Sanderson Takes the Torch - First Impressions
I spotted Brandon Sanderson's newest addition to Robert Jordan's magnum opus in the library last week, and I snapped it up, despite there being two copies on the shelf.
I've always had an interest in pastiche: I enjoyed exploring different genres when writing, and I had a tendency to adopt the stylings of the last author I read. I read serial novels and franchise novels and paid attention to continuity of theme, style - despite frequent thematic divergence, tonal dissonance, and uninspired dullness. So I have no problem with another author picking up The Wheel of Time; Oliver Rigney Jr (Robert Jordan) wrote Conan stories himself.
I've read a bare few pages and my memory might be failing me, but there's less rambling, more narrative drive, and shorter sentences. Sanderson is no prose stylist, but the difference is clear. That said, Sanderson himself states that prologues are written differently to other chapters, but I'll find out soon enough. One thing I do like about Sanderson is his very open approach to this assignment, and the sense that he's diligently applying himself, trying hard to fulfil everyone's expectations. Which is more than I can say about Jordan or George RR Martin...
I've always had an interest in pastiche: I enjoyed exploring different genres when writing, and I had a tendency to adopt the stylings of the last author I read. I read serial novels and franchise novels and paid attention to continuity of theme, style - despite frequent thematic divergence, tonal dissonance, and uninspired dullness. So I have no problem with another author picking up The Wheel of Time; Oliver Rigney Jr (Robert Jordan) wrote Conan stories himself.
I've read a bare few pages and my memory might be failing me, but there's less rambling, more narrative drive, and shorter sentences. Sanderson is no prose stylist, but the difference is clear. That said, Sanderson himself states that prologues are written differently to other chapters, but I'll find out soon enough. One thing I do like about Sanderson is his very open approach to this assignment, and the sense that he's diligently applying himself, trying hard to fulfil everyone's expectations. Which is more than I can say about Jordan or George RR Martin...