.jpeg_600.jpg)
If you grew up reading in the Midwest, then there is probably one name you’ve heard consistently whenever Fantasy comes up—Brandon Sanderson. Walking into the local Barnes & Noble you will see nearly an entire book shelf dedicated to his works. If you haven’t read any of his books before, it can be an intimidating site. Luckily, staff members are more than happy to help newcomers find a starting point when exploring new worlds of series such as Mistborn and The Way of Kings.
Brandon Sanderson’s eighth grade teacher ignited his love for reading when she introduced him to Dragonsbane by Barbara Hambly. It wasn’t until after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Seoul, South Korea that Sanderson decided to pursue writing as a career path.
Sanderson’s career as a published author now totals 16 years and enough stories to keep readers occupied with a lifetime of reading materials. His first novel, Elantris, was published in 2005.
If you’re looking to get your books signed, Sanderson frequently visits the Idaho Falls area for book signings at the local Barnes & Noble (in non-Covid-19 times) and has been known to attend Iona Days. Readers can get a firsthand look at his progress through visiting his website, www.brandonsanderson.com, where the Hugo award-winning author displays progress bars to update readers.
Going to school at Brigham Young University-Idaho, Brandon Sanderson was a name I consistently heard. When asked about the fantasy books I loved, the automatic recommendation of my peers was to read one of Sanderson’s many books. However, like many people, when I heard the same thing so frequently, it eventually turned me off to the prospect.
It wasn’t until a few months ago that I decided to see what all of the fuss was about. After all, the books couldn’t be that good could they? These were the same people who turned their noses at anything that wasn’t a classic for the sake of appearances in our literary theory classes.
Spoiler alert: I was wrong.
From the first line—“Ash fell from the sky”—I was captivated by Sanderson’s world-building. The world of Mistborn can’t possibly be real, but the level of detail put into plotting every nook and cranny of the story’s magic system nearly convinced me otherwise. Mistborn provides everything a fantasy lover could desire—multi-dimensional characters and a universe with endless possibilities.
Although it’s tempting to ignore the trending titles, I say with full confidence that now is the time to head down to Barnes & Noble and pick up one of Sanderson’s books.
For more information about Brandon Sanderson and his books visit www.brandonsanderson.com.
Click here to read more of our March issue.