The novels, written by Robert Jordan, have been compared to George R.R. Martin’s popular “Game of Thrones” novels in recent years, but they actually served as an inspiration for Martin.
Martin told Entertainment Weekly in 2020 that “Thrones” would not have been successful without “The Wheel of Time.”
“Jordan essentially broke the trilogy template that Tolkien helped set up. He showed us how to do a book that’s bigger than a trilogy,” he added. “I don’t think my series would’ve been possible without ‘The Wheel of Time’ being as successful as it was.”
Jordan, whose real name is James Oliver Rigney Jr., died in 2007. But before his death, he wrote the first 11 books in the series and the prequel, “New Spring.”
Book 12 was written by a fan and fellow author, Brandon Sanderson, who was picked by Jordan’s editor and wife Harriet McDougal to finish the last book in the series using the late author’s notes. It was later decided to split the book into three novels to end the story.
Here’s the best way to read the novel series.
You can read ‘The Wheel of Time’ in publication order
Jan Thijs / Amazon Studios
While “The Wheel of Time” TV series focuses on several of Jordan’s characters, in the books, there is no mistake that Rand al’Thor is the main character, even if we do get several chapters from other characters’ perspectives.
The series follows Rand and his friends Egwene al’Vere, Nynaeve al’Meara, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara after they are forced out of their village, the Two Rivers, to save the world from an evil known as the Dark One.
The series is filled with magic, which is called the One Power, that can only be used by women. Men who use the One Power go mad. However, in order to stop the Dark One, Moiraine Damodred and her trusty Warder, Lan Mandarogan, must guide and train the five villagers, one of whom is the Dragon Reborn and is destined to either save the world or destroy it.
The order of the original series is as follows:
- “The Eye of the World”
- “The Great Hunt”
- “The Dragon Reborn”
- “The Shadow Rising”
- “The Fires of Heaven”
- “Lord of Chaos”
- “A Crown of Swords”
- “The Path of Daggers”
- “Winter’s Heart”
- “Crossroads of Twilight”
- “Knife of Dreams”
- “The Gathering Storm”
- “Towers of Midnight”
- “A Memory of Light”
“The Gathering Storm,” “Towers of Midnight” and “A Memory of Light” are the three novels written by Brandon Sanderson, with the final book including an epilogue written by Jordan before his death.
The prequel book ‘New Spring’ can be read first or after ‘Crossroads of Twilight’
Jan Thijs / Amazon Studios
There is one prequel novel set 20 years before the events of the main series.
“New Spring” follows a younger Moiraine, who is training to become an Aes Sedai, a specially-trained witch, alongside her close friend Siuan Sanche.
In the novel, we witness how she and Siuan become involved in the prophecy of the Dragon Reborn, and how she meets Lan.
If you have been watching the TV series, a lot of this has been explored or teased in the first two seasons.
“New Spring” was published between book 10, “Crossroads of Twilight,” and book 11, “Knife of Dreams,” so you could read it between those two novels. Alternatively, you could read “New Spring” first as your entry into the world of “The Wheel of Time.”
According to a note published on the official “Wheel of Time” Facebook account, “New Spring” was meant to be the start of a prequel trilogy, but Jordan never got to finish the series before his death.
Will there be more ‘Wheel of Time’ books?
Jan Thijs / Prime Video
Due to Jordan’s death, it is unlikely that we will get any more “Wheel of Time” books after “A Memory of Light.”
Sanderson, the author who took over the series, said in a 2020 video on his YouTube channel that he didn’t want to take ownership of the series and does not plan to write any more spinoffs or sequels.
“I handed that ring back, and I told Harriet, ‘I’m not going to write any more “Wheel of Time,”‘” Sanderson said.
While publisher Tor and McDougal could hire another author to take over the series, there hasn’t been a new book in over 10 years.
Sanderson also said in his video that Jordan was against other authors writing their own “Wheel of Time” stories for much of his career, and only became open to the idea of another author helping him finish the series when he was close to death.
This article was originally published on September 30, 2023, and was most recently updated on January 5, 2024.
Correction: January 5, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misidentified the author of the final three “Wheel of Time” novels. It is Brandon Sanderson, not Brian Sanderson.
