RIP Robert Jordan

James Rigney, better known to millions of readers as fantasy author Robert Jordan, creator of the epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time, has passed away, after an eighteen-month battle after having been diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis. He was 58 years old. Adam Whitehead has written a fantastic eulogy over at The Wertzone; clearly his was a life well-lived, and he will be missed dearly.

His Wheel of Time series, sadly unfinished, has proven to be the standard by which all modern fantasy series are judged, and his monumental success no doubt inspired the success of many more, including George R. R. Martin. Martin credits Jordan's cover quote for helping the success of his own series, A Song of Ice and Fire (Martin includes a couple of sly references to Jordan within his own work, including a Dornish lord "Jordayne of the house Tor" - Jordan's novels were published by Tor books - and a reference to an erstwhile "Archmaester Rigney, who believed that time is a wheel"). Martin wrote a sad and touching entry on his livejournal, Not a Blog, here.

It would be remiss of me not to mention that I had been a particular critic of Jordan's, particularly in respect to the latter half of the WoT; that, however, in no way diminishes the deep sense of loss that his death inspires. I sincerely argue that the first five books of the series represent some of the best literature I have read, and the sense of realism that he brings to his worldbuilding brings; for the first time in fantasy, I've felt while reading his books, he captures how a world such as that in his series might actually work while still managing to tell a fantastic tale. The epic sense of history he gave to his creation was matched only by Tolkien.

Though the series remains unfinished, Jordan had worked diligently on the planned final novel for the series, titled A Memory of Light. Aware that his condition might bring such a situation to pass, Jordan had completed substantial notes regarding planned plots and storylines to his wife Harriet and cousin Wilson. I hold some optimism that the series will see a fitting conclusion, but for the time being, such wishes are beside the point.

RIP James Rigney. You will be missed.