Robert Jordan has passed away...

Post by **duke** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:18 am

I just read this on Pat's Hotlist... Rest in peace Robert Jordan.
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/

Sunday, September 16, 2007
Robert Jordan has passed away. . .

It is with great regret that I must make this announcement. Robert Jordan passed away this afternoon at 2:45pm. My deepest condolences go out to his family. The news was announced on the author's blog earlier today.

I can't really say more at the moment, for I can't really put into words what this means to me as a fantasy reader and a big fan of the Wheel of Time.

I know that fate works in mysterious ways. . . It happened to Frank Herbert, and now Robert Jordan has been robbed of his chance to complete what should be one of the definitive works of fantasy of the 21st century.

May he rest in peace.

All I can say is, "Thanks for the memories, for which I'll be eternally grateful."

Post by **Holsety** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:34 am

Damn, it just plain sucks. Anyone know whether it was related to his heart condition? I'd assume so, but I hadn't really followed up on things. And for that matter, I thought the prognosis for him was a little better.

Damn.

Post by **Zarathustra** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:28 am

That's a damn shame. I couldn't get past the first book, but it's really sad that he won't be able to finish his creation.

I really, really hope nothing happens to Donaldson. Sure, I know that the death of a human matters so much more than my need to read books--especially to their families. But these creations have touched millions, and they're obviously important to the authors themselves. This is really sad on many levels. Maybe I'll give Jordan's series another chance.

Post by **lucimay** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:47 pm

Malik23 wrote:That's a damn shame. I couldn't get past the first book, but it's really sad that he won't be able to finish his creation.

I really, really hope nothing happens to Donaldson.

i was thinking the same thing when i read this!!! and MARTIN!!!

please,please (any god that can hear me) don't let donaldson or martin die tilll the Chrons and SoIaF is finished...please please please.

r.i.p mr. jordan.

Post by **Xar** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:48 pm

I've read the whole Wheel of Time series, and though there were and still are some things I really disagreed with, Jordan had created a living, breathing world, and a story which was fascinating to read, even though towards the second half of the series it began to bog down dramatically. Still, it is sad that he will never complete his life's work - rumor has it that he dictated and taped the storylines and plots so the book would be released in one form or another, but all the same, for the author not to be there when the final book of his series sees print... R.I.P., Robert Jordan...

Post by **Niftium** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:16 pm

Yes, it was his heart condition that caused his passing.

I'm crushed. Sure, the political machinations made WoT bog down a little in the 3rd quarter of the books, but the last two were a return to form. And the final book, which I assume Harriet will finish, would probably have been one of his best.

Post by **Lorelei** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:24 pm

Wow! I just got into WoT a few months ago and really am enjoying it (I'm getting ready to start book 5 tonight). So sad that he was not able to finish this masterpiece.

Post by **Worm of Despite** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 3:53 pm

Damn, that sucks. I remember when Jordan annoucned his illness, and then I didn't hear about him for a good while (well, until now).

I was considering reading The Wheel of Time, but the negative reviews/comments about its glacial pace kept me away.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:20 pm

I've never read WoT but still this is a shame. Godspeed, Mr. Jordan.

Post by **wayfriend** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:39 pm

'Wheel of Time' author dead at 58

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AP) -- Author Robert Jordan, whose "Wheel of Time" series of fantasy novels sold millions of copies, has died of a rare blood disease, his aide said Monday. He was 58.

Jordan, whose real name was James Oliver Rigney Jr., died Sunday at the Medical University of South Carolina of complications from primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy, his personal assistant, Maria Simons, said. The disease attacks the body's major organs; in Jordan's case, it caused the walls of his heart to thicken.

He wrote a trilogy of historical novels set in Charleston under the pen name Reagan O'Neal in the early 1980s. Then he turned his attention to fantasy and the first volume in his Wheel of Time epic, "The Eye of the World," was published in 1990 under the name Robert Jordan.

Jordan's books tells of Rand al'Thor, who is destined to become the champion who will battle ultimate evil in a mythical land.

