From Publishers Weekly
The eighth book of Jordan's bestselling The Wheel of Time saga (A Crown of Swords, etc.) opens with a renewed invasion by the Seanchans, a conquering race whose arsenal includes man-carrying flying reptiles and enslaved female magic-workers as well as powerful soldiers, many of whom have joined the Seanchans out of fear of the Dragon Reborn. The Dragon himself, Rand al'Thor, appears in only a small part of the narrative, but during that time he endures the ugly experience of seeing his magic kill his friends, heightening his fear that his destiny is to slay everyone he cares about. The first third of the book is a little slower paced than is usual for Jordan, emphasizing the growth of relationships, but the action picks up soon enough. More compact than some previous volumes in the saga, this one has the virtues readers have come to expect from the author: meticulous world-building; deft use of multiple viewpoints; highly original and intelligent systems of magic; an admirable wit; and a continuous awareness of the fate of the turnip farmer or peddler caught in the path of the heroes' armies. Unlike some authors of megasagas, Jordan chooses his words with care, creating people and events that have earned him an enormous readership. For sheer imagination and storytelling skill, if not quite for mythic resonance, The Wheel of Time now rivals Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
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
