Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
- Brandon Sanderson's "Wind and Truth" debuted at the sold-out DragonSteel Nexus convention.
- The event featured activities, announcements and Sanderson's encouragement for inclusive fandom.
- Sanderson also revealed plans for leather-bound "Wheel of Time" editions and DragonSteel Plaza in Pleasant Grove.
SALT LAKE CITY — Brandon Sanderson recalled to a room at the Salt Palace Convention Center filled with thousands of fans that an early book signing was attended by just three people, followed by a reading to one person — his friend.
That event in 2005 contrasted starkly with Sanderson's DrangonSteel Nexus convention this year, which sold out its 7,500 tickets in one hour. The convention is an annual event for fans of the BYU graduate's books, and this year, it's bigger than ever.
On Thursday, Sanderson shared with convention-goers how his fandom grew slowly, with years of book releases at the BYU Bookstore where people would camp overnight. Soon, they outgrew the bookstore, a school auditorium and the convention center in Provo, now requiring the biggest venue in the state to accommodate fans.
"And we still can't find enough seats for everybody," he said as he greeted people in the overflow room, which was also full.
Sanderson's new book, "Wind and Truth," officially released Friday, is the end of a five-book story arc in the "Stormlight Archive." A line to pick up the new book wrapped around the hallways of the Salt Palace Thursday evening.
"Thank you for making this our biggest release event ever," Sanderson told fans.
Those thousands of people who filled the main hall will spend their time at the three-day convention going to presentations, getting stamps in a convention passport, trading story cards, crafting, playing games, visiting booths in the exhibitor hall and attending the first Worldhopper Ball — a formal event celebrating the wedding of two characters.
Sanderson said his goal at the convention was to bring fans together, and he encouraged people to make a place for anyone who came to the convention alone or who is not versed in the details of "the Cosmere" — the universe in which many of his books are set.
"Let's make sure we're not gatekeeping who gets to be a fan. ... So, if you want to be here, DragonSteel Nexus is for you," the acclaimed author said.
Sanderson told fans that because stories bring people together, he tries to put something everyone will love in his books, knowing there will also be things in the book some people don't like.
There's a lot that newer fans are liking about some of Sanderson's older work, too. His first book in the "Mistborn" series, "The Final Empire," just appeared on a bestseller list for the first time — 18 years after its release. Sanderson said he was blindsided to see it as No. 140 on the USA Today list, as books will typically only end up on the list the first few weeks after release.
There were also several announcements for fans during the event Thursday, including the release of the "Wheel of Time" series — which Sanderson finished after the death of author Robert Jordan — in leather-bound editions. With the blessing of Jordan's widow, Sanderson said his team will be adding new artwork, evolving from the artwork in the original book. Although he has found other leather-bound editions, he said he wanted to give the books their "best possible leather-bound treatment, mostly so I can have them."
Let's make sure we're not gatekeeping who gets to be a fan ... if you want to be here, DragonSteel Nexus is for you.
–Brandon Sanderson
The first leather-bound "Wheel of Time" book will be released in 2025, and Sanderson hopes to release one book a year after that. He has traditionally released his books in leather-bound editions about 10 years after their initial release.
Emily Sanderson, the author's wife, also announced some plans for DragonSteel Plaza in Pleasant Grove. She said the project had morphed from an idea they initially called DragonSteel Village. The plaza will house a bookstore and headquarters for the Sanderson business. Emily Sanderson said she hopes it will become a destination for fans of her husband's work.
"Just trust me, it's going to be amazing," she said.
Brandon Sanderson also announced a trip he is taking to Spain next summer and said he is planning other appearances in Europe for international fans.
The couple shared plans for next year's DragonSteel Nexus convention, where Brandon Sanderson said he would release a collection of short fiction writings called "Tailored Realities." He read from a story he said is "about half of a novel" that will be in that release.
