Thursday 19 May 2011

Brandon Sanderson Signing at Forbidden Planet

This looks like it could be worth checking out (if only to finally get me to open the copy of ‘The Way of Kings’ that is currently propping up my book pile...) From the press release,


Forbidden Planet is pleased to announce a signing by Brandon Sanderson for his astounding novels The Way of Kings Parts I and II at the Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, on Saturday 4th June 1 – 2pm.


Mankind used to live in The Tranquiline Halls. Heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms. And the Voidbringers came against man ten thousand times.

Or so the legends say. Today, the only remnants of those supposed battles are the Shardblades, the possession of which makes a man nearly invincible on the battlefield. Kings strive to win more Shardblades, each secretly wishing to be the one who will finally unite all of mankind under a single throne. On a world scoured down to the rock by terrifying hurricanes that blow through every few days a young spearman is forced into the army of a Shardbearer, led to war against an enemy he doesn't understand and doesn't really want to fight.

Brandon Sanderson was born in Nebraska in 1975. Since then he has written the Mistborn series, amongst others, become a New York Times bestselling author and been appointed by Robert Jordan's estate to complete Jordan's Wheel of Times. He lives in Utah.

I'm having real trouble working my way through books that are half the size of this one and haven't got round to picking it up. Have you read 'The Way of Kings'? What did you think of it?

8 comments:

Spaz said...

My copy is also sitting under the rest of my TBR pile. I set a goal of reading 50 books this year and I really over-reached. I'm not that fast a reader. So I've been choosing shorter books to try to get back on track.

dragonb4 said...

Big world building, complex characters, many viewpoints.
Still loved it. Very good stuff.

Jamie Gibbs said...

I still need to get a hold of some Sanderson. If I'm not working I may pop down to London to grab a signed copy :D Thanks for the heads up :D

GlassIsHalf said...

Really, really good. If he can continue the momentum he started in this book it will far surpass WOT in terms of epic fantasy. It is a big book without a doubt, but one I've read twice already!

Unknown said...

Reviewed this one for Strange Horizons an age ago, and I thought it made for a pretty solid start. But it's chunky for no better reason than because the high fantasy whose thrones it's after is chunky, and precious little satisfying in itself.

Probably not for you at the moment, Graeme - not with the trouble you're having with the bigger books. This one could just put you off reading for good, and we don't want that! :)

Anonymous said...

I thoroughly enjoyed The Way of Kings. Massive book but I was bummed when I got to the end.

Anonymous said...

It is definately worth the effort to get through it. The Way of Kings isn't going to be changing the fantasy landscape of the future, except maybe in world building, but it is definately a well told tale.

Chris said...

Definitely a good start. However, it is tough reading such a massive book and feeling like you were only just about to get to the good stuff as it ends. I suppose Brandon may have planned it that way since he has a big enough name now to pretty much do whatever he wants. I am certainly itching for more of this series.

Have you read anything else by Sanderson? If not, I would maybe give Warbreaker a try first. It is a great stand alone story. If you enjoy that, then I would think you would go into WoK with a much more reasonable and understanding perspective.

Also, as an aside does anyone else feel like the UK covers of books are often cooler? Don't get me wrong with WoK I would probably call it a toss up, but not so in many other cases. Just wondering.

Lastly, I just received the copy of Low Town that I won. It looks awesome. Thanks!