How to Introduce Sanderson to a Friend

[Patar]

So I have a problem. I really want to get some of my friends into some of Brandon's books, especially the Cosmere ones, but I don't quite know how. Whenever I try, I either rush everything and don't make it interesting enough,or make it seem way to confusing and overwhelming when I tell them most of his books are in the same universe. I also try to avoid spoiling stuff about the Cosmere, such as Hoid and Adonalsium, because I want to see if they can figure it out on their own. So do you guys have any advice?  

[Zathoth]

"Read Mistborn"

 

Worked on two friends, my cousin and my sister.

[Titan Arum]

With my mother and coworkers, I simply said they should read Mistborn because it's a story unlike any they have read before with amazing world-building and a very innovative and novel magic system. Granted, I start with people who at least appreciate fantasy. I then lend them my copy of the Mistborn trilogy. To date this has worked with everyone who I've actually physically given a copy of on of Brandon's books to. 

 

Two weeks ago my mother finished reading all of Brandon's Cosmere books...in less than three months. She loved them and told me that she hasn't read anything so fascinating in years. I saw her a week ago and all she wanted to talk about were theories related to the Cosmere. She caught on to Hoid very quickly and asked me if some other characters, who are known worldhoppers, were who she thought they were. Now I'm lobbying her to join the 17th Shard. 

[Haelbarde]

My sister outright refuses to read books that I suggest. This understandably made it challenging to introduce her to the books. So my infection vector was telling her about all the interesting RP's associated with this site. Your mileage may vary (my sister was big on forum RP's from other places on the internet).

[Chaos]

Moving topic to General Brandon Discussion.

[acatnamedkaren]

I look out for people who already love fantasy. They usually go straight into mistborn when I lent them a physical copy.

 

Another strategy is I put "cosmere fangirl" on every social media I join. Multiple people have approached me and asked "What is cosmere?"

Proceed to explaination. Sucess rate: 2 highschoolers.

[Patar]

News my friends! I may have introduced someone to Mistborn entirely by chance. I was playing some video games in my dorm room, and the guy in the room next to me came in to see what I was up to. I knew that he was at least somewhat into fantasy, we had had several discussions about LOTR, and we decided that we are going to marathon the movies during finals week. But back on topic. We got into talking about fantasy, and he described to me a series called the Lightbringer series, which seems interesting. He then looked at my desk, and noticed a book that I had just finished rereading. He then asked a question that I was waiting to answer: "What's Mistborn?"

 

I explained the basic concept to him, and he seemed really interested. I let him know he could borrow it whenever he wanted, and he said as soon as he finished Lightbringer he would. I didn't mention the Cosmere at all, I'll bring that up at a later time. But thanks guys! I'll definitely have to try some of the other methods you mentioned.