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Errors in THE WHEEL OF TIME
Let's face it: I'm a critic. When I see such an intricate, detailed story,
I try especially hard to pick it apart and find errors and inconsistencies.
Numbers don't add up! Names change! Facts are contradicted!
Fortunately, the following errors are minor. Only geeks like me pick them up after reading
the series fifty times and taking notes.
(pb = paperback version, hc = hard cover version)
- Volume 1, p.120 pb: In Rand's first dream involving Shai'tan, he compares
something to the ocean, but he had never seen the ocean at that point in his life.
Steamy mists covered the canyon floor, their thick gray surface rolling in
grim waves, rolling and breaking against the cliff beneath him, but more slowly than any
ocean wave had ever moved.
Keep in mind that Rand is dreaming this while he sits at Tam's bedside in Emond's Field. Of
course, this could be a very early Lews Therin memory seeping in.
- Volume 2: Who spoke the Old Tongue? If it was spoken during the Age of Legends, then why
doesn't Rand spout it? If it was spoken during Artur Hawkwing's Empire, then why don't the Seanchan speak it?
Robert Jordan says that the Old Tongue was spoken during the Age of Legends. The modern
"Vulgar" tongue is a simple derivative of the Old Tongue, and thus easy for the Forsaken (and presumably the Seanchan) to
decipher. Here's my source of information.
However, this doesn't explain how characters such as Perrin and Nynaeve can overhear the Forsaken speaking to each other,
and understand it.
- Volume 2, p.507 pb: Rand is seeking the void inside Stedding Tsofu.
The glow of saidar was not there.
Note the use of saidar instead of saidin.
- Volume 2, p.678 pb: ...Lan sat under a tree sharpening his
sword; the Warder gave Rand a careful look, and then a nod. But Lan explained
earlier that Aes Sedai power-wrought swords never need to be sharpened, and those who do
sharpen them just wear down the sharpening stones they use.
Perhaps only the heron-marked blades are power-wrought. Lan does not have a heron mark. Early in book 3;
however, Lan's sword is described as Aes Sedai power-wrought when he battles a mydraal in the Mountains of Mist.
- Volume 3, p.375 pb: As far back as the town of Remen (on the Manetherendrelle), Perrin saw
a newly made Darkhound pawprint. This is nowhere near Illian, so how can Sammael have released them to track
Rand, and had them fail to catch Rand for so long?
- Volume 4, ch.38: The blonde Seeker knows that Egeanin is searching for runaway sul'dam and
lost a'dam; he should have the names and descriptions of Seanchan deserters, same as Egeanin. So later
in the series, why doesn't he arrest Bethamin when he speaks to her? And why doesn't he go after Thom and Juilin,
whom he must remember conked him on the head?
- Volume 4, p.339 pb: On the bottom of the page it says untouchable
by any hand but that of the Dragon Reborn. Then, on the next page, the first line repeats that sentence.
- Volume 4, p.971 pb: ...and though a few trefoil leaves littered the
pavement beneath Avendesora, only one branch on the great tree hung unbroken. But the rest of
Rhuidean...
Volume 5, p.79 pb: In the center of the plaza, near the burned remains of a
great tree a hundred feet high... and on p.80: The burned tree mocked him.
Avendesora...Moiraine said that it still lived, that it would put out shoots again, but so far he saw only blackened
bark and bare branches.
Did Robert Jordan change his mind here, or did he forget to consult his notes before editing Book 5?
- Volume 5, p.445 pb: The Warders around Salidar alerted their Aes Sedai when Gareth Bryne
approached with a handful of old war veterans, yet they remained silent when Suian, Logain, Leane, Min, and a bunch
of women with channeling potential (including "Marigan", aka Moghedien) approached.
- Volume 7, p.463 pb: Thomas and Justin.... There's an
obvious typo.
- Volume 8, p.247 hc: There were over three hundred Wise Ones
with the Jumai..., and it was stated that ALL of the Shaido Wise Ones went with Sevanna's Jumai
sept. But later, it's stated that the Shaido have four hundred channelers among them.
- Volume 9: Aes Sedai can't use the One Power as a weapon, so why does Suroth use them in damane
patrols, or take them with her and Tylin for security?
- Volume 9: One of the Aes Sedai in Cadsuane's party, Erian Boroleos,
disappeared without a trace somewhere between Far Madding and the end of the book.
Robert Jordan was quoted as saying that he forgot to mention that she stayed in Far Madding.
Okay, I can admit when a page is lame. If you want to see a better list of WoT errors,
then check out the links below.
- Encyclopaedia WoT
has a huge list of major and minor errors. Some have been corrected in later editions of the books, and
others have never been corrected.
- Character Archive
has more than names. You'll also find spelling errors, minor characters described as two different people,
characters who have undergone inexplicable name changes, and a Two Rivers man who died and reappeared.
- Last but not least, check out "WOT" Happened?
to read about things that look like errors but probably are not, and visit my
Complaints about The Wheel of Time for...well, complaints.
This page last updated: May 17, 2005
All material Copyright © 2008 Abigail Goldsmith, except where otherwise noted.
All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission from the author.
Document updated: 17 December 2006 - 16:10:59
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