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Interview #428: BarnesandNoble.com Book Club Q&A with Brandon Sanderson, Entry #14

Chubby_Monkey

As The Gathering Storm draws near release, there are many WOT fans that have a large worry that you will not do RJ justice and ruin his series (especially after 4 years of waiting). How big of a worry is this for you, having to fill his shoes, and what are you doing to prepare yourself?

Brandon Sanderson

They are right to worry, and I don’t blame them at all. They have no assurance whatsoever that I won’t ruin their book—the past has proven, I think, that series get ruined more than they get saved when a new author steps in.

I hope, very sincerely, to be in the second category, the one who saves a series rather than kills it. But only November will offer any proof other than my word, and I fully expect people to worry right up until they’ve read the novel.

The only preparation a person could really have for something like this was to be a lifelong fan. I think this book is good. I think it is VERY good. I’m not worried any more myself, though I was quite worried when I began.

What can I offer fans right now? Only the promise that the book has had Harriet and Mr. Jordan’s assistants working from the beginning to make certain I didn’t screw it up. Beyond that, I’ve made it my first priority to stay true to his wishes and notes, and not deviate unless there is a very, very good reason.

(The only times I’ve ‘deviated’ was in to offer more explanation or depth to a scene. I haven’t cut anything he wanted to be in the book, save for a few places where he contradicted himself. I.E. There were some scenes where he said “I’m thinking of doing this or this” or “I’m thinking of doing this, but I don’t know.” In those places, I’ve made the final call.)

All I can ask is this. Give me a chance. Read the book. After that, we’ll talk.

(The most stressful part is probably the realization that no matter what I do, I won’t be able to please everyone. Robert Jordan couldn’t do that himself. So I will fail some of you. But I hope to please the vast majority of you.)

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