BRANDON SANDERSON

Brandon Sanderson is a popular American author known for his works in the fantasy and science fiction genres. He is best recognized for his **Cosmere Universe**, a shared universe that connects many of his series, including *Mistborn*, *The Stormlight Archive*, and *Elantris*. Sanderson is also famous for completing **Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time"** series after Jordan's death, with his first book in the series, *The Gathering Storm*, being published in 2009.

Here are some key points about Brandon Sanderson:

### **Biography**:

- **Full Name**: Brandon Sanderson

- **Born**: December 19, 1975, in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

- **Education**: Sanderson attended Brigham Young University (BYU), where he earned a degree in English and creative writing. He later taught creative writing at BYU.

### **Writing Style and Themes**:

- Sanderson's works are known for **complex magic systems**, **intricate world-building**, and **epic scale narratives**. He often explores themes like **identity**, **power**, and **the nature of leadership**.

- He is praised for his **innovative magic systems**, where each system follows strict rules and limitations, which adds depth to his stories.

### **Major Works**:

1. **The Stormlight Archive**:

- This epic fantasy series is one of Sanderson's most well-known works. It started with *The Way of Kings* (2010) and is planned to be a 10-book series, with several installments already published.

- The series is set on the world of **Roshar** and follows multiple protagonists, each with their own arcs, set against a backdrop of ancient conflict, magic, and a looming apocalyptic event.

2. **Mistborn Series**:

- The *Mistborn* trilogy, starting with *Mistborn: The Final Empire* (2006), blends **high fantasy** with elements of **heist fiction** and **steampunk**. The series explores a world where ash falls from the sky, and mist dominates the night.

- The Mistborn universe has expanded with a second series set in the same world, known as *The Wax and Wayne* books, which take place centuries after the original trilogy.

3. **Elantris** (2005):

- Sanderson's debut novel, *Elantris*, takes place in a once-great city that is now a place of ruin, inhabited by those who have been cursed to live as immortal, but trapped in their ruined bodies.

4. **Warbreaker** (2009):

- Another standalone fantasy novel, *Warbreaker* centers around the magic of colors and the concept of "Breath"—a form of life-force that can be transferred between people.

5. **The Cosmere Universe**:

- Sanderson’s various works are set within the same **Cosmere**, a vast, interconnected universe. Characters and concepts from different series sometimes cross over or refer to each other, creating an overarching narrative.

6. **The Wheel of Time**:

- After Robert Jordan's death, Sanderson was chosen to finish the remaining books in the *Wheel of Time* series, starting with *The Gathering Storm* (2009). Sanderson’s contributions were highly praised, as he successfully completed Jordan’s intricate plotlines and character arcs.

### **Other Works**:

- **The Rithmatist** (2013): A young adult fantasy novel set in an alternate version of Earth, where the practice of Rithmatics, a type of magical art, is central to the plot.

- **Skyward Series**: Sanderson’s venture into science fiction, beginning with *Skyward* (2018), which explores the journey of a young girl in a futuristic world where humanity is trapped on a planet, fighting off alien invaders.

### **Writing Process**:

- Sanderson is known for his **productive writing schedule**, often writing large volumes of material each year. His works are typically very planned out, with many notes and extensive world-building prior to writing the books.

### **Awards and Recognition**:

- Sanderson has received numerous accolades for his writing, including being a **New York Times Bestselling author** multiple times.

- He won the **John W. Campbell Award** for Best New Writer in 2006 and has been nominated for Hugo Awards and other prestigious science fiction and fantasy honors.

### **Personal Life**:

- Sanderson is a **devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints** and often incorporates his beliefs and values into his writing. He and his wife, Emily, have three children.

Brandon Sanderson is a renowned American fantasy and science fiction author, best known

for his Mistborn series, Warbreaker, and completing Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series

after Jordan's passing.

Early Life and Education

Brandon Sanderson was born on December 19, 1975, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He grew up in

Provo, Utah, and developed a love for reading and writing at an early age. Sanderson

attended Brigham Young University (BYU), where he earned a bachelor's degree in English

and later a master's degree in Creative Writing.

Career

Sanderson's writing career began in the early 2000s, with the publication of his first novel,

Elantris, in 2005. However, it was his Mistborn series, starting with Mistborn: The Final

Empire in 2006, that brought him widespread recognition and acclaim.

In 2009, Sanderson was chosen by Robert Jordan's widow, Harriet McDougal, to complete

the Wheel of Time series based on Jordan's notes. Sanderson wrote the final three books in

the series: The Gathering Storm (2009), Towers of Midnight (2010), and A Memory of Light

(2013).

Sanderson has since written several other successful series, including The Stormlight

Archive, Warbreaker, and The Reckoners. He has also published numerous short stories,

novellas, and graphic novels.

Writing Style and Themes

Sanderson's writing style is known for its unique magic systems, complex world-building, and

engaging characters. He often explores themes of power, morality, and the nature of good

and evil.

Sanderson is also known for his "Cosmere," a vast, interconnected universe that

encompasses many of his works. The Cosmere is home to a diverse array of magical

systems, planets, and civilizations, which Sanderson has been gradually revealing over the

course of his career.

Awards and Recognition

Sanderson has received numerous awards and nominations for his work, including:

- Hugo Award for Best Novella (2007) for "The Emperor's Soul"

- Hugo Award for Best Related Work (2013) for "Writing Excuses"

- Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy (2013) for "A Memory of Light"

- Whitney Award for Best Speculative Fiction (2015) for "Shadows of Self"

Personal Life

Sanderson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lives in

American Fork, Utah, with his wife, Emily, and their three children. He is known for his

engaging online presence, which includes his website, Twitter account, and podcast, Writing

Excuses.

Bibliography

- Elantris (2005)

- Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006)

- The Well of Ascension (2007)

- The Hero of Ages (2008)

- Warbreaker (2009)

- The Way of Kings (2010)

- The Emperor's Soul (2012)

- Steelheart (2013)

- A Memory of Light (2013)

- Words of Radiance (2014)

- Firefight (2015)

- Shadows of Self (2015)

- Calamity (2016)

- Edgedancer (2016)

- Oathbringer (2017)

- Dawnshard (2020)

- Rhythm of War (2020)