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September 17, 2007
Robert Jordan - 1948-2007 In Memoriam
Wheel of Time Author Robert Jordan Dies
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.
Best known for his Wheel of Time series, Jordan originally 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. These books tell 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.
Jordan also enjoyed success as a writer of novels in the continuing saga of the popular sword-and-sorcery character Conan the Barbarian.
Biographical information on Mr. Jordan as well as critical analyses of his works can be obtained from the The Literature Resource Center and Novelist databases. These databases can be accessed directly from the Syosset Public Library webpage, http://www.nassaulibrary.org/syosset/online/librarydatabases.php.
Mr. Jordan's website is http://www.tor.com/jordan/
A bibliography of his works follows:
Fallon (under the pen name Reagan O'Neal)
The Fallon Blood (1980)
The Fallon Pride (1981)
The Fallon Legacy (1982)
Conan the Barbarian (one of several writers who have written new Conan the Barbarian stories)
Conan the Invincible (1982)
Conan the Defender (1982)
Conan the Unconquered (1983)
Conan the Triumphant (1983)
Conan the Magnificent (1984)
Conan the Destroyer (1984)
Conan the Victorious (1984)
The Wheel of Time
The Eye of the World (January 1990)
The Great Hunt (November 1990)
The Dragon Reborn (October 1991)
The Shadow Rising (September 1992)
The Fires of Heaven (October 1993)
Lord of Chaos (October 1994)
A Crown of Swords (May 1996)
The Path of Daggers (October 1998)
Winter's Heart (November 2000)
Crossroads of Twilight (January 2003)
Knife of Dreams (October 2005)
A Memory of Light (uncompleted)
In addition, Jordan also wrote some accessory works:
The World of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time (November 1998, reference book, written with Teresa Patterson)
New Spring (February 2000, novella)
New Spring (January 2004, novel, an expanded work superseding the earlier novella)
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
Posted by egoldberg at September 17, 2007 1:47 PM
Comments
I've never heard of Robert Jordan nor do I think I have read any of his books, but some of the titles on this list seem really interesting.
Posted by: Trisha Sanghavi at October 8, 2007 12:46 PM