Brandon Sanderson

[Kodam]

http://www.dunceuponatime.com/why-i-trust-brandon-sanderson

 

I found this blog entry about Brandon Sanderson to be pretty amusing.  Do the rest of you trust Brandon Sanderson the way this man does?  :)

[Elgee]

*giggles* ... well, if all else fails, we might at least have a back-up writer for Terry Pratchett ! This guy is seriously funny  :P

 

 

[Guest leebarr]

That was very funny. thanks for the link. a great read

[JenniferL]

Are...Are those actual pictures?

 

Dammit. I need to get this man out to Dragon*Con!

 

He'll probably be horrified by how much I swear though.

 

Also, this is the first thing I've read online that makes his religion into a positive thing. Honestly people, Jim was religious too. Just because everyone on the internet seems to have converted to enlightened humanism, doesn't mean the rest of the world has too.

[CUBAREY]

Quote:

 

Also, this is the first thing I've read online that makes his religion into a positive thing. Honestly people, Jim was religious too. Just because everyone on the internet seems to have converted to enlightened humanism, doesn't mean the rest of the world has too. 

 

I agree about the only thing that Brandon being a member of LDS means is that we are not likely to get explicite sex scenes or graphic depictions of blood & gore. We did not get them with RJ either. If you like that type of stuff in fantasy go read Goodkind( :o :oBlasphemy :P).

[hurryupnwait]

As a mormon I fail to see the relevance.  The rant was amusing, it always cracks me up that people are so incredulous about a religion that reccomends making good choices i.e. abstaining from alcohol, drugs, extra marital sex, etc.  I mean lets be serious staying away from that stuff wipes out teenages pregnancy, alcoholism, drug  addiction, and so on.  I guess only weirdos want to stay away from those things........

 

Anyway I think Sanderson will do a good job.  He is young enough to stick to the outline without trying to inject his own "brilliance" yet talented enought o pull off the job as well as anyone still living.  All I can say is I am happy its not Terry Goodkind.

[anamul]

According to Brandon....RJ has done some pretty good amount of works on AMOL.

Also being end and main plotline being outlined by RJ.

 

Question is....who name is going in the print as a writter?

It should be like....A memory of light....by Robert Jordan and Brandon sanderson.

 

Anything else will be highly unfair....to the fan and to the writters.

 

Like Wiest Margrarate and Tracy heckman...(sorry if the spelling is wrong).

 

Does any one know what will TOR do on this?

[RobertAlexWillis]

They'll both be on the cover.

 

Q: So is it going to be your book or Robert Jordan's book?

 

A: There is no question: It will be Robert Jordan's book. The notes he left behind are very detailed, particularly with regards to the most important scenes of the book. I will be following his outline with exactness, and including as much of his actual written prose as I can, changing as little as possible.

 

Q: Will your name be on the cover?

 

A: Both names will be on the cover, but the focus will--and should be--on Mr. Jordan's name.

 

http://www.brandonsanderson.com/blog/590/Merry-Christmas!--New-FAQ!

[Jonn]

Quote:

 

Also, this is the first thing I've read online that makes his religion into a positive thing. Honestly people, Jim was religious too. Just because everyone on the internet seems to have converted to enlightened humanism, doesn't mean the rest of the world has too. 

 

I agree about the only thing that Brandon being a member of LDS means is that we are not likely to get explicite sex scenes or graphic depictions of blood & gore. We did not get them with RJ either. If you like that type of stuff in fantasy go read Goodkind( :o :oBlasphemy :P).

 

Do any of you actually know any mormons?

 

It's almost like you guys are taking the most stereotypical caricature of any religion and arbitrarily apply it to every person in that religion, and then you say, "Hehe, I guess that's true, that guy is wacky just like his religion!"

 

I've been to strip clubs with mormons. I've gone to casinos in a bus boozing it up the whole time, with mormons. (Drunken bingo in a bus with a mix of senior citizens and college students on the way to a casino is really fun btw.)

 

I mean, I'm catholic through familial tradition, but then again, I'm not Catholic...

 

While the blog was moderately amusing in some places, it was as the author put it, pretty silly, and I don't mean that as a compliment. Not an insult either in the strictest sense, but I found the ideas contained in the post to be rather indicative of a young man whose levels of tolerance aren't the most vast.

 

Anyhow, I've read both Elantris and Mistborn: The Final Empire, and I found no overt "evidence" of  Brandon Sanderson's religious leanings in either book.

 

For those of you expecting a clean adventurous romp with no complexity and no sex or violence, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that the man deals with all of those issues maturely and with as much subtlety as RJ would himself.

