Electric Boogaloo -> The Wheel of Time Turns

The Wheel of Time Turns

Track this topic | Email this topic | Print this topic

Darren von Dastard

Posted: Oct 4 2007, 07:43 PM

LOGOPOIOS

Group: Admin
Posts: 26,197
Member No.: 23
Joined: 20-September 05

I can't believe I only found this out tonight, by accident, really, but I don't have a television here and haven't been reading the paper, so this was a real blow to me. I just found out that James Rigney, aka Robert Jordan died last month, just shy of his 59th birthday. A year older than my own father. I don't think many people on this site read his novels; certainly I don't recall us having any discussions about them, but I was an enormous fan. I started reading The Wheel of Time when I was 16, which was half my life ago, and have been dutifully collecting each new one every time it comes out. They are the only series of books I actually keep in hardcover anymore, and when I'm living somewhere I haven't been able to bring them, I have always bought the entirety of the series in paperback to keep me company. Never mind the copies I happily "lend" to friends, knowing full well I will never see them again. I routinely re-read the entire series every year, and again whenever a new novel comes out. And were it not for the fact that I'm going back to Asia shortly, and my books are in storage, I would be right back in the thick of them at this very moment. He was also the best writer of Conan since Robert E. Howard, and between you and me, probably better. The details of his disease and rapid decline, despite his enormous struggle, well, I'm sure all of you can follow that if you feel the need. I won't get into it.

This is the eulogy delivered at his funeral by his publisher and friend, Tom Doherty:

QUOTE (Tom Doherty)

�He came like the wind. Like the wind touched everything and like the wind was gone.�

Jim Rigney, Robert Jordan, friend, doer, dreamer, maker of dreams, one of the great storytellers of the 20th and I believe time will prove 21st century as well. His Wheel of Time is a towering epic of power and scope. After praising it extensively, the New York Times said of it:

�� the evil laced into forces of good, the dangers latent in any promised salvation, the scenes of unavoidable onslaught of unpredictable events � bear the marks of American national experience during the last three decades -�

Truly Jim wrote for us all.

And Harriet, the love of his life, what a team, Harriet is the finest editor I�ve ever worked with. Working together they produced wonderful things. His first two books, Fallon Blood and Fallon Pride were published by her company, Popham Press as a joint venture with Ace where I was publisher and she had been Editorial Director. And then at Tor, another Fallon, Conan and the Wheel of Time. The Wheel, which has touched the lives of so many millions and down the generations will touch so many millions more.

Jim was a man of courage and heart and vision. He was my friend of 30 years. He�s gone ahead of us now. Beyond that last horizon to a place we cannot yet see. But I think he can see us and he�s glad we�re together and he�s already thinking of stories he�s going to tell Harriet and then the rest of us when we get there.

We miss you Jim. Thanks for all you�ve left behind

I hope this would go without saying, but this is a memorial thread, and I've been shocked at what some people have posted in other such threads. If anyone feels the need to disrespect the man or his works, I assure you, this is not the place for it.

--------------------

Destiny Hero Joe	Posted: Oct 4 2007, 09:07 PM
I'll kill you! I'll kill you to DEATH! Group: Admin Posts: 4,235 Member No.: 2 Joined: 15-September 05	Did Wheel of Time ever actually finish? I had a good friend recommend it to me in high school, but I never partook. He'll be missed. --------------------

Darren von Dastard	Posted: Oct 4 2007, 09:20 PM
LOGOPOIOS Group: Admin Posts: 26,197 Member No.: 23 Joined: 20-September 05	No, he was working on the final volume when he died. When he got sick, he got sick pretty fast. I think two years from diagnosis. --------------------

Morning Dew	Posted: Feb 16 2008, 09:45 AM
Aren't you that one guy? Group: Members Posts: 12 Member No.: 77 Joined: 14-February 08	Well I know Darren already said this, but the Wheel of Time was and is an amazing series. If you haven't read it I suggest you start before the last book is released. I have been reading these books for so long now, I have the story memorized. He will be greatly missed, and all I can say is that I am sorry that I will not be able to read 30 more years of stories from him. I can not believe anyone would say anything bad about this man... from what I have heard he was a wonderful husband and brother... I do however hope that I get some answers to the questions he has left open. This final book has got to be huge And I hope the writer (Brandon Sanderson) who is finishing it holds true to the story. The Dragon will be missed, he was taken all to early. This is a link to his blog, in case anyone was interested; http://www.dragonmount.com/RobertJordan/

Darren von Dastard	Posted: Feb 16 2008, 11:30 AM
LOGOPOIOS Group: Admin Posts: 26,197 Member No.: 23 Joined: 20-September 05	I'll pick up the Sanderson book for sure, and Harriet was and is a hell of an editor, with a great eye for talent, so I trust her choice. But it will never be the same. --------------------

Morning Dew	Posted: Feb 16 2008, 12:40 PM
Aren't you that one guy? Group: Members Posts: 12 Member No.: 77 Joined: 14-February 08	I agree, I doubt the books would have been the same without her. And I will be pre-ordering that book. In the mean-time though I think I am going to look into some books written by Sanderson...

1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)

0 Members:

« Next Oldest | Just A Bunch Of Words! | Next Newest »