A Fire Within the Ways

The Wheel of Time #extra/alternate

by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson

https://brandonsanderson.com/unfetter...

All,

Today, I have the opportunity to share with you something extra special. As some of you know, during the revision process of A Memory of Light, two lengthy sections ended up on the cutting room floor. The first, which we titled River of Souls, was included in the first Unfettered Anthology. The second, I assumed, would never see the light of day.

However, Grim Oak press (and Shawn Speakman, who runs it) has continued the Unfettered anthologies—the income of which is used to help pay medical fees for authors and artists in need. I thought the arrival of the third anthology would be a great chance to use this other deleted scene. (Which involves Perrin traveling into the Ways.) Harriet has graciously agreed to let it be published, so I’m thrilled to be able to announce its inclusion in the anthology.

I’ve long been fond of this sequence, and it was quite difficult to cut from the book. (In the anthology itself, I’ll explain why we eventually decided that the sequence needed to go.) I do have to warn you that-unlike River of Souls, which we consider canon to events in the Wheel of Time—this as-of-yet untitled sequence is NOT canon. You’ll want to read it in the same way you’d watch an unfinished, alternate film scene that ended up not being used.

Still, I think it’s an exciting and interesting chunk of writing. It’s quite big, as long as a novella, and it addresses one of the big unanswered questions we left hanging at the end of the Wheel of Time. So I think you’re in for a treat.

Look for Unfettered Three March 19th, 2019.

Brandon

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Short Stories, Audiobook, Epic Fantasy, Magic, Adventure

91 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 4 out of 5]

These 60 pages were cut from A Memory of Light because, according to Sanderson, despite the fact that he loved them, the tone didn‘t fit, they threw off the pacing, and also felt too regressive. This sequence was ultimately judged a side quest that hindered the building momentum.

It shows Perrin leading a group of soldiers, Aes Sedai, Aiel, Wise Ones, and Ashaman through the Ways in order to destroy access to the waygate in Caemlyn so that the enemy can’t resupply its force of Trollocs. It also portrays very vividly the terror that the Ways evoke, its alienness, its darkness. The entire experience gave me goosebumps.

Even if these chapters are not canon, I felt so thrilled to experience some more WoT - to see some of our characters again, to be part of a strike force with a crucial task, to see Perrin be a leader who manages to bind together such a disparate group as described above.

So if you’re a fan of WoT, you should absolutely get yourself a copy of Unfettered III, an anthology featuring this novella and a wide selection of fantastic short stories by many other renowned authors. It’s only 3€ - and its profit goes to help authors who battle cancer. (The first volume was meant to raise money for Shawn Speakman‘s cancer treatment.)

While I ultimately agree that this sequence needed to be cut, I’m still sad that it didn’t make into the book. But I am grateful we at least get to read it here nonetheless. An encore to WoT.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well now, this was ... *wipes away tears* ... beautiful.

This is the second non-canonical story around the finale of the Wheel of Time series and tells of Perrin leading a small band of fighters into the Ways.

It shows wonderfully how Perrin is indeed suited to rule as he has the ability to bring together all manner of groups of people regardless of their previous animosities. He even managed to get the Builders to join the fight after all!

And it was their song that made me cry. The writing in this one was THAT good and impactful!

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering the fact that this is an alternate sequence that was cut out of the final for Memory of Light, I'm really quite conflicted. I loved it. It gave life to certain aspects of the greater tale that I just can't ignore.

In the end, I kinda wish some form of it could have remained. Alas.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice bonus story.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

loial stan account starting NOW

[Rachel Shumway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t going to even write a review because this is only 40 ish pages from Memory of light that didn’t make it to the book. I think that’s a shame. Brandon does go into detail about why this didn’t work but I think that’s a major bummer. It gives more background on the ways and adds a lot of character development that I actually really liked. If you have read Memory of light I would highly recommend trying to get your hand on this “short story.” It was very enjoyable.

[Christian Schultheiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have finally read through the last of Jordan’s wheel of time stories and I feel just so happy and accomplished. Even though this shorter story isn’t technically canon with how the wheel spins I partially like to believe it’s canon just in another timeline. Honestly it’s just so amazing to get a bit more of Perrin and the ways, I’ll definitely have to hunt down the entire unfettered story series though at some point.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so upset that this was cut from AMOL and isn’t even considered canon (unlike River of Souls, which is). I refuse to accept it, it’s canon in my heart.

First of all, I LOVE a Perrin-centric story. He is my darling and anything that focuses on him is an automatic win in my book. But even aside from that, I just really loved this story. I loved how five very different groups of people were brought together under Perrin’s leadership. I love that the future of the Ways got a hopeful resolution. I love that the Ogier got more of a grand entrance like they very much deserved. I loved the touch more we got to see of Erith. And, however awful this may sound, I loved Dain Bornhald’s ending much more in this story than what happened in AMOL.

I was genuinely confused reading AMOL because they made a big deal about how the Trollocs were just pouring through the Waygate in Caemlyn and it needed to be closed somehow, but then that issue just kind of… disappeared? It was never addressed (not even with so much as a throwaway sentence about some team successfully closing it up off-page), but people just stopped worrying about it for no reason, and that really bothered me. So another reason I consider this short story canon is that it fixes that plot hole that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.

If I ever reread AMOL, I will definitely reread this short as though it were part of the book as well. (I don’t care if there are contradictions between them, such as Bornhald, my mind shall reconcile the two).

[Eglathren · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I had reluctantly accepted when I finished A Memory of Light was that I'd never see a cleansing of the Ways. I had been secretly hoping that would get addressed in this alternate story, and it does, in a way. In my head, this is cannon-ish, and I prefer Bornhald's end in this version, as well as the coming of the Ogier - the final version in AMoL doesn't sit right compared to this one.

