So Robert Jordan has been sick for a while with some disease that I can’t pronounce. Apparently he died yesterday. For those who don’t know, he was a fantasy author, most well known for his Wheel of Time series of ultra-epic high fantasy. The first book was published in 1990, and I believe the last was slated to be published in 2009. Nader and I are both avid fans, and from a purely selfish standpoint, this loss comes as a huge blow to me. Allegedly he’d been dictating the shit out of his outlines and notes for the final book to other people so it could be finished in the event that he didn’t make it, so there is some hope that we’ll find out how it ends. Hopefully he also told someone who killed Asmodean.

At any rate, here’s the blog post on Dragonmount by way of Slashdot, because Dragonmount has been Slashdotted:

Sometimes even when you’ve fought your best….
Sunday, September 16th, 2007

It is with great sadness that I tell you that the Dragon is gone. RJ left us today at 2:45 PM. He fought a valiant fight against this most horrid disease. In the end, he left peacefully and in no pain. In the years he had fought this, he taught me much about living and about facing death. He never waivered in his faith, nor questioned our God’s timing. I could not possibly be more proud of anyone. I am eternally grateful for the time that I had with him on this earth and look forward to our reunion, though as I told him this afternoon, not yet. I love you bubba.

Our beloved Harriet was at his side through the entire fight and to the end. The last words from his mouth were to tell her that he loved her.

Thank each and everyone of you for your prayers and support through this ordeal. He knew you were there. Harriet reminded him today that she was very proud of the many lives he had touched through his work. We’ve all felt the love that you’ve been sending my brother/cousin. Please keep it coming as our Harriet could use the support.

Jason will be posting funeral arrangements.

My sincerest thanks.

Peace and Light be with each of you,

Wilson
Brother/Cousin
4th of 3

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

It’s interesting to see this performed live since the original track is (I think) all samples. Kind of a mystery. RZA does a verse on it (they don’t play that part live) and rumor has it that he produced the whole thing. It definitely sounds like one of his tracks. Also note that the keyboard player looks like an old guy trying to look cool except nobody told him the Cars broke up twenty years ago. Anyways, check it out: