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| Mistborn | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mistborn |
| Author | Brandon Sanderson |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy novel series |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
| First | 2006 |
| Media type | Print, e-book, audiobook |
Mistborn is a fantasy novel series by Brandon Sanderson that began with a 2006 novel and expanded into multiple trilogies, novellas, and related works. The series is set in a secondary world with a distinctive alchemical magic system, political upheaval, and a history of cataclysmic events. Its publication and adaptations have connected it to Tor Books, Orbit Books, and multimedia projects including role-playing and potential film and television discussions.
Mistborn is a multi-era epic fantasy franchise created by Brandon Sanderson after he completed the Wheel of Time series with Robert Jordan's notes and worked alongside Harriet McDougal. The series is divided into planned eras: an initial trilogy often associated with high fantasy readership, a subsequent contemporary-steampunk era, and planned modern and futuristic eras. The property intersects with other Sanderson projects within the Cosmere fictional universe, alongside works such as Elantris, Warbreaker, and the Stormlight Archive. Its commercial success placed Sanderson among bestselling authors like George R. R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss in genre markets and contributed to award nominations including the David Gemmell Legend Award and the Hugo Award longlist consideration.
The series is set primarily on a continent known as the Final Empire in the first era, a world shaped by the cataclysmic Ascension events tied to the God King figure and later political revolutions. The magic system centers on Allomancy, an art in which practitioners metabolize metallic elements to gain abilities. Allomancy is complemented by related arts: Feruchemy, a discipline used by the Terris people to store attributes, and Hemalurgy, a darker practice associated with the Lord Ruler's regime and the creation of Inquisitors. Metals such as steel, iron, pewter, and gold function as metaphysical catalysts; practitioners are classified as Mistings or Mistborn based on their range of abilities. The cosmology ties into the broader Cosmere metaphysics, involving entities like Shards, including Preservation and Ruin, and locations such as Luthadel and the mists that envelop the world. Technological levels shift across eras, reflecting influences from Industrial Revolution-era technology in later volumes and steampunk aesthetics linked to airships and clockwork motifs.
The first era, often referred to as the original trilogy, follows a heist-and-revolution arc focusing on overthrowing the immortal ruler known as the Lord Ruler and addressing the balance between Preservation and Ruin. The second era shifts to a detective-and-political-intrigue format set in a more industrialized society, featuring mysteries in cities like Elendel and events involving guilds, corporations, and declining noble houses. Interstitial novellas and short stories connect the eras and expand on characters from places such as the Pits of Hathsin and the noble district of Cett. The overarching narrative explores the consequences of changing power, the aftermath of wars like the cataclysm that shaped the world, and long-term plans tied to the Cosmere's confrontation with cosmic-level forces. Structure-wise, the series uses multiple viewpoints, time jumps, and interludes to reveal plot threads across works published by Tor Books and Dragonsteel Entertainment.
Key figures span eras and social strata: revolutionaries, nobles, scholars, and supernatural beings. Prominent first-era characters include leaders from urban centers such as Luthadel and members of noble houses; central protagonists engage with mentors, rebels, and antagonists tied to Shardic conflicts. Second-era protagonists include police detectives, noble heirs, and inventors operating in cities influenced by New Seran-style governance and industrial capitalists. Recurring roles involve members of religious or scholarly institutions such as the Terris Keepers, the Kandra—shapechanging servants created via Hemalurgy—and various agent networks. Antagonists have included immortal rulers, corporate magnates, and supernatural constructs allied to Ruin or corrupted Shards. Characters interact with organizations like the Steel Ministry-analogues, merchant consortia, and local militias emerging from uprisings.
Themes include the moral complexity of power, sacrifice, and the ethics of revolutionary violence as reflected in confrontations with figures resembling messianic rulers like the Lord Ruler. The series interrogates free will versus predestination through Shardic influence and artifacts, echoing motifs common to works like The Lord of the Rings and Dune in scale and political intrigue. Social stratification, class struggle, and the legacy of trauma from events akin to apocalyptic wars inform character motivations, paralleling narratives found in Les Misérables-style revolution literature and Victorian-era industrial critique. Sanderson's formal training at Brigham Young University and engagement with fan communities such as Tor.com and Goodreads influenced worldbuilding and serialized storytelling choices. Philosophical influences include debates familiar to readers of Isaac Asimov and Ursula K. Le Guin regarding the role of heroes and institutions.
The original novel was published by Tor Books in 2006 and later expanded through publishing partnerships with Orbit Books for international editions and Macmillan Audio for audiobooks narrated by performers who gained followings on platforms like Audible. The franchise has spawned role-playing adaptations and fan projects, attracting critical commentary from outlets including Publishers Weekly, Locus Magazine, and online periodicals. Sales placed Sanderson on bestseller lists compiled by The New York Times and USA Today, and academic interest has produced theses and panels at conventions such as Worldcon and Comic-Con International. Reception highlighted inventive magic mechanics and pacing, while some critics debated characterization and tonal shifts between eras. The series continues to be influential in fantasy publishing, with future volumes anticipated by both Tor Books and readers in fandom spaces like Reddit and Stormlight Archive-adjacent forums.
Category:Cosmere novels Category:Fantasy novel series