Brandon Sanderson's Blog, page 86
October 4, 2011
New novella INFINITY BLADE: AWAKENING + Updates
First some updates. There's a new MYTHWALKER chapter up, and this week's Writing Excuses episode features Pyr editorial director Lou Anders talking about the Hollywood Formula. In addition, Ta'veren Tees has a new shirt up for preorder, Tai'shar Manetheren, and they also have a coupon code.
SHORT VERSION OF TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT
We have an exciting announcement today. A novella I wrote—INFINITY BLADE: AWAKENING—has just been released as of this posting, and you can find it on all of the major ebook retailers. I hope you guys enjoy reading it! It's intended as a bridge story between the iPhone/iPad game INFINITY BLADE and the sequel to that game, though I did my best to write it in a way that one does not have to have played the game to understand the story. (Though you should totally play the game. It's heaps of fun.)
BRANDON SANDERSON (a.k.a. LONG) VERSION OF TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT
As many of you might know, I haven't (in the past) written a lot of short fiction. I do have a couple of pieces you can read, but on the whole, I've not spent my time on shorter works. In the last few years, I've started to change this. There are a number of reasons for that, not the least of which being the fact that I like to try new things and practice types of writing I don't do as often as others. Big epics are always going to be my first love and my driving passion in publishing. However, some ideas don't fit a large epic—indeed, practicing short fiction seems like a way that I can explore new worlds and characters without committing myself to too many large series.
You'll see me releasing a handful of short fiction pieces over the next year. I've got some in anthologies, others I'm preparing to do directly as electronic downloads, and then a few other very special pieces. One of these was announced today on stage at Apple's "Let's Talk iPhone" event. It's called INFINITY BLADE: AWAKENING, and is a bridge story between the two video games in the INFINITY BLADE series. (An iPhone/iPad game series.)
You might be asking, "Brandon, you are a big bestselling author. Why are you writing a video game adaptation?" My answer is simple: I can do it because I'm a big bestselling author.
Let me explain. I've reached a point, due in no small part to luck of the draw, that I'm capable of passing on any project I want and writing only the things that interest me. I have somewhat eclectic tastes. I've said over and over again that one of the ways I stay fresh when working on large projects is by doing things I haven't done before. Last year, this itch was scratched by THE ALLOY OF LAW and DEATH BY PIZZA.
I initially downplayed the INFINITY BLADE offer. However, after a little back-and-forth, I realized that this project had the potential to be a whole lot of fun. They gave me complete creative freedom, yet I also had some pretty strong constraints. They had built a video game (a very fun one, by the way) that was very popular. My challenge was to take things placed into the game because of mechanics, and actually build magic systems, a world, characters, and a story to match them. The game developers had some ideas, but they told me I could do anything at all that I wanted.
I've often said that interesting limitations make for interesting magic systems in books. Well, I've also found that interesting limitations in writing can force me to grow and stretch in different ways as a writer. I took on the project partially because the guys I was working with were so much fun, but also because—as a gamer—I've always had a bit of an itch to be involved in video games in one way or another. (I've always envied Orson Scott Card, for example, who worked on the original MONKEY ISLAND, one of the great games of all time.)
This story was just plain FUN to write. I had a blast with it, and it turned out quite well. I got to play with the idea of blending entertainment media—the story is for sale in-game, and together with the game, blends storytelling with gameplay. I think our world is going to change in interesting ways as books, video games, and cinema meld together.
So, this story hit a sweet spot for me. I got creative freedom, the ability to work with fun people, a chance to work with some interesting limitations, a chance to dip my toes into video games (they also let me do a draft on the script for the second game), and a chance to play with transmedia.
As I said in the short version, this story is intended to be accessible to all—but that said, it does rely a lot on things that happened in the first game while throwing balls up into the air for the second game to catch. (That was part of the challenge.) Much like THE ALLOY OF LAW, it is not intended to be the end-all of my career, but rather is me exploring new types of writing and trying to have fun along the way.
That said, I am quite pleased with the book and what it accomplishes. I present it to you proudly, and hope that both Brandon Sanderson fans and INFINITY BLADE fans will find something awesome in it to love.
