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The Fires of Heaven

2025-09-22T04:14:03Z

2001:56A:75E4:2500:9D05:1C8C:19B:29C8: /* Plot summary */

{{Short description|1993 novel by Robert Jordan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book | 
| name = The Fires of Heaven
| image = WoT05 TheFiresOfHeaven.jpg
| caption = Original cover of ''The Fires of Heaven'', showing [[Mat Cauthon|Mat]], [[Rand al'Thor|Rand]], and [[Aviendha]]
| author = [[Robert Jordan]]
| cover_artist = [[Darrell K. Sweet]]
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| series = [[The Wheel of Time]]
| genre = [[Fantasy literature|Fantasy]]
| publisher = [[Tor Books]] (U.S.) and [Orbit Books] (UK)
| release_date = October 15, 1993
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
| pages = 991 (U.S. paperback edition) & <br />704 (U.S. hardback edition)
| isbn = 0-312-85427-7
| isbn_note = (US hardback edition)
| dewey = 813/.54 20
| congress = PS3560.O7617 F57 1993
| oclc = 29136140
| preceded_by = [[The Shadow Rising]]
| followed_by = [[Lord of Chaos]]
}}

'''''The Fires of Heaven''''' is a [[Fantasy literature|fantasy]] novel by American writer [[Robert Jordan]], the fifth book in his series ''[[The Wheel of Time]]''. It was published by [[Tor Books]] and released on October 15, 1993.

It is the first novel in the series to not involve an appearance by each of the three [[ta'veren]] from the Two Rivers, due to [[Perrin Aybara|Perrin]]'s absence. ''The Fires of Heaven'' consists of a [[prologue]] and 56 [[chapter (books)|chapter]]s.

==Plot summary==
In Rhuidean, worried by news that Aiel from other clans join the cause of his enemy [[List of Wheel of Time characters|Couladin]], [[Rand al'Thor|Rand al’Thor]] confers with the Clan Chiefs who have recognised him as the Car’a’carn – Chief of Chiefs – on how to win over the four remaining Clans. Darkhounds attack and he kills them with balefire, a powerful weave that burns a person's thread backwards through the Pattern, undoing their past actions for a short time prior to being consumed by balefire. [[Egwene al'Vere]] continues to chafe under the instruction of Aiel Wise Ones, eager to learn faster than they think is wise, and [[Moiraine Damodred]] grows increasingly desperate to find her way into Rand's circle of trust.

In Tanchico, [[Nynaeve]] and Elayne set out for the White Tower—only to receive news that it has suffered a schism. [[List of Wheel of Time characters|Elaida]], a Red sister and former advisor to Queen [[List of Wheel of Time characters|Morgase Trakand]], has deposed and replaced the former Amyrlin Seat and ally of the Two Rivers friends Siuan Sanche.

Unwilling to accept an outsider as their prophesied hero, the Shaido and their allies follow Couladin across the Dragonwall to conquer the “treekillers” and wetlanders. Rand leads the seven Aiel Clans who have recognised him in pursuit and is followed in turn by the four undecided Aiel Clans. Along the way they are ambushed by Darkfriends and Shadowspawn but arrive in time to save the city of Cairhien and defeat the Shaido, in part thanks to the memories of long dead generals the Eelfinn have placed in [[Matrim Cauthon|Matrim Cauthon's]] mind. Couladin is killed in single combat by Mat, while Rand is attacked from afar by either Rahvin or Sammael during the course of the battle.

As Rand establishes his control of Cairhien, a nation torn apart by scheming and war, he learns that the Forsaken [[Rahvin]] has deposed Queen Morgase who is presumed dead. Furious at himself for not acting sooner, Rand prepares to travel to Andor personally and kill Rahvin in revenge, but is delayed by Moiraine. Lanfear attacks Rand who is unwilling to fight back. Rand is saved by the sacrifice of Moirane who foresaw [[Lanfear|Lanfear's]] attack.

Siuan, Leane and Min make their way to Salidar, where the Aes Sedai who have escaped the Tower after Elaida's coup have made a temporary base. Siuan subtly convinces Sheriam and the other Aes Sedai there that they must support Rand. Gareth Bryne follows shortly after, in pursuit of Siuan, and the Aes Sedai have him agree to help build an army for them.

