Death is heavier than a mountain...

Slashdot sucks rocks. Well, I should say the people on Slashdot suck rocks...

First thing this morning I startup Firefox and open a tab for Slashdot. I'm checking the status on a handful of backups that continue failing, so I scan the headlines while servers are loading/logging-in. The first one that grabs my attention is Fantasy Author Robert Jordan Dies. What the crap! Talk about a way to make a Monday more Monday.

For those that know me, RJ is in the top 3 of my favorite authors list, so this is difficult news. (well, I put him at number 3, but based on how many times I've re-read his work, compared to the work of authors 1 (Stephen Lawhead) and 2 (J.R.R. Tolkien), he is most likely 1 in reality.)

In any event, I suppose the comments were just about what one should expect from Slashdot posers. It amazes me that people will make comments about happiness of the passing of an author because they think his work sucked. Some people never grow up.

He finally lost his fight to cardiac amyloidosis at 2:45 on Sunday. And I know that he had been scrambling in these last few months of his life to finish his epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time. The sadness is not the result of leaving this world without finishing his series, for as we know, Tolkien was unable to finish, (and we're all aware of what kind of influence he failed to have on the world as we know it) but on the loss of a great man and author. I adore the world he created, and will miss looking forward to the next installment.

My condolences and prayers go out to his family. He was dear to many of us and will be missed. You have every right to be proud of his work and accomplishments.

May you shelter in the palm of the Creator’s hand, and may the Mother’s last embrace welcome you home.