A Compendium of Weaponry and Military Costuming
of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, revision 7.1

The Gathering Storm

It's coming - though in a fashion true to Robert Jordan, the final book has become a trilogy. Brandon Sanderson, best-selling author of the Mistborn series, has turned in the full text of The Gathering Storm, the first book of Jordan's final opus, A Memory of Light.

Sure, I would have liked to have seen a single volume rather than a trilogy, as Jordan had intended. But I'd been tracking all the plot-lines that I personally would like to see resolved, over twenty of them. I had wondered how he possibly could do them justice. I had worried he might not.

Ultimately, I'm glad Sanderson made the difficult decision to split A Memory of Light. It will take over 800,000 words to bring the series to its magnificent close. No way he could do so in a single volume; no way it would be out before 2011.

To my fellow fans - this was the right decision. Brandon's the right man for the job. It will be done in three volumes, no more. No one can do it better, or faster.

It will be worth it.

It will be magnificent.

In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be made in the name of James Rigney (his real name) to the Amyloidosis Research group at the Mayo Clinic.

May you shelter in the palm of the Creator's hand, and may the last embrace of the mother welcome you home.

This is my seventh major revision of the Compendium of Weaponry and Military Costuming of the Wheel of Time, following the publication of Knife of Dreams. A good read, this one. Highly recommended.

New to this version:

• Armsmen of Tar Valon
  
• the Dragon Banner
  
• the Crown of Swords
  
• the Horn of Valere
  
• the Band of the Red Hand
  
• Perrin's hammer
  
• Aram's sword
  
• Aludra's Dragons, grenades, and pyrotechnics
  

Updates:

• the Dragon Scepter
  
• Mat Cauthon
  
• al'Lan Mandragoran
  
• Queen's guards of Andor
  
• Elayne's Bodyguard
  
• Birgitte and her bow
  
• Seanchan
  
• Deathwatch Guards
  
• Shienaran lances
  
• Saldaean light cavalry
  
• Kandori
  
• Tarabon
  
• Tylin's guards and Altaran lancers
  
• Mayener Winged Guards
  
• Amadician pikes
  
• Ghealdanin
  
• the Ebou Dari marriage knife
  
• Trollocs
  

***

As before, weapons and armor of various lands are covered in detail, as is military costuming, and have been illustrated where possible. Thanks to Those Who Have Contributed for their comments and contributions. Please, send me your feedback. Even if I can't answer you all, it is appreciated!

Page references are for paperback editions, up to and including TFoH, and for the LoC and subsequent hardcover editions. The shortened book abbreviation RJWoT refers to the 1997 The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, by Robert Jordan and Theresa Patterson. 'Legends' refers to the 1998 book Legends, edited by Robert Silverberg, in which Jordan's short story New Spring appears. NS Refers to the expanded novel New Spring which has since been produced.

Robert Jordan's books are all copyrighted by him (of course), excepting RJWoT, which is copyrighted by Bill Fawcett & Associates. Chapter ornaments copyright 1989-2000 by Tor Books; used by permission.

Please note that this compendium is copyrighted, and must be acknowledged as such if referred to elsewhere. A previous version (Version 4.1 - covers all books prior to Winter's Heart) is downloadable as a ZIPPED Windows HLP file (546 KB). With the speed of modern internet connections, I see no need to create and maintain a downloadable copy of this work - the latest version is always, easily accessible at this site. Also available here, a little essay, Do Fades Have Noses? Finally, a link to a few of my favorite Robert Jordan sites.

For those who disapprove of the advertising now integrated into this site - my Robert Jordan sites have never paid a cent, and have required phenomenal input of time and energy - none of it begrudged, it has been a labour of love. Still, I would like to see this site at least pay for itself, to be self-sufficient, to cover the costs it takes to host such a venture. Hence, the advertising.

Finally, check out Paul's Fantasy Faves - Authors and Web sites I highly recommend.