Crossroads of Twilight
Encyclopedia
Crossroads of Twilight (abbreviated as CoT by fans) is the tenth book of The Wheel of Time
fantasy
series written by American
author Robert Jordan
. It was published by Tor Books
and released on January 7, 2003. Upon its release, it immediately rose to the #1 position on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list, making it the third Wheel of Time book to reach the #1 position on that list. It remained on the list for the next three months.
Crossroads of Twilight consists of a prologue
, 30 chapter
s, and an epilogue
. Lord of Chaos
, Knife of Dreams
, New Spring
and The Gathering Storm
are the only other Wheel of Time books to have an epilogue. Many of the events of Crossroads of Twilight take place simultaneously with the events of the previous book, Winter's Heart
.
of Crossroads of Twilight, entitled "Glimmers of the Pattern", was first sold by the Scribner imprint
of Simon & Schuster
as an ebook on July 17, 2002, six months in advance of the physical release of the book.
continues trying to rescue his wife Faile Bashere
, kidnapped by the Shaido Aiel
, even resorting to torturing
prisoners for information. In addition, Perrin is approached with the suggestion of alliance with the Seanchan
, at least on a temporary basis, to defeat the Shaido.
Mat Cauthon
continues trying to escape Seanchan-controlled territory while courting Tuon
, the Daughter of the Nine Moons, the woman whom he has kidnapped and who, it has been prophesied, will become his wife. Mat discovers that Tuon is a sul'dam and can be taught to channel the One Power
.
Elayne Trakand
continues trying to solidify her hold on the Lion Throne of Andor
. Also it is revealed that she is expecting twins, but the identity of the father (Rand) is kept secret from others.
Rand al'Thor
, the Dragon Reborn
, rests after the ordeal of cleansing the One Power
. He sends Davram Bashere
, Logain Ablar
, and Loial
to negotiate a truce with the Seanchan. They return at the end of the book to tell him that the Seanchan have accepted the truce, but demand the presence of the Dragon Reborn to meet with the Daughter of the Nine Moons (whom, it is known, is not with the Seanchan, foreshadowing a trap).
Egwene
leads the rebel Aes Sedai
in maintaining the siege
of Tar Valon
. At the end of the book, she is kidnapped by agents of the White Tower after successfully blocking the River Port at the White Tower.
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series written by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. , under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Reagan O'Neal and Jackson O'Reilly.-Biography:Jordan was born in Charleston, South Carolina...
. It was published by Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
and released on January 7, 2003. Upon its release, it immediately rose to the #1 position on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list, making it the third Wheel of Time book to reach the #1 position on that list. It remained on the list for the next three months.
Crossroads of Twilight consists of a prologue
Prologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
, 30 chapter
Chapter (books)
A chapter is one of the main divisions of a piece of writing of relative length, such as a book. Chapters can be numbered in the case of such writings as law code or they can be titled. For example, the first chapters of some well-known novels are titled:*"The Boy Who Lived" – Harry Potter...
s, and an epilogue
Epilogue
An epilogue, epilog or afterword is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature or drama, usually used to bring closure to the work...
. Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos
Lord of Chaos is the sixth book of The Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1994, and was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1995. Lord of Chaos consists of a prologue, 55 chapters, and...
, Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams
Knife of Dreams is the 11th novel in the fantasy series The Wheel of Time by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books in the U.S. and Orbit in the UK and released on October 11, 2005...
, New Spring
New Spring
New Spring is a prequel novel in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by American author Robert Jordan. New Spring consists of 26 chapters and an epilogue.-Background to publication:...
and The Gathering Storm
The Gathering Storm (novel)
The Gathering Storm is the 12th book of the fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was incomplete when its author, Robert Jordan, died on September 16, 2007, from cardiac amyloidosis...
are the only other Wheel of Time books to have an epilogue. Many of the events of Crossroads of Twilight take place simultaneously with the events of the previous book, Winter's Heart
Winter's Heart
Winter's Heart is the ninth book of the Wheel of Time fantasy series written by American author Robert Jordan. It was published by Tor Books and released on November 7, 2000...
.
Pre-publication information
The prologuePrologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
of Crossroads of Twilight, entitled "Glimmers of the Pattern", was first sold by the Scribner imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
of Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
as an ebook on July 17, 2002, six months in advance of the physical release of the book.
Plot summary
Perrin AybaraPerrin Aybara
Perrin t'Bashere Aybara, or Goldeneyes, is one of the main characters of Robert Jordan's epic fantasy The Wheel of Time. Character is largely based on Slavic god Perun. In addition to the name similarity Perrin's choice of weapons include the axe, hammer, and bow...
continues trying to rescue his wife Faile Bashere
Faile Bashere
Faile Bashere is a character in the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Life as Zarine:Zarine "Faile" ni Bashere t'Aybara is the daughter of Lord Davram Bashere, the Marshal-General to Saldaea and uncle to Queen Tenobia...
, kidnapped by the Shaido Aiel
Aiel
In Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, the Aiel are a race of people. They live between the "wetlanders" in the west and the Sharans in the east, in a desert which the Aiel call The Three-fold Land and which everyone else calls the Aiel Waste. They have earned a reputation as skilled...
