I’m not really a fantasy fan by any means, but I’m a huge fan of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series. I’m having a tough time loading up his blog where a statement was posted, but it seems he’s died. :/ That’s such a bummer … he tossed out all the Tolkien-esque clichés that had been swimming around and reinvented fantasy with a novel new approach. I’ve read and reread his novels more times than I can count, from middle school on … those books were a staple of my childhood that followed me as I grew up. This is a real downer. There’s a line he always opened his stories with - The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend - and corny as that is in this context, I’m sure it’s true for any fan of his. He’ll be missed.
This entry was posted on Monday, September 17th, 2007 at 10:17 am and is filed under Rant. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Ugh…sad times. I’ll keep his family in my prayers.
Damnit…… what a loss :(
Very sad news. I love the Wheel of Time series, he was a great story teller. The events and characters easily come to life in your mind as you read it. He’s definitely going to be long remembered as one of the great fantasy writers.
Like Ananth, I read the WoT series a lot. Every time a new book was scheduled to come out, I reread the previous books to reacquaint myself with the plot threads. While it’s obvious that the series could have been shorter (and I fault several factors that contributed to its length), I have enjoyed the story, even though books 7-11 have been slow. It’s small consolation that his notes will probably be given to someone else to finish off the story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jordan i never read any of his books but its always sad to lost a person who has touched so many lives
if your looking for the blog and it doesnt upload from the front page, try here http://www.tarvalon.net/news.asp?article=501 is tarvolon.net, think this is right
he’ll be missed, and although the last book will likely be finished, wont be the same as it wont be him finishing it
wow… i grew up reading him fearing he would die before his series finished.
wow what a loss…
I shared your fear. It came true. :(
(Part of me wants to say, “figures!” what with how long he took to put out the last 5 books — averaging 2 years per book, almost 3 for the last one!)
it has been 17 years since i started reading his work and following his life. he was an amazing man and has worked his way into a lot of hearts. i hope they finish book 12.
May he forever be remembered by the world he created.
I only read part of one of his books, but from what I saw, his ‘universe’ was very rich and complex…it’s always sad when the world loses someone like that.
My condolences, Ananth, and to all the fans here at AG.
Oh noes… I knew this was gonna happen ever since I heard he was sick.
A great man was lost. I’m just sad that such a small piece of the world will realize this.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/09/17/obit.jordan.ap/index.html
There’s the official CNN article on it. Never read his stuff myself but knew many people that did. Always a shame when such a creative mind is lost to the world.
Did you ever read the “about the author” section in the back of his books? I distinctly remember something about, “Robert Jordan has done this and that and will continue writing until they nail his coffin shut.”
Yeah, I read that - and he did. XD I think I read him described as a “stubborn old cuss” once, which I found logical.
“Stubborn” is right. When they diagnosed him, they gave him 4 years to live, but he replied with (in a nutshell) “No, I’m planning for 30 more years.”
He’ll definitely be missed. Condolences to his family.
Aw man. that’s a real bummer. I’ve too have read his is books, and loved them.
To be honest with you I did liked the WoT series but when I tried to read the 5th book in the series, I really couldn’t finish it. Robert Jordan is a great author but sometimes his writing style was a bit tough to read for me. I might give it another go someday.
Well, it’s a bummer to hear this news and I too wish his family well. =(
this is terrible news, i can’t believe he actually died. He was easily one of the greatest authors, his books were so real and a thrill to read. may the last embrace of the mother welcome him home
This is utterly depressing news to me and many of my friends. I recently started re-reading the series in anticipation of book 12. My wife is reading Eye of the World currently and loving it. I hate to be callous, but I really hope book 12 stills sees the light of day. I remember reading an interview with RJ years ago where someone asked him what would happen if he died before the series was done. He replied that his will was made up requesting all his notes and materials be destroyed and that would be that. Part of me thinks that may have ben a joke.. but who knows. On a positive here, I did read that Book 12 had been sent in for a first edit. So one would have to assume that it was close to done, but may be a little rough. Also his cousin said 2 weeks ago RJ sat down and told him the ending of the series..
Anyway, with that all said.. my condolences to his wife and family. He touched a lot of us with his work.
He’s not my favorite author, but from where I’m sitting at my desk I can see eleven books by him and a fictional world history about the series he created. I did read that he planned to have the last book finished by relatives, and if you read the last four books it’s pretty obvious when he got diagnosed with whatever killed him.
There’s about three books where NOTHING HAPPENS, or at least nothing that couldn’t be expressed in two or three chapters of another book, and then book eleven comes out and he rushes to put everyone where they need to be, killing a semi-major character in a duel during the introduction chapter.
Isn’t he the second or third major author to die this year? All the greats of the twentieth century are leaving us. Sad day for all.
Indeed it is sad, and he is the second author whose work I have personally loved to pass away this year. The other one was David Gemmell who was one of the most prolific writers I have read, with well over 30 books, of which all but one I loved. It is a sad day for all, as even if the twelfth book is finished, all of the back story and the mat/tuon epilogue book will never be finished, which is a huge loss for the world he created. I hope his books stay in publication for years to come so that new generations can enjoy them.
Im so sorry to hear he died. I really enjoyed his books, and still do actually. In spite of his death, I hope his family carries on and finishes book 12, and gets it published in his memory. My condelences to all his family and loved ones.
this is obviously hilarious karmic payback for writing 5 shitty novels where nothing happens just to milk more money out of a series.
Regardless of you’re opinion, a post like this is not simply tasteless. I would mention something about maturity, but your post has obviously revealed a total lack of it. Just because you can post something anonymously doesn’t give you permission to be an asshole.
