Everyone seems to have a huge opinion about RJ's WoT series, and to be completely honest, you have the right to your opinions! Everyone is correct in their own way.
The WoT series can be trying at times, but one does not become a blade master in a day.
I first read up to book 5 when I was 12 years old, then I stopped. I am 20 years old now, and after re-reading the (so-far) completed series with a little more patience, understanding and love, I feel like my childhood friends have fulfilled everything I hoped them to achieve. Call it sad, but I'm hopelessly addicted to this series, and I'm grateful for every word, slow or to the point.

Point is: Be patient and look at the series in the grander scheme of things - It will be worth your while!

I read the first five books and then lost interest. I had to stop because I couldn't keep up w/ the diff characters. Its simple fun at first but found my self writing notes so I could remember who's who.
Ron

well i love the series, it's a bit boring in the middle of the books, but i love it, especialy the ending of the books i like Lanfear shes hot Rands just an idiot
Well to me i say that Robert J is a genius i'm pretty sure that my IQ is stil higher than him though, can't wait to read the last book, it's coming on my birthday Jan 8, hopefully it's good if it isn't it will ruin the whole series( prob kill Brandon S if he fails) i like book 12 and book4+3

While I agree that these books are good, the amount of storylines, especially from seemingly arbitrary POV's and the lack of progress after about book 7seriously detracts from the series as a whole. I've read around 500 fantasy/sci-fi books and though this is a trailblazer for modern fantasy and should be in the hall of fantasy fame, it just can't compete anymore. However, like LoTR, it deserves respect (even if all the female characters are bitches - sorry, I had to say that).

Jordan is often criticized for losing control of the plot somewhere around book 8 of this 14 book (13 done, 1 to come) series. But, those who fall in love with Jordan's writing style will find it easy to forgive the sometimes slow-moving plot, as each page is so enjoyable. Jordan's ability to bring such a large number of character's to life is amazing. Yes, there are a lot of details that don't necessarily matter to the plot (what the character is wearing, for example). But, each one of these details brings us deeper into the story, allowing us to really "get" what Jordan, a genius, wanted us to get.

At the (strong) risk of drawing heat from Sanderson lovers (note: Sanderson finished the series, writing the last 3 books from Jordan's - may he RIP -notes), Jordan's absence is notable in the last 2 books. Don't get me wrong: Sanderson has done a great job. I don't know what fans would have done had he not stepped in and done such a great job. But, his sometimes "too clever" style comes across in the writing. But, since he is also a great author, this one complaint is minor relative to the overall greatness of the WOT series.

How this series can come so low in the list baffles the mind. A Song of Ice and Fire is great, but WOT is an amazing and umatched work.

I love the series and it is so far my favorite.

Eye of the World introduced me into fantasy novels and I've been hooked on the series since. If some didn't know, it was originally written to be a trilogy, but with its success Jordan kept writing and TOR kept pushing for more and more books, hence the insane amount of books. Jordan originally wanted to finish the series in 10-12 books, but got carried away with too many minor characters and plot lines, I mean really, stick with main three characters, and few of the side characters. If I'm remembering correctly, it got so bad that Mat was left out of an entire book and Perrin was practically left out of another due to attempts to tie up minor plot lines.

Its a tragedy that Jordan died before its completion, but I have a feeling the series would have ended up being 18+ books if he was still alive. I hope Sanderson doesn't botch the last book, though Jordan had already written the final scene even before he started writing the first book. I have confidence in him, but not being able to get Mat's dialogue right was a little troublesome, which makes me paranoid that the last book will be a disappointment.

I enjoyed WoT greatly the first 3-4 times I read through it. My latest read through though, I'm finding myself bogged down and skipping a lot. *shrug*

this book is for 10 - 17 years old, i think it can be amazing then, but that's all. If i could pick one word to describe the whole series it would be "annoying". So if you are 10 - 17 years old go ahaed you may like this book, if you are older... run away from it as fast as you can.

Someone gave me one of these books as a gift, so I ended up tracking down the rest of the series. It's really not that bad if you have the spare time for it. I found the first few books in the series very engaging, but the story line in the following books just kept breaking off to chase its own tail for hundreds of pages at a time.

Douglas Adams addressed something like this late in his HHGG series. He was being sarcastic (of course) but it fits well enough. He broke away from the story at one point and addressed the reader directly to explain that there are just some things that a writer shouldn't put down on paper because it doesn't develop the plot and serves only to annoy the reader. I think Jordan could have really benefited from this bit of advice.

There are at least several books worth of pointless side-plots that should have been left out of the finished product. I'm really surprised that Jordon's editor allowed so much of what I consider to be "useless filler" to go to press.

The good news is that Brandon Sanderson is doing a wonderful job of wrapping things up. The last few books that he co-authored with Jordon started to get everything back on track. The last book of the series should be released sometime this year and I'm really looking forward to it.

What is this? I have never heard so much moaning in my life! The WoT series is an excellent epic fantasy. I don't see why so many people jump at the chance to criticise it. Yes the story isnt perfect and some of the slander has merit, but to try and deny The Wheel of Time its rightful place as one of the best?!?! Blasphemy! The world that Robert Jordan created is lush with entertainment for people of all ages, the BEST magic system to date, and the main characters dont try too hard and fail such as in the acclaimed Ice and Fire books. I prefer the books that dont kill everone in sight including much-loved favorites. I have much more to say on the subject but I assume the readers on this site wouldn't have the insight to understand why people love the book, so I just wanted to say: SHAME ON YOU PEOPLE.

