<p>The Martian is arriving from Amazon today. Hurray!</p>
<p>I’m just finishing up the last in Elizabeth Moon’s second Paksenarrion series. I love both of those serieses.</p>
<p>I liked the first one very much, but the latest Paksenarrion books read too much like histories and not enough like novels. I like her sci fi novels better and thought *Speed of the Dark<a href=“stand%20alone%20about%20autism%20with%20%5Bi%5DFlowers%20for%20Algernon%5B/i%5D%20echoes”>/i</a> was brilliant.</p>
<p>I have seen other mentions of Brandon Sanderson lately, from someone who has read him, what kind of books are they? </p>
<p>Recently finished the sf Expanse series by James S.A. Corey, liked a lot, along with The Martian. D1 and I have a soft spot for fantasy books by Kristen Britain (Green Rider), and my kids just gave me her latest for Mother’s Day (if I could just get done with The Goldfinch I could start it!).</p>
<p>Sanderson writes what I would call epic fantasy. All his books take place in the same universe, but each of his series can be read as stand alones. Eventually we will find out more about the origins of his universe. He writes and talks extensively about his theories about writings and often explains background stuff in his essays and podcasts. My son has been taking creative writing courses for the last year and has found all this extra info very interesting. From my point of view he is way too obsessed with magic systems - in one set of books for example people ingest metals which gives them different powers depending on what they eat. Sometimes all this complication comes at the expense of his characters. They are definitely not based on any historical myths or legends a la Tolkien, but like Tolkien, he’s very interested in creating worlds, his latest books include extensive illustrations.</p>
<p>He has written three laws for fantasy novels which are:
- “An author’s ability to solve conflict satisfactorily with magic is directly proportional to how well the reader understands said magic.”
- “Limitations > Powers”
- “Expand what you already have before you add something new.” (all from his Wiki page)</p>
<p>So far I have liked the stand alone Warbreaker best. It’s available on line at no cost. </p>
<p>One thing he’s planning on which I find really interesting is taking his fantasies into the future. So his Mistborn trilogy is set in a medievalish world, But he’s started a new trilogy set in the same world during the industrial revolution and is planning to have another sci fi trilogy eventually. </p>
<p>No one has mentioned Terry Pratchett yet. Love the discworld books!</p>
<p>Sanderson is a world builder. He has some series, and the Mistborn series is probably the one to read if you want to start with a series. Elantris, a standalone, was the first one I read, and then made my son read. Sanderson’s worlds seem to be magic based, and the magical systems seem to be pretty well thought out. In Elantris, the magic is broken, and the characters are trying to figure out why. My son claims all the different worlds relate, and I’d understand if I would only get off my duff and read The Way of Kings and it’s sequel.<br>
I’ve heard the story that Sanderson had a huge twelve book series all planned out in his head before he ever found a publisher, but knew they would never agree to that with a new writer so he simply didn’t tell them the book was part of a series. Don’t know if that is true.
Sanderson also has a couple of YA books - I really enjoyed The Rithmatist, a kind of steampunk alternate history, and Steelheart is on my To Be Read list.</p>
<p>I have his HUGE new one on my shelf…not ready yet!</p>
<p>I loved the first three Paksenarrion books, Sheepfarmer’s Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold. Then came the two tedious ones which I never finished, Liar’s Oath and Surrender None. Even the greatest fans don’t like Liar’s Oath.</p>
<p>But the new series I like again. It starts with Oath of Fealty. mathmom, I’m guessing you haven’t checked out the final one in the series, Crown of Renewal, because it was just published two days ago. I finished it last night.</p>
<p>Anyway, I recommend the first series to all, and if you like the first series, skip the two boring histories and try the second series. And Moon’s space opera sci-fi is also good.</p>
<p>@TempeMom I got 250 pages into the new Sanderson when DS said he wanted it with him this summer. So I am taking a break from it either until August when I expect he’ll be back with us for a bit, or until I give in and buy another copy or our library gets a copy. I liked it fine as far as I got.</p>
<p>@CardinalFang, not only did I not like the two tedious ones I skipped a book somewhere and ended up pretty confused. But maybe I’ll give them another try if I can figure out what I have and haven’t read!</p>
<p>In the meantime I decided I’d go on with my work of catching up with the Dresden series - I believe there is a new book, but I’m two behind.</p>
<p>Yeah, you really have to read the newer Paksenarrion series in order. Otherwise, you will be completely confused.</p>
<p>@mathmom I am two behind in Dresden too…a friend was posting about the new book and I was all “he’s alive? I thought he was a ghost!”</p>