The Stormlight Archive is set to be one of the longest-running epic fantasy series ever written, and it’s avoiding one of the traps Game of Thrones. Brandon Sanderson has quickly become one of the most beloved authors of modern fantasy, known for his massive universe of Cosmere books, which span The Stormlight Archive, Born from the mistsand several other standalone novels. He has also gained popularity for his dedication to fan interaction, often speaking his mind about various other media franchises, including the works of other notable fantasy authors.
Due to Game of Thrones becoming a worldwide television phenomenon, speculation surrounding the unpublished sixth volume by George RR Martin A Song of Ice and Fire The series has remained one of the most prevalent discourses on fantasy literature for over a decade. The winds of winter is infamously delayed, and almost every fan of the book series or TV show has some theory as to why that is. In a March 2024 episode of his podcast, Intentionally blankSanderson had this to say about Martin’s series:
“It’s one of those epic fantasy things. And you really have to watch the expansion of the number of characters. [R.R. Martin] is famous for being very good at this rhythm beat, jumping between characters, but He eventually added so many characters that it threw off his entire pacing, and he had to write entire books without groups of characters.. Otherwise, the book would not be paced like a novel. You wouldn’t have a beginning, middle and end.”
The Stormlight archive has a huge set (but it’s not too big)
The Stormlight Archive manages its time well with its large set
This shows Sanderson’s ability to plan ahead The Stormlight Archive has remained consistent in its releases, with a new volume released every few years since 2010. Audiences will be able to read the fifth volume, Wind and Truth, when it releases in December, which will conclude the first arc of the saga. While it’s not the final ending to the series, an ending to many of the narratives established in 2010 is important. The Way of Kings and should provide some catharsis for fans of the saga.
Something Brandon Sanderson excelled at The Stormlight Archive It’s character management. There are many prominent characters in the series, but it is almost always clear which are the main characters, which are the antagonists, and which are the supporting figures. This allows a natural balance in the flow of his stories, where almost every figure in the books has some kind of tangible and satisfying arc, but it never feels too complicated or messy of a web.
How Adding Too Many Characters Generated A Song of Ice and Fire (and Game Of Thrones)
George RR Martin divided his previous volume into two books
Only George RR Martin can say what the real problem is The winds of winter is, but it seems evident from the previous two volumes and how Game of Thrones finished what could be the problem. There are many characters with a lot of meaning. It’s not just a matter of the cast being too large; and that the cast is very large and almost everyone wants the same thing: the Iron Throne. This means that a substantial portion of the set exists solely to be red herrings and to end the story, and they will have to be killed in large numbers.
But in the book series famous for Ned Stark’s execution, the Red Wedding, the fight between the Mountain and the Viper, and the murder of Tywin Lannister, an unsatisfactory death sticks out like a sore thumb. Consider Littlefinger’s death in Game of Thrones season 7 finale. Audiences spent the entire series anticipating that he might have some master plan, but they were stymied by the thought that Sansa and Arya would turn on each other. It makes no sense and is far below your capabilities as a conspirator.
Now he has to write a book where everyone dies to make room for those who are truly endgame, while also making each death rewarding.
Ultimately, it’s understandable that Littlefinger died. He would always be a threat to the Iron Throne. But killing Littlefinger in a way that doesn’t match his genius is a complete betrayal of his character. One of Martin’s problems is that he has multiple Littlefinger, be it Euron Greyjoy, Aegon, the Tyrells or the Dornish. Now he has to write a book where everyone dies to make room for those who are truly endgame, while also making each death rewarding. It’s an immense task.
To prepare for the new era of the Stormlight Archives, several characters may need to go
Original cover of Wind and Truth by Michael Whelan
Original cover of Oathbringer and The Way of Kings UK editions, by Sam Green
Brandon Sanderson avoided Martin’s trap and it seems likely that the first leg of the The Stormlight Archive will end succinctly. Next, audiences will have to wait a while before Sanderson begins the next five-book arc in the series. The sequel series will reportedly take place ten years later in the world, meaning much of the same cast will be present in some form. However, to designate that this is a new series, new characters will have to take precedence.
With this in mind, it seems clear that There should be some major character deaths in Wind and Truth. This may seem obvious given that it is the final volume, but with the intense emotional attachment that readers feel for these characters, it may be harder to chew than many realize. Iconic Storm Archive Characters like Kaladin and Dalinar may have reached the end of the line in one way or another.