Robert Jordan, the pen name for James Oliver Rigney, Jr.,
authored the incredible series The Wheel of Time, encompassing 14 novels and a
prequel novella set in a fantasy world he created. This series has been an
influence and inspiration to me for nearly half my life. Only be chance did I
find the 10th book in the series, Crossroads of Twilght, in a bargain store
shortly after its release in 2003. At the time, I was curious but did not start
reading it until I later received the first two books for my birthday some
while later. From the first page, I was immediately engrossed by the fantastic
use of words not only to tell a story but to paint a world beyond imagination.
His rich detail of the characters, cultures, and kingdoms
deserve more justice than I can ever hope to give them. The plot itself
revolves around the duality of human nature and the decisions that shape us as
a single, deciding battle preludes either salvation or ruin for all of
humanity. The journey that leads to Tarmon Gai'don, as he names it, is one that
I feel as though I lived through myself.
In 2006, Mr. Rigney was diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis,
and tragically passed away on September 16, 2007. At this time, he had only
completed the first 11 novels in the
series, and in his last months worked closely with Brandon Sanderson, a close
friend and author in the genre. Through the notes he shared, the remaining
three novels, originally set to be one volume but released in three parts due
to their size, were published between 2009 and 2013.
It is a true testament to his character and the quality of
Mr. Rigney as a person that even decades after the first novel was published,
his words yet resound with meaning so deep and pure that they may change us as
readers. Through his writing and courage in the face of illness, Mr. Rigney has
inspired me to live my life with a better outlook and to harbour the creativity
that is so valuable. As a tribute to his work and in fond memory, I drafted a
map of where the novels take place. Thank you, Mr. Rigney, for without you I
would be a lesser man.
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