I think your points are quite accurate, and you highlight exactly *why* Sanderson's works are often "almost" novels. Works written with Sanderson's speed will, by necessity, be lacking the finished and polished appearance of a carefully written novel. Of course, taking one's time doesn't ensure that a book is good - A Misery of Words Dance with Dragons is proof enough of that - but Sanderson's works would almost certainly be improved as a result.
I still find him a fun writer, but I think he does have the ability to be a much better writer because he has interesting ideas that, if improved from a stylistic standpoint, could make really good books. As it is, they're "almost" good.
I still find him a fun writer, but I think he does have the ability to be a much better writer because he has interesting ideas that, if improved from a stylistic standpoint, could make really good books. As it is, they're "almost" good.
It's funny, but there's only one other writer of SF/F that has that "almost" label with me: China Miéville. Very different in style and most everything else, but there's also that sense of his writing lacking that je ne sais quoi element to make it outstanding.
Illusions fall like the husk of a fruit, one after another, and the fruit is experience. - Narrator, Sylvie
Je suis méchant.
Je suis méchant.
Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul
- 18/11/2012 08:43:13 PM
1779 Views
Sounds like my kind of Sanderson book!
- 19/11/2012 01:48:56 AM
923 Views
De gustibus...
- 19/11/2012 02:28:10 AM
1103 Views
- 19/11/2012 02:28:10 AM
1103 Views
The more Brandon's career evolves...
- 19/11/2012 04:35:26 AM
1081 Views
Speed kills
- 19/11/2012 04:38:27 PM
1008 Views
I agree with both of you
- 19/11/2012 05:27:30 PM
1067 Views
You wouldn't put Erikson in that category?
- 20/11/2012 06:03:05 AM
1062 Views
Although there are uneven moments, I think his work accomplishes a shade more than the other two
- 20/11/2012 06:11:34 AM
986 Views
Re: Although there are uneven moments, I think his work accomplishes a shade more than the other two
- 20/11/2012 03:12:45 PM
1003 Views
Re: Speed kills
- 19/11/2012 08:59:14 PM
1110 Views
With Martin it's what I call "Robert Jordan Syndrome"
- 20/11/2012 02:31:22 AM
1851 Views
Re: With Martin it's what I call "Robert Jordan Syndrome"
- 20/11/2012 04:12:03 PM
1202 Views
I don't think it's very accurate to call Dance with Dragons a "CoT".
- 20/11/2012 07:53:59 PM
982 Views
Re: I don't think it's very accurate to call Dance with Dragons a "CoT".
- 20/11/2012 11:56:55 PM
1045 Views
I just want to throw out there - I really appreciate this analysis, DomA. Interesting tidbits.
- 22/11/2012 01:31:17 AM
1182 Views

*NM*
*NM*