Will the Wheel of Time roll on for Jordan?

[Alatar]

Late last week the Sci-Fi/Fantasy world was rocked with the news of Robert Jordan's life threatening illness.

In a letter to Locus Jim Rigney (aka Robert Jordan) explains that he's been diagnosed with:

"amyloidosis. That is a rare blood disease which affects only 8 people out of a million each year, and those 8 per million are divided among 22 distinct forms of amyloidosis. They are distinct enough that while some have no treatment at all, for the others, the treatment that works on one will have no effect whatsoever on any of the rest. An amyloid is a misshapen or misfolded protein that can be produced by various parts of the body and which may deposit in other parts of the body (nerves or organs) with varying effects. (As a small oddity, amyloids are associated with a wide list of diseases ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome to Alzheimer's. There's no current evidence of cause and effect, and none of these is considered any form of amyloidosis, but the amyloids are always there. So it is entirely possible that research on amyloids may one day lead to cures for Alzheimer's and the Lord knows what else. I've offered to be a literary poster boy for the Mayo Amyloidosis Program, and the May PR Department, at least, seems very interested. Plus, I've discovered a number of fans in various positions at the clinic, so maybe they'll help out.)"

[eborr]

Sorry I thought this thread was about the pneumatic one, she is signing her book at the local branch of Borders next week

[Impenitent]

I've offered to be a literary poster boy for the Mayo Amyloidosis Program, and the May PR Department, at least, seems very interested.

While I hope that Robert Jordan's condition is treatable, what really caught my eye was the above: what do you mean you'll be literary poster boy? My unpalatable inference is that you have some first-hand knowledge of Amyloidosis? I hope to god that isn't true, Alatar!

[Alatar]

Sorry Impy... That entire article should have been quoted!

That's Robert Jordan speaking, not me! I'll go back and edit it.

[Impenitent]

Well, I can't tell you how relieved I am!

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Alas, it appears the Wheel has stopped rolling. I heard on the Mythopoeic Society list today that Robert Jordan has passed away today. I myself haven't read any of his work (no comments, Frelga), but I know that others here have enjoyed his work. May he rest in peace.

[Lalaith]

That's sad. And, iirc, this is what NimrodelSong's husband passed away from a few years ago.


Lali

[Inanna]

Oh, I didn't know this. I have often "looked" at his work, but never picked it up.

May he rest in peace.

[Frelga]

Alas, it appears the Wheel has stopped rolling. I heard on the Mythopoeic Society list today that Robert Jordan has passed away today. I myself haven't read any of his work (no comments, Frelga), but I know that others here have enjoyed his work. May he rest in peace.

Why, what did I do?

I haven't read any of Jordan's books either, but I know many people who enjoy it, and I am sorry to hear that Jordan is gone.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Alas, it appears the Wheel has stopped rolling. I heard on the Mythopoeic Society list today that Robert Jordan has passed away today. I myself haven't read any of his work (no comments, Frelga), but I know that others here have enjoyed his work. May he rest in peace.

Why, what did I do?

Sorry. That was an inappropriate reference to the discussions we have had in the past about my dislike of fantasy. I shouldn't have said anything there. My apologies.

[Frelga]

No need to apologize, V! I just wondered, since I couldn't recall posting in a Jordan thread before.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

[Inanna]

Trust HoFers to convert a thread for Jordan to a hugging extravaganza.

[Primula Baggins]

Someone needs a hug!

[Teremia]

Oh my goodness, I'd missed the news that Robert Jordan had amyloidosis. That's what killed my mother. It's a nasty, sneaky disease, and although Boston University has discovered ways of saving some people's lives (through stem cell transplant and heavy chemo), most people get diagnosed so late that it's hard to do anything for them.

The problem is that it affects many different organs in odd ways, and the various specialists for those organs often don't see the Big Picture.

Jordan was very young. I'm sorry to hear this news.

[Alatar]

For those following the Wheel of Time, apparently Jordan began dictating major plotlines when he found out about his illness. Its likely the final volume will be ghostwritten and published at some stage.

[Alatar]

Incidentally V, The Wheel of Time probably fits your "invented history" criteria pretty well. I just found that it dragged on a bit and seemed to be going nowhere. After book 6 I decided to just wait till they were finished and read from the beginning. Hopefully that may still be possible.

Imagine if Tolkien had died before finishing "The Return of the King".

[JewelSong]

I found the "Wheel of Time" series to be incredibly tedious...I read the first two and then really lost interest. I also thought the "borrowing" from Tolkien was - well, a bit blatant.

My sister-in-law loved the books, though. And she is a huge Tolkien fan.

[Teremia]

My niece loves these books and looks at me with huge, wounded eyes whenever I confess I have STILL not gotten beyond p. 28 in the volume she lent me years ago.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Imagine if Tolkien had died before finishing "The Return of the King".

Or "The Silmarillion".