# Brandon Sanderson

> A Utah fantasy writer whose interconnected "Cosmere" novels sell in the millions; he finished Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time and set Kickstarter's funding record in 2022.

- Fantasy novelist · Mistborn · The Stormlight Archive · The Wheel of Time
- Known for: The Mistborn and Stormlight Archive series, set in his shared "Cosmere" universe, and the last three Wheel of Time novels, which he wrote after Robert Jordan's death.[5][1]
- Born: December 19, 1975
- Last updated: 2026-11-14
- Editorial review: approved 2026-11-14
- Web page: https://authorbackstories.com/authors/brandon-sanderson/
- Reading list (PDF): https://authorbackstories.com/authors/brandon-sanderson/reading-list.pdf

## Featured book: Start here

*Mistborn: The Final Empire* (2006). The first Mistborn novel, in which magic users who draw power from metals set out to overthrow a tyrannical empire.[15] His own guide points new fantasy readers to it or to *The Way of Kings*.[14]

## At a glance

- Born: Brandon Winn Sanderson, December 19, 1975, in Lincoln, Nebraska[3][5]
- Education: Brigham Young University, B.A. in English and M.A. in creative writing; he started as a biochemistry major[7][5]
- Before writing: Served a Latter-day Saints mission in Seoul, South Korea (1995–1997), and worked as a hotel clerk[7]
- First book: *Elantris* (Tor, 2005)[1][3]
- Company: Dragonsteel, which publishes his crowdfunded editions[20][19]
- Major award: Hugo Award for Best Novella, 2013, for *The Emperor's Soul*[9]

## Brandon Sanderson's Backstory

### Early life

Brandon Winn Sanderson was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on December 19, 1975, the eldest of four children.[3] He was a reluctant reader until a teacher gave him Barbara Hambly's *Dragonsbane*; he went on to read David Eddings, Melanie Rawn, Robert Jordan, Anne McCaffrey and Orson Scott Card.[8][1] In 1994 he enrolled at Brigham Young University as a biochemistry major.[7]

### Korea and BYU

From 1995 to 1997 he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Seoul, South Korea, where, by his own account, he realized he missed writing but not chemistry.[7][1] Back at BYU he switched to English, worked as a hotel clerk, and went on to a master's degree in creative writing.[7] *Elantris*, the sixth novel he wrote, had been with Tor for a year and a half when the publisher made an offer, and it came out in 2005.[3][1]

### Mistborn and the Wheel of Time

*Mistborn: The Final Empire* followed in 2006.[2] In December 2007 Harriet McDougal Rigney, Robert Jordan's widow and editor, chose him to finish Jordan's Wheel of Time from Jordan's notes; the work grew into three books, ending with *A Memory of Light* in January 2013.[1][6] He topped the *New York Times* best-seller list with the first two.[6]

### The Cosmere

Most of his fantasy novels, including Mistborn, Warbreaker and the planned ten-book Stormlight Archive, which began with *The Way of Kings* in 2010, share a single universe he calls the Cosmere.[4][2] He has also written young-adult and children's series outside it, among them the Reckoners, Skyward and Alcatraz books.[2] In 2013 *The Emperor's Soul* won the Hugo Award for Best Novella.[9]

### Kickstarter and Dragonsteel

In March 2022 he announced that he had written four novels in secret during the pandemic, and his Kickstarter campaign to publish them raised $41.7 million from 185,341 backers, the most of any campaign on the platform.[10][13] The four books came out in 2023.[2] In January 2026 Apple TV secured the screen rights to the Cosmere, with Sanderson writing and producing.[15][18]

## Fun facts

- As a teenager he was a reluctant reader until a teacher gave him Barbara Hambly's *Dragonsbane*.[8]
- On his mission in Korea, his mission president let him write stories on preparation day.[6]
- *Elantris* was the sixth novel he had written; he had submitted it a year and a half before Tor made an offer.[3][1]
- His 2022 Kickstarter raised $41,754,153, more than double the previous record, held by the Pebble smartwatch.[11][12]
- With Dan Wells and Howard Tayler he co-hosts *Writing Excuses*, a podcast about writing genre fiction.[4]
- Robert Jordan was one of the authors he discovered as a teenager, years before he was chosen to finish Jordan's series.[1]

## Books

In order of first publication; each series is kept together in reading order.