Robert Jordan's 'The Wheel of Time': Fantasy, epic-style
Book 11, "Knife of Dreams," came out in 2005; there was also a prequel, "New Spring: The Novel," in 2004. The other titles in the series include "The Great Hunt," "Lord of Chaos" and "The Path of Daggers." Jordan was working on a 12th volume at the time of his death, Simons said.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet McDougal Rigney.

Post by **Luke The Unbeliever** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:57 pm

I hate to hear that someone who was so well liked as well as their creation has passed away.

I recently began reading WoT and bought books 2 and 3 just yesterday.

I feel bad for his family, loss is always hard.

It's a shame that he won't personally oversee the ending to his greatest life's work, but I'm sure he made plenty of provisions to ensure his story is told.

Post by **Niftium** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:04 pm

Luke The Unbeliever wrote:It's a shame that he won't personally oversee the ending to his greatest life's work, but I'm sure he made plenty of provisions to ensure his story is told.

Before he was diagnosed with his condition, he always said that if he couldn't finish it himself (for whatever reason) then no one else would. Luckily he changed his mind.

Post by **Lord Mhoram** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:54 pm

George RR Martin wrote:The world of high fantasy is poorer today.

James Rigney, better known to fantasy readers as Robert Jordan, has passed away. Although he had been fighting amyloidosis for several years, the news of his death still came as a shock to many, including me. He was so optimistic and determined that you had to think that if anyone could beat the disease, it would be him.

Jim was a good and gracious man, a pleasure to share a platform or a pint with, and his contributions to modern fantasy were many. His huge, ambitious WHEEL OF TIME series helped to redefine the genre, and opened many doors for the writers who followed.

He was also unfailingly generous towards other fantasists, always ready to offer them support and encouragement. My own ICE & FIRE series might never have found its audience without the cover quote that Jim was so kind as to provide, back when A GAME OF THRONES was first published. I will always be grateful to him for that.

The last time I saw Jim was at an Archon in Collinsville, Illinois. It was before his final illness. He was the convention Guest of Honor and I was the Toastmaster, and I introduced him by telling the audience that actually we were the same person. It was a gag that Jim himself had suggested in the Green Room beforehand. While I was doing the intro, and claiming credit for all his books, he slowly entered, walked up silently behind me, and stood looming over me, glowering like Zeus. We got a great laugh.

I had some great dinners with Jim and his wife Harriet there in Collinsville as well. We talked about other writers, editors, publishers, all the stuff that writers always talk about... oh, and a little about our own series as well... and Jim and Harriet invited me to visit them if I ever made it down to Charleston. Sad to say, I never did.

RIP, Jim. You will be much missed.

Post by **dlbpharmd** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:44 pm

Nice words from GRRM.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:47 am

I'll never forget his kindness to me when I couldn't attend a signing. I may have been a bit critical of his works, but no doubt he touched the minds of millions.

Farewell, Robert Jordan. And thankyou.

Post by **matrixman** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:38 am

Rest in peace, Mr. Jordan.

I hope Donaldson stays healthy for a long time. A very long time.

Post by **Avatar** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:44 am

Damn bad news.

Niftium wrote:...but the last two were a return to form.

Well, the last one (Bk 11) anyway.

--A

Post by **Niftium** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 4:33 pm

Avatar wrote:
Niftium wrote:...but the last two were a return to form.
Well, the last one (Bk 11) anyway.

--A

My bad. I thought Winter's Heart was great, but that was #9. CoT, eh...

Post by **kevinswatch** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 3:50 am

Holy crap! I just heard.

Crazy. Sad, but crazy.-jay

Post by **Avatar** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 9:49 am

Niftium wrote:I thought Winter's Heart was great, but that was #9. CoT, eh...

CoT...exactly.

Winter's Heart did give me a brief hope, but that was only until CoT dashed it unmercifully...

--A

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Robert Jordan has passed away...

Robert Jordan has passed away...