Rejoice, my fellow nerds!

So, I recently finished Knife of Dreams, the latest book in the Wheel of Time series. I have had it for almost a year, but have been reluctant to read it because it is the next to last in the series, and Robert Jordan (the author) died before finishing the ultimate volume.

But I finally broke down and read it, finishing this weekend on a plane flight. (Pleasure reading is the only thing that keeps me sane cramped in those little seats for hours at a time.) I liked the book a lot, and one of the things that I liked best was that Jordan gave his long-suffering fans some closure.

Lots of things I have been waiting to see for a long time finally happened (or started happening) in this book. Since this is the eleventh book in the series, I thought I would give a list of eleven things that I have been waiting to see.

(Of course, if you don't want to have the book spoiled for you, then you should read no further.)

1) Lan and Nynaeve rally the scattered nation of Malkier. Been waiting since: Book 1 - the Eye of the World.
2) Loial the Ogier gets married. Been waiting since: Book 2 - the Great Hunt.
3) Elayne captures most of the rest of Liandrin's Black Ajah group. Been waiting since: Book 3 - the Dragon Reborn.
4) Mat marries the Daughter of the Nine Moons. Been waiting since: Book 4 - the Shadow Rising.
5) The Shaido are defeated and go home. Been waiting since: Book 5 - the Fires of Heaven.
6) Thom's letter reveals that Moiraine is not dead, and can be rescued by attacking the Tower of Ghenjei. Been waiting since: Book 6 - Lord of Chaos.
7) Halima is exposed as one of the Forsaken, and flees the rebel Aes Sedai camp. Been waiting since: Book 6 - Lord of Chaos.
8) Elayne gains the Lion Throne. Been waiting since: Book 6 - Lord of Chaos.
9) Mat rejoins the Band of the Red Hand, and gets back to winning battles. Been waiting since: Book 7 - A Crown of Swords.
10) Perrin rescues his wife. Been waiting since: Book 8 - the Path of Daggers.
11) Tuon becomes empress of Seanchan, more or less. Been waiting since: Book 9 - Winter's Heart.

And that's not all. Lots of other cool stuff happened, too-- like psychotic ex-pacifist Aram buying the farm, and High Lady Suroth finally getting her just deserts. Ah... So satisfying!

It's almost enough to make me shed a big, fat, nerdy tear or two. Thanks, Robert Jordan. Rest in peace.

--CHISAIBU