Robert Jordan
Author · 17 October 1948 – 16 September 2007 · 177 works
James Oliver Rigney Jr. (October 17, 1948 – September 16, 2007), known by his pen name Robert Jordan, was an American author known for his epic fantasy series *The Wheel of Time*. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Jordan developed a passion for storytelling and served two tours in Vietnam before pursuing a writing career in 1977. Jordan is best known for *The Wheel of Time*, a sprawling fantasy saga that combines intricate world-building, complex characters, and a richly detailed magic system. The series spans fourteen books and a prequel novel, with the first volume, *The Eye of the World* (external link, opens in new tab), published in 1990. The narrative explores themes of prophecy, destiny, and the struggle between good and evil, set in a meticulously crafted world with its own history, cultures, and languages. After Jordan's passing in 2007, fellow fantasy author Brandon Sanderson (external link, opens in new tab) was chosen to complete the series using Jordan's extensive notes and outlines. The final three books were published between 2009 and 2013, bringing the epic saga to a conclusion. Jordan was one of several writers who contributed to the *Conan the Barbarian* series, with his works considered among the best by fans. He wrote seven Conan novels, and compiled a well-known Conan Chronology. In addition to his fantasy writing, Jordan used various pseudonyms for different genres: Reagan O'Neal for historical novels set during the American Revolution, Jackson O'Reilly for a western novel, and Chang Lung for his dance and theater criticism. Jordan's ability to create immersive worlds and compelling characters has earned him a dedicated fan base and numerous accolades. His work on *The Wheel of Time* series has sold over 90 million copies worldwide and was adapted into a television series by Amazon Prime Video in 2021. His favorite authors included: Robert A. Heinlein (external link, opens in new tab), John D. MacDonald (external link, opens in new tab), Louis L'Amour (external link, opens in new tab), Jane Austen (external link, opens in new tab), Charles Dickens (external link, opens in new tab), Mark Twain (external link, opens in new tab), and Montaigne (external link, opens in new tab). Fantasy authors he enjoyed included: Tad Williams (external link, opens in new tab), Robert Holdstock (external link, opens in new tab), Raymond E. Feist (external link, opens in new tab), Janny Wurts (external link, opens in new tab), Barry Hughart (external link, opens in new tab), and C. S. Friedman (external link, opens in new tab). (Sources:1 (external link, opens in new tab),2 (external link, opens in new tab),3 (external link, opens in new tab)) *The Wheel of Time* Series in Order: 1. *The Eye of the World* (external link, opens in new tab) (1990) 2. *The Great Hunt* (external link, opens in new tab) (1990) 3. *The Dragon Reborn* (external link, opens in new tab) (1991) 4. *The Shadow Rising* (external link, opens in new tab) (1992) 5. *The Fires of Heaven* (external link, opens in new tab) (1993) 6. *Lord of Chaos* (external link, opens in new tab) (1994) 7. *A Crown of Swords* (external link, opens in new tab) (1996) 8. *The Path of Daggers* (external link, opens in new tab) (1998) 9. *Winter's Heart* (external link, opens in new tab) (2000) 10. *Crossroads of Twilight* (external link, opens in new tab) (2003) 0. *New Spring* (external link, opens in new tab) (2004) - Prequel 11. *Knife of Dreams* (external link, opens in new tab) (2005) 12. *The Gathering Storm* (external link, opens in new tab) (2009) - Completed by Brandon Sanderson 13. *Towers of Midnight* (external link, opens in new tab) (2010) - Completed by Brandon Sanderson 14. *A Memory of Light* (external link, opens in new tab) (2013) - Completed by Brandon Sanderson [5]: [6]: [20]: [21]:
Books by Robert Jordan
