This is probably divisive here, but I just…do not care for Brandon Sanderson. As someone who has read a lot of fantasy before getting into him, he’s always praised for having a coherent magic system, but that isn’t really enough to make it an enjoyable fantasy story. There’s just a lack of… something in his writing (and I’ve tried to read Mistborn and his shorts) that I have a hard time quantifying to others.
Also I was really surprised that I found his writing weirdly bland in the same way I found Stephanie Meyer’s writing bland, considering that they write completely different genres. Then I found out they were both had Mormon upbringings, and I can kind of see why I found the blandness similar.
For the longest time, Sanderson was utterly terrible at writing romance, and it was very obvious. A lot of it was probably due to a lack of personal experience. He’s gotten better, but a lot of the ‘lack’ you’re feeling in his writing probably stems from the same place. Despite writing about dark topics - apocalyptic events, oppressed populations, the failures of heroes, etc. - he is missing the edge that you get from other authors who write similar stories. Personally I don’t mind, and I really enjoy his books - but I can understand why others would find them bland.
Despite writing about dark topics - apocalyptic events, oppressed populations, the failures of heroes, etc. - he is missing the edge that you get from other authors who write similar stories.
You know what, I think you’re onto something here. I don’t need Scadrial/Cosmere to be the darkest and edgiest fantasy world ever, and a lot of fantasy readers read for escapism. But there is a certain friction you expect in the genre that just isn’t there for me in the first Mistborn trilogy, or the Stormlight books I read. Again, I can’t quantify it (and maybe I don’t have to), but the best example of my feeling is when I recall reading The Magician’s Nephew with my younger cousin around the same time that I started the Stormlight Archive, and man was I way more invested in Diggory and Polly’s reactions to the dystopias they were visiting than who/whatever was screwing with Kal again (free my boy from suffering, Sanderson).
This is probably divisive here, but I just…do not care for Brandon Sanderson. As someone who has read a lot of fantasy before getting into him, he’s always praised for having a coherent magic system, but that isn’t really enough to make it an enjoyable fantasy story. There’s just a lack of… something in his writing (and I’ve tried to read Mistborn and his shorts) that I have a hard time quantifying to others.
Also I was really surprised that I found his writing weirdly bland in the same way I found Stephanie Meyer’s writing bland, considering that they write completely different genres. Then I found out they were both had Mormon upbringings, and I can kind of see why I found the blandness similar.
For the longest time, Sanderson was utterly terrible at writing romance, and it was very obvious. A lot of it was probably due to a lack of personal experience. He’s gotten better, but a lot of the ‘lack’ you’re feeling in his writing probably stems from the same place. Despite writing about dark topics - apocalyptic events, oppressed populations, the failures of heroes, etc. - he is missing the edge that you get from other authors who write similar stories. Personally I don’t mind, and I really enjoy his books - but I can understand why others would find them bland.
You know what, I think you’re onto something here. I don’t need Scadrial/Cosmere to be the darkest and edgiest fantasy world ever, and a lot of fantasy readers read for escapism. But there is a certain friction you expect in the genre that just isn’t there for me in the first Mistborn trilogy, or the Stormlight books I read. Again, I can’t quantify it (and maybe I don’t have to), but the best example of my feeling is when I recall reading The Magician’s Nephew with my younger cousin around the same time that I started the Stormlight Archive, and man was I way more invested in Diggory and Polly’s reactions to the dystopias they were visiting than who/whatever was screwing with Kal again (free my boy from suffering, Sanderson).
Ooooo shit I never knew they both had Mormon upbringing. That’s 100% what it is.
I totally agree with Sanderson. Something was missing. Read elantris and dropped mistborn about halfway through.
To be fair this is when I picked up Malazan, and that kinda ruins most things.
yeah, can’t agree with either of these opinions