13 Years Later, Brandon Sanderson’s Only Hugo Award-Winning Fantasy Book Is More Important Than Ever To Read
In two decades of publishing novels, Mistborn author Brandon Sanderson has only one Hugo Award for writing, and it’s for this fantasy story that’s more exciting than ever to revisit. The Hugo Awards are among the most prestigious in speculative fiction writing, and they’ve been granted to legendary authors like Philip K. Dick, Frank Herbert, and Ursula K. Le Guin. While they’ve typically leaned more toward sci-fi in the past, fantasy books like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire have managed to win. Out of all of Brandon Sanderson’s books, he’s only won once.
Brandon Sanderson is a highly-regarded fantasy author behind titles like The Stormlight Archive and Mistborn, both of which are included in his vast Cosmere universe. The only time Sanderson has been nominated for the Hugo for Best Novel is for 2013’s A Memory of Light, the final book of The Wheel of Time series, which he finished following the original author, Robert Jordan, passed away. Brandon Sanderson has been nominated twice in another category, however, and it’s the one he won for.
The Hugo-Winning Emperor’s Soul Takes Place On The Same World As Elantris
The Emperor’s Soul Is Sanderson’s Best Work On Sel
The Emperor’s Soul is a 2012 novella that earned Brandon Sanderson the Hugo Award for Best Novella, and it’s widely considered to be among his best works. The novella is set on the same planet as Elantris, Sel, but it has almost no connections to the 2005 novel and can be enjoyed as a quick-read standalone. Sanderson is known for finding ways to weave his books together, but this is one of the few Cosmere stories that readers can enjoy on its own.
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The Emperor’s Soul is more exciting to read now than ever because Brandon Sanderson’s upcoming books include two more Elantris novels. After so long, Brandon Sanderson’s first published book is finally taking its place as one of the premier theaters of the Cosmere’s future. While I hope The Emperor’s Soul remains a standalone, it would be nice to see it at least referenced in the future Elantris books.
Brandon Sanderson also won a Hugo Award for co-hosting the podcast Writing Excuses.
Brandon Sanderson’s 2012 Novella Is A Must-Read Before His Elantris Sequels
The Emperor’s Soul Showcases Just How Amazing Sel Can Be
Elantris isn’t an awful book, but it’s far from Brandon Sanderson’s best. Even he has admitted that, while it led to masterpieces like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, it’s not his strongest writing. The Emperor’s Soul, on the other hand, demonstrates the beauty of Sel and the potential the planet has for masterful storytelling. Even though it’s not narratively connected to the upcoming Elantris sequels, as far as we know, it’s the perfect window to get an idea of the potential those books might have.
Summary
The Mistborn series, created by Brandon Sanderson, is a high-fantasy saga set in the world of Scadrial, where magic is powered by metals through a system called Allomancy. The series focuses on political intrigue, heists, and the battle between good and evil. The first trilogy, Mistborn: The Final Empire, follows the struggle to overthrow a tyrannical ruler, the Lord Ruler. Later books in the series, including Era 2, take place hundreds of years after the events of the original trilogy, expanding the story into new settings with new characters, all while maintaining connections to the original storyline.
