Robert Jordan succumbed to his illness (Cardiac amyloidosis) on 16 September 2007 and died at about 2:45pm.

Probably one of the longest fantasy series, The Wheel of Time remains unfinished with eleven books (of a projected twelve total). :disappoin

May Mr. Jordan rest in peace.

Arrrgggghhh.
I really like his books. I cannot believe, there will not be another one.
I didnt even know that he was ill. Its a shame, that he lost against that desease. He was only 58 years old.

May he have a great afterlife.

Damn - I wish he'd finished the series. I wonder if he left sufficient notes for someone else to do so? Very sad news.

Damn it! I am sad for his wife and friends. He seemed to be doing well on the way to a recovery according to his blog.

Though I feel bad at myself for wanting him to life long enough to finish his books, I think he -too- wanted to finish his long work.

Wherever you are and what you belief, I hope all those are in comfort about it.

What sad news! I grew up reading Jordan's Wheel of Time, eagerly awaiting each new volume much as today's generation of younger readers did with the Harry Potter series. At some point I stopped keeping up with the series, but I always hoped that after he finished writing it I could just take a month off work for a marathon session reading the entire series from beginning to end.

Harry, for what it's worth, it appears that he did share the "bones" of the plot for the final volume, according to his "brother/cousin" Wilson on the Dragonmount blog (http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/):

Epilog: Yes he is continuing to work through all of this medical calamity. MOL is going into the word processor and onto audio tapes almost daily. Not every day mind you, because the medical fight takes first priority. But, he told you he’d finish and he will. Fact is that it has been finished in his head for years. During a recent family sit around, he became the Gleeman and told the bones of it ALL to Harriet and me. You read that right, I did say ALL. Don’t ask, ain’t telling. Two and a half hours of story telling by the Creator himself went by in the twinkling of an eye. Truly magical. All I can say is WOW! Best stuff he’s ever done. MOL is going to knock your socks off! That’s a promise.

While it does not lessen the tragedy of the loss of such a talented and beloved writer, I would not be surprised to see the last volume of the Wheel of Time eventually written and published in a couple years, based on his unfinished draft, tapes, notes, and information shared with his family and friends.

I didn't know he was sick. I had only read up to volume 9. I was planning on reading the rest once the final book came out.

This is sad news indeed!

I checked his blog just yesterday and read that he is still fighting and everything looked good so this is very unexpected and sad news.

I read all the books in the series so far and was always hoping he'd manage to finish the tale somehow.

I guess somebody will finish it, but I doubt it'll be the same quality as the first 11 volumes. Finishing a story as complex as WOT takes a lot of genius. Even somebody who has all the details of how the sotry is supposed to run won't be able to write it easily...
I'm going to read it anyway, just to know how it all ends, but I#m not getting my hopes too high...

R.I.P. Mr. Jordan!

I think I only read the first four or five books of the Wheel of Times series, but I remember that I liked them. Only, there were so many other books that I wanted to read first that I decided to postpone this series.

My condolences to his family.

I will admit that I loved the first couple of books and then I hated the next 3. I swear he was getting paid by the word and not to write a good compelling story. I had to give up ready the following books. I have never been so disappointed about a series development as I was with this series.

I like Jordan’s other works, just not this one.

I send my condolences to his family, and his fans. Thanks Mr. Jordan for the body of your work.

Damn - I wish he'd finished the series. I wonder if he left sufficient notes for someone else to do so? Very sad news.He left an outline and notes. and described in detail to his wife and brother what was planned. Jordan intended to wrap the series in book twelve, no matter how long that book turned out to be in the process. Among other things, he had another series (SF rather than fantasy) that he wanted to write, but had to get WoT out of the way first.

His wife Harriet was also his editor at Tor Books (and used to be Tor's Editor in Chief). We can feel sure the book will be completed. We simply don't know who will be tapped.

It's an interesting question, however: if you had your choice, who would you want to see pick up the unfinished manuscript and complete the last book?
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Dennis

It is rather apropos that he has passed before he finished the series actually.

I gave up about book 7. I may finish the series if/when the final book comes out.

Nonetheless, I am sad for the scifi/fantasy community.

I don't know the origin, but on another list I saw that Piers Anthony has been selected to finish the series.

I can't vouch for the accuracy, but the person who posted the message is normally on the mark.

I don't know the origin, but on another list I saw that Piers Anthony has been selected to finish the series.

I can't vouch for the accuracy, but the person who posted the message is normally on the mark.I suppose it's possible. Anthony is also published by Tor, and certainly could do it. Whether he'll do it well is another matter.

He might: he demonstrated in early works that he could write, and turn out quality material. He simply discovered that endless Xanth retreads sell. (Anthony uses money made from his writing to buy undeveloped virgin land near him in Florida and keep it virgin and undeveloped. He goes where the sales are. I admire the impulse, but haven't been able to read the resulting work in years.)
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Dennis

I haven't been able to read a new Xanth novel in years. :unafraid:

Still, Mr. Anthony certainly has demonstrated his ability to write book #12 in a series (even if he does insist on calling it a trilogy :mad:).

