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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10425 Posts
    
United States
 | | 03/24/2006 2:15 PM |
| Anyone know if this is legit?
Dave
From: http://www.locusmag.com/2006/Features/03JordanLetter.html
Dear Locus,
I have been diagnosed with amyloidosis. That is a rare blood disease which affects only 8 people out of a million each year, and those 8 per million are divided among 22 distinct forms of amyloidosis. They are distinct enough that while some have no treatment at all, for the others, the treatment that works on one will have no effect whatsoever on any of the rest. An amyloid is a misshapen or misfolded protein that can be produced by various parts of the body and which may deposit in other parts of the body (nerves or organs) with varying effects. (As a small oddity, amyloids are associated with a wide list of diseases ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome to Alzheimer's. There's no current evidence of cause and effect, and none of these is considered any form of amyloidosis, but the amyloids are always there. So it is entirely possible that research on amyloids may one day lead to cures for Alzheimer's and the Lord knows what else. I've offered to be a literary poster boy for the Mayo Amyloidosis Program, and the May PR Department, at least, seems very interested. Plus, I've discovered a number of fans in various positions at the clinic, so maybe they'll help out.)
Now in my case, what I have is primary amyloidosis with cardiomyapathy. That means that some (only about 5% at present) of my bone marrow is producing amyloids which are depositing in the wall of my heart, causing it to thicken and stiffen. Untreated, it would eventually make my heart unable to function any longer and I would have a median life expectancy of one year from diagnosis. Fortunately, I am set up for treatment, which expands my median life expectancy to four years. This does NOT mean I have four years to live. For those who've forgotten their freshman or pre-freshman (high school or junior high) math, a median means half the numbers fall above that value and half fall below. It is NOT an average.
In any case, I intend to live considerably longer than that. Everybody knows or has heard of someone who was told they had five years to live, only that was twenty years ago and here they guy is, still around and kicking. I mean to beat him. I sat down and figured out how long it would take me to write all of the books I currently have in mind, without adding anything new and without trying rush anything. The figure I came up with was thirty years. Now, I'm fifty-seven, so anyone my age hoping for another thirty years is asking for a fair bit, but I don't care. That is my minimum goal. I am going to finish those books, all of them, and that is that.
My treatment starts in about 2 weeks at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where they have seen and treated more cases like mine than anywhere else in the US. Basically, it boils down to this. They will harvest a good quantity of my bone marrow stem cells from my blood. These aren't the stem cells that have Bush and Cheney in a swivet; they can only grow into bone marrow, and only into my bone marrow at that. Then will follow two days of intense chemotherapy to kill off all of my bone marrow, since there is no way at present to target just the misbehaving 5%. Once this is done, they will re-implant my bmsc to begin rebuilding my bone marrow and immune system, which will of course go south with the bone marrow. Depending on how long it takes me to recuperate sufficiently, 6 to 8 weeks after checking in, I can come home. I will have a fifty-fifty chance of some good result (25% chance of remission; 25% chance of some reduction in amyloid production), a 35-40% chance of no result, and a 10-15% chance of fatality. Believe me, that's a Hell of a lot better than staring down the barrel of a one-year median. If I get less than full remission, my doctor already, she says, has several therapies in mind, though I suspect we will heading into experimental territory. | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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Dwilgar
Warrior
215 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 2:23 PM |
| It is the front page of Tor Book's Robert Jordan page, so I would say it is true.
http://www.tor.com/jordan/
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Dwilgar
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Red Ranger
Sergeant
708 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 2:30 PM |
| | I had heard a story some years ago, around book 7 or 8, that he was on his deathbed with some illness (though I can't remember what or if it was specified). At that point the story went that he had pulled Terry Brooks and a couple other big time fantasy authors into his hospital room and given them the outline for the rest of the story in case he did die before he completed the work. If the letter is legit I feel bad for him and hope he gets those 30 years. I hope too that he remembers the fans and does pass the story off to someone, just in case. Wow, I just realized I've been reading those books over half my life! (I'll be 30 in may and I started in Jr. high) | |
Champion of the Yeti
(large uncommon please!)
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Malin Lug
Sergeant
742 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 3:27 PM |
| | I was at Dragon Con and sat through a Q&A with Robert Jordan. He said that he did have some health issues but that he was fine to finish the LAST book. He said that it might be a 1400 page book, but it would be finished shortly. He did have some insistance of finishing the book in a fairly quick manner. | |
"Are you not entertained?" 
Champion of the Common Bar Wench
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Mortusbard
Sergeant
427 Posts
North Carolina
| | 03/24/2006 4:51 PM |
| Well that is truly a shame for I think he is the premier Fantasy author of Our Generation!!!
I have read and will read of the wheel of time for years to come. I re-read the whole set everytime he comes out with a new one.
My thoughts and prayers will go with him.
oh and VREN READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | |
Unto Death We Strive,
From Birth unto the Dust, | |
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Sammael
Underboss
1881 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 5:03 PM |
| I'm sorry to hear about his condition. I really liked WoT up to book #6. Books #7-9 dragged on forever, but had redeemable moments. After reading reviews of book #10, I decided not to read it until he finishes the whole series (which I figured would be by book 13, and it looks like I was almost right).
But really, the literary quality of Jordan's work is not particularly great. His early WoT books were entertaining, but pretty two-dimensional, with predictable plot twists and lots of deus ex machina moments. His later books were simple cash cows. I'm not sure I can even return to WoT after reading Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. | |
Hypethetical Blood War Set List | Champion of the Gelugon | Vindicated Prophet of Blood War
Ha 69/80 | De 60/60 | Ar 57/60 | GoL 72/72 | Ab 60/60 | DK 60/60 | AF 60/60 | UD 59/60 | WD 57/60 | WDQ 3/60| BW
Total DDM Count: 1037 | No chance of finishing the set | Will finish the set | Set | |
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kgradert13
Sergeant
909 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 5:29 PM |
| Sorry to hear about it, he is a very popular author.
