A Memory of Light was published by Tor Books in January 2013, concluding the Wheel of Time twenty-three years after The Eye of the World. The novel is dominated by the Last Battle — a conflict of such scale that the chapter describing it (“The Last Battle”) runs nearly 200 pages, the longest single chapter in the history of fantasy literature. Every major character participates: Mat commands the forces of Light as their general, Perrin fights in the World of Dreams against Slayer, Egwene faces the Forsaken and makes a sacrifice that seals the Bore in saidar, and Rand enters Shayol Ghul for the final confrontation with the Dark One.
The epilogue — the one section written entirely by Robert Jordan before his death — resolves Rand’s fate with characteristic ambiguity. Jordan’s vision for the ending had been planned from the beginning of the series, and its execution honors both his original intent and the journey the characters have taken across fourteen volumes.
The Last Battle
The 190-page “Last Battle” chapter is an extraordinary technical achievement. Sanderson manages dozens of viewpoint characters across multiple simultaneous battlefields, maintaining clarity while escalating the stakes relentlessly. Mat’s tactical genius — his ability to read a battlefield and turn catastrophe into opportunity — reaches its fullest expression. The deaths that occur (and several major characters die) are handled with the emotional weight they deserve.
Egwene’s Sacrifice
Egwene al’Vere’s death — wielding a new weave (the Flame of Tar Valon, the opposite of balefire) to seal the cracks the Forsaken have torn in the Pattern — is the novel’s most devastating moment. From village girl to the most powerful Amyrlin Seat in history, Egwene’s arc is arguably the series’ most complete, and her death ensures that the victory is earned rather than given.
Jordan’s Epilogue
The final pages were written by Jordan himself, and readers can detect the shift in voice. Rand’s fate — walking away from Shayol Ghul in a new body, his three loves knowing he survived — is simultaneously earned and enigmatic. Jordan refused to resolve every question, leaving the Wheel turning.
Collecting A Memory of Light
First edition (Tor Books, New York, 2013): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket (first printing): $25–$50
- Signed by Sanderson: $40–$80
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation as the series conclusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ending satisfying? For most readers, deeply so. The emotional payoff of a twenty-three-year investment is enormous. Some specifics are debated (particularly Rand’s fate), but the overall resolution honours Jordan’s vision.
Who dies? Several major characters. Spoiler avoidance prevents specifics, but the deaths are not arbitrary — each serves the story’s thematic needs.
Did Jordan write any of it besides the epilogue? Yes. He left extensive notes, outlines, and some completed scenes. Sanderson has been transparent about which elements are Jordan’s and which are his own interpolations.