My suggestion would be Terry Goodkind. Wizard's First Rule started off as a great beginning. The series promises to be as long as WoT and each book drags slower. He seems to have found the same formula as Robert Jordan. It would work.

Sorry to see Robert Jordan pass. I hope to survive to read volume 12.

My suggestion would be Terry Goodkind...

Oh please no...no...no...no! :smack:

(George R.R. Martin would be a far better choice) :pray:

Oh please no...no...no...no! :smack:

(George R.R. Martin would be a far better choice) :pray:Save that he probably wouldn't do it.

Problem 1: George has a different publisher. It's a fair assumption Tor will give the nod to someone already in their stable.

Problem 2: George is too busy with his own stuff

I know him. I can't see Tor asking, or him agreeing.
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Dennis

My suggestion would be Terry Goodkind. Wizard's First Rule started off as a great beginning. The series promises to be as long as WoT and each book drags slower. He seems to have found the same formula as Robert Jordan. It would work.Jordan's formula wasn't deliberate. I believe WoT was originally planned to be a typical fantasy trilogy.

Tolkien called LoTR "A tale that grew in the telling". So it was with WoT: the more Jordan wrote, the more he realized he had to write to tell the full tale.

I met him several years back when he was in town signing the then current WoT book. In response to a question of mine, he stated he knew what the last scene in the last book was, but wasn't certain exactly how he would get there. However, he was adamant it would not be a twelve book series.

After I read the book he had signed, and saw how much it didn't advance the plot, I said "He's right! It won't be a twelve book series. It will take at least thirteen."

There's a term in chess called Zwischenzug. It referes to the situation where there is something you want to do, but you must do other things first to set up the conditions for it. That's what the last WoT book or two have been. Jordan was positioning pieces for the end game, and obviously working on concluding the series. The question after the last one was whether it would take one book or two. Jordan was then diagnosed with the blood disease that killed him, and determined to finish the series in one book, no matter how long.

Ironically, the concluding volume will be book twelve.
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Dennis

Save that he probably wouldn't do it.

Problem 1: George has a different publisher. It's a fair assumption Tor will give the nod to someone already in their stable.

Problem 2: George is too busy with his own stuff

I know him. I can't see Tor asking, or him agreeing.
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Dennis

Well there you have it! I'm OK with anyone but Goodkind (sorry I'm passionate about that).

So could you ask Mr. Martin when A Dance with Dragons will be out? :pray: And can you pass on a big 'Thank You' to him for allowing his books to come out as ebooks? hehe

Well there you have it! I'm OK with anyone but Goodkind (sorry I'm passionate about that).I haven't read Goodkind, but most of what I've heard indicates I'm not missing anything.

So could you ask Mr. Martin when A Dance with Dragons will be out? :pray: And can you pass on a big 'Thank You' to him for allowing his books to come out as ebooks? heheCan try.

I should have George's email address around, or that of his lady, Parris.
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Dennis

Well, we now know who it will be.

http://www.thebookstandard.com/bookstandard/news/author/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003683768
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Dennis

Not exactly a "big name" author, is he? Has anyone actually heard of the guy?

Not exactly a "big name" author, is he? Has anyone actually heard of the guy?Yes, though I haven't read his stuff yet. He seems to be well regarded on the basis of his existing output.

Since he will be completing the last Wheel of Time novel, it doesn't matter that he isn't a big name. The book will sell just fine, thanks.

It's more important that he can pick up the pieces and and finish the book, remaining true to Jordan's vision, and emulating Jordan's style, so the book is seen as a fitting conclusion to the series and doesn't feel jarringly different.

The latter requirement might be a strike against getting a big name to do it, as their own style might be too firmly embedded, even assuming they could commit the time to doing it.

Jordan's widow was also his editor, and will be editing this book, too, so we can assume Sanderson will get lots of feedback as he progresses about where he is and is not on target.

We'll see what the result is.
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Dennis

Good to hear the series will continue, at least this book anyway. I've not read any these books but the better half has been having a cow since Jordan passed on

Good to hear the series will continue, at least this book anyway. I've not read any these books but the better half has been having a cow since Jordan passed onThis book will finish the series. Jordan was determined the next book would be the last, regardless of the length. Among other things, he had another series (SF this time) in planning that he wanted to write, but had to complete WoT first.

The last couple of books he's been obviously moving the pieces around the board to set things up for the end game, and clearly planning to wrap up the series.

I held off on them for a while, because they got the sort of fanatical response that has always tended to put me off of books. But Tor issued the first half of the first book as a giveaway paperback, I read it in a slow afternoon, and liked it enough to buy more to see what happened next. These days I buy them in hardcover.

There isn't a lot that is truly original, but it's a complex and highly detailed world with well drawn characters, and Jordan had a knack for not going where you expected him to go. It was hard to guess what would happen next, because it was never the obvious thing. Jordan has also been able to keep multiple plot lines going simultaneously and keep it all straight, and has been able to craft unique voices for a number of major characters so you aren't normally confused about just who is talking.

When the last one is issued, I'll probably block out a few weeks and reread the series from the beginning. Too much of the earlier stuff has flown out of memory.
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Dennis

It has been ages since I read the series. I stopped I think at either 9 or 10. I might have a start over again at reading the series.

But really, why the heck are the prologues out in ebook and not the actual books?

It has been ages since I read the series. I stopped I think at either 9 or 10. I might have a start over again at reading the series.Probably a good idea. The series is dense enough that a re-read will be helpful.

But really, why the heck are the prologues out in ebook and not the actual books?Ask Tor. I have no idea.
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Dennis

Tor is just too stupid for words when it comes to ebooks.

Yes, though I haven't read his stuff yet. He seems to be well regarded on the basis of his existing output.

Since he will be completing the last Wheel of Time novel, it doesn't matter that he isn't a big name. The book will sell just fine, thanks.

Presumably his career will get a slingshot from doing the last 'WoT' book; which will be good news for him, - and Tor -, in future.

With all the voice recordings and notes left I wonder why his wife didn't decide to write it herself. I guess someone has to be editor and someone has to be writer.

With all the voice recordings and notes left I wonder why his wife didn't decide to write it herself. I guess someone has to be editor and someone has to be writer.Correct. Writing and editing are very different skills. I know folks who do both, but they are the exception, not the rule. (I believe I know all of the Tor editors on the SF side of the house. None of them write books.)
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Dennis

Correct. Writing and editing are very different skills. I know folks who do both, but they are the exception, not the rule. (I believe I know all of the Tor editors on the SF side of the house. None of them write books.)
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Dennis

Absolutely. One of the things I find fascinating in the changes brought by the advent of ebooks is the new role of the editor. For so long that has been subsumed by the power of the gatekeeper, the publisher. With the relevance of that role dwindling the editor could become a professional service on its own with a powerful brand identity to its author customers. With the printing and distribution expenses being less of a factor, the jump from writer to editor is entirely different. That gatekeeper that vetted the raw works may not be needed quite so much by an editor since there aren't as many other expenses to deal with. If there's more to gain for them from a good partnership between them and the author without the other expenses, the traditional publishing house needs to start justifying their existence. There's a whole level of people in the publishing industry that could subvert the current market if ebooks take hold.

Hi,

I noticed this thread and thought I'd chime in. Jim Rigney (pen name Robert Jordan) was a personal friend and his wife Harriet McDougal edited two of my books.

I spoke to Harriet a couple of weeks ago, and she says that an author has been chosen to finish the series, but she wasn't at liberty to say who it was until the contract was signed. Harriet is going to be doing an "encyclopedia" about the series.

Starfish (Sharon Webb)

I spoke to Harriet a couple of weeks ago, and she says that an author has been chosen to finish the series, but she wasn't at liberty to say who it was until the contract was signed.

FYI, TOR announced a couple weeks ago that Brandon Sanderson (Elantris) will complete A Memory of Light, the final WOT book.

http://www.dragonmount.com/News/?p=326

Hi,

I noticed this thread and thought I'd chime in. Jim Rigney (pen name Robert Jordan) was a personal friend and his wife Harriet McDougal edited two of my books.

I spoke to Harriet a couple of weeks ago, and she says that an author has been chosen to finish the series, but she wasn't at liberty to say who it was until the contract was signed.

Starfish (Sharon Webb)Tor officially announced the choice of Brian Sanderson as the author selected to complete the last book back on December 7th: http://www.tor-forge.com/NewsArticle.aspx?articleId=647

It sounds like the contracts were signed shortly after you spoke to Harriet.

Harriet is going to be doing an "encyclopedia" about the series.There already is one: http://www.tor-forge.com/book.aspx?isbn=9780312862190

It will be interesting to see what Harriet does.
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Dennis

Absolutely. One of the things I find fascinating in the changes brought by the advent of ebooks is the new role of the editor. For so long that has been subsumed by the power of the gatekeeper, the publisher. With the relevance of that role dwindling the editor could become a professional service on its own with a powerful brand identity to its author customers. With the printing and distribution expenses being less of a factor, the jump from writer to editor is entirely different. That gatekeeper that vetted the raw works may not be needed quite so much by an editor since there aren't as many other expenses to deal with. If there's more to gain for them from a good partnership between them and the author without the other expenses, the traditional publishing house needs to start justifying their existence. There's a whole level of people in the publishing industry that could subvert the current market if ebooks take hold.That gatekeeper still plays an important role: marketing.

Ebooks have reduced costs of production, manufacturing, and distribution, but you still face the challenge of letting your intended audience know your books exist.

Back in the late '60s, SF write Norman Spinrad opined that there ought to be enough magazines that everyone could get published. My feeling was "That's very nice, but who will read it?" Now we have websites, blogs, ebooks and Print On Demand publishing, and everyone can get published. I still have the same question.

Being published by a major publisher still makes it more likely your books will be noticed and read.
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Dennis

That makes sense. She said he had the contract.

Starfish

Hehe...He's a fellow Cougar too...I bet the fans in Provo are going to mob him.

I'm sorry to hear about his passing, but I never could stomach his books. :o