An American fantasy author, he is best known for his Wheel of Time series, which spans fourteen volumes. Under several pen names, he also wrote Western novels, historical fiction, and works of dance criticism.
He served two tours in Vietnam as a U.S. Army helicopter gunner.
He was born James Oliver Rigney, Jr.; Robert Jordan is his best-known pseudonym.
He grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. He married Harriet McDougal.
He and Manly Wade Wellman are both well-known fantasy authors.