Best,
Brandon
Infinity Blade: Awakening preview chapters
Infinity Blade: Awakening on iBooks
Infinity Blade: Awakening on Kindle
Infinity Blade: Awakening on Nook
More on Infinity Blade
More on Infinity Blade 2
Buy Infinity Blade
Infinity Blade: Awakening concept art
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September 26, 2011
Fantasy Magazine interview with Leigh Butler + Updates
Leigh Butler interviewed me for Fantasy Magazine. The interview talks about THE ALLOY OF LAW, the Stormlight Archive, the Wheel of Time, THE RITHMATIST, and rules of magic among other topics. It's fairly extensive, so check it out.
This week's Writing Excuses podcast episode features Patrick Rothfuss's assistant Valerie Dowbenko and my assistant Peter Ahlstrom. Many writers will never get to the point in their career where they need to hire an assistant, but some of the sorts of things assistants do often get done by significant others acting as business partners. And many of them are things that an unpublished writer can afford to let slide so they don't impinge on writing time.
I've also posted the sixth chapter of my unfinished novel MYTHWALKER from 2001.
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September 23, 2011
Magic: The Gathering Tonight in West Valley
Tonight is the prerelease for Innistrad, which features mechanics such as double-faced cards. The set looks cool, so I've decided to head up to Epic Puzzles & Games and try it out tonight.
The details are below. If you plan to come, please get there around 11:30 and make SURE to find me and let me know you want to play with me. I would rather play with people who like reading my books than just with random Magic fans. I'll try to play a game or two with everyone who's there to play with me. And if you happen to bring along some of my books, I'll be happy to sign them.
Since this is a prerelease, there will be a $20 to $30 buy-in for your cards. We'll either play sealed deck or draft.
Magic: The Gathering Innistrad Prerelease
Epic Puzzles & Games
3612 W 4700 S #4
Salt Lake City, UT 84820
801-982-0167
Friday 09.23.2011, from 11:30 p.m. until the wee hours of the morning.
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September 19, 2011
Mistborn Fan Trailer + Updates
There's a new chapter of my unfinished 2001 novel MYTHWALKER up. This is the chapter where things really start to happen. I've also uploaded a new collection of Twitter posts.
This week's Writing Excuses podcast episode is another that was recorded at the World Science Fiction Convention this year, and on this one we talk about gender roles with guest Keffy Kehrli.
A reader of mine, Laura (rasinrice), wrote in to let me know she created a fan trailer envisioning what she thinks a Mistborn movie would look like, using clips from other trailers and movies. I think the overall effect is pretty awesome, and the opening quote is exactly right for a Mistborn trailer in my mind. Check it out.
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September 15, 2011
November 2011 UK Signing Tour
My new Mistborn book, THE ALLOY OF LAW, will be released on November 8th in North America and November 10th in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. (See here for how to get a signed copy of the U.S. hardcover, and you can read the first six chapters for free here.) While my North American tour dates have been available on my calendar for some time, I haven't previously toured the UK.
Well, for the first time ever my signing tour will have a UK leg. After I finish up my New York stop I'm flying straight to London to start a rather daunting series of signings. Most days I'll be signing twice, once around lunchtime and once in the evening, hopping a train between signings.
The lunchtime signings will be quick stop-ins with no time for a reading or Q&A, but I'll try to give everyone as much individual attention as reasonable. If you want to get the most out of my visit, come to one of the evening signings, where I'll be doing my standard routine of reading and answering questions before starting to sign books. Because most of these evening events happen outside normal bookstore business hours, they are all ticketed events. Please call the bookstore hosting me for details on how to get a ticket. (Lunchtime signings don't require a ticket.)
Hope to see you there!
Forbidden Planet, London
Date: Saturday, 19.11.11 Time: 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Place: Forbidden Planet Megastore
Address: 179 Shaftesbury Avenue
London WC2H 8JR
Phone: 0207 420 3666
Notes: I'll try to do a reading and Q&A but I'm not sure if we can work that out at this location.