Meanwhile, Nynaeve and Elayne seek out the rebel Aes Sedai accompanied by Thom and Juilin, discovering the forkroot herb that incapacitates channelers. Stuck in cities that are occupied by the Whitecloaks and with Elaida's agents trying to capture Elayne, they disguise themselves and join a travelling circus menagerie, performing acts through villages and towns. Despite Egwene warning Nynaeve through a dream about the dangers of the world of dreams, Nynaeve still visits Tel’aran’rhiod alone trying to work with Birgitte to track the Forsaken [[Moghedien]]. Eventually Moghedien traps Nynaeve and Birgitte in the world of dreams, and the pair narrowly escapes, at the cost of Birgitte being pushed into the waking world severely injured. Elayne bonds Birgitte as her Warder to help save her life.

The girls make their way to Samara, which is rife with troubles. Masema - who has named himself the prophet and taken over the city with zealous followers of the Dragon Reborn - and the Whitecloaks who have entered the town are on the brink of war. Nynaeve meets Galad there again, who has joined the Whitecloaks. Both he and Masema promise to help them get a ship to escape the city. After much trouble, Nynaeve, Elayne, Thom and Juilin, now accompanied by a band of Shienaran soldiers, make their way to Salidar.

Nynaeve confronts Moghedien in a dream again, but this time she is successful in ensnaring her with an a'dam. Finding out that Rand may be in danger, she drags the Forsaken along to help save him through the world of dreams.

Rand Skims to Caemlyn, where his forces enter a trap laid by Rahvin. Lightning bolts triggered by Rahvin kill Mat, Asmodean and Aviendha, which causes Rand to recklessly attack the Forsaken. His battle with Rahvin leads him into the world of dreams, where with the assistance of Nynaeve he destroys Rahvin with Balefire. Upon returning to the waking world, he discovers that his balefire undid Rahvin's killings of Mat, Aviendha and Asmodean. Before waking, Nynaeve realises Moghedien is posing as a refugee in the rebel Aes Sedai camp and doses her with forkroot, allowing her to be captured in the real world.

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Robert Jordan#The Fires of Heaven|''The Fires of Heaven''}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20010220085232/http://hem.passagen.se/kjnoren/jordan/tfoh.html More detailed summaries of each chapter]}}
* [http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/books/tfoh/index.html Even more detailed summaries of each chapter from encyclopaedia-wot.org]
* {{ISBN|0-312-85427-7}} (hardcover)
* {{ISBN|0-8125-5030-7}} (paperback)

{{The Wheel of Time}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fires Of Heaven, The}}
[[Category:1993 American novels]]
[[Category:1993 fantasy novels]]
[[Category:American fantasy novels]]
[[Category:The Wheel of Time books]]
[[Category:Novels by Robert Jordan]]
[[Category:Tor Books books]]

The Great Hunt

2025-09-22T03:56:36Z

2001:56A:75E4:2500:9D05:1C8C:19B:29C8: /* The Hunt Begins */

{{Short description|1990 novel by Robert Jordan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox book | 
| name = The Great Hunt
| image = WoT02 TheGreatHunt.jpg
| caption = Original cover of ''The Great Hunt'', showing [[Rand al'Thor]] holding the [[Horn of Valere]] in front of [[Lanfear|Selene]] and [[Loial]]
| author = [[Robert Jordan]]
| cover_artist = [[Darrell K. Sweet]]
| country = [[United States]]
| language = [[English language|English]]
| series = [[The Wheel of Time]]
| genre = [[Fantasy literature|Fantasy]]
| publisher = [[Tor Books]] (North American) and [[Orbit Books]] (UK)
| release_date = November 15, 1990
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] and [[Paperback]])
| pages = 706 (U.S. paperback edition) &<br />600 (U.S. hardback edition)
| isbn = 0-312-85140-5
| isbn_note = (US hardback edition)
| dewey= 813/.54 20
| congress= PS3560.O7617 G74 1990
| oclc= 21902708
| preceded_by = [[The Eye of the World]]
| followed_by = [[The Dragon Reborn]]
}}

'''''The Great Hunt''''' is a [[fantasy]] novel by [[United States|American]] author [[Robert Jordan]], the second book of ''[[The Wheel of Time]]'' series. It was published by [[Tor Books]] and released on November 15, 1990. ''The Great Hunt'' consists of a [[prologue]] and 50 [[chapter (books)|chapter]]s. In 2004 ''The Great Hunt'' was re-released as two separate books, ''The Hunt Begins'' and ''New Threads in the Pattern''.