People like you make me sick. If I could I would jump trough this damn screen and strangle your ignorant ass for being such an asinine swine.
I’m sorry about his death… I read the series on and off since it started all those years ago, and I would keep going back through them. Mat was by far one of my favorite reluctant heroes ever, and who didn’t have a crush on Perrin?
Vaya con dios, RJ.
I don’t know, being a guy, Faile, Aviendha and Min kinda appealed to me more. =/
True…
But… That guy taught me so much. He even taught me how to push out the cold with my mind… I’ve only read the series once but I couldn’t put the books down, I don’t even know how many hours I spent locked away in my room reading about Rand, Matt and Perrin. But even if he is gone… I won’t mourn his death but celebrate his life. If you have a glass, can, or bottle you’d do well to drink in toast. To a great Author, to a man I admire but will never meet.
The one good thing I can say in all this, is that he had finished the ending, according to the family, if you read the official blog. Apparently, he felt his mortality, and told aloud to them the conclusion of the story. I have little doubt the final book will be published, just as he would have wrote it, for there would be no better way to honor him. I’m happy to say I met him once, shook his hand, and spoke with him. There are not many whom I’d be proud to say I did so with.
*stares numbly at the computer* Damn,damn,damn,damn,damn…..and so on and so on…as calous as this is I wonder what will happen to the last book of the serries…
When I heard he died I practically cried. I have read the entire wot series and reread it so many times. This tragedy reminds me of the dune series, for anyone who doesn’t know frank Herbet died before he finished his last book. (Side note: The final book came out this year and finished the series and it only took 20 years.) and I do hope like the dune series someone will take up the torch and finish his great work please just don’t make me wait another 20 years.
I can’t begin to compare my sense of loss to that of his family and those close to him, but this really sucks. I love the series (started reading it around ‘01) and consider it to be one of my favorites. The last book may be finished by someone using his notes (see wikipedia), but it won’t be the same. Imagine how much it sucks for people who actually starting reading the series 20 years ago.
Ah, but I will miss his writing.
He sat Wilson and Harriet down last week and told them the whole story. He’s dictated sections of it, and left notes - and I think they can find someone to finish it properly. This has not been a surprise.
What a character he was. Some quotes of his were running through my mind as I headed in to work this morning, and making me chuckle. I raise a glass of root beer in his honor.
I loved the first half of the WoT but I somehow knew this would happen around book 8, but he did live up to his promise that he would keep writing until they nailed his coffin shut. For that I will always raise a pint to him.
I got a message from a friend the other day telling me he had died…. i ignored it thinking they were trying to make me curl up into a ball… then i keep right on reading the fires of heaven.
he went out writing to the end. its how i hope i die, not of cancer mind, i just hope i can make a mark in so many peoples lives like him.
Till shade is gone, till water is gone, into the shadow with teeth bared, to spit in sightblinders eye on the last day.
seems to sum up in a kinda not so summing up way what he did.
may good authors who know how to write take up his banner and continue the universe he created.
We’ll toss the dice however they fall,
and snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
then follow young Mat whenever he calls,
to dance with Jak o’ the Shadows.
-song of the Band of the Red Hand
I’m going to miss this.
Great man.
*cries*
Fire and spirit…
A lot of you have left comments stating how you feel almost callous for thinking first of his unfinished work. Such feelings are natural. However, we have lost a creator of the first order - a writer whom many of us *only* knew through his works.
As such, we have lost more than the writer. We have lost the characters that he brought to life. His rich world of heros and villains, magic and mystery, love and hate now lies incomplete and without an ending.
Of any writer that I know, this is most fitting. Robert Jordan’s stylistic choice lays bare the thoughts of each of his heros before the reader. This intimacy can only be achieved by an author that is committed to the life of his creation. Robert Jordan truly imbued a part of his soul within his work.
So, by celebrating his work, we celebrate the life of Robert Jordan. And our desire to see his world continue beyond his passing is the greatest honor we can provide.
“No ending, even death, is necessarily final within the turning of the Wheel.”
i have not read his books, but he sounds lie he was a fantastic writer. I’ll try to remember to pick of the first one when i have time to read it.
RIP. mr jordan :(
I thought it was a joke when I first heard about this, until George RR Martin said he regretted not having made a second trip to Jordans’ home. The only Robert Jordan book I ever read was Conan The Invincible, and it makes Conan come alive in a way the movies never could. A question, if a writer dies with pen in hand, does he go to a library?
It’s depressing. Those books were so good and I was really looking forward to the last book in the wheel of time.
Not a fan of his books, but still sad. The world needs more good authors.
What was it he wrote the Aiel as saying?
The Dream has ended for him.
*on knees yelling* noooooooo… this is a sad day for me, I’m a big fan of the Wheel of Time, i was looking forward to reading all the way to the end of this amazing story but it looks like we will never know the outcome of the Last battle or even see it begin… Rest in Peace, Robert Jordan
I can’t believe this; i’ve read all the WoT books over and over again and was like a kid at xmas waiting for book 12 but you know I kinda figured he was in bad shape after reading his blog about how sick he was and doing this procedure. They said there was a slim chance he’d make it. Well RIP Robert and I hope his family is doing well.
ahoy this be a glum day for all pirates for he be swimming in davy joes locky arrrr
This is very sad news to me, two years ago is when i started to read his work. I was quickly pulled into the marvelous world of The Wheel of Time. it’s sad to think that he wasn’t able to finish the last book. His stories will live forever within the hearts of the thousands he has touched. May the Prophecies of the Dragon live on within us all.