“Epic” Giveaway for “A Memory of Light” Begins Today!
Note to Commenters & Readers:
The first of the 3 x copies of “A Memory of Light” provided by Hachette NZ for giveaway to Australian & New Zealand readers has now been drawn, Here.
But there are still 2 copies left to give away: 1 to be drawn & the result posted on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, and the 3rd and final draw on January 7, the day before worldwide release.
All entries on this post will go forward for the 2nd and 3rd draws, but to get your name in a second time , or just to enter for the first time, post a comment on your favourite Wheel of Time character, Here.
* All dates are New Zealand time.
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I am very pleased to confirm that my NZ publisher, Hachette, has given me the opportunity to giveaway not 1, but 3 copies of A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan/Brandon Sanderson—to Australian and New Zealand readers.
A Memory of Light is the 14th novel in Robert Jordan’s epic The Wheel of Time (WoT) series that began in 1990 with publication of The Eye of the World. The subsequent instalments in the series continued to be published over the next 22 years, generating a committed fan base, and surviving the death of Robert Jordan in 2007. Using Jordan’s extensive notes, Brandon Sanderson picked up authorship of the series and has written the final 3 novels.
Now the 14th and final novel, A Memory of Light, will be released on 8 January, 2013 — and I have 3 copies available for giveaway to Australian and New Zealand readers.
But because this book marks completion of such a major epic fantasy series, I want to maximize your opportunities to win, so…
Here’s How the Giveaway for the 3 Copies of A Memory of Light Will Work:
- I’m going to be making the draw for 1 of the 3 copies each week for the next 3 weeks: so the first winner will be drawn a week from now on 24 December; the second draw will be made on 31 January; and the third and final draw will be on Monday January 7 — just 1 day ahead of A Memory of Light‘s release.
- I will be featuring a Giveaway post both today and the following two Mondays (24th and 31st respectively)—& all you have to do to enter the draw is post a comment on any or all of these posts, answering the (easy-peasy!) question I shall pose each time.
- If you comment today and are not successful on the first draw, your name will go through automatically into the subsequent draws (and so on.) And if you comment again on the 24th, that comment will count as an additional entry for the second draw; ditto for the 31st and the third and final draw (on January 7.)
Note: Each draw will be made using Random.Org with the results posted on the blog on 24 and 31 December, and 7 January respectively. If the winners have not contacted me by Friday 11 January at the latest, I shall re-draw for any of the books that are unclaimed. The books will be forwarded by Hachette NZ.
And Here’s Today’s Question:
Why are you a fan of the Wheel of Time series?
I look forward to seeing your comments. 🙂
I am a fan of the Wheel of Time series because of the moral complexities, and how the reader is left in two minds about so many things. Even though the overarching story line is of the typical ‘good versus evil’ variety, there are so many examples of things being more complex, such as:
-Rand gradually becoming an unpleasant character and making questionable decisions, even though we still believe in him
-Being forced by the presence of the Seanchan in the story to question one’s own right to have a negative reaction to a culture (and liking the character Tuon while simultaneously hating her for her cultural beliefs)
-Verin when she [redacted]
-Feeling squicky about what the Red Ajah does, while understanding why they do it.
In short, Jordan was so good at making the reader see and understand both sides of a coin, which broadens the minds of those who read these books.
A second reason I like WoT is the communication theme that weaves through the books, i.e. bad things happen when people don’t talk to one another; when they do finally talk, awesome things happen and the characters/readers are rewarded. This is a great life lesson.
I like the characters in the Wheel of Time series. I like seeing them grow and develop. Plus I like all the big hints RJ kept dropping about future plot developments, as its always fun to speculate with a story as massive as this one.
I am really pleased that someone else has taken on the massive task of ending the series in a reasonably concise way while keeping to the spirit of the original author.
Mostly I’m a fan because I want to find out how it ends…I’ve read this far, after all.
I am a fan of WoT because it is engaging, exciting and has a depth that is hard to find in fantasy fiction.
Does Facebook count as a website?
Steve
Yes, re FB & the “site”:)
Sweet.
I’m a fan because not only has my son read the first 13 books, but he is now working his way back through the series (currently re-reading #5)while awaiting the release of the final book. How can you possibly not love a series of books that encourages children to read so voraciously?!
