It is possible I was wrong about Sanderson’s volume issue — turns out half the pages means half the quality as well.

I don’t do well receiving direct critique on my writing (a quality I’m not proud of), but filling up the mental vacuum where direct and relevant advice ought to go is instead a collection of instagram and Reddit writing suggestions. One such suggestion, meant to help with overcoming writer’s block, centers around the reimagining of classic stories from the antagonist’s (or protagonist’s, whomever received less focus) point of view. I can only assume our friend Brandon also received the same advice, as this book happens to be an intensely watered-down replica of “God Emperor of Dune.”

Tyrannical, theocratic, functionally immortal ruler who directs breeding programs and considers his own tyranny ultimately benevolent, a la Leto II? Introducing the Lord Ruler.

Future-telling drug hoarded by said ruler (melange)? Try Atrium.

Evolutionary ability to manipulate others’ emotions, wielded by robed, mystical-seeming figures (The Voice)? Perhaps brass-pushing could be of service.

Ghostly, apparently soulless entities capable of replicating any figure through the scavenging of their remains (gholas)? May I offer you a kandra.

Human computers capable of storing and retrieving an incredible degree of history and information (mentats)? But of course, we have Sazed and the Terrismen.

However dramatic the overlap, all would be forgiven if the writing showed even the slightest sliver of artistic flair, but boy does it not. Unlike Stormlight Archives, where Sanderson at least provides a few buffer chapters between exposition dumps, Mistborn One is all tell and almost zero show. Pages and pages are wasted on the precise limits of Mistborn’s magic system, whereas the final confrontation takes at most a paragraph, and reveals basically nothing about arguably the most interesting idea/character in the book. I assume he expands on the character more in the remaining books, but for now the omission just reminds me there is a far better book to read.

I still like Vin and Sazed and Kelsier and whatever. The action is fine. Sanderson does seem to toe the line between adult and YA writing, but at the very least, his long-deceased tropes are still preferable to the every-character-is-the-snarky-precocious-younger-sibling-from-a-disney-movie vibe that has infected so many of his contemporaries.

Also — 16/17 and 21? What are we doing here Sanderson?