Is Brandon Sanderson the Best Fantasy Author?
No, not by a long shot. He's neither new nor brilliant. Think of his works as the fast food of fantasy literature. Fans accept anything, but that doesn't make it the best.
Brandon Sanderson: A Fan's Perspective
I don't think Sanderson can be objectively called the best current author. But personally, I absolutely consider Brandon Sanderson to be the best in multiple categories such as world-building, subversion, discussing mental health issues, writing speed, and fan engagement. However, his imperfections are also undeniable. The pacing in his books often starts slow, and he struggles with romance. His prose is not the best among currently active writers, and some of his stories feel repetitive.
Ranking Sanderson among Darker Authors
It might be unfair to rank Sanderson in the same category as grim and dark authors like Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence, as he has openly stated he doesn't want to write in that genre. While one can argue that Sanderson can be humorous and subvert expectations, he falls short in terms of darkness and grittiness compared to the works of those authors.
Defining a 'New Author'
I love Sanderson, but I don't consider him the "best" or "new" author. For starters, calling someone a "new author" when they've been winning awards for 15 years seems contradictory. The term "new author" can be subjective, but one could argue it starts with the first professional sale within the last two years, as with the Astounding Award for Best New Writer or the Campbell Award. However, the recent eligibility list for these awards is hardly recognizable, and many recent favorites started at roughly the same time as Sanderson.
The Case of N.K. Jemisin
The true test of a "new" author might be comparing someone like N.K. Jemisin, who had her first published work a year before Sanderson's. Despite taking a few years to start writing novels (her first was published in 2010), Jemisin has made up for lost time by winning almost every significant award in the literary world. Her best works, such as The Fifth Season and The City We Became, demonstrate an incredible talent and are absolutely astounding.
So, while Brandon Sanderson is indeed a talented and highly acclaimed author, claiming him as the "best" new author or the "best" fantasy author stretches the truth. His contributions to the genre, particularly in the areas of world-building and fan engagement, cannot be denied, but there are other authors who have surpassed him in various aspects of the craft.
Ultimately, the term "best" is subjective, and different readers and critics will have their own opinions. While Sanderson remains one of the most popular and respected authors in the fantasy genre, there are always others who are just as, if not more, deserving of the title.