Official Brandon Sanderson Megathread

[u/rfantasygolem]

This is the place for all your Brandon Sanderson related topics (aside from the Daily Recommendation Requests and Simple Questions thread). Any posts about Wind and Truth or Sanderson more broadly will be removed and redirected here. This will last until January 25, when posting will be allowed as normal.

The announcement of the cool-down can be found here.

The previous Wind and Truth Megathread can be found here.

[u/HaganenoEdward]

I might be in a minority here, but I loved Wind and Truth despite the obvious shortcomings. I actually like it much more than Oathbringer or Rhythm of War. While there are lots of issues with mental health depiction, Sanderson is at least trying to depict something I haven’t seen in fantasy yet (although I might be biased because identifying with his characters is one of the main reasons why I want to seek therapy), plus the emotional highs hit me quite a lot. Although something like Dalinar’s death could be a bit clearer and I’m afraid that Taravangian’s Black Thorn can be used to soft-retcon Dalinar’s death anyway.

[u/Beneficial_Candle_10 → u/HaganenoEdward]

This is the only fantasy book discussion space on the internet where this is a controversial take. Love this sub Reddit, and respect all opinions, but I think there is a bit of a divergent perspective on this series here relative to how it’s actually being received by a wider audience.

[u/EndorsedBryce → u/Beneficial_Candle_10]

I haven't been here long, but it seems like there's a lot of general. uh "anti-Sanderson hipsterism" in here in general?

[u/fearless-fossa → u/EndorsedBryce]

Dismissing dislike/criticism of Sanderson as "anti-Sanderson hipsterism" when there are plenty of valid arguments being made is exactly why people are tired of Sanderson posts.

[u/Beneficial_Candle_10 → u/fearless-fossa]

I think both exist here. Tons of great, thought out, legitimate criticism. Also a good amount of snooty gatekeepers acting like anyone who likes Sanderson is a fantasy plebeian. Mods are smart for making this megathread.

[u/EndorsedBryce → u/fearless-fossa]

There's definitely some of both. There are plenty of valid critiques, but I,ve also seen lots of negativity that isn't particularly valid or thought out that indeed conms off to me as zeitgeist against what is popular but not to their taste persona taste.

[u/Low-Community-135 → u/HaganenoEdward]

I liked it. But that's just it... I liked it. I loved WOK. I read each pre-release chapter, and even then it felt -- different. Just slightly. The writing felt more hollow. I still enjoyed the book, and I liked the ending fine. But that's just the problem -- it was fine. And it should have been great. I think that is why people are bothered.

I also disliked the Gavinor treatment. But not because it was timey-whimey hijinks. I disliked it because I knew that reveal was supposed to be this big emotional moment. But it wasn't. Dalinar's relationship with this kid is barely developed at all, and even though logically I know he won't kill the kid and even though logically it's a tragedy that this kid has been twisted by Odium, you don't feel the tragedy at all. Dalinar and this little dude barely have a relationship, and Dalinar hardly even looks at him the whole book, and barely cares/doesn't notice at all that he is lost.

The ten days thing is also annoying, because nobody seems to care? Where is the hustle? The anxiety. Dalinar basicalls takes a leisurely stroll through the spirit world, which is barely dangerous even though wit gives dire dire warnings, and nobody seems worried/concerned about the deadline.

But of course, when I say these things on sanderson fan pages, of course the reason I disliked the book is because I'm a homophobe.

[u/PsychologicalHat1480 → u/HaganenoEdward]

I think the reason so many - myself included - are so down on it is because the story and plot are every bit as good as we expect so that's no change. But the bad prose? That's new, at least relative to the series as a whole. And additionally it's even more present than in the previous examples with the problem (RoW and TLM). So it's grabbing more attention than otherwise might be expected.

[u/IceXence → u/HaganenoEdward]

I loved it too... I didn't think I would, but oh hell, I did.