The Wheel of Time | |
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Created by | Robert Jordan |
Original work | The Eye of the World (1990) |
Owner | Tor Books (Macmillan) |
Years | 1990–present |
Print publications | |
Book(s) |
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Novel(s) |
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Short stories |
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Comics |
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Films and television | |
Television series | The Wheel of Time (2021–present) |
Games | |
Traditional | The Wheel of Time Collectible Card Game (1999) |
Role-playing | The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game (2001) |
Video game(s) | The Wheel of Time (1999) |
Audio | |
Soundtrack(s) | A Soundtrack for the Wheel of Time (1999) |
The Wheel of Time is a series of high fantasy novels by American author Robert Jordan, with Brandon Sanderson as a co-author for the final three installments. Originally planned as a six-book series with the publication of The Eye of the World in 1990, The Wheel of Time came to span 14 volumes, in addition to a prequel novel and three companion books. Jordan died in 2007 while working on what was planned to be the twelfth and final volume in the series. He prepared extensive notes, which enabled fellow fantasy-author Sanderson to complete the final book, which grew into three volumes: The Gathering Storm (2009), Towers of Midnight (2010), and A Memory of Light (2013).
The series draws on numerous elements of both European and Asian mythology, most notably the cyclical nature of time found in Buddhism and Hinduism; the metaphysical concepts of balance, duality, and a respect for nature found in Taoism; and the dualistic concepts of God and Satan.
The Wheel of Time is notable for its length, detailed imaginary world, magic system, and its large cast of characters. The eighth through fourteenth books each reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. After its completion, the series was nominated for a Hugo Award. As of 2021[update], the series has sold over 90 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling epic fantasy series since The Lord of the Rings. Its popularity has spawned comic book adaptations, a collectible card game, a video game, a roleplaying game, and a soundtrack album. A television series adaptation produced by Sony Pictures and Amazon Studios premiered in 2021.