A Grain of Sanderson
by Graham Gillman, Taylor Lane, Jack McLaughlan
From the fantasy epics of the Cosmere to the defunct mobile game companion books, Graham, Jack, and Taylor attempt to read every published work by Brandon Sanderson, in publication order. We hope to gain a better understanding of who he is as an author, how his writing changes over time, and his broader effect on the fantasy genre. Starting with Elantris and finishing half a decade from now, please join us as we travel out of the wardrobe, and onto the wagon train. New episodes the second Tuesday of the month.
Episodes
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Firefight - Episode 25
Today we read all of The Reckoners Book 2: Firefight, one of the best books we've read from Sanderson and our favorite episode we've recorded this year. Next time we're reading Shadows of Self, which will release either the 15th or the 22nd. Content warnings for this episode: aliens, apathy,...
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Allomancer Jak & Legion: Skin Deep - Episode 24
We're back with two more Sanderson short stories, Allomancer Jak & Legion: Skin Deep! Next episode we're reading all of Firefight! Episode airs: September 1 2026 Content warnings for this episode: ableism, assassination, atheism, betrayal, bleeding, body modification, cancer, Catholicism,...
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Sixth of the Dusk, Dreamer, and Way of Kings Prime - Episode 23
This time around we read all of Sixth of the Dusk, Dreamer, and Way of Kings Prime! Next episode we're reading Legion: Skin Deep & Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania! Episode airs: August 18 2026 Huge thanks to Eamonn Tee for joining us this episode for a discussion on Sixth of the Dusk!...
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The Words of Radiance - Episode 22
Many Apologies for this being so long overdue. I promise the next few will come out sooner. Due to a file corruption issue, The Episodes for Shadows for Silence Through the Forests of Hell and Mitosis have been lost. I'm going to try restore as much as is salvageable from that episode before the...
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Steelheart - Episode 20
Happy New Year! I am so sorry this episode is so late. Next episode, about Mitosis and Shadows for Silence Through the Forests of Hell will be out much, much sooner. Content warnings for this episode: beheadings, being unhoused, betrayal, bleeding, bullying, Christianity, conspiracies, corpses,...
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Infinity Blade Redemption And River of Souls - Episode 19
We read read truly one of the most baffling books we've ever tackled with special guest Sophie Abromowitz! Oh and a Wheel of Time cut chapter too. Sophie's Vampire Short Story: https://thebrooklynreview.com/2025/10/31/rules-for-vampires-sophie-abromowitz/ Sophie Substack:...
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The Rithmatist & A Memory of Light - Episode 18
We're back with The Rithmatist! To skip A Memory of Light, Go to 29:41 Next month we'll be reading Infinity Blade Redemption & River of Souls. Episode airs October 7th. Content warnings for this episode: abandonment, ableism, betrayal, bleeding, bullying, censorship, child abuse, child...
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The Emperor's Soul & Legion - Episode 17 w/ Kirk Hamilton
We read two novellas this month, The Emperor's Soul is really good! Legion is the craziest thing we've ever read for the show (and maybe off the show too). Huge thanks to Kirk for guesting on this episode, you can find all his information here. https://kirkhamilton.com/ Next month we'll be...
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Mistborn: The Eleventh Metal & HARRE - Episode 16
Our shortest episode yet! We read two short stories this month, The Eleventh Metal is pretty good, and HARRE (Heuristic Algorithm and Reasoning Response Engine) is pretty interesting from production standpoint. Next month we'll be reading The Emperor's Soul and Legion, Episode Airs: Third Week of...
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Mistborn: The Alloy of Law - Episode 15
We talk about the highs and lows of The Alloy of Law, our first foray into Mistborn Era 2. Next month we'll be reading The Eleventh Metal and H.A.R.R.E, Episode Airs: May 31st Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, age gap, arranged marriages, betrayal, bleeding, body horror, body...
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Infinity Blade: Awakening & I Hate Dragons - Episode 14
We read two not very good stories and have 2 fantastic conversations about them with special guest Sophie Abromowitz! Sophie Short Story: https://joylandpublishing.com/fiction/jan-is-important/ Sophie Substack: https://abromowitz.substack.com/ Sophie Website: https://sophie-abromowitz.com/ Next...
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Alcatraz vs The Shattered Lens - Episode 13
We're back in the era of normal length books with Alcatraz vs The Shattered Lens! Next month we'll be reading Infinity Blade Awakening & I Hate Dragons. Episode airs, March 25th. Around 59 Minutes in, we ask if ADX actually does the math correctly, she does not. References A Series of Unfortunate...
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Towers of Midnight - Episode 12
We read Towers of Midnight, Book 13 of The Wheel of Time. Next month we'll be reading all of Alcatraz vs The Shattered Lens, Episode Airs: Feb 18th. Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, age gap, amputation, betrayal, bleeding, body horror, body modification, broken bones ,...
