Brandon Sanderson, a prolific fantasy author and a noted scholar of the genre, has identified a core pitfall within epic fantasy, using HBO's "Game of Thrones" as a prime example. In a recent discussion with fellow author Joe Abercrombie, Sanderson elaborated on how expansive fantasy narratives, while offering deep immersion, risk losing their personal connection to characters.
Sanderson explained that epic fantasy's strength lies in its ability to allow extensive world-building and reader immersion. However, he cautioned that this can become a "danger" if not carefully managed. "Epic fantasy has this danger. It starts very personal, and then it can drift away from being personal about the characters if you're not careful," Sanderson stated. He observed this tendency in both "Game of Thrones" and "The Wheel of Time," noting that authors can become more captivated by secondary characters, which can dilute the core narrative's emotional impact.
This challenge is exacerbated by the inclusion of maps, a common element in epic fantasy. While "I love maps," Abercrombie conceded, he also noted the potential for "lazy application of maps." Sanderson added that introducing a map creates reader expectations for realism and can lead to logistical storytelling problems. He pointed to later seasons of "Game of Thrones" as an instance where the vast distances and travel times implied by maps created narrative inconsistencies: "how did they get from here to here?"
George R.R. Martin, author of the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series upon which "Game of Thrones" is based, has openly discussed the difficulties in narrowing the scope of his epic saga. The series, planned for seven books, has seen five published, with the sixth, "The Winds of Winter," in development for many years. The television adaptation's narrative progression surpassing the books is also cited as a complicating factor.
Sanderson is currently engaged in adapting his own epic fantasy works for television and film, including a "Mistborn" movie for Apple and a "Stormlight Archive" TV series. His deep consideration of "Game of Thrones'" storytelling challenges likely stems from these endeavors, seeking to navigate the genre's inherent complexities effectively.