The story features young heroes [[Rand al'Thor]], [[Mat Cauthon]], and [[Perrin Aybara]], who join [[Shienar]]en soldiers in a quest to retrieve the [[Horn of Valere]]. At the same time, [[Egwene al'Vere]], [[Nynaeve al'Meara]], and [[Elayne Trakand]] go to the White Tower in [[Tar Valon]] to learn [[Aes Sedai]] ways. Finally, an exotic army invades the western coast.

==Plot summary==

===Prologue===
[[Ba'alzamon]] presides over a clandestine meeting. In addition to Forsaken and [[Darkfriend]]s, Ba'alzamon's known subordinates, the meeting includes two [[Aes Sedai]] and a Questioner of the [[Children of the Light (The Wheel of Time)|Children of the Light]]. In this meeting, [[Rand al'Thor]], [[Mat Cauthon]], and [[Perrin Aybara]] are all mentioned.

===The Hunt Begins===
At [[Fal Dara]] in [[Shienar]], following the events in ''[[The Eye of the World]]'', [[Lan Mandragoran]] instructs Rand in sword fighting. [[Mat Cauthon]]'s condition worsens through his psychic attachment to a parasitic dagger from [[Shadar Logoth]]. [[Padan Fain]], the Darkfriend, is imprisoned. The [[Amyrlin Seat]], [[Siuan Sanche]], arrives, and identifies [[Rand al'Thor]] as the Dragon Reborn. At the same time, through their private conversations it is revealed that the Amyrlin Seat and [[Moiraine Damodred]] have a secret plan for the Dragon Reborn and have been close friends for many years. Fain is subsequently freed by Darkforces who invade the castle in Fal Dara, stealing the Horn of Valere and the tainted dagger.

Rand, [[Perrin Aybara]], and Mat accompany a Shienaran party southbound in pursuit, under the leadership of Lord [[Ingtar Shinowa]] and guided by a tracker named [[Hurin (The Wheel of Time)|Hurin]] who can literally smell past violence. The Amyrlin departs for [[Tar Valon]], taking [[Nynaeve al'Meara]] and [[Egwene al'Vere]] for Aes Sedai training. Moirane breaks off, unbidden, to seek answers. In Tar Valon, Nynaeve and Egwene befriend daughter-heir [[Elayne Trakand]] and the clairvoyant [[Min Farshaw]]. Nynaeve passes the test to become Accepted, a rank in the White Tower below Aes Sedai and above Novice.

[[File:WoT02 TheGreatHuntPart1-TheHuntBegins.jpg|thumb|left|Cover of ''The Hunt Begins'']]
Rand, the [[Ogier (The Wheel of Time)|Ogier]] [[Loial]], and Hurin sleep near a stone. They wake up, separated from the Shienaran party, and transported to an alternative world similar to their own, but deserted and distorted. Rand suspects that he activated the stone by unconsciously channeling ''[[saidin]]'' in his sleep. (Rand's struggle to accept his channeling ability is a recurring element in the novel.) However, Egwene dreams of a woman standing over Rand while he slept, whose "eyes seemed to shine like the moon".

In this alternative world, Rand comes across a beautiful woman who is fighting off a creature unlike he's ever seen, but he ends up killing it. She says her name is [[Lanfear|Selene]], she is from [[Cairhien]] and appears to be a lady or even royalty. She says she also came to the strange world while sleeping and knows how to get back. One night, Rand meets Ba'alzamon in a dream and has a [[heron]]'s image (the crest of his sword) branded into his palm in a fight. Selene explains how they can return by a different portal stone to their own world, ahead of Fain's and Ingtar's groups. When Fain does arrive, Rand and Loial sneak into his camp and retrieve the Horn and dagger. Still behind, and at a loss to explain Rand's disappearance, Lord Ingtar's group pursue Fain with the aid of Perrin, who uses his telepathic ability to communicate with wolves, which in turn can track Fain's [[Trollocs]] (the Dark One's bestial foot-soldiers).

