Elantris, my first ever Brandon Sanderson read, and the rise of Mormon fantasy and sci-fi writers
My first read on the Kobo Libra 2
Hello, and happy Sunday!
I read my first-ever Sanderson novel on my new Kobo Libra 2 this week.
I’ve been contemplating the idea of reading Brandon Sanderson for years, especially after his rise in popularity after the letdown that was George R. R. Martin’s failure to provide an ending for Game of Thrones. By comparison, Sanderson became the guy who delivers, the author who doesn’t disappoint. He even stepped up to finish The Wheel Of Time when the original author, Robert Jordan, died before he could finish it. Thankfully, he left a lot of notes to guide the next writer through to the end of the story as he envisioned it.
Wikipedia says:
Jordan was diagnosed with the terminal heart disease primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy in December 2005, and while he intended to finish at least A Memory of Light even if the "worse comes to worst," he made preparations in case he was not able to complete the book: "I'm getting out notes, so if the worst actually happens, someone could finish A Memory of Light and have it end the way I want it to end."
With Jordan's death on 16 September 2007, the conclusion of the series was in question. On 7 December of that year, the publisher Tor Books announced that fantasy author Brandon Sanderson was to finish A Memory of Light. Sanderson, a longtime fan of the series, was chosen by Jordan's widow Harriet McDougal partly because she liked Sanderson's novels and partly because of a eulogy he had written for Jordan. Jordan had prepared extensive notes, which enabled Sanderson to complete the final book.
On 30 March 2009, Tor Books announced that A Memory of Light would be split into three volumes, with Brandon Sanderson citing timing and continuity reasons. By his estimate, in early 2009, the book would have taken several years to write and would have reached 800,000 words. McDougal doubted that Jordan could have concluded it in a single volume. The three volumes were published from 2009 to 2013 as The Gathering Storm, Towers of Midnight, and A Memory of Light, with the last book using Jordan's title.
My respect for him grew a few points just from this. Last night, I was talking to a friend who has read the entire Wheel of Time series, and she heartily recommended it, though 14 books in one series does feel like a hell of a commitment!
As a newbie to Sanderson’s writing and world-building, I started shyly with a standalone book recommended by someone who knows her fantasy and her Sanderson, who told me, “This has been a successful gateway for at least three other people.” She was right: successful gateway, indeed.
Elantris was Brandon Sanderson’s debut novel in 2005. I didn’t know that when I started reading it. The first few pages surprised me with their simplicity. It felt like literature for very young adults, yet I couldn’t help but feel intrigued.
The story revolves around the city of Elantris, once a place of wonder and magic, now fallen into ruin. Ten years before the novel’s events, a mysterious catastrophe called the Reod stripped Elantris of its power. The Shaod, a transformation that once turned ordinary people into godlike beings, now curses its victims with a living death, trapping them in eternal pain and hunger.
After finishing it, I can see why Elantris is an excellent introduction to Sanderson’s work, especially for readers interested in political fantasy with unique magic systems and thoughtful exploration of societal themes. Twenty years after its release, the book has gained popularity as a classic, and the author himself has provided deleted scenes and more context since its first edition.
The version I read boasted “10,000 words of bonus content” on the cover, and reading through the afterword helped provide the context for the book. Like with Stephen King, I really appreciate when authors become vulnerable with their readers. Sanderson explained his writing process for the book and included some of the deleted scenes, including an entirely new character, a villain later removed from the book altogether.
I, personally, happen to be what is sometimes called a one-drafter. This means that I plan a lot before I write, then generally get the plot, setting, and characters down on the page as I want them. Further drafts add detail or fix problems I discover once I have the entire text completed.
Still, Elantris went through ten drafts before its first publication. This means that, even for a one-drafter like me, a lot of things got changed.
Brandon Sanderson, Elantris afterword
He goes on to explain how he came to coin the Chapter Triad system. In this narrative structure that is only ever used in Elantris, the story is divided into groups of three chapters, each focusing on a different protagonist: Raoden, Sarene, and Hrathen, in our case. These triads rotate viewpoints in a fixed order (Raoden → Sarene → Hrathen) and cover overlapping timeframes, allowing readers to experience the same events or periods from multiple perspectives.
