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10 Near-Perfect Fantasy Books Recommended by Brandon Sanderson
Author Brandon Sanderson, one of the most prolific and popular names in contemporary fantasy, has shared a list of favourite books that have shaped his own writing and offer fans something to read between Cosmere instalments. As a creative writing teacher and lecturer on the genre, Sanderson has long championed both classic and contemporary authors, and this selection spans childhood influences to modern series still awaiting completion.
The recommendations range from Barbara Hambly's Dragonbane, which Sanderson credits with showing him fiction's emotional power, to genre staples such as Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince, Guy Gavriel Kay's Tigana, and Garth Nix's Sabriel. Also featured are Terry Pratchett's The Truth (Pratchett was reportedly Sanderson's favourite living author until his death in 2015), Patrick Rothfuss's long-awaited Kingkiller Chronicle, Brent Weeks's Lightbringer series, and N.K. Jemisin's The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.
– Dragonbane by Barbara Hambly – a formative childhood read for Sanderson – Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn – political intrigue after a prince inherits power – Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay – fantasy inspired by Renaissance Italian history – Sabriel by Garth Nix – a teenage necromancer protects the Old Kingdom – The Truth by Terry Pratchett – Discworld satire about a fledgling newspaper – The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss – legendary warrior recounts his past – The Black Prism by Brent Weeks – a complex, light-based magic system – The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin – a power struggle involving enslaved gods
In short
- Sanderson names 10 fantasy books he personally recommends to fans
- List spans childhood favourites to unfinished modern series
- Includes works by Pratchett, Rothfuss, Kay, Jemisin and others
Explained simply
Fantasy is a broad form of fiction that often combines invented worlds, magic and imagined histories. Its stories can draw on familiar subjects such as politics, family, religion and power, while using supernatural elements to explore them.
Brandon Sanderson is an American fantasy author known for the interconnected Cosmere novels, as well as for teaching and discussing how fiction is written. The writers in this selection range from established figures such as Terry Pratchett to newer authors, and their books include political dramas, comic stories and tales about magic.
Some of the novels belong to long series, while others can be read on their own. Together, they offer a way to see the variety of styles and ideas that have influenced Sanderson and helped shape modern fantasy.