Landing a perfectfantasyseries is a rare bird, but Brandon Sanderson managed to do it withMistbornandThe Stormlight Archiveseries. Thesefantasy book sagasaren’t just popular; they’re the kind of stories that stick with readers, which is not easy to achieve.
The author has mastered building worlds that feel real inSanderson’s Cosmere universe, populating them with characters readers care about. Additionally,Sanderson creates magic systemsthat actually make sense. Some fantasy writers get lost in the weeds of world-building, but Sanderson keeps it tight, making sure it serves the story and the people in it. That’s why readers keep coming back to his books, and why he managed to deliver to virtually perfect fantasy series.
10/10 Fantasy Series Are Hard To Come By, But Brandon Sanderson Has Written 2 Of Them
Mistborn And The Stormlight Archive Are Both Big Hits In The Genre
Fantasy is perhaps the most enthralling genre to read, yet arguably one of the most difficult to write. Epic Fantasy, in particular, has many intricacies that can get in the way of reader engagement, leading to a“damned if you do, damned if you don’t”situation for writers. While some readers may enjoy scrupulous world-building, other readers may find it a drag on the pacing of a novel. Brandon Sanderson has a remarkable knack for striking the right balance between hard magic systems and a character-driven approach.
One Of These 3 Upcoming Brandon Sanderson Books Must Finally Solve A 15-Year-Old Cosmere Mystery
Brandon Sanderson has some major Cosmere books in the queue, and one of these three titles could answer one of my longest-standing questions.
His fantasy seriesMistbornandThe Stormlight Archiveare two of the most celebrated in the genre. While Sanderson takes time to develop his worldbuilding in both of these series,he is a master plotter and always makes it worthwhile for the readerwith action-packed final acts. While writing romantic subplots is not his strong suit, it is difficult to find much to criticize in the other aspects of these two works in particular. Sanderson is great at writing intrigue in such a way that the reader can engage via readertheories about establishedMistbornrules.
Mistborn & The Stormlight Archive Explain Why Sanderson Is So Iconic In The Genre
Both Series Have Brilliant Pacing And Worthwhile Payoff
Readers trust Brandon Sanderson to deliver good stories with a thrilling final act, and he delivers on this consistently. All the while, he engages with his readers and seems to always strive to improve, when it would be easy for him to get lazy. Sanderson has said of his work,“It wouldn’t be a fantasy book without the world-building and the magic, but it’s the least important aspect of the story,”(viaThe Guardian). Nonetheless, he develops well-thought-out, fairly original magic systems with hard rules.
Keeping thematic relevance makes his detailed magic rules tie into the development of his characters, rather than reading like worldbuilding for worldbuilding’s sake. This is just one example of Sanderson’s writing process that shows his top priority is the reader experience. Despite making for aharsh reality about fantasy adaptations, his attention to detail means he will always be celebrated in the Fantasy genre. OnSanderson’s blog, he has stated:
“I attempt to focus my energies on areas of worldbuilding important to the conflict and the characters. In Mistborn, the languages weren’t important – I was going to have everyone speaking one language. In Stormlight, language was more important, so I developed the linguistics.”
MistbornandThe Stormlight Archiveare great examples of why Sanderson is so iconic in the genre. Despite his comments about characters being the most important part of narratives, his worldbuilding is immense and a major draw to his works. Part of why he is so successful at this in bothMistbornandThe Stormlight Archiveis that he builds his worlds around his characters, making every decision feel earned and relevant to the story.
Other Fantasy Authors Can Learn From Brandon Sanderson’s Success
Brandon Sanderson’s Success Story Isn’t An Accident
Brandon Sanderson’s success isn’t just because of his writing. Sure, he’s written dozens of books and has embarked on one of the most exciting projects in contemporary fantasy, but that’s not the reason he had a record-breaking $41 million Kickstarter project. Brandon Sanderson isa master of modern marketing, using various social media platforms tointeract with his fans in a genuine and fulfilling way. In a world where fantasy fans are waiting for long-overdue sequels to other series, consider the importance of an author who keeps updated progress bars for his novels.
Brandon Sanderson’s Praise For This Netflix Show With 100% On RT Confirms The Only Way Mistborn Should Be Adapted
Brandon Sanderson has been consistent in his praise for one of Netflix’s biggest titles, and it shows just how he needs to adapt Mistborn.
Aside from just contributing outstanding work, Sanderson has made himself a public figure. In the somewhat niche world of fantasy publishing, he’s the biggest celebrity. The experience of reading Cosmere novels likeMistbornandThe Stormlight Archivestretches beyond just the pages of the books; it’s an adventure that’s facilitated by the author and a sense of community. It just goes to show that transparency and sincerity go a long way.