Waterstones, Guildford
Date: Monday, 21.11.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Guildford
Address: 71-73 High Street
Guildford GU1 3DY
Phone: 0843 290 8357
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Milton Keynes
Date: Monday, 21.11.11 Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Milton Keynes
Address: Unit 72, Midsummer Place
Milton Keynes MK9 3GA
Phone: 0843 290 8495
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, Birmingham
Date: Tuesday, 22.11.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Birmingham High Street
Address: 24-26 High Street
Birmingham B4 7SL
Phone: 0843 290 8149
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Nottingham
Date: Tuesday, 22.11.11 Time: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Place: Waterstones Nottingham Bridlesmith Gate
Address: 1/5 Bridlesmith Gate
Nottingham NG1 2GR
Phone: 0843 290 8525
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, Liverpool
Date: Wednesday, 23.11.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Liverpool One
Address: 12 College Lane
Liverpool L1 3DL
Phone: 0843 290 8457
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Manchester
Date: Wednesday, 23.11.11 Time: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Place: Waterstones Manchester Deansgate
Address: 91 Deansgate
Manchester M3 2BW
Phone: 0843 290 8485
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, York
Date: Thursday, 24.11.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones York
Address: 28-29 High Ousegate
York YO1 8RX
Phone: 0843 290 8715
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Edinburgh
Date: Thursday, 24.11.11 Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Edinburgh West End
Address: 128 Princes Street
Edinburgh EH2 4AD
Phone: 0843 290 8313
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, Newcastle
Date: Friday, 25.11.11 Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Newcastle Emerson Chambers
Address: Emerson Chambers, Blackett Street
Newcastle NE1 7JF
Phone: 0191 261 7757
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
View Larger Map
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September 14, 2011
November 2011 UK Signing Tour
My new Mistborn book, THE ALLOY OF LAW, will be released on November 8th in North America and November 10th in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. (See here for how to get a signed copy of the U.S. hardcover, and you can read the first six chapters for free here.) While my North American tour dates have been available on my calendar for some time, I haven't previously toured the UK.
Well, for the first time ever my signing tour will have a UK leg. After I finish up my New York stop I'm flying straight to London to start a rather daunting series of signings. Most days I'll be signing twice, once around lunchtime and once in the evening, hopping a train between signings.
The lunchtime signings will be quick stop-ins with no time for a reading or Q&A, but I'll try to give everyone as much individual attention as reasonable. If you want to get the most out of my visit, come to one of the evening signings, where I'll be doing my standard routine of reading and answering questions before starting to sign books. Because most of these evening events happen outside normal bookstore business hours, they are all ticketed events. Please call the bookstore hosting me for details on how to get a ticket. (Lunchtime signings don't require a ticket.)
Hope to see you there!
Forbidden Planet, London
Date: 11.19.11 Time: 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
Place: Forbidden Planet Megastore
Address: 179 Shaftesbury Avenue
London WC2H 8JR
Phone: 0207 420 3666
Notes: I'll try to do a reading and Q&A but I'm not sure if we can work that out at this location.
Waterstones, Guildford
Date: 11.21.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Guildford
Address: 71-73 High Street
Guildford GU1 3DY
Phone: 0843 290 8357
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Milton Keynes
Date: 11.21.11 Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Milton Keynes
Address: Unit 72, Midsummer Place
Milton Keynes MK9 3GA
Phone: 0843 290 8495
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, Birmingham
Date: 11.22.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Birmingham High Street
Address: 24-26 High Street
Birmingham B4 7SL
Phone: 0843 290 8149
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Nottingham
Date: 11.22.11 Time: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Place: Waterstones Nottingham Bridlesmith Gate
Address: 1/5 Bridlesmith Gate
Nottingham NG1 2GR
Phone: 0843 290 8525
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, Liverpool
Date: 11.23.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Liverpool One
Address: 12 College Lane
Liverpool L1 3DL
Phone: 0843 290 8457
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Manchester
Date: 11.23.11 Time: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Place: Waterstones Manchester Deansgate
Address: 91 Deansgate
Manchester M3 2BW
Phone: 0843 290 8485
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, York
Date: 11.24.11 Time: 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Place: Waterstones York
Address: 28-29 High Ousegate
York YO1 8RX
Phone: 0843 290 8715
Notes: **Signing only. No reading or Q&A.**
Waterstones, Edinburgh
Date: 11.24.11 Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Edinburgh West End
Address: 128 Princes Street
Edinburgh EH2 4AD
Phone: 0843 290 8313
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
Waterstones, Newcastle
Date: 11.25.11 Time: 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Place: Waterstones Newcastle Emerson Chambers
Address: Emerson Chambers, Blackett Street
Newcastle NE1 7JF
Phone: 0191 261 7757
Notes: **This is a ticketed event. Please call the store for details on how to get a ticket.**
View Larger Map
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September 12, 2011
THE ALLOY OF LAW giveaways & ebooks + updates
This week's Writing Excuses podcast episode is another one that was recorded at the World Science Fiction Convention. It features Lauren Beukes and talks about writing other cultures. Check it out.
