I agree with you Real, it is horrid to be shackled to an author, specially a really good one that is slow as hell. But the problem is, when I first read his series it was like reading the most awesome well put together fluid fantasy novel ever. If your like me you have searched a life time for a fantasy series that does not blow chunks, which lets be honest over half of them do. So yah its a waste of time, but hard to avoid if you read even one of the books, they are just that good.