Courtesy of Tor Books, the noted writer offers a love letter to epic fantasy, explaining to the rest of the world why some of us adore gigantic, sprawling, multi-plotted stories.
It’s worth a read.
Author’s note 3-4-2014: I haven’t read a lot of Sanderson’s work yet, though I can say that Warbreaker was a solidly written standalone fantasy with some interesting takes on arranged marriages.
I have avoided his continuations of Jordan’s ‘Wheel of Time’ series because that would mean I have to go back and read the Jordan books again. Which I stopped at around #4 or #5 because of 1) their unwieldy and frankly cancerous narrative sprawl and 2) behind the scenes rumors about their publication that left me rather cold toward the principals involved.
I figure I’ll read the entire WoT series after I finish George R. R. Martin’s ‘Game of Thrones’ series – and that’s not happening until the last book is published in that series. Because, sheesh, Red Wedding, the Family That Is Too Stupid To Live, Wars of the Roses tabletop game campaigns turned into New Gritty Fantasy epics? It’s not that I can’t stand getting emotionally involved with characters and then suffering when they get killed off (Hello? Writes deathfics for fun?) I’d just rather binge on a series and get it all over with in one monumental reading adventure. My brain works more efficiently that way. I can hold and remember clues and foreshadowing much better when I’m not waiting a few years between books.
But Brandon Sanderson’s referenced essay above, and the accompanying comments, have convinced me to give his Stormlight Archive books a try. Tor has been justifiably proud over the worldbuilding done for the series. The art looks gorgeous. Sanderson has proven to me he’s a capable writer. I might just have a new literary obsession for a while.
Because I adore huge series/story arcs if they are well-written and produced.