Definitely a sad thing, but I agree with you about the series running on pointlessly. I just gave up after Winter's Heart, and I'm glad I did because it sounds like STILL nothing has happened. Also, this probably sounds douchy, but I get upset when people gush over how great and fantastic Robert Jordan is. Sure he's a good writer, but there's so much better fantasy out there yet time and time again I see people saying that Robert Jordan is the best fantasy writer ever. All I can say to that is go pick up some GRRMartin, and see what a good fantasy novel that doesn't follow the typical cookie cutter "young adventurers go out to fight evil, get into some trouble, a moderately important character dies and people are briefly sad, and then save the world and everything is perfect the end."

Also, apparently before he died Jordan completed a set of pretty detailed notes about the last book, so it's assumed that someone (I think a relative) is going to finish the book. It won't be quite the same, but it'll have all of the major plot points and should wrap the story up the way Jordan wanted.

I loved his books. Been reading them for years now and while I agree with Aerox on the absolute redundancy in his stories and the speed at which the plot moved, I still loved them. I'll make sure to pour a little beer on the ground tonight in his memory. And yes Aerox, GRR Martin rocks my socks off.