Titles and years from Wikipedia's Brandon Sanderson bibliography, with *Defiant*'s year from its publisher and *The Fires of December* from the Coppermind fan wiki; ebook- and audio-only originals and early drafts are left out.[2][25][23]

- 2005: *Elantris* (Novel). His first published novel.[1] ISBN 9780765381026. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765381026) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765381026)
- **Mistborn** (series, 7 books, 2006–2022). Two eras so far: the original trilogy and the four Wax and Wayne novels, beginning with *The Alloy of Law*.[2][24]
  - 2006: *Mistborn: The Final Empire* (Novel). ISBN 9780765377135. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765377135) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765377135)
  - 2007: *The Well of Ascension* (Novel). ISBN 9781250868299. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250868299) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250868299)
  - 2008: *The Hero of Ages* (Novel). ISBN 9781250318626. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250318626) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250318626)
  - 2011: *The Alloy of Law* (Novel). ISBN 9780765368546. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765368546) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765368546)
  - 2015: *Shadows of Self* (Novel). ISBN 9780765378552. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765378552) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765378552)
  - 2016: *The Bands of Mourning* (Novel). ISBN 9781250862457. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250862457) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250862457)
  - 2022: *The Lost Metal* (Novel). ISBN 9780765391216. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765391216) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765391216)
- **Alcatraz** (series, 6 books, 2007–2022)
  - 2007: *Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians* (Novel). ISBN 9780439925525. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780439925525) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780439925525)
  - 2008: *Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones* (Novel). ISBN 9780439925549. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780439925549) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780439925549)
  - 2009: *Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia* (Novel). ISBN 9780439925556. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780439925556) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780439925556)
  - 2010: *Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens* (Novel). ISBN 9780439925570. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780439925570) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780439925570)
  - 2016: *Alcatraz Versus the Dark Talent* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Alcatraz%20Versus%20the%20Dark%20Talent%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
  - 2022: *Bastille Versus the Evil Librarians* (Novel). Written with Janci Patterson.[2] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Bastille%20Versus%20the%20Evil%20Librarians%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
- **The Wheel of Time (with Robert Jordan)** (series, 3 books, 2009–2013). The last three books of Robert Jordan's series, written from Jordan's notes after his death in 2007.[6][5]
  - 2009: *The Gathering Storm* (Novel). ISBN 9781250252609. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250252609) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250252609)
  - 2010: *Towers of Midnight* (Novel). ISBN 9781250252616. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250252616) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250252616)
  - 2013: *A Memory of Light* (Novel). ISBN 9781250252623. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250252623) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250252623)
- 2009: *Warbreaker* (Novel). ISBN 9781938570216. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781938570216) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781938570216)
- **The Stormlight Archive** (series, 7 books, 2010–2024). Planned as ten books; *Edgedancer* and *Dawnshard* are novellas set between the novels.[4][2]
  - 2010: *The Way of Kings* (Novel). ISBN 9780765365279. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765365279) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765365279)
  - 2014: *Words of Radiance* (Novel). ISBN 9781250166531. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250166531) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250166531)
  - 2016: *Edgedancer* (Novella). ISBN 9781250166548. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250166548) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250166548)
  - 2017: *Oathbringer* (Novel). ISBN 9780765365293. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765365293) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765365293)
  - 2020: *Dawnshard* (Novella). ISBN 9781250850553. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250850553) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250850553)
  - 2020: *Rhythm of War* (Novel). ISBN 9780765365309. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780765365309) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780765365309)
  - 2024: *Wind and Truth* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Wind%20and%20Truth%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
- **Legion** (series, 3 books, 2012–2018)
  - 2012: *Legion* (Novella). ISBN 9781596064850. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781596064850) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781596064850)
  - 2014: *Legion: Skin Deep* (Novella). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Legion%3A%20Skin%20Deep%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
  - 2018: *Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds* (Story collection). Collects the three Legion novellas, including the new *Lies of the Beholder*.[2] ISBN 9781250297822. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250297822) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250297822)
- 2012: *The Emperor's Soul* (Novella). Won the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novella.[9] ISBN 9781938570605. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781938570605) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781938570605)
- **The Reckoners** (series, 3 books, 2013–2016)
  - 2013: *Steelheart* (Novel). ISBN 9780593307120. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780593307120) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780593307120)
  - 2015: *Firefight* (Novel). ISBN 9780593307137. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780593307137) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780593307137)
  - 2016: *Calamity* (Novel). ISBN 9780593307144. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780593307144) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780593307144)
- 2013: *The Rithmatist* (Novel). ISBN 9781250242716. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250242716) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250242716)
- 2016: *Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection* (Story collection). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Arcanum%20Unbounded%3A%20The%20Cosmere%20Collection%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
- **White Sand** (series, 3 books, 2016–2019). Graphic novels written with Rik Hoskin.[2]
  - 2016: *White Sand, Volume 1* (Graphic novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=White%20Sand%2C%20Volume%201%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
  - 2018: *White Sand, Volume 2* (Graphic novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=White%20Sand%2C%20Volume%202%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
  - 2019: *White Sand, Volume 3* (Graphic novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=White%20Sand%2C%20Volume%203%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
- 2017: *Snapshot* (Novella). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Snapshot%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
- **Skyward** (series, 5 books, 2018–2023)
  - 2018: *Skyward* (Novel). ISBN 9780399555800. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780399555800) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780399555800)
  - 2019: *Starsight* (Novel). ISBN 9780399555848. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780399555848) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780399555848)
  - 2021: *Cytonic* (Novel). ISBN 9780593433874. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780593433874) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780593433874)
  - 2022: *Skyward Flight: The Collection* (Story collection). Three novellas written with Janci Patterson.[2] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Skyward%20Flight%3A%20The%20Collection%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
  - 2023: *Defiant* (Novel). ISBN 9780593309711. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9780593309711) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9780593309711)
- 2021: *Dark One* (Graphic novel). Written with Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly.[2] [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Dark%20One%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
- 2023: *The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England* (Novel). [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=The%20Frugal%20Wizard's%20Handbook%20for%20Surviving%20Medieval%20England%20Brandon%20Sanderson)
- 2023: *The Sunlit Man* (Novel). ISBN 9781250899712. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250899712) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250899712)
- 2023: *Tress of the Emerald Sea* (Novel). The first of four "Secret Projects" funded on Kickstarter in 2022.[10][2] ISBN 9781938570582. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781938570582) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781938570582)
- 2023: *Yumi and the Nightmare Painter* (Novel). ISBN 9781250899699. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250899699) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250899699)
- 2024: *The Most Boring Book Ever* (Children's book). A picture book with pictures by Kazu Kibuishi.[2] ISBN 9781250843661. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250843661) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250843661)
- 2025: *Isles of the Emberdark* (Novel). ISBN 9781938570506. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781938570506) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781938570506)
- 2025: *Tailored Realities* (Story collection). His first collection of stories outside the Cosmere.[21] ISBN 9781250410481. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250410481) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250410481)
- 2026: *The Fires of December* (Novel). Released first to backers of a 2026 crowdfunding campaign.[23][22] ISBN 9781250462657. [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/131187/9781250462657) · [WorldCat](https://www.worldcat.org/isbn/9781250462657)