 

In Mistborn, the issues of sex and even rape are mentioned often. Violence in the book is bloody, gory, and...well marvelously fantastic. People are pummeled to death with all manner of objects and even bare hands are used to crush rib cages, faces...Well, just read it, you'll see.

 

Point is, the man is a mormon, but like any human, he acknowledges the world around him. In Brandon Sanderson's case, he acknowledges that the world is more vast than just his own personal view of it and it reflects in his writing.

 

I had misgivings as anyone would, that I didn't know if I can "trust" a new author with the task of completing RJ's monumental epic. I give people the benefit of the doubt more often than not and there was no exception when I learned a little more about Brandon Sanderson. His status as a Mormon did catch my attention, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he's a professional. Harriet sought him out after reading his WORK. It's obvious that he takes his work both very seriously and personally.

 

So, I understand that "Shrek" was trying to be funny and provocative, and for the most part he was. But it's apparent to me that some of us here are taking the next step and offhandedly begin to apply what was supposed to be a joke, as a subconscious judgment of Brandon Sanderson's character as a person.

 

I don't know Brandon Sanderson personally. The author of that blog also said that he does not know Brandon Sanderson personally, but he managed to call into question the man's professional abilities in a casually prejudiced manner that is actually rather disturbing to me. You judge a person by who they are, not the stereotypes of what you assume they should be. My judgment is based solely off of his work and his reputation as a decent man.

[JenniferL]

I'm not a Mormon myself, but I grew up in SLC and I qualify for membership in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. I also worked for two years in a predominantly muslim school, so I have some familiarity with how religious minorities are treated in the US.

 

My comment was referring to the several people I've seen posting on WoTmania and Brandon's own boards commenting on his religion like it would negatively impact the books. This "Shrek" person commented on it as well, but made it seem like a positive thing and compared Brandon to other well know fantasy authors who also happen to be Mormon. I found it to be more of a comment on the commentators than a "Hay guyz! L00k at the weirdo with his funnay religion!" type comment. 

 

Or I'm just part of the vast, Mormon conspiracy to ruin the books. =)

[Guest nephitess]

okie dokie then...while this does have some humor...i do not see any relevance this has to Sanderson's ability to write.

 

I am LDS (Mormon) and am please to see that there are so many authors out there using their talents. *nods* Why does religion have to be such a big deal? *shakes head*

[Jonn]

I'm not a Mormon myself, but I grew up in SLC and I qualify for membership in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. I also worked for two years in a predominantly muslim school, so I have some familiarity with how religious minorities are treated in the US.

 

My comment was referring to the several people I've seen posting on WoTmania and Brandon's own boards commenting on his religion like it would negatively impact the books. This "Shrek" person commented on it as well, but made it seem like a positive thing and compared Brandon to other well know fantasy authors who also happen to be Mormon. I found it to be more of a comment on the commentators than a "Hay guyz! L00k at the weirdo with his funnay religion!" type comment. 

 

Or I'm just part of the vast, Mormon conspiracy to ruin the books. =)

 

Oh, I wasn't referencing your comment. Meaning no offense to CUBAREY, I was talking about his comment that we shouldn't expect gory violence or overt sexual content in the books. The implication was that Sanderson wouldn't be capable of writing of such topics due to his religion. Strangely it was also implied that RJ didn't write gory violence and sex either, which kind of makes me wonder about what CUBAREY defines as sexual or gory violence.

 

Lanfear waving Kadere's skin around like a flag at the docks of Cairhien and all of the spanking in RJ's work...

 

I'll suggest again that people read Mistborn. Their concerns on the matter of both topics will be soothed as will their misgivings about Sanderson's professional abilities.

 

I disagree though in some respects about the blog being positive over all in tone. People have different senses of humor. Then again, I know even less about the author of the blog than I do about Brandon Sanderson. I did browse his home page though and found out that the man was rather young being born in 1985, but obviously has intelligence and a sense of humor to some degree. He also majored in mathematics of some ungodly level reserved for what I can only assume to be a discipline designed for the emotionally unbalanced. This is by his own description mind you.

 

I'm not sure I find the passage about him and the "Indians" that funny. It was kind of sad in a way. Said Indians live in a world where they have historically been marginalized and mistreated by white people, stereotyped and misunderstood, yet "reverse racism" is undeserved. Well, any racism is undeserved, but I think the major problem is that prejudice is misunderstood. There is context.

 

The author mentions being in the back of a truck freezing, and laments being called "Shrek" and an ogre. He fails to emphasize that he was in the back of the truck with his so-called tormentors and they were all freezing in equality. In most cases, given the authors age, these other men have probably been freezing in the back of a truck longer than he has and hence know that drinking beer and joking around helps to keep their minds off freezing in the back of a truck on the way to a job.