But to call him one of the "greatest" is perhaps a tad over the top. He has a nice world and some good ideas, but his writing is average at best.
Try Steven Erikson's Malazan series or George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series for much better writing and story. | |
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Ackrus
Warrior
282 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 5:49 PM |
| | I am sorry to hear about his illness. I will admit I have only read part of the first book in the Wheel of Time Series because I was busy in college at the time. I may start reading it again in the future though. | |
Champion of Halaster Blackcloak
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zenthrus
Warlord
5085 Posts
SLC, UT
| | 03/24/2006 8:50 PM |
| It's always sad when someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness. May he live a long time.
On a snarky note may he at least live long enough to finish off the Wheel of Time [:p][:p][:p]
I have to agree with the above sentiments that Jordan isn't one of the greatest fantasy authors of our generation (he's a generation older than my generation anyway). George R.R. Martin's writing is better overall (his Tuf short story series is IMO superior to the Song of Fire and Ice). I'm also very partial to Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game, etc). | |
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Champion of Dwarven Thunderlashers
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Thailfi
Sergeant
956 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 9:22 PM |
| Sorry to here about Mr. Jordan's condition. While I don't consider him amoung the greatest fantasy writers of our generation, I have enjoyed most of his Wheel of Time series even though I believe it has lived on well past the point it should have been rapped up.
As far as a list of my favorite fantasy writers of the last 25 years I would have to go with:
Terry Goodkind
Stephen R. Donaldson
George R. R. Martin
Terry Brooks
Raymond Fiest
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Korvax
Warrior
263 Posts
| | 03/24/2006 10:27 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by kgradert13
Sorry to hear about it, he is a very popular author.
But to call him one of the "greatest" is perhaps a tad over the top. He has a nice world and some good ideas, but his writing is average at best.
Try Steven Erikson's Malazan series or George R.R. Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series for much better writing and story.
I agree 100% with the above (and I've torn through alot of fantasy in the past 3 years). That said, I do wish him the best, and I do hope he can complete all of the works he has in mind (any way you slice it, he's still a very competent fantasy writer). | |
Champion of the Phoenix!
"By the leaking snot of Skurmsh[!]" - Teflon Jeff | |
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Mortusbard
Sergeant
427 Posts
North Carolina
| | 03/24/2006 11:00 PM |
| I wasn't going to respond after I let my opinion known, but.
I have Read MArtin and He is also a great writer.
But Jordans accomplishment spans a much great time range and he has managed to keep about 90% of his readers hooks through eleven books in a single series. A series I might add we all know pretty much the ending to.
Sometimes when people are rated on there work, and critized about thier style, content and usages it can detract from the impact the work has had. Fantasy has for a long time been the bastard child of SCi/Fi and perhaps in many ways will always be.
Jordan though has brought it out into the mainstream in a way NO other author i can think of since TOLKIEN.
Premier doesn't have to mean the best or the brightest or the most ( Shudders ) novel. It is to say that which with all people can relate to and know what you mean.
I.E. It like the Wheel of Time Its like Jordan's work
IT is a litmus test of sorts.
I am well read and even write myself. I least of all people would say someone is better than someone else. To call someone the Premier Author though isn't the same. We all have opinions and we should respect them. In twenty years though they will talk abouth the Wheel of Time and Jordan as the catalyst for a generation of writers. | |
Unto Death We Strive,
From Birth unto the Dust, | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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Prince o the Raven Banner
Sergeant
606 Posts
| | 03/25/2006 2:30 AM |
| Thank you, Dave, for posting this.
I do hope he has time to finish WoT. I'd really like him to write those 30 books. I enjoy his writing a great deal. Do read it Dave it's worth the time.
Thanks Mortusbard for pointing out what makes RJ great. He is not trying to write the great American novel or the greatest SF/F novel. He told me once, about 4 years ago, those have already been written. He is helping us waste time in a brilliant fashion. His writing is so easily accesible, everyone gets it. He has readers who didn't have a clue who Orson Scott Card or Terry Goodkind were. They do now though. He is mainstream America's gateway to fantasy.
It's sad, I have a friend who will be attending the Citadel next year. He may be missing out on one of that university's best professors. | |
Two trades completed!! (Krush,Hides From Hurricanes)
Champion of the Aaracokra
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Amurayi
Underboss
1471 Posts
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10425 Posts
United States
| | 03/25/2006 12:28 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Amurayi
Not miniature related. Off-topic please!
Oops. Good point. Someone should move this thread. Sorry for posting it here.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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Kithmaker
Commander
3926 Posts
| | 03/25/2006 1:10 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Mortusbard
But Jordans accomplishment spans a much great time range and he has managed to keep about 90% of his readers hooks through eleven books in a single series. A series I might add we all know pretty much the ending to.
I don't know about that. I know LOTS of people who started and kept up for the first 5 or so books, and then it just got REALLY tedious. I stopped at book 9 or 10. It's just too bad it's taken this long to get close to being near the beginning of the final stretch of the concluding chapters of the story -- but wait, there's a twist or side story -- and now it's been 800 more pages and you've forgotten character names or what happened 3 books ago, and all that's really happened is they've traveled from one city to the next.
Sorry. I really likeD the WoT series, but it has dragged on too long. | |
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