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Friday, May 10, 2013

Cartography- A Tribute to Robert Jordan



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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