Very happy that Brandon Sanderson is looking more and more healthy as time goes on :) love his writing
Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
81–90 of 91 posts
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
He’s the Stephen King of Tolkien-rip off fantasy. He churns them out, sure, but I don’t consider the quality all that high.
Except King can actually write dialog that isn't 100% cringe. Sanderson's refusal to have characters ever actually curse is just infuriating.
Agreed. I read the Mistborn books a few years ago and just found them very... sanitised, especially compared to other prominent fantasy novels by the likes of Scott Lynch or the brilliantly sweary Joe Abercrombie.
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#83First time hearing about this author - what's the hacker news angle here? From what I gather it is that: 1) he's a very popular sci-fi/fantasy writer, 2) it's an incredible amount of funding for a kickstarter campaign I'm genuinely interested - for someone new to his work, where is a good book to start? Edit: as mentioned in other comments: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/where-do-i-start/
I would start with the stormlight archive series. Honestly, I think when it’s all said and done, that series would overtake LOTR in its cultural significance. It already surpassed a song of ice and fire (game of thrones).
Start with an unfinished series? Strange recommendation, I’d instead suggest going with one of the more complete stories…
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have only ever read the Wheel of Time by Sanderson, but the dialogue was enough to convince me I never needed to bother with him again. Meanwhile, I find King to be probably the best American English writer that I've encountered. By that I'm really only talking about his use of the language, and what a pleasure it is to read. And of course, dialogue is a part of that. This is all subjective of course - that's just…
Sanderson didn't write much of the Wheel of Time, only the very end after the (main) author died.
I really hate to be a guy that's like "I know", but come on, I obviously know that. The dialogue was good from Jordan, bad from Sanderson. In my opinion. Thus my statements above.
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#85I hadn't heard of Brandon Sanderson until I went to a book store in Provo, Utah. He is a very much a big deal there and had two complete bookshelves dedicated to his work. He went to BYU so there is a local connection, but it caught me by surprise because I wasn't aware of his popularity.
You should check out the Stormlight Archive. It's really good.
Seconded. I struggled with the way of kings having just finished a memory of light. Couldn’t get brain to accept the shift in gears.
But I came years later and found the series quite good and very enjoyable.
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#86Earlier quoted context omitted.
He's a big deal outside of Utah too.
What book should I start with if I'd like to get begin reading his stuff?
He actually has a section on his website with suggestions for where to start.
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#87Earlier quoted context omitted.
Compared to what? "Dad goes to work at an office 9-5, then has a commute to come home, then focuses on his own hobbies"? Frankly, this sounds like a lot of focused family time: """ At 5:00 I stop, and 5:00 until 10:00 is family time for me. And that is walled off. I don’t work on books, even in the back of my brain. It’s got to be a really steep wall for me to make sure I am there for them. And I have to mentally say…
No, the context is WFH covid times. This sounds like my dad sleeping in until noon while I ran around the house, had brekkie, etc, and after waking up he locked his door and didn’t come out until 5pm. But sure yeah, that’s some good focused time at the end there. I regret making my original comment.
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Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#88This funding amount is insane. Also, bypassing publishers (which I'm assuming what is happening) is quite clever too.
Someone asked him during his Q&A livestream how they were able to get around the right of first refusal with his main publisher (Tor), and his answer was essential a polite version of “we can sort of do what we want as long as we keep giving them the big series”
It's only the fact that he's such a prolific writer makes that sort of agreement possible, it's not like George RR Martin where he keeps writing smaller side projects instead of finishing the books that actually make him and his publisher money. These four books are on top of what, two main series, a series of YA books and fairly regular standalone/minor series books as well...
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sanderson didn't write much of the Wheel of Time, only the very end after the (main) author died.
I really hate to be a guy that's like "I know", but come on, I obviously know that. The dialogue was good from Jordan, bad from Sanderson. In my opinion. Thus my statements above.
Even if you know that, what you wrote is misleading to anyone else reading who doesn't know the details.
Re: Four Secret Novels by Brandon Sanderson
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
The magic system in Stormlight is astonishingly good. About halfway through the most recent book, Rhythm of War, I said to someone: when did Stormlight turn into sci-fi? Because the magic is so logical, and so deep, and so specific, that it feels more like science than magic at times. On the other hand I've been put off by the pacing of the last three books. It feels like the basic structure is that there's a build u…
> About halfway through the most recent book, Rhythm of War, I said to someone: when did Stormlight turn into sci-fi? Because the magic is so logical, and so deep, and so specific, that it feels more like science than magic at times. On the other hand, the Stormlight magic system involves "grain" and "blood" being fundamental elemental substances.
> On the other hand, the Stormlight magic system involves "grain" and "blood" being fundamental elemental substances.
I've been enjoying a story that manages to have 22 elements - including Healing, Blood, Sound, Force, Destruction, Illusion and Fae - integral to its system of magic in a way that feels consistent while being varied and interesting, despite how odd some of those seem at first. Grain does seem a pretty strange element I agree, but so did Wood when I started reading stories using the Chinese five element scheme until I became accustomed to it.