The Eye of the World

Book One of The Wheel of Time

By: Robert Jordan

Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer

Length: 29 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

"These veteran narrators keep the plot moving and the narration fresh" (AudioFile Magazine)

This program is read by Audie Award-winning narrators Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, and includes a bonus interview with the author.

Now an original series starring Rosamund Pike as Moiraine!

The first novel in Robert Jordan's #1 New York Times bestselling epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time®.

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

Moiraine Damodred arrives in Emond’s Field on a quest to find the one prophesized to stand against The Dark One, a malicious entity sowing the seeds of chaos and destruction. When a vicious band of half-men, half beasts invade the village seeking their master’s enemy, Moiraine persuades Rand al’Thor and his friends to leave their home and enter a larger unimaginable world filled with dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.

Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time® has captivated millions of readers around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters.

The Wheel of Time®
New Spring: The Novel
#1 The Eye of the World
#2 The Great Hunt
#3 The Dragon Reborn
#4 The Shadow Rising
#5 The Fires of Heaven
#6 Lord of Chaos
#7 A Crown of Swords
#8 The Path of Daggers
#9 Winter's Heart
#10 Crossroads of Twilight
#11 Knife of Dreams

By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
#12 The Gathering Storm
#13 Towers of Midnight
#14 A Memory of Light

By Robert Jordan and Teresa Patterson
The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time

By Robert Jordan, Harriet McDougal, Alan Romanczuk, and Maria Simons
The Wheel of Time Companion

By Robert Jordan and Amy Romanczuk
Patterns of the Wheel: Coloring Art Based on Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time

Listen to more books in The Wheel of Time series.

©1990 Robert Jordan (P)1996 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

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

Good read

It took a little bit to get into. because there were so many characters introduced and set into play, but once it got going. I couldn't put it down.

once I started I couldn't stoo

didn't think I was going to like it but I was quickly enveloped in the story and couldn't stop.

Great Book and Audio

Great Narration. Listened to it on my way to and from work. Still one of my favorites and even better now that I can just listen to it well driving.

A-FREAKING-MAZING!!!!

I don't normally write full reviews, but hit the stars, and call it good.
But this one, I just had too! I've been a long time fantasy fan. Not so much of a "reader" per say, but I always enjoy a good fantasy story. Especially of the D&D style!
This book keep me wanting more, forgoing sleep, thinking about nothing more. Then what would happen next to the characters. And the action, at times I wished it would slow down, just so we could be back to the character development. I wanted to know more and more about, where they had been, what they had seen. And even more so, what long lost tales and fables molded their fates together!
I've spent alot of time getting my hands on any kind of fantasy I could find. Mainly film, TV, comics and games (video, tabletop and written). And this was one of the most complex and intriguing story I've found!
Best of all, since I have just started the series, I feel like someone waiting to pounce on an all weekend "Netflix multi-season binge"!
I cannot wait to get to the other books, just wanted to let everyone know how amazing thus book was...is, neigh, shall always be! For I know not, when I shall remove myself from this series, till it is complete most likely. At least I hope it keeps the tempo, that it has already set forth!

PS. Thanks Corey, for turning me onto this series!

Great story

It started off slow but it picked up, this is a great story and I am looking forward to hearing the rest of the series.

too much like LOTR

Any additional comments?

Mary-Matt. Pipen-Perin. Lan-Aragon. Padon Phane-Golum. The Blight-Mordor. Balazaman-Sauron. Moraine-Gandalf. Two Rivers-The Shire. Trollucks-Orcs. Thades-Black Riders. Loyal-Treebeard(not in appearance or name but in culture). The list goes on. Its hard to listen to because at almost every turn I'm reminded of LOTR. Excuse my spelling of characters.

Great introduction to one of the greatest stories

This is a great book knowing that it's only just a chapter in a greater story. In its own... well outs not meant to be read on its own... hence 13 further books info the series.

Character development is good while still a bit shallow. What I mean by this is that we get a glimpse into the main characters, both good and bad, all the while knowing that there is so much more to know about them.

Narration is excellent. I will admit it took me a while to get used to Michael and Kate, but with every passing hour they keep out-doing themselves.

A classic that should rival Tolkien

Simply a wonderful start into what I can only imagine is a truly exceptional fantasy series. Such detail and vivid scenes accompanied by truly realistic and believable characters. I feel the narrator greatly influences the feel of the book giving just the right amount of emotion in the right places. Definitely should be a standard for those who love fantasy.

Just as good as I remember

Would you consider the audio edition of The Eye of the World to be better than the print version?

Being the first audiobook I've ever owned, and considering the love of the print version that I have, it's hard for me to compare the two. I don't think that one is better that the other - they are the same story, after all - but I can say that the audio version certainly didn't take anything away from the original.

What did you like best about this story?

Jordan's level of detail in his world is amazing to the point of obsession. While nothing is mind-blowingly original in terms of modern fantasy, the way the world is laid out makes you believe that such a place could exist, as fantastical as it is.

What does Kate Reading and Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Both readers are proficient enough, and manage to seem genuinely engaged in the reading. Some of the characterizations differ from how I imagined them, but when all of them are done by the same person, it's difficult to provide an unlimited range.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Jordan's characters have often been described as one-dimensional, but I think most people are. Even if that dimension changes, for the most part, people get wrapped up in thier own lives to exclusion of all else, and growth comes slowly, if at all. I enjoy the characters at least as much as the story.

I love how Michael uses different voices

I really enjoyed how Michael had different voices for the characters. with two people doing the voiceover for it I thought there'd be more of a split between the two but it was really strange with only a few chapters being read by Kate, but I still enjoyed those chapters too.