The Eye of the World

The Eye of the World is a high fantasy novel by American writer Robert Jordan and the first book in The Wheel of Time series. Published by Tor Books on January 15, 1990, it was initially released as a large paperback. The original unabridged audiobook is narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading, with a later unabridged edition read by Rosamund Pike. The initial publication of The Eye of the World included a prologue and 53 chapters, with a subsequent re-release featuring an additional prologue titled Ravens. The book achieved both critical and commercial success. Critics lauded its tone and themes, while its similarities to The Lord of the Rings received both praise and criticism. On January 2, 2002, The Eye of the World was re-released as two separate books, From the Two Rivers and To the Blight, targeting the young adult market with larger text and illustrations. From the Two Rivers included an additional prologue, "Ravens," focusing on Egwene al'Vere. The American Library Association included The Eye of the World on its 2003 list of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. Following the release of the The Wheel of Time television series, The Eye of the World appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list in January 2022 in the mass market category and reached number one on the audio fiction list.