The wheel of time is an awesome series. I can't speak enough to the hours upon hours I have enjoyed reading, and also listening to in my car (Kate Reading and Michael Kramer do an AWESOME job). I first read Eye of the World when I was 13, and it got me hooked on the fantasy genre....in fact it is what opened my eyes to reading in general. So thank you Jordan (and now Sanderson).

I have a hard time admitting it now, but there are better authors and even better written series out there. Also I have to say that Sanderson (the dude is brilliant) is finishing the series probably better than Jordan would have.

If you haven't yet tried Sanderson's books (especially The way of Kings) you should.....great book.

There will always be a special place in my heart for WOT.

(sorry if I had some typos, I stayed up late last night finishing The Name of the Wind).

Its a bit funny how people here throwing words, like the best, the worst, good this, bad that. You might want to realize, not every author has written a book just to entertain You.... On the contrary. They wrote something, because it was entertaining for themselves. It is most probably based on their own experience, studies and philosopy. Its just happened to be entertaining or boring for You. I've read th WoT and it happened to be one of my favourites. Not because it is better than the others, but because it is amazing on its own. Really good characters, world and story. It is simply entertaining. My 16 years old sister enjoyed it as much as I did. And I have 2 degrees in evolutionary psichology/philosopy and sociology. The fact that You dont need to be 60 to understand it, doesnt mean its childish, It only means that there is something in it for everyone. And just because You dont understand the book and say this or that part/whole books are crap.... well probably You just not the type who understands it ( if the duck cant swim it doesnt make the pond stupid)

Having read somewhere around 60-90 fantasy books, I find WoT to be the best so far.

I dont read fantasy for its realism and I wont go too much into A Song of Ice and Fire.
But I would really like people to stop trying to compare the 2 series.
WoT is fantasy, and nowhere is it started that fantasy should be realistic, or that you have to kill off your maincharacters or write about thirtyfourhundred rapes. Realism isnt what makes a book great, and if it did.. then I recommend you selling your diary. Story, plot and a good writing style makes good fantasy.
A Song of Ice and Fire is simply so different from WoT, that it is ludicrous to compare.

I do agree with many, that the relations between men and women in the series can be very infuriating at times. For me however, it is the only real drawback in the series. But I can accept, that it is a fantasy series, and men and women act differently in this world, than ours. I can and do accept it, and do not let it ruin my experience of the books.

I am 25 years old, so no longer a teenager. I started reading the series when I was 24, and as said before, this is by far the best fantasy series I have read. It requires a certain mindset. But it truly is epic fantasy.
As for the series itself. I have never read any other series of books, that is so extremely deep and detailed. True, book 7-10 where by no means as good as the rest, and I would never have liked them as standalone books. But I like the series, and I hunger and dread for the last book.

I enjoy Jordans distinction between hard and strong.
His amazing One Power (which is by far the best magic system I have seen to date.. every other magic system is so damn boring/bad/poor, that it comes no where near his system).
The history of the world he created.
It is by far, the most acceptable fantasyworld I have read.

I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys the fantasy series. Anyone.
You will come to love it, or you will dislike it. I doubt there is much possibility of a middleground (because if you dont really like it, you probably wont reach the last books, which are truly amazing.)

As for the haters. Dont offend others by saying this is for teenagers or the young. People of any age, with a like for fantasy, should give the series a go. Do not presume that your oppinion or taste is universal or true. Taste is taste, and you demean yourselves by stating your views as facts.

Oh and lastly. Dont pull out BS like the series being too obvious. If you have managed to foretell a few events from a book or two, then good for you, but it is by no means obvious what happens in the series, or what will happen.
People say there are flaws in the series, true. But they dont mention the amazing link between each book. How small quotes in the first book, reveal themselves in books that are written 10 years later. How everything makes more sence, the further you read.

I am Smiling Jack

Sorry i but this books do not deserve to be in top 25, im at 6 book and all it is about is pointing on how women do this or that. Its so damn childish and annoying, when i started i get through first 3 books with hope that its only the problem at the beggining and will dissapear later on. But if anything its getting only worse. We have the most powerfull individual in the world, whos life is taken from him, he has to make some realy hard decisions, whole nations live or die couse of him, and in the middle of the battle comes some girl and tell this man that he is a whoolhead and he like good puppy do ALWAYS ALL THE TIME what this or that girl says all girl... I really wanted to read some nice fantasy story and not pathetic philosophical garbage about men and women relations, its simply impossible to get any further with this it destoys the mood and any good ideas that there are ( and yees ideas are pretty nice and interesting ) but 1/3 of each book is filled with the garbage like described above... I really cant imagine why, mayby Jordan wanted to have his series to be for women readers, or he was pushed by some women like that all his life and have to explain to himself this all. Its worse and more childish than so called popcorn fantasy ( forgotten realms and so on ) REALLY it is. Its close to "twilight" to me...