## Latest news

- Oct. 6, 2026: The ebook and audiobook of *The Fires of December*, a Cosmere novel he wrote in secret and announced in December 2025, were released after backers of a crowdfunding campaign received it first.[22][19]
- Feb. 3, 2026: Tor published its hardcover of *Isles of the Emberdark*, one of his "Secret Project" novels.[21]
- Jan. 28, 2026: Apple TV secured the screen rights to his Cosmere books, starting with Mistborn feature films and a Stormlight Archive series; The Hollywood Reporter called the deal unprecedented for the control it gives him.[15][17][16]

## Adaptations and other media

### Film

- *Mistborn (films)* (Announced 2026). Based on *Mistborn: The Final Empire*, *The Well of Ascension*, *The Hero of Ages*. Apple TV plans a series of feature films based on the Mistborn books, with Sanderson writing and producing.[15][18]

### Television

- *The Stormlight Archive (series)* (Announced 2026). Based on *The Way of Kings*. Apple TV is developing a series based on the Stormlight Archive, with Blue Marble attached as producer.[15][18]

## Timeline

- Dec. 19, 1975: Born in Lincoln, Nebraska.[3]
- 1994: Enters Brigham Young University as a biochemistry major.[7]
- 1995–1997: Serves a mission in Seoul, South Korea.[7]
- May 2005: Tor publishes his first novel, *Elantris*.[1]
- 2006: *Mistborn: The Final Empire* is published.[2]
- December 2007: Harriet McDougal Rigney chooses him to finish Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time.[1]
- 2010: *The Way of Kings* begins the Stormlight Archive.[2]
- January 2013: *A Memory of Light* concludes the Wheel of Time.[6]
- 2013: *The Emperor's Soul* wins the Hugo Award for Best Novella.[9]
- March 2022: His Kickstarter for four secret novels raises $41.7 million from 185,341 backers, a record for the platform.[10]
- Jan. 28, 2026: Apple TV acquires the screen rights to the Cosmere.[15]
- Oct. 6, 2026: *The Fires of December* is released as an ebook and audiobook.[22]

