Author Topic: Robert Jordan is dead.  (Read 1926 times)

Offline K-man

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Robert Jordan is dead.
« on: Monday, September 17, 2007, 10:05:39 PM »
 Author Robert Jordan Dies

By BRUCE SMITH – 9 hours ago

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Author Robert Jordan, whose "Wheel of Time" series of fantasy novels sold millions of copies, died Sunday of a rare blood disease. He was 58.

Jordan, whose real name was James Oliver Rigney Jr., was born and lived in this southern city most of his life. He died at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston of complications from primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy, his personal assistant, Maria Simons, said Monday. The blood disease caused the walls of Rigney's 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.

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.

"The younger devotees of the series, who seem to be legion, have a habit of dutifully rereading the complete gospel before each addition. ... (Jordan) creates a universe simple enough to master and then challenges the characters to do the same in meticulously choreographed battles against chaos and dissolution."

In a 2004 online chat on the USA Today Web site, Jordan said he hoped to finish the main "Wheel" series in two more books. "It's not an absolute promise, but I'm very much hoping for it and I think I can do it," he wrote.

Most of the books made The New York Times list of best sellers.

In an interview with The Associated Press in 2003, Jordan discussed having a best seller. The first time it happens "you go out in the middle of the floor and you do a little dance. Then you go someplace booze is being served and buy a drink for everybody in the house.

"You have to have talent to some extent — I certainly hope I have talent — but you have to have luck as well," Jordan said. "Once you get that first shot, that will get you noticed for the rest of your books and that will give the rest of your books a better chance."

He said in the interview that his Southern background came through in his work, even though it is set in a fantasy world.

"What I write is certainly not set in South Carolina, but I have had a number of reviewers comment on the fact that I write with a distinctly Southern voice," he said.

"It goes beyond more than simply where the story is set. I believe it is something we take in in the air and the water. It's a matter of word choices — of the rhythms of sentences and the rhythm of speech in particular."

A graduate of The Citadel, South Carolina's state military college, Rigney worked as a nuclear engineer at the old Charleston Naval Shipyard before taking up writing full time in 1977. He served two tours of duty with the Army in Vietnam. He was decorated several times, including winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet McDougal Rigney.

Funeral arrangements had not been finalized on Monday, Simons said.



Even though IMO his books had been going steadily downhill, it's still sad that we'll never see a 100% RJ conclusion to his story.  However it has been said that he's dictated to his wife and recorded how he wants the series to end, presumably for a situation such as this.  But even still, it won't be the same.


Offline Quemaqua

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Re: Robert Jordan is dead.
« Reply #1 on: Monday, September 17, 2007, 10:12:10 PM »
That's a real shame.  I'd heard that he wasn't doing well, but it's sad to see it happen.  I've never read any of his books as pretty much every literate person I respect has more or less called the guy a complete hack (and there seems to be a rather large group who believe this to be the truth), but I certainly never wished him any ill will, and it's most definitely a shame that he didn't get to complete the series he'd worked on for so long.

RIP.  Hope if somebody takes up the reigns to finish the series they can do it well.

天才的な閃きと平均以下のテクニックやな。 課長有野

Offline K-man

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Re: Robert Jordan is dead.
« Reply #2 on: Monday, September 17, 2007, 10:45:15 PM »
While I understand that people see a lot of parallels between Wheel and LotR, the genre as a whole is derivative of LotR.  I always thought he got a bum rap for that.

Offline Jedi

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Re: Robert Jordan is dead.
« Reply #3 on: Monday, September 17, 2007, 11:47:46 PM »
I tired to read the first book but when it was pointed out that it alone was about as long as the 3 LotRs books put together and that there were tons more... I'd didn't see the point. Too bad he didn't complete the series though so much work with no ending is a real shame - even though I would never read them.

Offline Pugnate

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Re: Robert Jordan is dead.
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 12:45:06 AM »
My sister told me he was dying a few years ago. She is a huge fan -- thanks to me -- and buys every book in the series in hard cover etc.

I have just read the first book, which wasn't bad, though dragged a bit. I don't think it was longer than three LOTR books together though. Anyway she has read every book, and says the story isn't near completion despite there being an insane amount of books.

I'd say that really really sucks.

Quote
Even though IMO his books had been going steadily downhill, it's still sad that we'll never see a 100% RJ conclusion to his story.  However it has been said that he's dictated to his wife and recorded how he wants the series to end, presumably for a situation such as this.  But even still, it won't be the same.

Maybe it will be better? I know exactly what you mean, but I've heard every RJ fan including my sister say the series is going downhill, yet people can't stop reading. I think it probably has to do with the fact that everyone has committed to a lot of reading already? I haven't read any beyond the first, so I don't know.

Offline Jedi

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Re: Robert Jordan is dead.
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 01:36:03 AM »
Quote
I have just read the first book, which wasn't bad, though dragged a bit. I don't think it was longer than three LOTR books together though. Anyway she has read every book, and says the story isn't near completion despite there being an insane amount of books.

Hmm you're right its only about 800 pages, but seeing how LotR was around 1349 I remember thinking that sweet funk all must happen in the first book when all hell was breaking out in the first 2 Rings book.

Offline iPPi

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Re: Robert Jordan is dead.
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday, September 18, 2007, 10:18:17 AM »
I have tried to read one of the books of his a very long time ago but didn't get very far.  Still, I know the series has a lot of fans so it's definitely sad to see him go leaving the series incomplete.