Available Formats
Hardback
Published: 31st January 2023
Paperback
Published: 8th November 2022
Paperback
Published: 28th May 2024
Origins of The Wheel of Time: The Legends and Mythologies that Inspired Robert Jordan
By (Author) Michael Livingston
Pan Macmillan
Tor
31st January 2023
10th November 2022
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
Epic fantasy / heroic fantasy
Literary reference works
Biography: writers
813.54
Hardback
256
Width 164mm, Height 242mm, Spine 29mm
468g
With an introduction by Harriet McDougal, Origins of The Wheel of Time by Michael Livingston explores the inspirations behind the acclaimed series The Wheel of Time, including a biography of Robert Jordan for the first time. 'Jordan has come to dominate the world Tolkien began to reveal' - New York Times on The Wheel of Time series Explore never-before-seen insights into The Wheel of Time, including: - A brand-new, redrawn world map by Ellisa Mitchell using change requests discovered in Robert Jordan's unpublished notes - An alternate scene from an early draft of The Eye of the World This companion to the internationally bestselling series will delve into the creation of Robert Jordan's masterpiece, drawing from interviews and an unprecedented examination of his unpublished notes. Michael Livingston tells the behind-the-scenes story of who Jordan was (including a chapter that is the very first published biography of the author), how he worked, and why he holds such an important place in modern literature. The second part of the book is a glossary to the 'real world' in The Wheel of Time. King Arthur is in The Wheel of Time. Merlin, too. But so is Alexander the Great and the Apollo Space Program, the Norse gods and Napoleon's greatest defeat - and so much more. Origins of The Wheel of Time will provide exciting knowledge and insights to both new and longtime fans looking either to expand their understanding of the series or unearth the real-life influences that Jordan utilized in his world-building - all in one accessible text.
Michael Livingston is the foremost academic interpreter of Robert Jordan's literary accomplishment and legacy. He holds degrees in History, Medieval Studies and English. He teaches the military and cultural history of the Middle Ages at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, and has been a contributor for popular media outlets like Tor. At present he also serves as the Secretary-General of the United States Commission on Military History. He is the author of Origins of The Wheel of Time, among others.