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Robert Jordan had me firmly in his grasp from the opening pages of Eye of the World, the first book in his on-going Wheel of Time series. Eager to learn more about the intriguing characters introduced in that book, I hurried on to The Great Hunt, which shines some light on Rand al'Thor, one of the series' main characters. In The Dragon Reborn, Jordan opens the doorway into his world a little wider, as we are shown a more detailed picture of Mat Cauthon and Perrin Aybarra, his other two main protagonists. While the action moves at the same plodding pace of The Great Hunt, this fuller, more in-depth introduction to these two characters makes the novel a worthwhile read in and of itself. And with this book, he binds the reader to a journey which must be seen through to its conclusion.

Rand al'Thor is the Dragon Reborn, the reincarnated soul of long-ago hero Artur Hawkwing. This was shown to the world during his epic battle at Falme at the conclusion of The Great Hunt, and he has even proclaimed himself so. Though legions of followers across the known world are ready to stand beside him, Rand does not truly believe he is the Dragon Reborn. He sees only one way to prove to himself that he is who they say he is. He must travel to the far-off city of Tear, to the Heart of Stone, where the mythical sword Callandor resides. It has hovered mysteriously in the air at the Heart of Stone for centuries, unable to be grasped except by the Dragon Reborn. Knowing that this ancient prophecy holds the answer to his questions, Rand sets off alone for Tear to learn of his true destiny.

What dangers, however, lurk in Tear? The recently revealed Black Ajah, Aes Sedai serving the Dark One, appear to be headed to Tear with thoughts of capturing Rand. Having recently risen in the ranks of the Aes Sedai, three young women - Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne - are determined to protect Rand from these dark sisters. Yet even they are not aware of the dangers which await them, forcing Mat and the gleeman Thom Merrilin to follow them to Tear. Halfway across the world, Moraine Sedai is leading her Warder Lan, Perrin, and the Ogier Loial to Tear, hoping to protect Rand from the evils that await him. Will Rand find the answers he seeks? What danger awaits our heroes as they all converge on Tear?

Before reading this book, I viewed Mat and Perrin merely as friends of Rand, even if I had been told repeatedly that they were integral parts in the world's intricate Pattern. In The Dragon Reborn, these two characters are flushed out, and we begin to understand and respect them as individuals. Perrin reveals himself to be a man conflicted with strange inner demons, all of which belies a strong, commanding sense of duty and responsibility. Mat, yearning always for the way things were, grows to be a brave fighter, with a noble sense of loyalty and a lucky struck that would make any gambler proud. Jordan chooses a different tactic for this novel, as he follows Rand's journey to Tear through the eyes of his friends, only returning the reluctant Dragon to the forefront at the book's conclusion. At book's end, many more answers will be revealed to the reader, but many more questions may beg asking. All the remains is to read onward…

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(Reviewed 12/4/99.)