Rand's party journeys to Cairhien, where Rand finds gleeman [[Thom Merrilin]], whom he thought dead after the events in ''The Eye of the World''. Rand and Loial are attacked by Trollocs and, during their escape, damage the Chapter House of the Illuminator's Guild, a society retaining knowledge of [[fireworks]].

Rand receives unwanted, high-profile invitations from House Damodred and from the King. Hurin is attacked at the inn by Fain's forces, and the Horn and dagger are stolen once more. Ingtar's group arrives in Cairhien. Hurin traces the Darkfriends to Barthanes Damodred's manor. Using the now-valuable invitation, the path is traced further to a Waygate in the premises. However, they are prevented from pursuit by [[Machin Shin]]. Via Barthanes, Padan Fain tells them that he is taking the Horn to the port city of [[Falme]] in [[Toman Head]]. Thom's apprentice Dena is murdered for Thom's involvement with Rand.

===To Toman Head===
The invading [[Seanchan]] and their exotic beasts have occupied Falme. Fain gives the Horn to [[High Lord Turak]] of the Seanchan. [[Geofram Bornhald]], leader of the zealous religious group [[Children of the Light (The Wheel of Time)|Children of the Light]], also known as the [[Whitecloaks]], is preparing to attack the Seanchan.

Ingtar's group tries a different Waygate in a nearby Ogier stedding, but they find Machin Shin there too. Rand takes them via a portal stone instead, but they lose months of time. At the White Tower, [[Liandrin Guirale]] lures Egwene and Nynaeve, along with an accompanying Elayne and Min, to Toman Head via the Ways, handing them over to the Seanchan. Egwene is collared with an ''[[a'dam (The Wheel of Time)|a'dam]]'', a device used by the Seanchan to control channelers, while Min is held hostage. Nynaeve and Elayne escape.

Elayne and Nynaeve rescue Egwene from the Seanchan and attempt to flee the city. Meanwhile, Ingtar, Rand, Hurin, Mat, and Perrin enter Falme and retrieve the Horn and dagger, during which Rand slays Turak. Ingtar reveals himself as a Darkfriend, but redeems himself when he dies fighting. However, the Whitecloaks attack the Seanchan, leaving Rand's group trapped perilously between the advancing lines. Mat blows the Horn of Valere, summoning dead heroes, including [[Artur Hawkwing]]. The banner of the Dragon Reborn is unfurled, and they ride to battle against the Seanchan.

Ba'alzamon appears, and he and Rand fight, the duel projected into the air above Falme. Rand allows himself to be stabbed with Ba'alzamon's staff, giving him an opening to stab Ba'alzamon through the heart with his heron-mark sword.

With the battle over and the Seanchan defeated, Rand is found by Min and hauled into a bed to recuperate. Selene arrives, touches the sleeping Rand, reveals herself to be the Forsaken [[Lanfear]], and disappears. When Rand awakens, he finds Ingtar's army under the dragon's banner, and they offer their pledge to him.

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|The Wheel of Time}}
* [https://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org/Wiki.jsp?page=The%20Great%20Hunt Detailed chapter summaries of each chapter from http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org]
* {{ISBN|0-312-85140-5}} (hardcover)
* {{ISBN|0-8125-1772-5}} (paperback)
* {{ISFDB title | id=5150 | title=The Great Hunt}}
* {{iblist title | id=164 | title=The Great Hunt}}
* {{ibdof title | id=570 | title=The Great Hunt}}

{{The Wheel of Time}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Hunt, The}}
[[Category:1990 American novels]]
[[Category:1990 fantasy novels]]
[[Category:American fantasy novels]]
[[Category:The Wheel of Time books]]
[[Category:Novels by Robert Jordan]]
[[Category:Tor Books books]]