Yes, a definite fan of Wheel of Time! I’d love to win “A Memory of Light” to answer the lingering questions from the other books in the series. No doubt this will be a bestseller for 2013.
There is an immense satisfaction in following group of characters through several thousand pages!
Yes my hubby is a rabid fan.
Because I set out to devour the contents of my middle school library fantasy section, and didn’t realize that it would take me multiple months just to read the first three fourths of an amazing series.
I’m originally from a small town in Africa , it was hard being a fan of epic fantasy especially when the hunt for any fantasy book turns into an epic quest itself. My go to book place was a book exchange shelf at the local backpackers because there was a better chance of finding decent books there as various travellers discarded theirs.My introduction to WoT began with a dog eared copy of The shadow rising, the cover looked interesting but my heart sank when I realised it was book 4 of a series! I almost put it away there and then, I had no chance of finding the other books and I hated coming into a world that ‘late’ ,I would miss the gentle interplays, inside jokes and rich history, besides book 4 was practically the end of a series ,what was the point I told myself. There were no books of note on the shelf and I was waiting for something or other so I cracked open the book and from that most epic of starts I was blown away, the real world fell away,
This was the holy grail; a book thick and dense but oh so accessible ,where the magic was logical and fun, the names made sense and stuck immediately, the world and its history seemed to just fit. This was it ,true love not the crushes that seemed true at the time ( it’s not you shannara it’s me). It was this love that made me pester every traveller I saw with a book, truck drivers and tour guides who travelled cross country. book 5 followed and then ,joy of joys ,books 1 , 2 and 3 !!! this Love has followed me through job changes, relationships , my marriage ,moving countries ( hello New Zealand), this Love weathered hard times ( I’m looking at you book 9 ) and sharing this love was led me to wonderful places and I have met many amazing people simply because seeing them with one of books was seeing a kindred spirit.I cried when Jordan passed away,not just a man tear, I wept, I had followed his struggle on his blog and prayed with countless others, discovering the amazing man behind the words and seeing the love that surrounded him was a journey in itself.
When I heard that Sanderson with Harriet’s blessing was to pick up where Jordan had left off I was relieved and happy especially having read his past work and Mr Sanderson has done a terrifying and amazing job
We come to A memory of light, the book I have dreaded and wished for, it’s here, it’s been quite a ride
My lovely wife knows that she is a virtual WoT widow come book release date and I’m sure she won’t quite love this hopefully early Christmas present ,I know she understands and while this will just about wipe away my hard earned brownie points,the foot massages she will receive will help .
So like every fan and partners of fans here I hope I win , either way ,this book , a comfy chair and I have a date in the near future. It’s a glorious thing to look forward to
Wow, it’s wonderful to see so many great comments coming in. As a writer myself, it is inspirational to see that “what we do” really can affect people so positively.:)
I love the WOT because it was the first fantasy series that I read where I felt like I was reading about “Real” people and “Real” events. It was like reading a biography almost, it felt so “normal” to me.
I am a fan of wheel of time series because it transcends you to a place filled with magic, adventure and fantastic creatures. I particularly love the struggle all the characters go through finding themselves and in some cases finding each other.
WoT was the first time epic fantasy clicked for me, I’d read LoTR and some Eddings but neither felt quite right, I had Eye of the World sitting there for a year (it was a xmas present) before I touched it but then I read through the remaining nine books as quickly as I could. Then I had to stop and wait for book 11.
I loved it, from the immense world to the way that the world felt real, like it actually worked as a world. So many of these epic fantasy books I feel like the world doesn’t work, like it would fall apart but WoT was the first time it felt right.
I have been a fan of WoT since intermediate school where I first picked up the eye of the world, I never realised it was the first in a series until I got to the end! Since then I have been reading and collecting the series until we come to now, the epic (and it truely is an epic) conclusion to struggles both moral and physical. I will miss not having the suspence of waiting for the next book but I can guarantee that this is a series that will live on for generations as one of the quintesential masterpieces of our time. And god yes I would love to win A memory of Light 🙂
I’ve loved reading the Wheel of Time because it is so powerful to read the journeys in intricate detail of ordinary men and women who are thrown together by forces bigger than them, pressed into circumstances that they might not like, but they have to become more than themselves for the sake of the world. While Jordan’s setting may be fantasy, the experiences of Rand and his companions are not so different from those many of us have. This, in combination with Jordan and Sanderson’s epic storytelling and the vivid realism of his characters and places, as well as the hilarious battle of the sexes under running the whole series, are why I love the Wheel of Time so much.
