Monday, September 17, 2007

farewell, dragon

Suddenly, the seemingly frivolous, egocentric post I had planned for today paled in comparison to this dire news: Robert Jordan, acclaimed author and high fantasy master, passed away yesterday. The blog post, written by his "Brother/Cousin" Wilson, is here.

Unfortunately, the supposedly last book in the Wheel of Time series, A Memory of Light, has not been completed yet. His widow, Harriet, will ultimately decide if the book can be pieced together from notes and drafts. The Wheel of Time Philippines, the Philippine fan organization/mailing list for the Wheel of Time series, can be accessed and joined here.

I am a recent convert to The Wheel of Time--but I am glad I made that decision to open that first book. I couldn't help myself from keeping it up until I had Crossroads of Twilight, and then, just recently, Knife of Dreams. The ta'veren had me hooked and I became engrossed in the rich tapestry and deep mythology of the world of the One Power, the Aes Sedai, and the Dragon Reborn. At its heart, it is simply a story of good versus evil, but the many conflicts and complications and the credibility and motivation of the characters, make each tale a wonderful page-turner.

In a sad week that also saw the passing of beloved Madeleine L'Engle, we can only say that the torch is being passed, but these authors' greatness and their legacy are immortalized in their timeless tales--be it of the Murrys or the Two Rivers ta'veren.

Robert Jordan/James Oliver Rigney, Jr.: May the last embrace of the Mother welcome you home.

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