, even resorting to torturing
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
prisoners for information. In addition, Perrin is approached with the suggestion of alliance with the Seanchan
Seanchan
In the fictional world of Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, Seanchan is the name of a continent, the empire that occupies it, and the people that live in the empire...
, at least on a temporary basis, to defeat the Shaido.
Mat Cauthon
Mat Cauthon
Matrim "Mat" Cauthon is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. He is one of the primary protagonists and has moved over the course of the series from his beginnings as a mischievous farm lad into the role of a powerful, shrewd and successful general and...
continues trying to escape Seanchan-controlled territory while courting Tuon
Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag
'Fortuona Athaem Devi Paendrag', formerly known as Tuon Athaem Kore Paendrag is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's popular Wheel of Time fantasy series. As the heir-designate to the Seanchan empire, she is titled the Daughter of the Nine Moons...
, the Daughter of the Nine Moons, the woman whom he has kidnapped and who, it has been prophesied, will become his wife. Mat discovers that Tuon is a sul'dam and can be taught to channel the One Power
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
.
Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand
Elayne Trakand is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan. She bears a resemblance both in name and appearance to Ilyena, the doomed wife of Lews Therin Telamon from the Age of Legends.-Description:...
continues trying to solidify her hold on the Lion Throne of Andor
Andor (Wheel of Time)
Andor is a country set in Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series of fantasy fiction novels.Andor is one of the strongest countries in the Westlands of the main continent. It is located in the middle of the Westlands, and is one of the largest nations...
. Also it is revealed that she is expecting twins, but the identity of the father (Rand) is kept secret from others.
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor
Rand al'Thor, also known as the Dragon Reborn, is the fictional main character and protagonist of The Wheel of Time, a series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Rand al'Thor has many other titles within the series:...
, the Dragon Reborn
Dragon (Wheel of Time)
In the fictional Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the Dragon is the champion of the Light and the Creator against the evil Dark One. Although the Dark One was imprisoned by the Creator at the moment of creation, he continually seeks to break free of his prison. In each Age, the Dragon...
, rests after the ordeal of cleansing the One Power
One Power
In The Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan, the One Power is the force that maintains the continuous motion of the Wheel of Time. It comes from the True Source, and it is separated into two halves: saidin , the male half, and saidar , the female half. It is used in the series by people...
. He sends Davram Bashere
Davram Bashere
Davram Bashere is a fictional character featured in The Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels by Robert Jordan.Bashere is a Saldaean nobleman, the High Seat of House Bashere, Lord of Bashere, Tyr, and Sidona, Marshal-General of Saldaea, Defender of the Blight Border. He is uncle to Saldaea's...
, Logain Ablar
Logain Ablar
Logain Ablar is a fictional character in Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.-False Dragon:Logain Ablar was a False Dragon who could channel the One Power. He proclaimed himself shortly before the events of Winternight in the Two Rivers...
, and Loial
Loial
Loial son of Arent son of Halan is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.Like all Ogier, he is deliberate and methodical in his thought; haste leads to waste appears to be his people's motto. However, when roused to anger, he is an implacable enemy...
to negotiate a truce with the Seanchan. They return at the end of the book to tell him that the Seanchan have accepted the truce, but demand the presence of the Dragon Reborn to meet with the Daughter of the Nine Moons (whom, it is known, is not with the Seanchan, foreshadowing a trap).
Egwene
Egwene al'Vere
Egwene al'Vere is one of the main characters of the Wheel of Time fantasy series by Robert Jordan.-Description:She is described as beautiful, with large brown eyes and long dark hair. Like all adult women in her home village of Emond's Field, she initially wore her hair in a long braid, but as soon...
leads the rebel Aes Sedai
Aes Sedai
The Aes Sedai are a special society in the fictional universe of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time book series. Aes Sedai means "Servant to All" in the Old Tongue. They are the wielders of the One Power...
in maintaining the siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
of Tar Valon
Tar Valon
Tar Valon is a fictional city in Robert Jordan's fantasy series the Wheel of Time.-The City:Tar Valon is an island city in the River Erinin, within sight of the Dragonmount. It is the home of the White Tower, which is the center of Aes Sedai power...
. At the end of the book, she is kidnapped by agents of the White Tower after successfully blocking the River Port at the White Tower.
Release details
- 2003, U.S., Tor Books ISBN 0-312-86459-0, Pub date 7 January 2003, hardback
- 2003, UK, Orbit ISBN 1-84149-129-2, Pub date 7 January 2003, hardback
- 2003, U.S., Tor Books ISBN 0-7653-0592-5, Pub date ? February 2003, leather bound
- 2003, UK, Orbit ISBN 1-84149-183-7, Pub date 6 November 2003, paperback
- 2003, U.S., Tor Books ISBN 0-8125-7133-9, Pub date ? December 2003, paperback
- 2003, U.S., Bt Bound ISBN 0-613-67798-6, Pub date ? December 2003, hardback (library edition)
External links
- Detailed summaries of each chapter from http://www.encyclopaedia-wot.org
- Review at http://www.abbygoldsmith.com/
- Review at http://www.baryon-online.com/
- Review at http://www.challengingdestiny.com/
- Review at http://www.computercrowsnest.com/
- Review at http://www.harlows.org/
- Review at http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/
- Review at http://www.sfsite.com/
- Review at http://www.silklantern.com/
- Review at http://www.trashotron.com/