Robert Jordan

James Oliver Rigney Jr., universally known to millions of avid readers under his pen name Robert Jordan, was an extraordinary American novelist and epic fantasy pioneer whose fourteen-volume magnum opus, The Wheel of Time, stands alongside J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as the cornerstone of modern fantasy literature. Born on October 17, 1948, in Charleston, South Carolina, Jordan was an avid reader from early childhood who taught himself to read at age four.

Jordan served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War with the United States Army (1968–1970) as a helicopter gunner, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with "V", and two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry. Following military service, he earned a degree in physics from The Citadel, working as a nuclear engineer for the US Navy before dedicating himself entirely to writing.

Beginning in 1990 with The Eye of the World, Jordan introduced the world to an astonishingly intricate universe governed by the turning of the Wheel of Time, the One Power, and the battle between the Dragon Reborn (Rand al'Thor) and the Dark One. Jordan's meticulous world-building, profound philosophical themes of cyclic history, complex gender dynamics, and rich cultural tapestries captivated millions. When diagnosed with cardiac amyloidosis in 2006, Jordan meticulously dictated notes, character outlines, and final scenes so that the series could be completed posthumously by author Brandon Sanderson. Jordan passed away in Charleston on September 16, 2007, leaving a legacy of over 90 million books sold worldwide.