The Eye of the World is the first book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series
written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books
and released on January 16, 1990. The unabridged audio book is read by Michael
Kramer and Kate Reading. Upon first publication, The Eye of the World
consisted of one prologue and 53 chapters, with an additional prologue
authored upon re-release. On January 2, 2002, The Eye of the World
was re-released as two separate books aimed at a young adult literature
market, with larger text and a handful of illustrations. These were From the
Two Rivers and To the Blight. The former included an additional prologue entitled
"Ravens", focusing on Egwene al'Vere. The American Library Association put The
Eye of the World on its 2003 list of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults.
Plot summary The Eye of the World revolves around
protagonists Rand al'Thor, Matrim Cauthon, Perrin Aybara, Egwene al'Vere,
and Nynaeve al'Meara, after their residence of 'Emond's Field' is
unexpectedly attacked by Trollocs and a Myrddraal intent on capturing Rand, Mat,
and Perrin. To save their village from further attacks, Rand, Mat, Perrin, and
Egwene flee the village, accompanied by the Aes Sedai Moiraine Damodred, her
Warder Al'Lan Mandragoran, and gleeman Thom Merrilin, and later joined by
Wisdom Nynaeve al'Meara. Pursued by increasing numbers of Trollocs and
Myrddraal, the travellers take refuge in the abandoned city of Shadar Logoth,
where Mat is infected by the malevolent Mashadar. While escaping the city the
travelers are separated; Rand, Mat, and Thom travel by boat to Whitebridge,
where Thom is lost allowing Rand and Mat to escape a Myrddraal. In Caemlyn, Rand
befriends an Ogier named Loial. Trying to catch a glimpse of the recently
captured False Dragon, Rand befriends Elayne Trakand, heir apparent to the
throne of Andor, and her brothers Gawyn Trakand and Galad Damodred. Rand is then
taken before Queen Morgase and her Aes Sedai advisor, Elaida; and released
without charge, in spite of Elaida's grave pronouncements regarding Rand.
Egwene and Perrin are guided separately to Caemlyn by Elyas Machera, a man who
can communicate telepathically with wolves and who claims that Perrin can do
the same. The three run afoul of the Children of the Light, whereof Perrin
kills two for the death of a wolf at their hands, and is sentenced to death.
Moiraine, Lan, and Nynaeve rescue Egwene and Perrin, and all are reunited with
Rand and Mat. Thereafter Moiraine determines that Mat must travel to Tar
Valon, the Aes Sedai's center of power, to overcome the influence of Shadar
Logoth. Loial warns Moiraine of a threat to the
Eye of the World, a pool of Saidin untouched by the Dark One's influence,
which is confirmed by vivid and disturbing dreams Mat, Rand, and Perrin
have had. The Eye of the World is protected by Someshta and contains one
of the seven seals on the Dark One's prison, the Dragon banner of Lews Therin
Telamon, and the Horn of Valere. At the civilized world's border, the group
enters the Blight to protect the Eye. After a pursuit they meet the Green Man
and he reveals the Eye. The group is then confronted by the Forsaken Aginor
and Balthamel. As battle ensues, Balthamel and the Green Man slay each
other. Soon after, Rand defeats Aginor and uses the Eye to decimate the Trolloc
army and defeat Ba'alzamon. As a result, Moiraine concludes that Rand is the
Dragon Reborn, but her opinion and all other details of the final battle are
kept from all the male members of the group except Lan.
Themes and allusions Robert Jordan has stated that he
consciously intended the early chapters of The Eye of the World to evoke the
Shire of Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
Release details = First Printing=
1990, hardcover. Saint Martin's Press, United States. ISBN 0-312-85009-3
1990, paperback. Tor Books, United States. ISBN 0-8125-0048-2
1990, hardcover. Little, Brown, United Kingdom. ISBN 0-356-19068-4
1990, hardcover. Orbit, United Kingdom. ISBN 1-85723-353-0
1992, paperback. Orbit, United Kingdom. ISBN 1-85723-076-0
= Reprinting= 1993, paperback. Tom Doherty Associates,
United States. ISBN 0-8125-1181-6 1995, audio book. Gallant / Publishing
Mills, United States. ISBN 1-879371-52-9 1999, hardcover with library binding.
Sagebrush, United States. ISBN 0-613-17634-0
2000, paperback. Tor Books, United States. ISBN 0-8125-7995-X
= Divided Printing= In January 2002, Starscape Books
released The Eye of the World into two halves, part one being titled "From the
Two Rivers" and part two titled "To the Blight." ATOM, a British publishing
house, printed these halves the following March.
References External links
Very detailed summaries of each chapter from http:www.encyclopaedia-wot.org