There's a new MYTHWALKER chapter up. This one introduces Vvenna, who eventually became Vivenna in WARBREAKER.
There are a few giveaways of advance reading copies of my new Mistborn book, THE ALLOY OF LAW, that are going on right now. First I'll mention one with no regional restrictions: the official Brandon Sanderson fan website 17th Shard is giving away three copies as well as other prizes. The other contests currently ongoing are limited to U.S. residents only: Tor is giving away five copies, and Goodreads is giving away ten.
THE ALLOY OF LAW will be released on November 8th in North America and November 10th in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. (See here for how to get a signed copy of the hardcover.) But you can read the first six chapters for free now on Tor.com. This preview is also available as a free ebook, for those of you who prefer to read on an ereader. Now, I'm told that some of these versions are region-restricted, but it's been reported that's not the case with the Sony Reader version. (The Tor.com version is viewable from all over the world, so the ebook restrictions are frustrating.) The ebook of the complete novel will be released at the same time as the hardcover.
Kindle
iBooks
Nook
Sony Reader
Kobo
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September 6, 2011
Updates + ALCATRAZ ebooks in French
At the World Science Fiction Convention in Reno a couple of weeks ago, we recorded a few Writing Excuses podcast episodes. The first one features Patrick Rothfuss, and we discussed suspension of disbelief. Check it out.
I've put up the third chapter of my unfinished novel MYTHWALKER from ten years ago.
The big announcement today is that the first ebooks of ALCATRAZ VERSUS THE EVIL LIBRARIANS are now available, in French. Currently you can buy the first three books, and I assume the fourth one will come out around the time it gets published in print form in France.
I do want to get the ebooks out in English too, but for now my French publisher is being more progressive. For one thing, the books are being put out DRM-free as I suggested to them. That means you should be able to buy the ePub version (from anywhere other than Kindle, which uses a different format) and load it on your Nook or Sony Reader with no problem. Now, I haven't been able to verify that DRM is definitely not applied by all of the stores below, but some of the linked pages specifically mention there is no DRM. So I hope it's the case across all of the vendors.
Kindle
iBooks
Feedbooks
ePagine
Immatériel
September 1, 2011
THE WAY OF KINGS interior illustrations now uploaded
Here are all the interior illustrations from THE WAY OF KINGS. This should be especially useful if you've been squinting at the illustrations in the ebook. There's also a link to the cover illustration wallpapers, which you can download if you are a Tor.com member.
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August 31, 2011
Reddit IAmA, Signed THE WAY OF KINGS + Updates
This week's Writing Excuses podcast episode with Mary, Dan, Howard, and me covers worldbuilding communications technology. The state of communications technology can have a wide-reaching effect on your story, so give it a listen.
My assistant has uploaded another chapter of my unfinished and abandoned novel Mythwalker from 2001. There's also a new collection of Twitter posts up.
THE WAY OF KINGS has now been out in hardcover for a year, so I'm adding signed and personalized copies to my online store. Please note that the way my store calculates shipping charges gets confused because TWoK is the same size as THE GATHERING STORM but much heavier. The result is that if you want to buy two copies, it's probably cheaper to submit two separate orders instead of putting two copies in one order. Sorry about that.
Today I started an
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