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The Way of Kings - Episode 11 - Part 2
On this part two we finish The Way of Kings, making this comfortably our longest episode yet. Apologies for getting this out a day later than I said I would, the flu took me out. New Discord! Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, age gap, betrayal, bleeding, body horror, body...
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The Way of Kings - Episode 11 - Part 1
On this episode we read The Way of Kings, a book so massive we really only talk about the plot of the book in the last third of the episode. We split this episode in half because of how big this book is. It's slow, methodical, and we talked about it for 8 and a half hours. Happy New Year folks, I...
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The Gathering Storm - Episode 10
We read the The Gathering Storm, Book 12 of The Wheel of Time. This was a lot, and we apologize for the delay. Happy Thanksgiving folks. Next month we'll be reading all of The Way of Kings, Episode Airs: December 24th, Christmas Eve. Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, age gap,...
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Alcatraz vs The Knights of Crystallia - Episode 9
We read the interesting yet undersauced Alcatraz vs The Knights of Crystallia! Next month we'll be reading The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson. Episode airs, November 12th. James Acaster's Repertoire is available from Netflix. References Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel by...
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Warbreaker Bonus Material - Episode 8.5
We discuss the broader Cosmere, as well as some of the finer points of the ending of Warbreaker. Come back next week for Alcatraz vs The Knights of Crystalia. This conversation is less professional, we can only hope it's entertaining. Content warnings for this episode: colonization, death,...
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Warbreaker - Episode 8
We read the bright, colorful, and most importantly - good Warbreaker in its entirety. Next month we'll be reading all of Alcatraz vs The Knights of Crystallia, Episode Airs: October 15th https://x.com/headfallsoff/status/1051484419251425280 Message I sent to Jack during the pod, potential…
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Defending Elysium & Firstborn - Episode 7
Join us for our shortest episode yet! We delve into Sanderson's first works of science fiction, two interesting short stories about space and failure. Next month we'll be reading all of Warbreaker. Content warnings for this episode: abandonment, ableism, betrayal, bleeding, blindness, broken…
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Alcatraz vs The Scrivener's Bones - Episode 6
We're confronted with our first sleeper hit, Alcatraz vs The Scrivener's Bones! Next month we'll be reading the short stories Defending Elysium (2008) and Firstborn (2008), Episode Airs: August 13th Content warnings for this episode: abandonment, ableism, betrayal, bleeding, body horror, broken...
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Comedy Central Presents: The Roast of Elend Venture - Hero of Ages Bonus Content
Spoilers for Hero of Ages (the book and our episode) This conversation is much less professional, we can only hope it's entertaining. Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, age gap, betrayal, bleeding, body horror, body modification, broken bones, child death, classism, death,...
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Mistborn: The Hero of Ages - Episode 5
We rage and cry over The Hero of Ages, a book that is surprisingly hard to talk about because it's doing so much at once. Next month we'll be reading all of Alcatraz vs The Scrivener's Bones, Episode Airs: July 9th Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, age gap, betrayal…
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Alcatraz vs The Evil Librarians - Episode 4
We read the middle grade heist fantasy card battler Alcatraz vs The Evil Librarians and talk about it for our shortest episode yet! Next month we'll be reading all of Mistborn: The Hero of Ages, Episode Airs: June 11th Content warnings for this episode: abandonment, ableism, betrayal, bleeding,...
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Mistborn: The Well of Ascension - Episode 3
We read the political thriller? Messianic deconstruction? YA romance? The intangible of genre Well of Ascension and discuss it for a long time. Next month we'll be reading all of Alcatraz vs The Evil Librarians, Episode Airs: May 14 Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, age gap,...
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Will We Read The Wheel of Time? - Mistborn Bonus Content
Spoilers for Mistborn (the book and our episode) This conversation is much less professional and much more unhinged, however it is funny. Apologies for the mic quality, it was late at night and we didn't record on our nice microphones. This was recorded the day before the main podcast went live....
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Mistborn - Episode 2
We read the shonen anime-heist movie that is Mistborn and have *a lot* of thoughts. Next month we'll be reading all of The Well of Ascension, Episode Airs: April 16 Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, bleeding, body horror, body modification, broken bones, child death…
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Elantris - Episode 1
We talk about the 2005 novel Elantris by Brandon Sanderson, in all its complexity. Next month we'll be reading all of Mistborn: The Final Empire, Episode Airs: March 12 Content warnings for this episode: ableism, addiction, bleeding, body horror, body modification, broken bones, child death,...
About this show
From the fantasy epics of the Cosmere to the defunct mobile game companion books, Graham, Jack, and Taylor attempt to read every published work by Brandon Sanderson, in publication order. We hope to gain a better understanding of who he is as an author, how his writing changes over time, and his broader effect on the fantasy genre. Starting with Elantris and finishing half a decade from now, please join us as we travel out of the wardrobe, and onto the wagon train.
New episodes the second Tuesday of the month.
Hosted by
Graham Gillman, Taylor Lane, Jack McLaughlan