I’m a fan because of how Robert Jordan expertly crafted and balanced the epic scope of the fantasy narrative with human interactions, thoughts and insecurities.
WoT was one of those series’ that sat on the library bookshelf and taunted me for so many years growing up! I finally go lt the nerve to start it a few years ago and have loved it ever since! I love a book where the intelligence, thought and planning of an author is so well displayed in such a long complex series! 🙂
Having followed the series from the very beginning the WOT series has been like an old friend, always there and a source of comfort. I can’t believe the journey is nearly over. I know the ending wont disappoint.
Looking forward to reading this book! 🙂
I am a fan because the world that has been created is huge with so much happening. It’s an engaging story that I have to know how it ends!
I love WoT due to the complexity, and breadth of the story, no other series has such an amazing story where random people from 5 books ago start showing up again. (George R.R. Martin is getting there) But right now I just want the series to end so badly!
I first read WoT in 1993, I was 13 years old and it started a life time passion in Fantasy and DnD, i would very much like to win a copy of this book
Please put me into the draw!
I am a fan of the wheel of time because I have never found another series that captivates me in the same way for such a long time. They feel like a group of old friends and I find when I have put the series down for a while that i feel it tugging at me to read again. I am torn between wanting to read the end and not wanting it to be over…
For me The Wheel of Time series represents more than just an epic story, with unequalled cultural settings and brilliant characters. It is a series that has grounded me through significant turnoil in my own life. I first discovered the series back in 1994, a time in my teenage years when I was struggling with mental health issues including depression leading to multiple suicide attempts.
It was a time in my life when the only thing I could look forward to was losing myself in one of Robert Jordan’s books. I am a fan of The Wheel of Time because it has literally saved my life. When everything else in my life was crashing down around me, for a while I could stop thinking around it and be content following the epic journey of light against the darkness.
I’m a fan of the Wheel of Time because Rand is the man. Also Mat.
And frankly, Moiraine is the only Aes Sedai that lives up to the title. I swear.
May you find water and shade.
WoT was the first fantasy series I read and it’s always had a special place in my heart. The thing I have most enjoyed over the years is the speculation and analysing of every plot detail to try and work out things like, who is a darkfriend? Who are the forsaken disguised as? How will certain prophecies come to pass? How will it all end? Well now we’re finally going to find out!
From first till last this World has being engaging, evolving and huge in scope. I have enjoyed walking through time and space with all characters and watching the growth of them like watching my own children develop and grow. This story has been addictive since the first chapter and will challenge all works (LOTR, Belgariad, A song of ice and fire…etc) to title of G.O.A.T.
I started reading WoT as a young teenager and I guess I’m a fan cause these young kids were swept into a huge adventure. They grew and learned and became the centre of an important change in the world. What I like most though, is the world building.
[spoilers] The balescream propagated from Rand destroying Natrin’s Barrow with balefire occurs in book 6 or 7. That scene takes place in book 12. The complexity of the narrative is overwhelming when you look beneath the surface, but still straightforward enough that a casual reader can avoid being bogged down by it.
I’ve always loved fantasy and in the last year I had become a big fan of Brandon Sanderson’s work. After ‘liking’ his facebook page I constantly began to hear about the WOT series but was daunted by the idea of reading 10 books just to get to Brandon’s work. Eventually I succumbed and when I read book 1, I was blown away by what a brilliant epic fantasy story it was. With no longer any care or thought for Brandon, I was hooked on RJ and have not stopped reading them since (currently on book 6). I love the idea of such an epic journey, as the best books always end so quickly.
It took prob 5 mins of reading before I was sucked into the eye of the world, since that moment I been enthralled with the series, everytme I re-read the series I always pick up something new or a new perspective, and that’s what I love most about the series, the detail and depth of the characters and surroundings is second to none. I look forward to last book, but it will be a sad day when I have to read the final wheel of time words ever.
