The Wheel of Time Keeps Turning

Many fantasy readers will be familiar with the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

Robert Jordan began his series almost twenty years ago with The Eye of the World . His work has been compared to Tolkien and he has acknowledged Tolkien as a strong influence.

With eleven volumes to his credit, Robert Jordan died in 2007 after a long battle with a rare blood disease. Fans had been anticipating the final volume in the series but Jordan was unable to complete it before his death.

After much consideration by Jordan's wife and editor, Brandon Sanderson was chosen to complete the final volume of the series. Upon examining the material left behind by Jordan, everyone agreed that more than one volume was warranted.

The conclusion of the series will be contained in three volumes, the first of which was released last week. The Gathering Storm, Book 12 of The Wheel of Time, is the first of three volumes that will make up "A Memory of Light", Jordan's intended title for the last volume.

For anyone wanting a refresher or any newcomers to the series, the library owns most volumes in audiobook format. The Eye of the World and The Great Hunt have been adapted for younger readers. The Eye of the World is being adapted into a series of graphic novels, as is New Spring, a prequel to the Wheel of Time series, both due out in 2010. And Universal Rights has purchased the film rights to the series. What a legacy Robert Jordan has left.