The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose.... The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of time.
But it was a beginning.
Fellow fantasy fans will recognise the above quote and will join with me in mourning the death of Robert Jordon earlier this week. His real name was James Olliver Rigney Jr. Like many I have followed (via his blog) his fight with Amyloidosis since May 2006 where news on his Lambda Light Chain count has provided hope from time to time. His great creation was The Wheel of Time planned as a twelve volume series; we had reached number eleven before he fell ill. We know that he continued work until his death, and that he shared with his family in way in which the multiple plot threads laid open would be closed. I just hope they can find someone who can do justice to the final volume and complete the turning of wheel as a lasting tribute to author and man of considerable authority and dignity.
Comments (4)
And I hope they can do it before my 81 year old mother in law, a long time dyed-in-the-wool fan, shuffles off her own mortal coil! I think she'd be miffed to have to pop off without getting to the end of the saga!
Posted by Karyn Romeis | September 18, 2007 3:03 PM
Posted on September 18, 2007 15:03
I found a few of his novels to be tedious, as they seemed to merely set the stage for a sequel, but the world Jordon created was a richly textured one and I honor his creative vision.
I hope to read a culminating volume some day.
Posted by diane | September 19, 2007 12:07 AM
Posted on September 19, 2007 00:07
I think he drifted a bit around Volumes 8-9 but recovered well in the last two, and overall he managed a few uniques in fantasy which is rare these days.
Posted by Dave Snowden | September 19, 2007 12:28 AM
Posted on September 19, 2007 00:28
Never heard of him, but the words are familiar:
"Memory [history] become legend; legend became myth"
Anyone?
Yes, the spoken prelude to the LOTR films. Amongst the best bits of the whole trilogy, unfortunately.
Posted by Andrew Duffin | September 19, 2007 7:59 PM
Posted on September 19, 2007 19:59