Sanderson, Brandon 1977(?)–

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Sanderson, Brandon 1977(?)–

PERSONAL: Born c. 1977, in NE. Education: Brigham Young University, B.A.

ADDRESSES: Home—Orem, UT. Agent—JABberwocky Literary Agency, c/o Joshua Bilmes, P.O. Box 4558, Sunnyside, NY 11104-0558.

CAREER: Writer.

WRITINGS:

Elantris, Tor (New York, NY), 2005.

Mistborn (first novel in a trilogy), Tor (New York, NY), 2006.

WORK IN PROGRESS: The next two novels in the trilogy that begins with Mistborn, including The Well of Ascension, for Tor.

SIDELIGHTS: Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson focuses on epic themes in his writing, populating his worlds with varied characters, magic, and unique settings. His first novel, Elantris, tells the story of a fallen city of the gods, exploring what caused it to fail and how the major players of the novel—Prince Raoden, Princess Sarene, and Gyorn Hrathen—will affect its future. Sanderson's personal faith has influenced his writing, leading him to include strong religious themes within his narrative. Jackie Cassada remarked in Library Journal that Sanderson shows "skill at turning conventional fantasy on its head," resulting in "a conclusion both satisfying and original." In Booklist, Regina Schroeder called the book "a surprisingly satisfying,… epic fantasy that invokes a complex, vibrant world." In a review for Publishers Weekly, a contributor found Sanderson's work to be an "outstanding fantasy debut, refreshingly complete unto itself and free of the usual genre clichés," and featuring a "smoothly written, perfectly balanced narrative." Elantris is a stand-alone novel, and Sanderson claims to have no plans for a sequel. However, his second title, Mistborn, is the first volume of a planned trilogy.