[2ndDivisionVet]

Robert Jordan is the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. (born October 17, 1948), under which he is best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also writes under the name Reagan O'Neal. Rigney was born and still resides in Charleston, South Carolina. He served two tours in Vietnam (from 1968-70) with the U.S. Army where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and bronze oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. After returning from Vietnam he attended the The Citadel where he received an undergraduate degree in physics. After graduating he was employed by the US Navy as a nuclear engineer. He began writing in 1977.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jordan

[ikka]

Are the books any good?

[quidnunc]

For later reference

[USMCWife6869]

I have really been considering reading these books. My friend swears by them. She loves the series. It has seemed quite daunting to me in the past, but maybe now would be the time for me.

[Desron13]

Oh man! Don't be telling me this. It's like one of my worst nightmares coming true. I've said to many a friend that I was afraid he would pass before finishing this series that I have been following from the start in 1991. I had always planed to buy the entire series in hard cover and reread it straight through once he finished it. This is truly an epic story on par with Lord of the Rings trilogy and I wish him restored health soon.

[tanuki]

Being an organizer of sci fi/fantasy/media conventions in my area (SF Bay Area), I had the chance to meet Robert Jordan. A finer man is hard to imagine. An antebellum gentleman if ever there was, as well as a great talent.

I am incredibly sad to hear of his problems and offer my sincerest prayers and hopes for him.

[wafflehouse]

these books are truly great books.. i have them all and have read the whole series (with the exception of the most recent) at least twice.. the series is up to 9685 pages (per wikipedia) it is true that some of the later books seem to be rather like stretching the story, and not as good as the first part of the series but over all, they are great books, and a very big story. once the last book is out i will read the whole series again from start to finish.