Profile of Brandon Sanderson

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This profile moderated by Brandon Sanderson.

Bio

Brandon Sanderson is a great guy who absolutely loves writing about himself in the third person. He grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, and earned several sets of important letters after his name at Brigham Young University. His breakout novel, ELANTRIS, was published by Tor in 2005, and has received universal acclaim. Currently in its third hardback printing, ELANTRIS is forthcoming in ten different languages, and received excellent reviews in Publisher's Weekly (starred review), Locus, Booklist, and the Library Journal (starred review). Read sample chapters at his website.

Bibliography

Published/Upcoming

Novel, Warbreaker, (Spring 2009)

Novel, Alcatraz vs. The Scrivner's Bones (October 2008)

Novel, Mistborn: The Hero of Ages. Tor Books (Aug 2008)

Nove, Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians.  Scholastic Books.  (October 2007)

Novel, Mistborn: The Well of Ascension. Tor Books (Aug 2007)

Novel, Mistborn: The Final Empire. Tor Books (Jun 2006)

Novel, Elantris. Tor Books (May 2005)


In Development with working titles

Novel, “Alcatraz Three"

Nove, "Alcatraz Four"

Reviews

Orson Scott Card
on "Elantris"

Elantris is the finest novel of fantasy to be written in many years. Brandon Sanderson has created a truly original world of magic and intrigue, and with the rigor of the best science fiction writers he has made it real at every level.

Publisher's Weekly
on "Elantris"

Sanderson's outstanding fantasy debut, refreshingly complete unto itself and free of the usual genre clich offers something for everyone: mystery, magic, romance, political wrangling, religious conflict, fights for equality, sharp writing and wonderful, robust characters.

The godlike inhabitants of Elantris, once the capital of the land of Arelon, have degenerated into powerless, tortured souls, unable to die, after the city's magic inexplicably broke 10 years earlier. When the same curse strikes Prince Raoden of Arelon and he's imprisoned in Elantris, he refuses to surrender to his grim fate and instead strives to create a society out of the fallen and to unlock the secret that will restore the city's glory. Meanwhile, Princess Sarene of Kae (Arelon's new capital), who was betrothed to Raoden sight unseen, believes her intended has died. Officially declared his widow, she must use her political savvy and wit to protect Kae from malevolent forces without and within the city, chiefly Hrathen, a leader of the creepy Shu-Dereth faith, who aims to either convert Kae or destroy it within three months.

The intrigue and excitement grow steadily in this smoothly written, perfectly balanced narrative; by the end readers won't want to put it down. As the blurb from Orson Scott Card suggests, Sanderson is a writer to watch.

Library Journal
(Starred review)

Sanderson's fantasy debut offers a vibrant cast of characters and a story of faith and determination set against a vividly portrayed world where magic is based on channeling power through the depiction of runes.

The author's skill at turning conventional fantasy on its head produces a tale filled with surprising twists and turns and a conclusion both satisfying and original. Libraries of all sizes should add this to their fantasy collection.

Kevin J. Anderson
NYT bestselling coauthor of DUNE: THE BATTLE OF CORRIN

ELANTRIS is a new BEN HUR for the fantasy genre, with a sweeping, epic storyline and closely personal characters.

Katherine Kurtz

I suspect that most of us have marveled at the human bodys amazing ability to heal itself, and perhaps have considered how awful it would be if all the injuries of ones life, from shattered bones to stubbed toes, sprained ankles, and bruises, even down to each annoying paper cut, all reappeared at the same timeand never healed. It doesnt bear thinking, does it?

Brandon Sanderson obviously has thought about itand has used a variation on this notion as part of the premise for his excellent first novel, Elantrisexcept that, in the world hes imagined, this unhappy state stems from a disease. After youve died from it, youre not really deadbut every injury done to you from that point accumulates, along with all the aggregate of pain. And you can never really die.

Theres moremuch morebut Ill refrain from revealing any more of the ingenious plot twists.

Elantris, Brandon Sandersons excellent debut novel, is marked by vivid and strongly drawn characters (including a memorable female character) and ingenious plot twists that will keep the reader turning pages. Dont miss it!

David Farland
author of "The Runelords"

Brandon Sanderson is the real thing--an exciting storyteller with a unique and powerful vision. ELANTRIS is one of the finest debuts I've seen in years.

Romantic Times
(4.5/5 stars and a RT top pick!)

In this stunning debut novel, Sanderson has created a completely unique world that enfolds the reader in mystery and wonder right through till the last page. Sarene and Roaden are compelling characters, and it's wonderful to see a strong female heroine who doesn't compromise her integrity.

L. E. Modesitt Jr.

While every new fantasy author is hailed as unique, new, and different, Brandon Sanderson's ELANTRIS does indeed provide an absorbing adventure in a unique, different, and well-thought-out fantasy world, with a few nifty twists as well.

Simon R. Green

Brandon Sanderson's Elantris is a marvelous, magic monster of a book, packed full of intrigue and daring, based around a killer high concept. When the city of the gods becomes a city of the damned, who and what do you believe in? The story twists and turns, characters bait traps for one another as they vie for secular and religious power, and no-one is necessarily who or what they seem. Royal houses rise and fall, the fate of all Humanity is in the balance, and maybe, just maybe... the gods are coming back. All this and a genuinely touching love story too. Elantris; the book that put epic back into fantasy.

Starlog

Elantris is a well-told, character-driven story. It's also that rarest of creatures: a done-in-one-volume fantasy...although there is room for a sequel. If readers are fortunate, Sanderson will return to Arelon soon.

Booklist

A surprisingly satisfying, single-volume epic fantasy that invokes a complex, vibrant world.

Kirkus Reviews

An epic fantasy novel that is (startlingly) not Volume One of a Neverending Sequence . . . [with] an unusually well-conceived system of magic . . . the story has some grip and its a tremendous relief to have fruition in a single volume. . . . A cut above the same-old.