As I’m sure many of you have heard, author Robert Jordon passed away a couple days ago of Amyloidosis, a rare blood disease.

I read his Wheel of Time series to the ninth or tenth book, absolutely loved every word of the first four or five, but I eventually lost interest. I had decided to return to the series once the final book had been written, but I guess we’ll have to see if that still happens.

Jordon was working on the twelfth and final book in this epic series when he died. It’s sad when you realise he came so close to finishing what is essentially his life’s work. The first book in the series was published in 1990. That’s a long time to spend in the same fantasy. I think after spending nearly twenty years in a story, the characters must seems as alive to you as your own family. It’s unfortunate he died before he was able to bring the story to a close. It’s like passing away months before your first grandchild is born.

Before his death, Jordan stated “I’m getting out notes, so if the worst actually happens, someone could finish A Memory of Light and have it end the way I want it to end.” The decision whether to posthumously complete the book has been left to his wife Harriet and Tor Books president Tom Doherty. [via]

This seems like it would be a very difficult series to pick up for another author. There are a lot of subplots to tie up, and the readers are very in tune with the characters’ nuances after following the series for so long. I’ll still read it if it’s published. At least we’ll be able to see how he intended it to end.

He’ll certainly be missed by fantasy readers worldwide.