Section 3: Trivial Pursuits: References, Sources, Allusions and Parallels

This subsection contains information on and discussion of legends and myths which RJ may have used as source material and works which share similarities with TWOT.

"There are elements from Norse, Chinese, Japanese, and American Indian mythologies, to name just a few. I think it adds resonance to the story, although I've taken great care not to follow the older material in any slavish way. Occasionally, I will add in details here or there, and then discover that I have done something that is absolutely authentic to the myth I was working from." [Waldenbooks' 'zine Hailing Frequencies]

• 3.01 King Arthur and the Holy Grail
• 3.02 Shadowspawn
• 3.03 Is the world of Randland a future Earth?
• 3.04 Christian and Biblical Parallels
• 3.05 Random Names
• 3.06 Dragon Legends
• 3.07 Norse Mythology
• 3.08 The Fisher King
• 3.09 The Aiel, Native Americans, and the Zulu
• 3.10 Greek and Roman Mythology
• 3.11 Miscellaneous References
• 3.12 Similarities between The Wheel of Time and other SF (including Dune)
• 3.13 Real Nation's influence on Randland

[ Previous Section | Previous | Section Contents | Next | Next Section ]

[ Contents | Administrivia | The Shadow | Non-Dark | Sources | Prophecy | Publishing ]

Illustrations © 1989-2000 by Tor Books.