From Library Journal
The peaceful villagers of Emond's Field pay little heed to rumors of war in the western lands until a savage attack by troll-like minions of the Dark One forces three young men to confront a destiny which has its origins in the time known as The Breaking of the World. This richly detailed fantasy presents a fully realized, complex adventure which will appeal to fans of classic quests. Recommended.Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
Three young friends from a village so far on the fringes that its residents no longer know they're part of the queen's kingdom set out on an adventure that will change their lives and place them in the middle of events they can neither control nor escape. Michael Kramer sets this first book of a classic series on strong ground, with Kate Reading contributing to the narration. The characters spring to life as they face the challenges and torments that the wheel of life has drawn them into. These veteran narrators keep the plot moving and the narration fresh. A brief interview with the author is a bonus. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
"Jordan has come to dominate the world that Tolkien began to reveal."--The New York Times

"Jordan is able to take...familiar elements and make them his own, in a powerful novel of wide and complex scope. Open religious and political conflicts add a gritty realism, while the cities and courts provide plenty of drama and splendor. Women have a stronger role than in Tolkien...Each character in this large cast remains distinct....Their adventures are varied, and exciting....The Eye of the World stands alone as a fantasy epic."--Locus

"Robert Jordan has created a fantasy world as tangible and credible as history. He has a fine eye for detail and a vivid sense of drama."--Morgan Llewelyn


Review
"Jordan has come to dominate the world that Tolkien began to reveal."--The New York Times

"Jordan is able to take...familiar elements and make them his own, in a powerful novel of wide and complex scope. Open religious and political conflicts add a gritty realism, while the cities and courts provide plenty of drama and splendor. Women have a stronger role than in Tolkien...Each character in this large cast remains distinct....Their adventures are varied, and exciting....The Eye of the World stands alone as a fantasy epic."--Locus

"Robert Jordan has created a fantasy world as tangible and credible as history. He has a fine eye for detail and a vivid sense of drama."--Morgan Llewelyn


Book Description
The Wheel of Times turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, and Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

FROM OUR EDITORS

According to a 1996 New York Times article, "Robert Jordan has come to dominate the world that Tolkien began to reveal." Robert Jordan is hands-down the most widely read and talked-about fantasy author writing today. His mammoth, multivolume New York Times bestselling Wheel of Time series has sold more millions of copies to date. Book One of the Wheel of Time is The Eye of the World, a staggeringly complex and enjoyable adventure that's not without its own cast of unforgettable characters: Rand, a simple sheepherder who is stalked by an evil he does not yet understand; Egwene, Rand's love interest, who happens to possess her own very special gift; Moraine, the beautiful but possibly dangerous member of a powerful legion of sorceresses called Aes Sedai; and Lan, Moraine's fearless companion and guardian.

--Andrew LeCount

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Still think Robert Jordan is the hero of Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls? Not sure what all the hype's about? If you've yet to experience the magic, mystery, excitement, and splendor of Robert Jordan's spectacular Wheel of Time fantasy series, now's your chance to get hooked, as have millions of fans worldwide. It all began with The Eye of the World, which launched the complex, spellbinding adventures of Rand, Egwene, Moiraine, Lan, and so many others. Find out why The New York Times recently said, "Robert Jordan has come to dominate the world that Tolkien began to reveal."

FROM THE CRITICS

Gale Research

Set in a world where two kinds of magic exist, one female and the other male, the Wheel of Time series features the hero Rand. Rand is on an epic quest to unite the diverse peoples of his planet against the Dark One, who threatens to destroy their world. His quest takes him through a series of complex and well-delineated alien cultures. Jo-Ann Goodwin in New Statesman and Society calls the Wheel of Time books "high fantasy that demands to be taken seriously. . . . [Jordan] has been rightly praised for creating an entirely convincing and compelling alternative world, complete with social systems, cultural differences and competing motivations."

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

A future collector's item, Jordan has brought out a completely new allegory in a fantasy concept that goes even beyond this massive story, working with an artist's eye and the sense of responsibility of a serious historian. — Gordon R. Dickson

Certainly a title I want to add to my permanent collection and I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel which is promised at the end. — Andre Norton