Brandon Sanderson’s 4 Fantasy Book Recommendations Include the Novel That Changed His Life
From dragons to space, these are the books the bestselling author says fantasy fans should read next
Key Takeaways
- Brandon Sanderson calls 'Project Hail Mary' a favorite and praises its optimism.
- He recommends 'Going Postal' as a great way to discover Terry Pratchett.
- 'Dragonsbane' helped turn a 14-year-old Sanderson into a fantasy reader.
It hasn’t taken much pushing to get Brandon Sanderson to talk about the books that shaped him and the authors whose work continues to impress. It’s what makes his recommendations particularly interesting for readers who have already worked their way through Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive and his ever-expanding Cosmere and are wondering what to pick up next. After all, who better to point fantasy and science fiction fans toward their next great read than one of the genres’ most popular authors?
Over the years, Sanderson has discussed plenty of writers he admires, but some recommendations stand out because he goes well beyond simply saying, “I liked this book.” He explains what captured his imagination, what he believes the author does particularly well and, in one very personal case, how reading a novel as a teenager helped put him on the path toward becoming a writer himself.
So while fans wait for Sanderson’s wide array of future projects, there’s no shortage of other worlds to explore. From a modern fantasy crime saga and optimistic hard science fiction to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld and the novel that changed Sanderson’s life, here are four books he thinks are worth reading.
‘Dragonsbane’ (1985)
Author: Barbara Hambly
Publisher: Del Rey
What it’s about: Barbara Hambly puts an unusual spin on the traditional dragon-slaying fantasy. Years earlier, John Aversin became a legend by killing a dragon, although the reality of the accomplishment was considerably less glamorous than the stories made it sound. Now he’s asked to leave his remote northern home and kill Morkeleb the Black, an immensely powerful dragon threatening the capital. Accompanying him is Jenny Waynest, a witch as well as John’s longtime partner and the mother of his children. But Jenny has never achieved the magical power she once hoped for and her struggle between family, responsibility and her own potential becomes as important to the story as confronting the dragon itself. That dimension of Jenny’s character is particularly significant to Sanderson, who first read Dragonsbane at 14.
Brandon Sanderson says: “[A book] caught my eye. It had this vivid painting of a dragon standing in the mists, a woman held limply in its hand—Dragonsbane, by Barbara Hambly. The painting was so beautiful, so realistic yet imaginative, that I snatched it up, actually a little eager to look through the pages. I ended up taking it home with me. I read that book in one day. It wasn’t like anything I’d ever tried reading before. (I had never been introduced to fantasy novels.) Dragonsbane was amazing, challenging, imaginative, gripping and beautiful all wrapped up in one. I remember a severe bout of disappointment upon finishing the book because I thought surely there couldn’t be anything else like it in the entire world.” He would quickly, and happily, discover that he was wrong.
‘Going Postal’ (2004)
Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: Doubleday
What it’s about: The 33rd novel in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series introduces con man Moist von Lipwig, whose criminal career seemingly ends at the gallows. Instead, Ankh-Morpork ruler Lord Vetinari secretly saves him and offers Moist a choice: take over the city’s nearly defunct post office or face a considerably more permanent fate. Moist discovers mountains of undelivered letters, an eccentric skeleton staff and a communications system rendered nearly obsolete by the much faster “clacks” network. Reviving the postal service brings him into conflict with the powerful company controlling the clacks, giving a career criminal the unexpected opportunity to reinvent himself as something resembling a hero. Despite being the 33rd Discworld book, Going Postal begins a new storyline and works particularly well as an entry point for readers new to Pratchett’s world.
Brandon Sanderson says: “I woke to the news that Sir Terry Pratchett passed away. I knew this was coming, but—as with the passing of Robert Jordan almost eight years back—it still hit me like a slap to the face… The most fitting memorial I can give is this: a request. For those of you reading this post, why not give this man’s legacy a try? If I had to guess which fantasy author of our era will be read most in the centuries to come, I’d lay my money on the works of Sir Terry Pratchett. I suggest beginning your journey in Discworld with The Truth, Going Postal, or Guards! Guards!”
‘Jade City’ (2017)
Author: Fonda Lee
Publisher: Orbit
What it’s about: The first novel in Lee’s Green Bone Saga, Jade City takes place on the fictional island of Kekon, where jade isn’t simply valuable—it can enhance the physical and magical abilities of those trained to use it. For generations, powerful Green Bone clans have controlled the island’s commerce, politics and society, but a new generation finds itself fighting for control as old traditions collide with a rapidly changing world. At the center are the Kauls, four siblings whose No Peak clan is locked in an increasingly violent struggle with the rival Mountain clan. Mixing fantasy, family drama, martial arts and organized crime, Jade City has frequently been described as The Godfather with magic and kung fu. It won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and launched a trilogy continued in Jade War and Jade Legacy.
Brandon Sanderson says: “Jade City is the first by Fonda Lee. I will stamp a content warning on those. They are mature books for adult readers. How about that? They definitely come with a content warning. The premise is a fantasy world based on a mid-1900s Hong Kong gangster sort of thing going on. So lots of gangster stuff with a cool magic system and whatnot. So if you’re looking for something like that, those books are quite good.” (Brandonsanderson.com)
Project Hail Mary (2021)
Author: Andy Weir
Publisher: Ballantine Books
What it’s about: Ryland Grace wakes aboard a spacecraft with no idea who he is, why he’s there or what he’s supposed to do — and with the bodies of his two crewmates nearby. As his memories gradually return, he discovers that he’s the sole survivor of a desperate mission to prevent an astronomical phenomenon from destroying life on Earth. Millions of miles from home, Grace must rely on his background as a scientist to unravel the mystery. But what initially appears to be a story about one man alone in space takes an unexpected turn that transforms both his mission and the novel itself. Written by The Martian author Andy Weir, Project Hail Mary combines hard science, humor, mystery, problem-solving and, ultimately, an unusual story of friendship.
Brandon Sanderson says: “This is my favorite book that I read last year. I really liked The Martian. I liked Artemis. And I liked this better than either of those. This one has a little bit more science fiction to it. This one has a bit of a more complex narrative and a bit of a more interesting, complex character. And yet it has all the stuff I loved in The Martian. This is the stuff that Andy Weir is really good at.
“What I love that Andy does is he shows that optimism can be compelling as a narrative… There is a certain electric-fun to optimism. And Andy Weir writes optimistic science fiction, optimistic hard science fiction, even when terrible things are happening… It involves a lot of interesting problem solving. It does hard science fiction in a way that is not off-putting… I highly recommend it. I really loved the book.”
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