The Dragon Reborn

The Dragon Reborn

First edition cover showing Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon looking upon Rand al'Thor as he reaches for Callandor.
Author Robert Jordan
Cover artist Darrell K. Sweet
Country United States
Language English
Series The Wheel of Time
Genre Fantasy novel
Publisher Tor Books (NA) and Orbit Books (UK)
Publication date
 October 15, 1991
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 624 pp
ISBN 0-312-85248-7
OCLC 23900618
813/.54 20
LC Class PS3560.O7617 D7 1991
Preceded by The Great Hunt
Followed by The Shadow Rising

The Dragon Reborn (abbreviated as tDR by fans) is the third book of American author Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on September 15, 1991. The unabridged audio book is read by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading. The Dragon Reborn consists of a prologue and 56 chapters.

Plot summary

From the Mountains of Mist to Tear

Rand al'Thor, having been declared the Dragon Reborn by Moiraine Damodred, secretly goes to Tear to prove himself. Along the way he is hunted by Darkhounds and Darkfriends. After leaving in secret, Moraine, Lan, and Perrin follow always one step behind. Rand leaves in his trail a pattern weddings and strange events. Perrin comes across an Aiel warrior that was captured and in a cage. He frees him, earning a friendship with Gaul, a Stone Dog, who will accompany Perrin on his travels. This event is witnessed by a hunter of the horn Zarine "Faile" Bashere who joins the party as well.

Min reports to the Amyrlin Seat, while Moiraine, Lan Mandragoran, Loial, and Perrin Aybara follow Rand. En route they acquire Zarine Bashere (alias Faile), battle Darkhounds, and discover that the Forsaken Sammael rules in Illian.

From Tar Valon to Tear

Mat Cauthon is taken to Tar Valon by Verin Mathwin, Nynaeve al'Meara, Egwene al'Vere, Elayne Trakand, and Hurin. Immediately after arrival in Tar Valon, Hurin departs to report to King Easar in Shienar. The Amyrlin Seat, Siuan Sanche, sets Nynaeve, Egwene, and later Elayne, to hunting down the Black Ajah, and therefore to Tear.

In the White Tower, through the use of a sa'angreal by Aes Sedai, Mat is healed of the corruptive influence of the ruby dagger of Shadar Logoth. Once healed Mat defeats Galad Damodred and Gawyn Trakand in a practice sword battle, using a quarterstaff. This wins him enough money to gamble with and escape from Tar Valon; at which Elayne entrusts Mat with a letter to her mother Queen Morgase. Mat finds Thom Merrilin, and they together travel to Andor, where Mat delivers the letter and learns of a plot by Queen Morgase's lover, Lord Gaebril, to murder Elayne. To prevent that murder, Mat pursues the killers to Tear.

Climax in the Stone of Tear

In Tear, Nynaeve, Egwene, and Elayne are betrayed by Juilin Sandar (under the influence of Liandrin) to the Black Ajah and imprisoned in the Stone of Tear, whence they are rescued by Mat and a repentant Juilin. Faile falls into a trap meant for Moiraine, and Perrin risks his life to rescue her. Rand and the Forsaken Be'lal duel in the Stone of Tear, until Moiraine kills Be'lal with balefire. Ba'alzamon disables Moiraine and attacks Rand, whereupon Rand takes Callandor (a more powerful sa'angreal), and apparently kills Ba'alzamon; but Moiraine argues that the Dark One, having no tangible body, is not represented by the dead man. Egwene, remembering a prophecy, instead deduces that the corpse is possibly Ishamael, Chief among the Forsaken. The Aiel in Tear conquer the Stone in loyalty to Rand.

Notes

Among The Wheel of Time books, The Dragon Reborn was unique at the time in that it only had a handful of chapters told from Rand al'Thor's point of view. Instead, nearly all chapters are told from the perspectives of his friends and allies as they race to catch up to him and help him. This is unusual: Rand is the protagonist of the series and, as the Dragon Reborn, he is the title character of this book. However, although few chapters are told from his point of view, his presence in the plot is ubiquitous; all major characters in the book are either trying to help him or are working against him.

Release details

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