Knife of Dreams

Abstract

Knife of Dreams is the eleventh volume of The Wheel of Time and follows a series of characters and events surrounding the epic battle that will decide the fate of the world and its continued existence. As the Last Battle approaches and Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, prepares to face the Dark One in battle, the protagonist feels the need to prepare the world for the aftermath of the war and preserve his legacy after he is gone. In a previous novel, Rand had founded the Academy of Cairhien, funding projects that somewhat contributed to the technological and scientific advancement of humanity. At the time, Mervin Poel was attempting to create what he called a steamwagon, but with very little success. However, in Knife of Dreams, the steamwagon appears to be fully developed, covering a distance of more than one hundred mile in a single day and being able to pull fifty wagons. This contraption is described as a whistling machine and is just one example of the many new technologies that are becoming part of this world, which is in the path of industrialization.