I do not trust the long fantasy epic. I might be exposing myself as a cultural philistine, but there is so much that can go wrong with them, that it makes it hard for me to get into a new one. To be clear, this is not a universal rule. There are some authors so acclaimed and reliable that I would read their longer works without question. For me, it’s Tolkien (except the Silmarillion), C.S. Lewis, and Brandon Sanderson. These writers, either by reading so many of their shorter works, or by their unquestionable thrones in the genre, have earned my trust. But for authors without this, a long epic is a harder sell for me.
One big issue is, many great fantasy epics remain unfinished. George R. R. Martin’s last book in the A Song of Ice & Fire series is still missing the last title, and has been for at least a decade. I do sympathize with his writer’s block, but the dismal finale of the show (that I haven’t finished), combined with that missing last title, means I’m unlikely to read that series. Closer to home, I was devastated to learn that the Name of the Wind never got its third installment. I’m not eager to relive that heartbreak with another series.
But even when an author has finished a book series, I find myself needing a sample platter of their work before I start. If they have a collection of short stories. or a standalone fantasy work, that does wonders for my trust in the author. My first introduction to Brandon Sanderson’s writing was through his secret projects. I read The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England and enjoyed it thoroughly. That led me to read Tress of the Emerald Sea, which finally led me to read Mistborn. There was still some stylistic difference between those stories, but those previous two titles gave me enough faith in Sanderson to hear him out. Maybe once I finish The Hero of Ages, I’ll trust him enough to try The Way of Kings.
So those are my two conditions for starting a new fantasy series. The author needs to finish the series, and have some other work for me to try out before I sink my whole life into their work. What about you? What does do authors of fantasy epics need to do to earn your trust? Let us know on the Boss Rush Discord.
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