Brandon Sanderson, the prolific fantasy author behind the Mistborn series and the Cosmere universe, is experiencing a surge in popularity thanks to a landmark deal to adapt his works for film and television with Apple TV+. As his audience expands, Sanderson is addressing a long-standing question from fans: why his epic fantasy worlds largely forgo traditional elements like elves and dwarves. Sanderson recently explained his reasoning in a video for his YouTube channel, “SanderFAQ,” offering insight into his creative choices and the evolution of his approach to worldbuilding.
Sanderson’s decision stems from a desire to move beyond what he perceived as the overwhelming influence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy worldbuilding, particularly in the wake of Peter Jackson’s successful Lord of the Rings film trilogy. He felt that many contemporary fantasy authors were too heavily imitating Tolkien’s established tropes, and he consciously sought to differentiate his work. This initial reaction led him to write an essay, which he now describes as “very clickbaity,” questioning whether Tolkien had inadvertently limited the imagination within the genre. Sanderson has since revisited Tolkien’s work, currently listening to the Andy Serkis-narrated audiobooks, and acknowledges his earlier perspective was “a bit snobbish.”
However, the core principle behind his decision remains: Sanderson wanted to create a fantasy world that felt fresh and focused on human experiences. “Fantasy should be the most imaginative genre. It’s the genre where you can do anything… and so I thought, well, I want to have a hallmark of my writing be that it’s more human-focused than fantastical-creature-focused,” he explained in the video. He aimed to establish a unique identity for his writing by prioritizing human characters and conflicts over established fantasy races.
This isn’t to say Sanderson avoids fantastical creatures altogether. He specifically noted that he made an exception for dragons, acknowledging the difficulty of creating a creature with comparable weight and impact. “Coming up with something that has the weight and awesomeness of a dragon that isn’t a dragon is very difficult… so that’s the one I decided to bend on eventually,” Sanderson said. But even with dragons, he strives for originality. His broader goal is to develop entirely modern fantasy races, avoiding simply re-skinning existing archetypes like elves or dwarves.
Sanderson’s approach reflects a broader trend in modern fantasy literature, where authors are increasingly seeking to deconstruct and reimagine traditional tropes. The success of authors like N.K. Jemisin, who explore complex themes and diverse characters within fantastical settings, demonstrates a growing appetite for innovative fantasy worlds. This shift in the genre allows for greater exploration of cultural influences and perspectives beyond the traditional European-inspired settings often found in earlier fantasy works.
The author’s work is gaining even more traction as Apple TV+ prepares to adapt his novels into a major franchise, filling a void left by the cancellation of Amazon’s Wheel of Time series, according to Screen Rant. This expansion into visual media is expected to further broaden Sanderson’s fanbase and influence.
Sanderson concluded his video with a more inclusive perspective, stating, “I no longer perceive like we demand to ‘kill the elves’… I feel like, write your book, read your book, read what you love, write what you love. And there is room to do new things even still all these years later with some of these ideas that Tolkien approached back in the ’50s and ’60s.” This sentiment underscores his belief in the boundless potential of the fantasy genre and the importance of individual creative expression.
As Sanderson’s work continues to reach new audiences through adaptations and his prolific writing schedule, his influence on the fantasy landscape is likely to grow. Fans can anticipate further exploration of his unique worldbuilding and character-driven narratives in the years to reach. What are your thoughts on Sanderson’s approach to fantasy races? Share your opinions in the comments below.
