Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is an American author of epic fantasy and science fiction, widely known for his prolific output and for constructing detailed, rule-based magic systems. He has become one of the most popular and commercially successful fantasy writers of his generation, with works that span multiple interconnected series.

Early life

Sanderson was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He has described developing an interest in fantasy fiction as a young reader. He attended Brigham Young University, where he studied English, and he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During and after his studies he wrote a large number of manuscripts before achieving publication, and he later taught a course on creative writing focused on the fantasy and science fiction genres.

Career

Sanderson's debut novel, Elantris, was published in 2005. He followed it with the Mistborn series, which established his reputation for inventive magic systems governed by clear internal logic, an approach often discussed in connection with principles he has articulated about how magic should function in storytelling. Many of his novels are set within a shared universe known as the Cosmere, linking otherwise separate series through underlying mythology.

A significant milestone in his career came when he was selected to complete The Wheel of Time, the long-running epic fantasy series begun by Robert Jordan, who had died before finishing it. Working from Jordan's notes, Sanderson wrote the final volumes, which were well received by readers of the series. He subsequently launched The Stormlight Archive, an ambitious multi-volume epic that became one of his flagship works, alongside numerous other novels and novellas.

Recent work

Sanderson has remained notably productive, regularly publishing new novels across his various series. He drew significant attention with a record-setting crowdfunding campaign for a set of additional novels he had written in secret, which became one of the most successful projects of its kind on its platform and underscored the scale of his fan base. He has continued to expand the Cosmere and The Stormlight Archive while also operating his own publishing and media company, Dragonsteel, to manage his growing body of work, merchandise, and related projects. Beyond his novels, Sanderson has shared his craft widely, posting recordings of his university lectures on writing online and discussing storytelling through podcasts and other channels, which has made him an influential voice for aspiring authors. He has also written young adult and middle-grade fiction in addition to his adult epics. He remains a prominent figure at fan conventions and in online communities devoted to fantasy literature, noted as much for his accessibility and engagement with readers as for the consistency and volume of his published work.