The beloved and bestselling author of WHEEL OF TIME, Robert Jordan, born James Oliver Rigney, Jr, passed away on Sept 16th at age 58 from primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy, a rare blood disease that can cause the walls of the heart to thicken.
In the early 1980s, Rigney wrote a trilogy of books with a historical bent under the pseudonym Reagan O’Neal (THE FALLON BLOOD, THE FALLON LEGACY & THE FALLON PRIDE). Then using the pen name Robert Jordan (using his real initials to pick a new pseudonym), he wrote books in the CONAN universe, based on characters originally created by Robert E Howard and later taken up and added to by other well-known fantasy writers. He also did some of the novelizations of the CONAN movies.
Then, in 1990, Robert Jordan’s first book in the WHEEL OF TIME series, THE EYE OF THE WORLD, was published and a bestselling fantasy series of his own was born.
In an interview with The Associated Press in 2003, Jordan discussed having a best seller. He said that 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.”
The WHEEL OF TIME books tell the story of Rand al’Thor, who is destined to become the champion who will battle ultimate evil in a mythical land. One reason Robert Jordan’s books are so memorable was his distinctly ‘Southern’ voice, the rhythms and cadences of his own Southern Carolina roots shining through his writing style. His background also provided a strong basis for his books’ convincing battle scenes and conflicts: he served two tours of duty with the Army in Vietnam and was a graduate of The Citadel (majoring in Physics). He was decorated several times, including winning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star.
Unfortunately death came before the author was able to finish the 12th book in the original timeline of the WHEEL OF TIMES series. Hopefully, maybe some day in the future, another author may be able to take the work to date and finish Robert Jordan’s amazing legacy to the fantasy world.
Another great author has been lost this month and will be missed:
James Oliver Rigney, Jr aka Robert Jordan
Oct 17 1948 – Sep 16 2007
THE WHEEL OF TIME SERIES TITLES:
1. THE EYE OF THE WORLD (15 January 1990)
2. THE GREAT HUNT (15 November 1990)
3. THE DRAGON REBORN (15 October 1991)
4. THE SHADOW RISING (15 September 1992)
5. THE FIRES OF HEAVEN (15 October 1993)
6. LORD OF CHAOS (15 October 1994)
7. A CROWN OF SWORDS (15 May 1996)
8. THE PATH OF DAGGERS (20 October 1998)
9. WINTER’S HEART (9 November 2000)
10. CROSSROADS OF TWILIGHT (7 January 2003)
11. KNIFE OF DREAMS (11 October 2005)
12. A MEMORY OF LIGHT (uncompleted)
Prequel – NEW SPRING THE NOVEL
Find ROBERT JORDAN Books on eBay
Find ROBERT JORDAN Books on Amazon
Official Robert Jordan Blog (Dragonmount.com) (May not come up due to heavy traffic at this time)