Above it all, I absolutely love the wholesome unity born among all these distinct groups. Beautiful.

[Rasha | رشا · Rating 3 out of 5]

ظريفة.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great self-contained story. I really liked that it provided some page time and resolution for the Ways, as this was an element I really liked from previous books that I thought was ignored in A Memory of Light. I agree with Sanderson that it's a better entrance for the Ogier into the Last Battle, and a more satisfying end for Bornhald, as well as showing more fully Perrin's development as a leader.

[Lala · Rating 2 out of 5]

**

Perrin leads a party into the Ways, in order to seal off the Waygate leading into Caemlyn and to cut-off the enemy forces flooding through.

This is another segment cut from A Memory Of Light, and unlike the other one, I think it mostly was the right decision to do so. On the one hand, this would have been more interesting to read about than the many countless battle scenes in the final book. On the other hand, if there was one thing the final two books had too much of, it was Perrin, and more was definitely not needed. Also, this just felt like it needed to be longer and more fleshed out to work, and the ending was really abrupt and seemed unlikely.

Personal history: Borrowed from library. Contained in the Unfettered III anthology ISBN: 978-1944145231

The Wheel of Time:
1. The Eye of the World
2. The Great Hunt
3. The Dragon Reborn
4. The Shadow Rising
5. The Fires of Heaven
6. Lord of Chaos
7. A Crown of Swords
8. The Strike at Shayol Ghul (Prequel short story)
9. The Path of Daggers
10. Winter's Heart
11. Ravens (Prequel short story)
12. Crossroads of Twilight
13. New Spring (Prequel)
14. Knife of Dreams
15. The Gathering Storm
16. Towers of Midnight
17. A Memory of Light
18. River of Souls (Short story)

[Xavier De Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

After listening to this section of chapters that were cut from A Memory of Light, I am left wondering why the editorial team decided this needed to be cut. In the postscript two reasons are given. However, in my opinion, this sequence would have been vital to the story of A Memory of Light. While I was reading the book, I was wondering why they didn't try to close the Waygate in Caemlyn from this side or from the side of the Ways. This adventure would have been a logical step in my opinion. Furthermore, there was so much interesting (and in my opinion necessary) information in this chunk. The different races working together, united for this one goal, even though they have been divided for so long. A fitting end to Bornhald's character arc. A better reintroduction to the Ogier in the final book. And of course, all the information given about the Ways and a final confrontation with the Black Wind. In my opinion, this really was an expert section of The Wheel of Time and I am sad that it was not included in the book, although I'm happy that I still got to experience it in this way.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Partly giving it 5 stars because of the editorial decision to NOT include this in the book. It was a correct choice and this would not have added enough to the story to be worth the time and words of this side quest and also not worth the time it would have taken away from the main story!

I did, however, LOVE to see how this would have rounded out Perrin’s arc SO MUCH better than what is in the series right now; leaving clues for the Ways; and giving the Ogier a more pivotal entrance was great.

[Jeff Jarvis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unfinished piece of the story from the Wheel of Time’s last book. I enjoyed the story and some of the things that Brandon was trying to do. As he mentions in the notes, this would have take an week or so of editing to get the piece in the quality of the rest of the book. For reasons explained, it was cut and that was the right decision. Since the story was unfinished, 3 stars. For what he wanted to do with it had there been time, 4-4.5.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A side story that ended up on the cutting room floor. Sanderson takes a group led by Perrin through the Ways to block access to the Waygate in Caemlyn. A diverse group which ends up blending very well together.
I enjoyed the story but ultimately agree with the decision to cut it from Memory of Light

[Tawnya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in the anthology "Unfettered 3".

Not cannon. The author's notes are more important here than in any other story in the anthology. This is a story that was cut from “A Memory of Light” in “Wheel of Time” series. Perrin and his soldiers are on a mission to destroy bridges to the “Waygates” so that their enemy cannot use them as a means of attack.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything with Perrin can be considered sold to me.
I think it's funny how, even with this scene being cut, I don't particular miss from the canon book, mainly because we've seen Perrin acting like the leader so many times. And he still needed to have his wolf dream to have closure.

[Andreja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this take more than some of the characters' segments kept in AMoL. Needs work to align with the main story, yes, but this was closer to the treatment Perrin, Ogier, the Ways and the Black Wind deserved IMHO.

[Collin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fun, gives semi-answers to some questions I had about the series. The parts that were re-worked to be put into AMOL were better in this chapter, however, I understand why it was cut out.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sceptical at first thinking this would have been one of those chapters I tended to skim or skip upon rereading. I was heartily surprised. Yes unnecessary to the story the way it stands. However the uncertainty of the ways keeps one on their toes and I love how the Ogier helped in the end.

[Ọlá Ọládìran]

Such a shame this wasn't added to the main body of the book. It provides some resolution on the Ways. I wish there were something about the portal stones as well, although that would have been a stretch...

[Ricardo L. Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the read! I only discovered the three short stories published after the end if WoT. And this is the one I read last. a fitting last look into the world of WoT and one of my favourite characters.

[Masha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading the excerpt.

[Arthur]

2h 44m

[David Sastre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another weaving of the pattern.

[Matthias · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh, liked the tel'aran'rhiod arc much that made it into a memory of light much more

[Rohan Jais · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.4 Stars.

[Aaron Carlberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt very rushed...you could tell Sanderson didn't have the time he wanted or needed. It is still a good piece to have in the back of my mind, that the Ways would one day be cleansed.

[Ron Lang-Alon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Worth a read.