Robert Jordan, a celebrated author of the fantasy genre, died on September 16th, 2007, aged 58. Jordan, born James Oliver Rigney, Jr. in Charleston, South Carolina, began his writing career doing freelance work for gaming companies. In 1984 he published his debut novel, The Eye of the World, first of the massively popular Wheel of Time fantasy series.The series has since become one of the greatest and most influential works of modern fantasy, having sold over 47 million copies worldwide. Prior to his death, Jordan had finished 11 volumes in the series. He was actively working on the 12th and final book, A Memory of Light, scheduled for publication in 2008. Jordan was admired by a generation of fantasy fans for his captivating characters, relentless dialogue, and remarkable ability to create and sustain an incredibly detailed sub-creation. He was nominated for several awards, most notably the 1998 World Fantasy Award for his novel The Path of Daggers. He had recently been working on a variable media project with Tor Books and ink2u. In addition to his writing, Jordan was also a student of martial arts, a history buff, and a skilled military strategist. Jordan will be remembered fondly by his devoted fans and friends around the world.