I’m very sorry to inform you but Robert Jordan passed away in the last several days. I have no idea if he completed the last book or not.
For those of you who don’t know, the Wheel of Time is a fantasy series of sci/fi books and is an excellent read.
The story about this may be found on Robert Jordan’s blog, here. The site is getting hit with a lot of traffic as the news spreads and may or may not load. I really thought this was a hoax when I first saw a few things on the net, but I really do think its legit.
Interaction Culture 
Permalink
Nice post by George R R Martin on his site.
* * * * * *
9:30pm: R.I.P. Robert Jordan
The world of high fantasy is poorer today.
James Rigney, better known to fantasy readers as Robert Jordan, has passed away. Although he had been fighting amyloidosis for several years, the news of his death still came as a shock to many, including me. He was so optimistic and determined that you had to think that if anyone could beat the disease, it would be him.
Jim was a good and gracious man, a pleasure to share a platform or a pint with, and his contributions to modern fantasy were many. His huge, ambitious WHEEL OF TIME series helped to redefine the genre, and opened many doors for the writers who followed.
He was also unfailingly generous towards other fantasists, always ready to offer them support and encouragement. My own ICE & FIRE series might never have found its audience without the cover quote that Jim was so kind as to provide, back when A GAME OF THRONES was first published. I will always be grateful to him for that.
The last time I saw Jim was at an Archon in Collinsville, Illinois. It was before his final illness. He was the convention Guest of Honor and I was the Toastmaster, and I introduced him by telling the audience that actually we were the same person. It was a gag that Jim himself had suggested in the Green Room beforehand. While I was doing the intro, and claiming credit for all his books, he slowly entered, walked up silently behind me, and stood looming over me, glowering like Zeus. We got a great laugh.
I had some great dinners with Jim and his wife Harriet there in Collinsville as well. We talked about other writers, editors, publishers, all the stuff that writers always talk about… oh, and a little about our own series as well… and Jim and Harriet invited me to visit them if I ever made it down to Charleston. Sad to say, I never did.
RIP, Jim. You will be much missed.
Permalink
Sad day! I’ve read all but the last couple books in the WoT series (for those of you who have read them you may understand why I couldn’t quite finish them…. SO LONG, SO MANY CHARACHTERS).
Permalink
That is truly depressing. The WoT series certainly had its critics, but it was the epic tale of tales spanning tends of thousands of pages and deserved a proper conclusion by its creator. We can only hope that he was close enough in his 12th volume that someone can finish it out. It has long been said that he knew from Book 1 how he was going to end the series, he just wasn’t sure of the path.
Permalink
I am even sadder and more depressing than all of you guys, because I don’t know when would get to know his great work if there is no death and/or nobody mention the death here.
Permalink
@mingxian
His books are epic (in page count and content). Well worth a read if you enjoy fantasy fiction.
The first book “Eye of the World” is widely considered the best of the series and one of the great fantasy books of our time.