Wheel Talk

I began reading The Wheel of Time when I was in college. I was writing a fairy tale-themed musical, and for research, I began to read all the fantasy novels I could get my hands on. A friend recommended The Wheel of Time, so I went to the campus bookstore and bought The Eye of the World. I still remember sitting at a table in a cafe, eating my muffin, reading those words for the first time:

“The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.”

I fell in love, and I was late for class.

I remember sitting on my mother’s couch about two years later, reading Brandon Sanderson’s introduction to The Gathering Storm. I hadn’t known that Robert Jordan had died. I quietly shut the book, went to the room that used to be mine, and cried. I had read and loved other fantasy series, but not like this one. I had never experienced the death of an author before a series had been finished. I grieved for the tragedy that he would not get to write his last books. It seemed so unfair after all he had done, all he had given us.

Reading The Gathering Storm, I felt such an immense gratitude toward both authors. How wonderful that Robert Jordan had left behind extensive notes, left an ending for us all. And how wonderful that Brandon Sanderson had given us this book. The Gathering Storm is one of my favorites, as are the last two books.

Robert Jordan’s world has been my second home since I first visited. I have read the series several times, sometimes on the page, sometimes with the audiobooks. I have often asked friends to join me, but none are willing to commit to such a lengthy series. It can be lonely, when no one you know enjoys your favorite thing.

It took me a while to believe that a television show was really happening. I didn’t want to get my hopes up. As it sank in, I became ecstatic, and the feeling hasn’t left me. My family and friends are going to experience The Wheel of Time. I'll be able to talk about it with them. I still can’t quite believe it.

We’re a few weeks into quarantine, and production was put on hold because of the pandemic. The community seems confident that we’re still getting a show, thank the Light, but there’s no telling when that is going to happen. I’m desperate to start talking about these books, so I’ve decided not to wait.

I posted the first episode of “Wheel Talk with Recappa Sedai” two weeks ago. The supportive response has been wonderful, and I’ve loved engaging with people about The Wheel of Time. It has taken me too long to seek out others who love this story like I do. There’s a wonderful community of fans out there.

I plan to write future posts as Recappa Sedai, but I thought the first should come from me. For any who are wondering: I’m a cis gay man who puts on a wig for the “Wheel Talk” videos. I go by he/him. Recappa Sedai, a fictional cis woman, goes by she/her (and wields Saidar). Neither of us identifies as transgender. If I discuss gender or sexuality as Recappa, it will be from the perspective of a gay male. I expect those conversations to come up. I have a lot of thoughts about The Wheel of Time and gender.

I plan to post occasionally as I reread the series. It has been wonderful to start The Eye of the World again. I’ve loved discussing it in the “Wheel Talk” comments, and I hope to continue the conversation here. Thank you for reading. I hope you’ll share your thoughts and continue to visit.

The Light illumine the Wheel of Time community!

—Brian Adam Davis