Robert Jordan dies
Not sure what you guys all read but this guy was a pretty strong author & the only thing that annoys me is he died before his series was complete. I started reading him in college & was pissed that he just would not end the saga. Before he passed he finished book 12 I hear (yet to be released).
Only one or two books in between sucked (they were filler) so if you like fantasy check out the Wheel of Time series. Prepare for many nights of page turning though.