## What's next

Tor's edition of *The Fires of December* is planned for the 2026 Christmas season, and he has said he expects the first book of *Ghostbloods*, the third Mistborn series, in 2028.[20][24]

## Sources

1. [Brandon's Bio](https://brandonsanderson.com/about-brandon/). brandonsanderson.com (official site). (primary record)
2. [Brandon Sanderson bibliography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Sanderson_bibliography). Wikipedia. (reference)
3. [Brandon Sanderson](https://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/Brandon_Sanderson). Wikipedia. (reference)
4. [Brandon Sanderson (earlier version)](https://bafybeiemxf5abjwjbikoz4mc3a3dla6ual3jsgpdr4cjr3oz3evfyavhwq.ipfs.4everland.io/wiki/Cosmere.html). Wikipedia (IPFS mirror). (reference)
5. [Brandon Sanderson: Ever More Epic](https://locusmag.com/2021/02/brandon-sanderson-ever-more-epic). Locus. (news)
6. [Writing of Epic Proportions](https://magazine.byu.edu/article/writing-of-epic-proportions). Y Magazine (Brigham Young University). (news)
7. [Brandon Sanderson](https://mormonwiki.com/Brandon_Sanderson). MormonWiki. (reference)
8. [Brandon Sanderson biography](https://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Brandon-Sanderson/biography.html). Fantasy Book Review. (reference)
9. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.bookreporter.com/authors/brandon-sanderson). Bookreporter. (reference)
10. [Brandon Sanderson Raises $16 Million, Breaking Records Again](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industrynews/publisher-news/article/94538-brandon-sanderson-raises-16-million-breaking-records-again.html). Publishers Weekly. (news)
11. [Surprise book series smashes previous Kickstarter record by more than double](https://www.techspot.com/news/94021-surprise-book-series-smashes-previous-kickstarter-record-more.html). TechSpot. (news)
12. [Brandon Sanderson scores biggest Kickstarter of all time](https://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2022/04/brandon-sanderson-scores-biggest.html). The Wertzone. (website)
13. [Brandon Sanderson's Secret Project Kickstarter](https://pageturnermag.com/?p=4179). Page Turner. (news)
14. [Brandon Sanderson Books in Order](https://www.tlbranson.com/brandon-sanderson-books-in-order/). T.L. Branson. (website)
15. [Apple Signs Deal for Brandon Sanderson's 'Cosmere' Universe Movies and TV Shows](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/01/28/apple-tv-brandon-sanderson-deal/). MacRumors. (news)
16. [Apple TV lands coveted rights to Brandon Sanderson's 'Cosmere' fantasy books](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/28/apple-tv-lands-coveted-rights-to-brandon-sandersons-cosmere-fantasy-books/). 9to5Mac. (news)
17. [Apple TV is Adapting Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Stormlight Archive Series](https://awfulagent.com/apple-tv-is-adapting-brandon-sandersons-mistborn-and-stormlight-archive-series/). JABberwocky Literary Agency. (primary record)
18. [Brandon Sanderson's 'Cosmere' universe secured by Apple TV](https://tribune.com.pk/story/2589679/brandon-sandersons-cosmere-universe-secured-by-apple-tv-for-film-and-television-adaptations). The Express Tribune. (news)
19. [Brandon Sanderson announced a surprise new Cosmere novel. Here's what we know](https://www.ksl.com/article/51415190). KSL (Deseret News). (news)
20. [Brandon Sanderson announces new Secret Project novel set in the Cosmere, The Fires of December](https://winteriscoming.net/brandon-sanderson-announces-new-secret-project-novel-set-cosmere-the-fires-of-december). Winter Is Coming. (news)
21. [Brandon Sanderson confirms release dates for his next two books in 2025](https://winteriscoming.net/brandon-sanderson-confirms-release-dates-for-his-next-two-books-in-2025). Winter Is Coming. (news)
22. [The Fires of December: release date news](https://booksofbrilliance.com/2026/10/06/the-fires-of-december-brandon-sanderson-release-date-news/). Books of Brilliance. (news)
23. [The Fires of December](https://coppermind.net/wiki/Fires_of_December). The Coppermind (fan wiki). (reference)
24. [Brandon Sanderson excerpt from Ghostbloods, new Mistborn series](https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2025/09/10/brandon-sanderson-excerpt-ghostbloods-new-mistborn-series). Deseret News. (news)
25. [Defiant](https://netgalley.com/catalog/book/296770). NetGalley (Delacorte Press listing). (primary record)