The Wheel of Time, Eye of the World, was the first fantasy novel I read. Yes, I hadn’t even read Tolkien. This series has opened my eyes up to the wonderful platform that is fantasy and weaves such a wonderful tale thats complexities are masterfully hidden within the nuanced writing of what is essentially an epic story of opposites. Good and Evil, right and wrong, growing up and making decisions that shape who you are as a person and the rest of the world you live in. Robert Jordan created a legacy and with Brandon Sanderson now at the helm, I have no concerns in saying this series will stand the test of time.
Got gifted the first book the eye of the world as a 13 year old and haven`t stopped loving each and every book since. have read and re read this series of books again and again still finding new things and still keeping me up till the birds sing with out noticing.The bests outcome for me after RJs passing was that my one of my favorite new authors of fiction has taken up the reins. very excited to read the final chapter and also a little sad !
Carai an Caldazar! Carai an Ellisande! Al Ellisande!
The Wheel of Time was basically the first epic fantasy I read, and the standard to which I hold others. Probably the part that got me most into it was the way in which WoT lends itself to ‘who would win’ debates and discussion over who was behind various mysteries and such. With regard to that almost no other books come even close. I’ve passionately read and re-read several of the books searching for points to use in ‘Who killed Asmodean’ discussions, I’ve argued that Ishamael is the true hero of the age of legends and I’ve even had one where I played Devil’s Advocate saying that Sammael would have beaten Lan in a duel (on a stedding of course because using Saidin would be unfair). These books pretty much made my teenage years.
Like many here, the Wheel of Time has been a close friend for many years. I have been reading this series since I was 12 back in 1991. 21 years later I have re-read this series many times. The simple fact that it can be an escape and so familiar at the same time is a true art of storytelling.
Not only do I feel like I have travelled with the events of the story and been able to feel so close to these characters, but they have travelled with me. They have seen me finish highschool, they were with me when I went to University, when I got married, when I had my each of my children. We felt it keenly when James Rigney died. Our heart broke when we heard of Darrell Sweet’s death.
For over two thirds of my life, this series and these characters have played an integral part. I will certainly be feeling it when the last page is read and I know that my time recieving fresh details of this world must end, but I know that without this conclusion life would be a bland event.
James Rigney is a master story-teller and the world will be placing this tale alongside The Lord of the Rings and the Song of Fire and Ice, for decades, perhaps even centuries to come.
That’s why I’m a fan of the Wheel of Time Series
I am a fan of WOT because it was the first real thing that I read outside of the novels set for school. This series has opened me up to the wonderful world of not only reading, but the awesome fantasy genre as well. I have since gone on to enjoy Sanderson’s other works as well as those by other fantasy writers.
Am a fan due to the immense scope and granduer of what has become my most adored series since the very beginning. To read or not to read, that is the question. Such is my anxiety around never having a new WoT book after AMoL. WHO AM I KIDDING? I WILL DEVOUR IT IN A MATTER OF HOURS!
Wheel of time has been such a major part of my life, Ive read each of the books multiple times and played the wheel of time mud for twelve years so I could be a part of the wonderful world that Robert Jordan created. The characters are wonderfully engaging and the scenes are gloriously penned without bogging the story down. I am both longing and loathing the release of the final book, with the realisation that this is the final tale in the wheel of time series. I also extend a heartfelt thanks to Brandon for finishing the series, as even though some of the scenes don’t quite ring true as Jordanesque the overrall feel is still one of his work which we would sadly be lacking if he hadn’t taken this on.
Eye of the World and the entire WoT series is like my first love. It was the first books that introduced me to literature, to readin and to fantasy that wasn’t cartoons or movies. I have been reading WoT since I was fourteen years old. I love each character like old friends. I’ve cried with them, cried for them and I will never forget them for the rest of my life. Every single book sits on my shelf, with only one missing. The last one. It will be an ending to a large chapter of my life. I believe after finishing it I will cry, as I did when I found out that RJ had passed away.
Apologies for reposting but the actual date of the TV SHOW mentioned in my previous post was winter/spring of 1993 not 1991 as previously listed. it has been corrected below:
It has been an interesting last few days. For no reason other than serendipity, I have stumbled upon a series of poignantly amusing and pleasantly moving posts regarding why readers are fans of the WOT and how their fan stories began.
