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*][1], 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][2] 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][7], [John D. MacDonald][8], [Louis L'Amour][9], [Jane Austen][10], [Charles Dickens][11], [Mark Twain][12], and [Montaigne][13].
Fantasy authors he enjoyed included: [Tad Williams][14], [Robert Holdstock][15], [Raymond E. Feist][16], [Janny Wurts][17], [Barry Hughart][18], and [C. S. Friedman][19].
(Sources:[1][37],[2][38],[3][39])
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*The Wheel of Time* Series in Order:
1. [*The Eye of the World*][23] (1990)
2. [*The Great Hunt*][24] (1990)
3. [*The Dragon Reborn*][25] (1991)
4. [*The Shadow Rising*][26] (1992)
5. [*The Fires of Heaven*][27] (1993)
6. [*Lord of Chaos*][28] (1994)
7. [*A Crown of Swords*][29] (1996)
8. [*The Path of Daggers*][30] (1998)
9. [*Winter's Heart*][31] (2000)
10. [*Crossroads of Twilight*][32] (2003)
0. [*New Spring*][22] (2004) - Prequel
11. [*Knife of Dreams*][33] (2005)
12. [*The Gathering Storm*][34] (2009) - Completed by Brandon Sanderson
13. [*Towers of Midnight*][35] (2010) - Completed by Brandon Sanderson
14. [*A Memory of Light*][36] (2013) - Completed by Brandon Sanderson
[1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924103W
[2]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1394865A
[3]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924094W
[4]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL6060885W
[5]:
[6]:
[7]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL28641A
[8]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL6708339A
[9]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL19482A
[10]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL21594A
[11]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL24638A
[12]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL18319A
[13]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL112816A
[14]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL292141A
[15]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL389360A
[16]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL40784A
[17]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL24470A
[18]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL886773A
[19]: https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL45046A
[20]:
[21]:
[22]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1946682W
[23]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924103W
[24]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924135W
[25]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924143W
[26]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924199W
[27]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924172W
[28]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924208W
[29]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924161W
[30]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1946687W
[31]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924207W
[32]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924099W
[33]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7924194W
[34]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1946681W
[35]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL15414340W
[36]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL16799133W
[37]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Jordan
[38]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wheel_of_Time
[39]: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan/c/PZUPyFyZcsk/m/dgCePo9BOvoJ
