New Spring by Robert Jordan (A prequel to the Wheel of Time)

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New Spring, a prequel to the Wheel of Time, was first published as a novella in a anthology entitled, “Legends: Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy.” The anthology was published by Tor on September 15, 1999 in between book eight, and book nine of the series. Later, it was adapted into a full novel by Jordan, and published in between book ten, and book eleven of the series.

New Spring is the first book of the series to be later presented as a graphic novel. And was the first book of an intended trilogy of prequels. The second book of the prequels was to focus on Rand’s “father” Tam, and to elaborate on his time in the army of Illian, and lead up to the moment that he found Rand on Dragonmount. The third book of the prequels was to focus on Moiraine and Lan in their journeys, and lead up to the last moments before the events that open up The Eye of the World, the first book of the series.

I really wish that these books could have been completed before Robert Jordan’s passing.

New Spring describes the events twenty years before the events of The Eye of the World. The story describes the Aiel war, and the battle of The Shining Walls. It is mainly set in the city of Tar Valon, and the Borderlands.

It follows the story of Moiraine Damodred and Siune Sanche, two young ladies newly raised to Aes Sedai. Those familiar with the stories will recognize the importance of these characters in the later novels. The story involves the tale of how Moiraine and Lan met, and how he became her warder. It also follows the story of Moiraine and Siuan, how they both become involved for the hunt of the Dragon Reborn, after hearing a foretelling of his birth. Together they decide that this would be there pursuit in life. Both of them agreeing to accomplish this by two different means. Siuan would stay in the White Tower, and later being raised to power and great authority as the Amrylin Seat. And Moiraine would stay out in the world searching for the Dragon Reborn. With Lan by her side she visits city to city, town to town, and village to village, until she reaches the place we pick up in The Eye of the World.