The WOT is a love of mine because it taught me my limitations while opening up my horizons. I didn’t know you could fall head over heels in love with a thing. An inanimate object that when opened up, breathed such life into me that I could not keep it to myself. Unfortunately instead of turning that enthusiasm into a form of benign if positive encouragement, I became a zealot who demanded others worship the “scripture” as much as I had come to.
So I made some friends and lost some with my vehemence, but the WOT was always there to be read and re-read as the waits between books got longer and longer, so much so that the Creator himself could not finish his own work. That gave me perspective and swept away the the obsessive mists that urged me to proselytise the words according to Jordan.
I still love the story if not all the books, but the love is mine held close to me…..like the memory of a slightly bemused author appearing on an Australian morning show in 1993 to promote the paperback release of “The Shadow Rising.” I won’t name the show out of respect for the host but I can clearly remember being intrigued by the storyline Robert Jordan outlined to said host who clearly had neither read the book, nor made any effort to learn what it was about. I can just imagine the production meeting for the show:
PRODUCER: “We’ve got an American Fantasy Author appearing to promote a 1000+ page book which is the fourth in the series he is currently writing.
HOST: “What’s it about?”
PRODUCER: “It’s the Wheel of Time or some such. Here, use it as a door stop if you can’t get through it.”
HOST: ” No way I can read that and the 3 books before it to bone up for the interview.”
PRODUCER: ” Just make it sound entertaining…..”
Well the host didn’t manage to do that but Robert Jordan’s calm professionalism in the face of overt disinterest did.
The path travelled thereafter in the books and by the books has been a veritable rollercoaster of excellence and over-indulgence – a path which I mirrorred until I found perspective.
I didn’t lose my love for the story though. I can wait and look forward to appreciating how the story ends in this turning of the WHEEL.
grl
Gregor, to keep things simple for the draw, I’ll delete the earlier, now corrected, comment.:)
I picked this series up after my father passed away in the 90’s. In my own way this book reminds me of my dad and keeps his memory alive. The most touching part was in the 13th book where Rand hugs Tam and says sorry. This brought a tear to my eye and still sends goosebumps down my spine. It’s kinda how I see my dad and me.
I am a fan of The Wheel of time because Jordan made me care about the characters right away, and the story itself is epic fantasy at it’s finest. Sanderson picked up the story beautifully (I am now a fan of his books as well, especially the Mistborn series) and I am very excited and a bit sad to soon be reading the final book.
Ana
I am a fan of the Wheel of Time because more than another other books I’ve read they captivate and excite me. The first time I read them through (of a few times now) I remember putting the book down to get a snack or something and feeling so energised and excited by what I was reading.
They are the only series I still intend to buy in physical form too, money and having stuffed hands make Ebooks the way to go now, but I just have to have a full set of WoT books! So please put me in the draw!
I was 12 when I first picked up the first book and ever since then I have been addicted. I’ve reread the first 10 books so many times and each time I discover new things! That’s what I love about the entire series, the characters and the storyline are so complex and yet at the same time the series makes for an easy read making me fly through it every time I decide to read the series again! I can’t wait to read the final instalment I know I will ball my eyes out as I will all be over!
I have been reading these novels since primary school. From the very start I was hooked on the rich history, the magic system and the metaphysics of the Wheel of Time universe. There are characters I love, and others I love to hate (three guesses). There are periods of time I can recall simply by remembering which installment I was up to at that point.
How much of a fan am I? I’m planning a Wheel of Time tattoo to commemorate the release of the A Memory of Light.
I became a WoT fan about 18 years ago when my Brother put Eye of the World in my hands. I have always loved fantasy books. But with this one I was suckered in to the characters and sub plots. I thought it was well written so I got the next books.
The Wheel of Time series is so large, so all encompassing of fantasy as a whole. The amount of vision that Robert Jordan had for the series is fantastic, and the depth of the characters, particularly Rand, is always interesting.
I love The Wheel of Time series for so many reasons. I love the world building, the complexity and the back story. I love the characters and how each and every one acts like a real person, good bits and bad bits all rolled into one. I love the story, the ups and downs, and how there is always hope. I just love it 🙂
The Wheel of Time has been a long, roller coaster like adventure that went from a projected three books, to a video game, it survived the untimely passing of Robert Jordan and the transition to Brandon Sanderson and will soon end unless the Mayans are correct. But I have relished every moment and hope that other series will have half as much an effect as it has been for me.