 

Now the author goes on to describe his sense of alienation in further detail, again decrying the injustice of being labeled a Mormon of all things. Now, he may have misinterpreted the true meaning of the comment in that most guys like to hang out with guys who are normal, with flaws and a healthy sense of camaraderie through moderate vice. The stereotype that mormons don't have vices was besides the point. The author felt alienated and self-righteous so he transfered that feeling to the stereotype of mormons. He then transfered that, jokingly, to Brandon Sanderson, who undoubtedly does not deserve to be stereotyped and alienated for the sake of a joke.

 

Now while I find such psychoanalysis fascinating, I also cannot fall into the trap of assuming that my impression is the complete truth. If I could simply criticize the writing, I would say that the author lost me when he tried to relate his own personal experience without the proper introspection. His sense of irony was off. Or, perhaps it was too subtle for me to catch cleanly.

 

I suppose he not only managed to stereotype native Americans, and mormons, but young alienated white males as well.

 

I guess it is funny when you think about it that way.

[JenniferL]

I think its clear that you don't like that particular blog and should probably stop reading it. Luckily, there are thousands of others out there that might be more to your liking.

[Kodam]

I think its clear that you don't like that particular blog and should probably stop reading it. Luckily, there are thousands of others out there that might be more to your liking.

 

Agreed.  While browsing through this blog further I found ANOTHER WOT based story that seriously brought tears to my eyes.  I know everyone here has had fantasies about owning a heron marked blade.  Hilarious  =)

 

http://www.dunceuponatime.com/the-wheel-of-time-turns-and-my-parents-still-arent-watching-me

[Viezael]

Hmm...I'm a Mormon and haven't ridden a bike in...at least 5 years.  haha  I guess I better get going... ;)

 

The rant was amusing, but I agree that he had negative stereotypes about a lot of different groups in there...much less PC than things I usually read I guess...

 

The rant also makes me think that this guy has never actually known anyone that is Mormon, and he assumes that we're all alike -- like people of the same religion act the same or something *rolls eyes*.

 

But whatever--could have been worse (as people have pointed out). lol

 

I think Pemberly is his wife's online name/screen name.  I'm not sure, though.  If it is her real name, though, it's kind of cool--Pride and Prejudice and all...

[CUBAREY]

Quote:

 

Oh, I wasn't referencing your comment. Meaning no offense to CUBAREY, I was talking about his comment that we shouldn't expect gory violence or overt sexual content in the books. The implication was that Sanderson wouldn't be capable of writing of such topics due to his religion. Strangely it was also implied that RJ didn't write gory violence and sex either, which kind of makes me wonder about what CUBAREY defines as sexual or gory violence.

 

And you obviously did not read my post very carefully. I talked about explicit sex scenes and graphic depictions of blood and gore and immediately thereafter mentioned Terry Goodkind. Now if Mr. Sanderson was chosen to finish a book imagined and stared by Goodkind I would be dumbfounded as among other things the sex scenes and description of violence in Goodkind's novels are so detailed as to have been described by critics as being almost "pornographic". It is not that the works of  RJ or Sanderson (read his novel in progress Warbreaker) are devoid of violence or sex but that they are muted when compared to those of certain authors especially Goodkind.

 

Frankly the fact that Mr. Sanderson mentions his religion in his Website is significant, one generally does not make a point of referring to his religious affiliation if one does not believe he is following the dictates of his religion  . While simply being a member of a religion does not guarantee that someone will act in a certain way it is indicative. The Mormons have a well earned reputation for not drinking, cursing, taking illicit drugs, using tobacco, etc. There views on sex outside of marriage and their distaste for depictions of graphic violence is also well documented. My implication by referencing Sanderson's membership in LDS was not that he would not be capable of writing explicit sex scenes or graphic depictions of violence but rather that he would (in f=keeping with his faith) choose not to.

 

Your sloppy reading habits also extend to your reading of BC Woods' Web-post. BC Woods did not "decry the injustice" of being called a Mormon, he was alluding to the fact that his co-workers believed him to be a Mormon because he did not drink, do drugs or have sexual relations with prostitutes, all behaviors  that his tormentors associated with Mormons. Second, Mr. Woods clearly describes himself being in the back of the truck and his tormenters being in the cab of the truck so while he was "freezing" they were not.

 

Moreover, it is quite clear from the specific post quoted and others in BC Woods' website, that he writes in a very dark, sarcastic and satiric style.  Much of your dislike of Mr. Woods' writing I believe may come from your dislike or unfamiliarity with this style of writing. Fair enough, but the problem is your preferences in literary styles not with Mr. Woods' views.

