and would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.
The characters are definitely good and really well developed in the series and the plot is good. I found the book interesting and would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy lovers.
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