The Gathering Storm was published by Tor Books in 2009, the first of three volumes completed by Brandon Sanderson from Robert Jordan’s extensive notes after Jordan’s death in 2007. Jordan had intended the final book to be a single massive volume; his widow Harriet McDougal and Tor decided it must be three.
The novel focuses primarily on two storylines: Rand’s psychological deterioration (the weight of his destiny, the hardness he has cultivated, the growing darkness within him) and Egwene’s campaign to reunify the White Tower. Both reach climactic resolution: Egwene defeats Elaida and is raised as Amyrlin of the reunified Tower, while Rand — after nearly destroying the world in a moment of despair at Dragonmount — achieves a breakthrough of understanding that allows him to laugh again.
Rand’s scene at Dragonmount is one of the series’ most powerful moments: the Dragon Reborn, standing where Lews Therin Telamon killed himself three thousand years ago, asks why they keep fighting and finds an answer that is simple but transformative.
The Sanderson Transition
Brandon Sanderson — already an accomplished fantasy author (Mistborn, Elantris) and an acknowledged Wheel of Time devotee — faced an impossible task: complete another writer’s life’s work while honouring its voice and vision. The transition is not invisible: Sanderson’s Mat sounds different from Jordan’s, certain secondary characters lose nuance, and the prose is more direct. But the overall achievement is remarkable — Sanderson maintained the series’ emotional core while accelerating its pace.
Veins of Gold
The Dragonmount chapter (“Veins of Gold”) is the emotional climax of the entire fourteen-volume series. Rand, corrupted by hardness and despair, nearly uses the Choedan Kal to destroy the Pattern itself. His decision not to — his realisation that the purpose of existence is to have a second chance at the things we got wrong — is earned by twelve books of suffering. It is the moment the series’ themes resolve: love defeats despair, not through power but through choice.
Collecting The Gathering Storm
First edition (Tor Books, New York, 2009): Boards with dust jacket.
Approximate market values:
- Fine in dust jacket (first printing): $25–$50
- Signed by Sanderson: $40–$100
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation. The Dragonmount scene gives this volume particular emotional significance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tell that a different author wrote it? Yes, particularly in Mat’s dialogue and humour. Sanderson’s Mat is broader and more quippy than Jordan’s. Most readers consider the tradeoff acceptable given the alternative (no conclusion at all).
Is Veins of Gold the best chapter in the series? It competes with the Rhuidean sequence (The Shadow Rising) and Dumai’s Wells (Lord of Chaos) for that honour. All three have passionate advocates.