Robert Jordan’s Notes
Panelists: Theresa Gray, Linda Tagieri
This might not be anything new to some of you, but I found it all very interesting.
Started out with a tour of Theoryland Taim/Demandred Robert had denied ever intending Demandred to be Taim Notes have Demandred showing up disguised as Taim. Includes the motivation for the Dumais Wells, which is basically that Rand pissed at Aes Sedai is good. Also includes Demandred killing Asmodean. Both Brandon and Maria claimed to have never seen that in the notes. Mythos origins Cyclic time was the only original eastern influence. Started largely being just Celtic myths. Very Arthurian Some waffling over 7 or 9 ages Early concept, no Mat or Perrin, just Rand. Dark One named Sah'khan. Tam was intended to die on Winternight. Brandon has said Tam not dying was something that hooked him because it subverted the trope. Warders called Wardens instead. Lan had white hair and also appeared ageless. Also, if a Warden disobeyed his Aes Sedai, he died. All Aes Sedai were bonded several wardens. Amyrlin inspired by Merlin and the pope. Ogier originally dwarf like. Short, stocky miners and lumber men. Stone of Stair originally, not Tear, which is where the term Tairen likely stems. Read the entirety of RJ's very first, original concept for books 2-6. Book 1 fairly similar beginning. Rand is Rhys. Moiraine has a different name. Old woman healer instead of young woman (Nynaeve). Aiel were horse riders. Jordan mixes up his i's and e's a lot in spelling Rand is often in denial. He tries desperately to defeat the Dark One early on, and accidentally frees him entirely. Tried to work alone, but gathers allies accidentally. Realizes forcing people to be good is bad because it removes choice. Shipwrecked in a blight, finds isolated place in the center. Here women run the society. Rand falls in love with a woman (maybe an early version of Tuon?). Finally accepts his role. Woman is reluctant to let him leave, eventually follows and provides the army to take Stair Sea Folk, Asian and Polynesian in appearance First ally is Morgase, who is his lover for a time. This turns Galad against him, and pushes him to Sha'tan's side. Harm is often done in the name of good, but more good than harm must always come from it. Stone of Stair, fortress carved from a mountain. Sword to increase power held within. Prophesy says women bearing swords will come and allow him to take the sword. Some think it's the Maidens of the Spear, but this is considered unlikely as they are isolated and far off. After a failure to defeat the Dark One, he is taken prisoner by a queen. He is eventually freed due to the pleadings of proto-Elayne, but is blinded by an iron (this is likely what the intent of Min's viewing, which never really occurred in the series) and forced to wander as a beggar. This is Rhys’s lowest point. The Aiel. Not much different from what they ended up. The Waste was called the Barrens. There was magic compulsion barring the leaders from revealing the history they learn. His mom was Morgase's sister who fled an unwanted marriage. What have you read that you wish Jordan had kept? Originally, Egwene was meant to be pregnant at the time of the last battle. Gawyn would die and ask Galad to look after Egwene and the babe. This was still in the outline given to Brandon, so it was probably his choice to change that. RJ started with a darker story. There was lots of rape, including Nynaeve being raped. A pregnant Elayne died in the Last Battle. Every time someone turns to the dark one, it wears away at the seals like grain on granite. Channelers have a greater effect, but the effect is very small.
