babbling blue

Another day, another death. Actually it looks like this one happened a few days ago, but it didn’t come to my attention until today.

Author Robert Jordan (aka James Oliver Rigney, Jr.–I can see why he used the nom de plume) passed away this week at the age of 58. The cause of death was a rare blood disease.

This is significant because Jordan was working on a finishing up his massive epic fantasy series, “The Wheel of Time“. And I do mean massive and epic. I read all 11 of his books in the series (and these are some big books) to date. Even book 10, which was by most accounts–including mine–a real stinker. And now I may never know how the story ends! Will Rand Al’Thor win the last battle? Well he probably will, but I want to see how. . . and I want answers to the many unanswered questions. Will Mat and Thom go get Moiraine? Will. . . OK I’m not going off on a tangent on those; they could be a whole blog post on their own.

This was my worst fear (regarding these novels, not in life)–that something would happen to prevent Jordan from finishing. Back in my undergrad days when I started the series, we used to joke about it (before Jordan’s diagnosis. . . we weren’t heartless bastards). And it has come true! Damn! I am sad of course, but also mad that he didn’t finish sooner. He dragged the series out longer than it needed to be (I’m looking at you, book 10!). And now tens of thousands of fans are left hanging. I heard a rumor that he finished the end of the last book, but not the beginning. If that’s true I hope someone can fill out the missing part and release the book. I mean, he must have at least left behind some notes on what he was planning, right? Right? Please? Argh!

I could wax poetic in eulogizing RJ, but instead I’m just going to tug on my braid, smooth my skirt and scowl. Men!