Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson has identified a common pitfall in epic fantasy, using HBO's "Game of Thrones" as a prime example of how sprawling worlds can sometimes detract from the core narrative and character development. In a discussion with fellow author Joe Abercrombie, Sanderson explained that while the expansive nature of epic fantasy allows for deep world immersion, it carries the inherent risk of losing the personal touch.
"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 noted that authors can sometimes become more engrossed in secondary characters as a series progresses, a tendency he observed in both "Game of Thrones" and "The Wheel of Time." The challenge, he elaborated, is maintaining a fresh, personal, and exciting tone in a narrative that grows to such a vast scale.
Sanderson also highlighted the logistical challenges that can arise from detailed world-building, particularly when maps are involved. "And once you put the map in, you run into some problems. Maybe like some later Game of Thrones seasons, we're like, ‘Well, how did they get from here to here?’" he said. He explained that a commitment to realism in depicting travel and geography within a fantasy world can create narrative constraints that are difficult to resolve, a struggle that "Game of Thrones" reportedly faced in its later seasons.
Sanderson's observations come as he himself navigates the adaptation of his own epic fantasy works for television and film. He is currently involved in projects including a "Mistborn" movie screenplay and a "Stormlight Archive" TV pilot, making the successes and struggles of "Game of Thrones" a relevant case study for his own endeavors.