 

 

Finally, you write "Well, any racism is undeserved, but I think the major problem is that prejudice is misunderstood. There is context."

This has to be the most idiotic statement I have heard in years. And as a lawyer I hear some rather dumb and idiotic statements every day (and am sometimes compelled to argue them on behalf of my clients).  "Tne problem with prejudice is that it is misunderstood"? I am not even going to  attempt to try and figure out what your point in making this statement was. But, what the hell, is it that you believe that racists are misunderstood or that their actions are a result of a misunderstanding that they suffer from?  In either case your statement should be a bit more clear as to what you are actually trying to convey.

 

 

Quote:

 

[i think Pemberly is his wife's online name/screen name.  I'm not sure, though.  If it is her real name, though, it's kind of cool--Pride and Prejudice and all...][/i]

Ah, another person who picked up on the allusion. So I'm not totally crazy. Another reason to like Brandon Sanderson

[Guest nephitess]

ummmm, lets make sure this stays civil everyone. I don't have any authority here...but just a friendly reminder. :)

[Jonn]

I think its clear that you don't like that particular blog and should probably stop reading it. Luckily, there are thousands of others out there that might be more to your liking.

 

OK, first, uhh... I am more than in my rights to talk about something that has been posted here in this forum. That's what a forum is for, right?

 

I don't have to like it, and in fact, I would be remiss if I did not mention that I don't like something when it's posted, it's much the same as condoning it through silence and or apathy.

 

Now, I don't need to tell you that if someone posts something in the hopes of getting a comment, a genuine comment, then don't be surprised if someone genuinely does not like what you have posted.

 

I genuinely did not like the blog. I did not ask to read it.

 

It was presented with the title Brandon Sanderson and I clicked on it hoping that finally we here would have a nice discussion about the man who is going to complete the colossal task of finishing the great fantasy epic of our time.

 

Instead, we are lead to a, at best, somewhat amusing spoof of Brandon Sanderson. It brings to light valid misgivings and fears of Sanderson's capacity to do RJ justice, and one of the factors is his membership to a church that many find the time to be dismissive of and ridicule. As if most religions weren't in some form, mildly weird anyway.

 

Now, my comment was about stereotyping someone simply because of their religion.

 

I found it difficult to see the humor in the author of that blog basically saying that we should laugh at someone who is very dedicated to his craft and passionate about the art of storytelling...but the funny part is actually his religion.

 

I actually thought much the same lines that it was kind of interesting that Sanderson is Mormon, but having met actual Mormons and people who grew up Mormon, I knew very well what the stereotypes are. It's human nature to laugh at people who are different, so I was no exception. Before I even read one word of Sanderson's work, I was a little concerned as well at first, because I know one extreme of being a Mormon and maybe he leaned towards that extreme. I reserved that feeling though until I could read his work and I was not surprised that he was actually very talented and his religion had little to do with his PROFESSION. Harriet picked him because of his work quality. He might have sealed the deal because he is very polite, and good man, and he may attribute that to his faith, but as we can all rationalize, I doubt Harriet picked him because he was a Mormon. I doubt it had anything to do with her decision to choose him for the task.

 

Now, my problem is when people have already made a snap decision about Sanderson because he is a Mormon. That is prejudiced.

 

Making a joke about it regardless of whether or not you mean it to be harmless, I'm sorry, is based on the prejudiced notion that somehow his work will be affected by his religion. That doesn't exclude the possibility that the joke will be funny, but hey, we all know that a joke is all about the delivery, and I really didn't care for that in the guy's blog.

 

And CUBAREY, you seem a little unhinged by this simple statement.

 

The reason why prejudice is misunderstood is because we don't always have the full story as to why someone acts upon their prejudice.

 

EVERYONE have prejudiced views. EVERY ONE. That's human. It's whether or not we choose to act on those views or whether or not we express them without explanation, this is always misunderstood, because the first reaction is usually anger and we fail to see through to the context of someone's actions.

 

I honestly wondered at the fact that I could detect genuine anger at those men in the truck with the author. His anger included the feelings he felt after being called a Mormon because of the way he presented himself. The anecdote said a lot about where he was coming from in regards to what he thought about Mormons.

 

It's ironic because he felt himself to be the victim of prejudice and he did nothing less than perpetuate that same prejudiced towards someone he doesn't even know. If that's what he finds funny, then hey, like I said. We all have different senses of humor.

 

That was my opinion on the matter of the blog and I'll say it all day because it's pertinent to the topic.

