A little late to the show

[Paul SB]

Hello,

I signed up for this a couple months ago, but found myself too busy for a while to pay much attention. Now I'm trying to jump in. I'm mostly a sci-fi fan, and people usually call what I write space opera, which tells me that they're missing the actual science I have in there (mostly anthropology and biology). I do read other genres, but not as frequently, so my critiques would likely be less insightful.

[IcedOutPenguin He/Him]

Welcome to the Shard!

Would you mind telling us which of Brandon's books you've read?

[Dilly honor spren she/her]

Hello and welcome,

quick question: have you eaten any trees recently?

[CoderDrag0n8 He/They]

3 hours ago, Paul SB said:

Hello,

I signed up for this a couple months ago, but found myself too busy for a while to pay much attention. Now I'm trying to jump in. I'm mostly a sci-fi fan, and people usually call what I write space opera, which tells me that they're missing the actual science I have in there (mostly anthropology and biology). I do read other genres, but not as frequently, so my critiques would likely be less insightful.

Do you like dragons?

[KaladinsSenseOfHumourSpren He/Him]

4 hours ago, Paul SB said:

Hello,

I signed up for this a couple months ago, but found myself too busy for a while to pay much attention. Now I'm trying to jump in. I'm mostly a sci-fi fan, and people usually call what I write space opera, which tells me that they're missing the actual science I have in there (mostly anthropology and biology). I do read other genres, but not as frequently, so my critiques would likely be less insightful.

Hello!

Have you read Ender's Game, The Three-Body Problem, Red Rising or Dune?

Have you read all of the Cosmere?

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Hey there! Welcome to the Shard!

Which of Brandon's books have you read?

[Paul SB]

On 6/1/2025 at 1:07 PM, Dilly honor spren said:

Hello and welcome,

quick question: have you eaten any trees recently?

No, I'm afraid I haven't, but if you put cardamon in your coffee it tastes like drinking a pine tree. I'm particularly fond of conifers - probably a result of growing up in Colorado.

On 6/1/2025 at 2:04 PM, KaladinsSenseOfHumorSpren said:

Hello!

Have you read Ender's Game, The Three-Body Problem, Red Rising or Dune?

Have you read all of the Cosmere?

None of the above, to be perfectly frank. I was an avid reader from about 3rd Grade until the economy drove me out of my dream job and I became a high school science teacher. Once you become a teacher you can just about forget your life. A health condition blew me out of teaching, so I've been in a renaissance of reading ever since. I alternate between fiction and non-fiction, though. I've always found the science to be a great source of inspiration for creative writing.

17 hours ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Hey there! Welcome to the Shard!

Which of Brandon's books have you read?

To be perfectly frank, I don't even know who Brandon is. A former member of this forum (J.S. Fields) recommended it to me.

[Treamayne]

Welcome to the Shard. Please see the Sharder FAQ for forum tips and info. 

2 hours ago, Paul SB said:

None of the above, to be perfectly frank. I was an avid reader from about 3rd Grade until the economy drove me out of my dream job and I became a high school science teacher. Once you become a teacher you can just about forget your life. A health condition blew me out of teaching, so I've been in a renaissance of reading ever since. I alternate between fiction and non-fiction, though. I've always found the science to be a great source of inspiration for creative writing.

To be perfectly frank, I don't even know who Brandon is. A former member of this forum (J.S. Fields) recommended it to me.

It is, primarily, a Sanderson Fan site - but all fans are welcome and there is a thriving community of general sharing (such as the Reading Recommendation  Thread)

Sanderson has a number of IPs, the largest of which is the Cosmere (one of many Reading Order threads). Nickle Summaries:

• Cosmere - Hard Fantasy multiple stand-alone and series constructed so a reader can read one or all, as their preferences dictate, primarily based on the concept of Magic explored through the Scientific method such that the worlds start mostly fantasy and work toward space opera themes and structure
• Reckoners - MG/YA Dystopian Urban fantasy - superpowers come to Earth, but using the powers drives one insane - there are no heroes, only villains (and how such affects the world). Trilogy +1 short story. Complete (for now)
• Cytoverse - MG/YA Sci Fan - Dystopian Space Opera - Humanity has spread in the galaxy and is currently trapped on a prison world until they once again learn FTL. Four novels, one prequel short story and three novellas. Complete for now, but with a spin-off coming soon.
• Legion - Urban Sci-Fan - Three novellas - Complete - Stephen Leeds is a genius Schizophrenic with DID, and the result of the two conditions is he hallucinates his multiple personalities. He claims he doesn't actually "know much" but each of his personaltiies is an expert in their field of study (when he learns somethign new, he manifests a new personality to personify that knowlegde)
• Multiple other stand-alone Novels, novellas, and short-stories
  • Based on your stated interests, I would recommend Firstborn Novella as a good sample of Brandon's writing style (free on the linked website)
  • Of the son of a High Duke of the interstellar Empire, much glory is expected. And expected. And still expected, despite endless proof that young Dennison Crestmar has no talent…

Please feel free to share what you have read and enjoyed (here, in the linked Recommended Reading thread, or in the What are you Reading? thread). More info on what you previously enjoyed can help us make recommendations to you or help you discover if Sanderson is an author you would enjoy. 

Hope that helps

Edited June 3, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Paul SB]

8 hours ago, Treamayne said:

Welcome to the Shard. Please see the Sharder FAQ for forum tips and info. 

It is, primarily, a Sanderson Fan site - but all fans are welcome and there is a thriving community of general sharing (such as the Reading Recommendation  Thread)

Sanderson has a number of IPs, the largest of which is the Cosmere (one of many Reading Order threads). Nickle Summaries:

• Cosmere - Hard Fantasy multiple stand-alone and series constructed so a reader can read one or all, as their preferences dictate, primarily based on the concept of Magic explored through the Scientific method such that the worlds start mostly fantasy and work toward space opera themes and structure
• Reckoners - MG/YA Dystopian Urban fantasy - superpowers come to Earth, but using the powers drives one insane - there are no heroes, only villains (and how such affects the world). Trilogy +1 short story. Complete (for now)
• Cytoverse - MG/YA Sci Fan - Dystopian Space Opera - Humanity has spread in the galaxy and is currently trapped on a prison world until they once again learn FTL. Four novels, one prequel short story and three novellas. Complete for now, but with a spin-off coming soon.
• Legion - Urban Sci-Fan - Three novellas - Complete - Stephen Leeds is a genius Schizophrenic with DID, and the result of the two conditions is he hallucinates his multiple personalities. He claims he doesn't actually "know much" but each of his personaltiies is an expert in their field of study (when he learns somethign new, he manifests a new personality to personify that knowlegde)
• Multiple other stand-alone Novels, novellas, and short-stories
  • Based on your stated interests, I would recommend Firstborn Novella as a good sample of Brandon's writing style (free on the linked website)
  • Of the son of a High Duke of the interstellar Empire, much glory is expected. And expected. And still expected, despite endless proof that young Dennison Crestmar has no talent…

Please feel free to share what you have read and enjoyed (here, in the linked Recommended Reading thread, or in the What are you Reading? thread). More info on what you previously enjoyed can help us make recommendations to you or help you discover if Sanderson is an author you would enjoy. 

Hope that helps

Okay, thanks for the run-down. I'm happy to try new things, of course, though these days I get little time to actually sit down and read. I have two kids with ASD. They eat up a lot of time. I do, however, spend a lot of time trapped on the highways, so most of my "reading" in the last few years has actually been listening.