The past decade has brought horrible tragedies to the world of literature. Twilight is a story of glittery vampires who suck not only blood, but also the lives of those who read it. Fifty Shades of Grey, which has caused many (not euphoric) moans from book critics. Bad books blemish the market, yet even the most blemished face can possess beauty--or so I tell myself each time I gaze into a mirror. While there have been horrors, these have not ousted the quality of today’s book industry, which constantly blossoms creative innovations and new-name authors that have manipulated the English language into works of wonder.

               

Starting with a novel called Elantris in 2005, Brandon Sanderson has become a paramount figure in the genres of fantasy and science-fiction. Since that first published book, Sanderson has written more than 30 different works, each well-received by the public, evident by the millions of dollars he has earned in sales. And he has a plethora (thousands...millions?) of content just waiting to be read. On his website--where the name “Brandon Sanderson” is encircled by an aesthetically-pleasing explosion at the top-- there can be found a list of titles he is currently working on (there are four).

 

In internet forums, there have been extensive conversations speculating upon the humanity of Sanderson. Usually in fantasy, the completion of a book takes what feels like eternities. Just look at George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss, who have both spent years finishing a single tale. Sanderson has yet to face this predicament. He releases books with robotic efficiency, concocting compelling stories that don’t seem to be degraded by their quick production. Due to his nuclear-powered imagination, no fantasy fans have to wait long for the next installment of a Sanderson series. And few--if any--are left disappointed. Type in “best fantasy books” into Google (or, I guess, Bing) and multiple series bearing Sanderson’s name will appear, side-by-side with A Song of Ice and Fire (AKA Game of Thrones) and The Lord of the Rings.

 

On a website named Reddit, Brandon Sanderson roams and comments under the alias “mistborn,” a name which is based off his fantasy series called Mistborn. I sent him a question, hoping for a response. “What is it like for your works to be regarded so highly by fantasy readers, held side-by-side to series like The Lord of the Rings?” Not surprisingly, he replied with his usual quickness. Within a day, I delighted in reading his response.

 

“I'm certainly honored, but I personally think that the test of time is important for evaluating things like this. LotR(TheLord of the Rings) has stood the test of time for decades, and inspired an entire genre. I doubt anyone of my generation deserves to be held up beside it, at least not for several decades. If my books are still being read and talked about in thirty years, then perhaps I will deserve to be considered so highly.”

 

To give a complete analysis of Brandon Sanderson, I guess I’ll have to wait 30 years (after he has published his one millionth book). But picking up any one of his many published works will lead to hours of immersion, ones with elaborate magical societies, endearing characters, and plot upon plot of material. If you look for his titles in a book store, they won’t be difficult to find. They are the thick, colorful novels that take up an entire shelf. Be sure not to read them all at once! You’ll die of starvation before you finish.