Chapters within a triad often depict the same day or period, enabling scenes to be revisited from different characters’ viewpoints. Later in the novel, the strict triad format is intentionally disrupted to accommodate pacing and plot developments, reflecting the author’s experimentation with nonlinear storytelling.
While innovative, the system posed challenges for Sanderson, such as synchronising events across all three storylines and maintaining chronological consistency. Despite these difficulties, it allowed for moments of narrative synergy, such as contrasting character reactions to shared events. Yet, due to its complexity, this structure seems not to have been reused in Sanderson’s later works.
Despite my initial thoughts of the writing seeming a bit too simple and childish, the narrative structure provided enough sophistication to keep me interested and engaged. Moreover, the relationship between the characters really endeared me to it. While the world is clearly divided between good and evil, there is depth to the characters, a development arc, and genuine interactions that ring authentic.
My first read on the Kobo Libra 2
While I am thoroughly enjoying the array of features that the Kobo provides, from underlining in multiple colours and textures (pencil, fountain pen, thickness of the underline depending on the pressure applied on the ‘page’), I found that the deeper I got into the book, the less responsive the device was. By the time I reached 80% of the book, it took a good 8-10 seconds for the page to turn, but weirdly, only when I was finishing a chapter and about to begin another.
The device does seem to have a “refresh page every x pages or at the beginning of the chapter”, which I turned off. But while I don’t expect an e-ink device to be as quick as an iPad, I find it frustrating to wait for a page to turn. I plan to try a new book next and see how it behaves.
However, being able to draw on the page guilt-free is still an excellent feature for a doodling reader!
The Success of Mormon Fantasy and Sci-Fi Writers
In an intriguing twist of literary fate, the world of fantasy and young adult fiction has been significantly shaped by an unexpected source: Mormon authors. A recent New York Times article sheds light on this phenomenon, revealing how members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have become powerhouses in these genres.
The article talks about how Mormon writers have captivated readers worldwide, from Brandon Sanderson's intricate Mistborn series to Stephenie Meyer's vampire romance Twilight Saga. Other notable names include Shannon Hale, James Dashner, and Ally Condie, each leaving their mark on the literary landscape.
I haven’t yet looked into the Mistborn series, which is said to be Sanderson’s most elaborate work. Still, I can talk from the experience of reading Elantris about how the religious themes played an essential and believable role in what drives the characters. Couple them with the fantasy world's politics, and you’ve got an ironclad intrigue very similar to that of Game of Thrones.
The New York Times article further points to several cultural factors explaining why Mormonism has influenced some of the most successful fantasy writers. The Mormon faith strongly emphasises storytelling and creativity, encouraging reading and writing from a young age. Additionally, the missionary experiences common in Mormon culture foster empathy and character development skills—essential tools for any storyteller.
As an aside to our literary focus, I have just finished rewatching Battlestar Galactica, the 2004 remake, not the original. However, the creator of the original 70s series was also a Mormon, and he created a show with concepts and a storyline that are often quoted as genre-defining.
“Battlestar Galactica,” in essence, was Mormons in space.
These creators often weave themes of free will, personal growth, and moral choices into their narratives, resonating deeply with young adult readers. The New York Times article points out that Brigham Young University's influence may have had something to contribute to this phenomenon with its robust creative writing program and connections to the publishing industry.
As a creative reader, I often find myself in awe of the intrigue, the world-building or magical concepts that authors present me with. More than once, I exclaimed out loud when some astute usage of magic was explained or some loophole allowed for new story developments. More recently, since becoming aware of the influence of Mormonism on fantasy and sci-fi writing, I found myself Googling whether an author or other has any Mormon roots. I am sure someone wrote a PhD on this; if they haven’t, someone should!
Here’s a list of famous and successful fantasy writers who are or were Mormon:
1. Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn series, The Stormlight Archive)
2. Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game, Alvin Maker series)
3. Brandon Mull (Fablehaven series, Beyonders series)
4. Stephenie Meyer (Twilight saga)
5. Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance series)
6. Shannon Hale (Princess Academy series)
7. James Dashner (The Maze Runner series)
8. Dave Wolverton/David Farland (The Runelords series)
9. Brian McClellan (Powder Mage trilogy)
10. Kiersten White (Paranormalcy series)