 

Now as for being called idiotic, I've been called worse. I do not, however, warm to the idea  of people thinking they can insult me to make themselves look better. I NEVER tolerate that.

 

CUBAREY. I know you're a lawyer and all, but if you would be so kind as to read my post again, you will see that I meant no disrespect to you at all. Even if I disagree with someone, it is only out of respect that I mention my point of view because I have the hope that I can be understood. You were not the only one to express the opinion that you thought that there would be an affect on the man's writing because of his religion. Still, I did quote you and clarification was needed because Kathana assumed that I was talking to her. There was nothing personal against you in my comment.

 

If you actually do hold to the idea that we should look out for Sanderson's religion affecting his work, then we surely can discuss that. I note that his previous work though is evidence that his religion has little if any substantial effect on the man's work. Also, Harriet is an intelligent woman and a skilled editor. She would have taken to mind anything and everything that could distort RJ's vision of the last book. She gave Sanderson the green light rather enthusiastically and I also trust that to be strong evidence against the idea that the Mormon faith is a hindrance to the job he has to do.

 

I do think it is an important topic and I do take the stance that if you read the man's work it will allay your fears that he will let his religion warp the last book. I know from experience that not everyone is the same as the stereotype of them would say.

 

I am a minority and a catholic, and I've had my fair share of stereotypes thrown at me and let me tell you that there are some things that are stereotypical that apply to me, but most of these views do not.

 

I genuinely don't think it's funny or appropriate to run with the idea of a stereotype defining who someone is. With the proper delivery, anything can be funny, but sadly that young man's blog failed to convince me of the veracity of this idea.

[Majsju]

So, here's the deal...Like the blog, dislike the blog, or don't care. But do not use it as an excuse to throw dirt at mormons. Capice?

[CUBAREY]

Quote:

 

I honestly wondered at the fact that I could detect genuine anger at those men in the truck with the author. His anger included the feelings he felt after being called a Mormon because of the way he presented himself. The anecdote said a lot about where he was coming from in regards to what he thought about Mormons.

 

Are you really that dense? BC Woods was being tormented by his co-workers because he seemed to share many traits that they apparently believed are possessed by Mormons. Nothing in the post places Mormons in a bad light. The post also does not imply that the author felt ill-will towards his tormenters because they called him a Mormon, he felt ill-will towards them because he had beer cans thrown at his head. Moreover, the author goes out of his way to indicate that concerns that Sanderson is not upto the job of finishing AMOL because of his membership in LDS are unfounded by pointing out that there is a rich tradition of Mormons who are also great fantasy writers(Concerns that by your own explicite statements you shared until you read Sanderson's works). If anything, BC Woods exhibits a less prejudiced view of Mormons then you do.

 

I am not unhinged I simply despise people who are so PC that they can not distinguish between stereotypes and Archetypes. They are both generalizations true, but the former is negative and meant to be abusive, the latter is positive and complimentary. I also have known many Mormons, a few have been despicable human beings but the

vast majority I found to be moral and family-oriented, two traits that I find to be quite complimentary.

 

My own post made it quite clear that the only thing that might be effected by Sanderson's membership in LDS is that he would not likely write explicite sex scenes or graphic depictions of violence. I also pointed out that this should not be a concern as RJ himself never wrote explicite sex scenes or graphic depictions of violalence. I also made a snide remark about Terry Goodkind who does write explicite sex scenes and graphic depictions of violence.

 

That you did not find the post funny or humorous is your right. To misstate the contents or the author's intent is not.

[RobertAlexWillis]

So, here's the deal...Like the blog, dislike the blog, or don't care. But do not use it as an excuse to throw dirt at mormons. Capice?

 

Its OK, Maj.  We can just put the dirt in our gardens.  ;D

[Darth_Andrea]

So, here's the deal...Like the blog, dislike the blog, or don't care. But do not use it as an excuse to throw dirt at mormons. Capice?

 

Its OK, Maj.  We can just put the dirt in our gardens.  ;D

 

I don't throw dirt at Mormons, I have chalk outlines in my front lawn that keeps them away.

 

 

 

Just kidding don't kill me lol

 

 

 

[glow=green,1,500]Darth_Andrea[/glow]

[RobertAlexWillis]

Just kidding don't kill me lol

 

Killing is against our rules too ... -sigh-

 

;)

[Luckers]

Can I throw dirt at you Robert? For the gardening... yes. The gardening.

 

:)

[RobertAlexWillis]

Somehow, I always end up using your dirt for the rocky decorative border, Luckers ...  :-\

 

Seriously though?  I got stoned once, the biblical kind, too, not with drugs ...

 

well ...

 

a bunch of little kids threw rocks at us ... does that count?