Will I love The Sunlit Man?

I wanted to read one of Brandon Sanderson's standalone books to see how he writes a self-contained story when he's not building for a sweeping four or five book series. Turns out, even this one has strong tie-ins to his other books, but you don't need to know about any of that to enjoy the book. It stars with a bang, with the main character in deep trouble, and the reader is left to wonder who this person is, and how he ended up in this situation for much of the book. It has great action, good dialogue, and a… show more.

Brandon Sanderson hardly needs an introduction as one of the modern-day heavy hitters of sci-fi and fantasy. This book, though, has a wonderfully creative setting, with a world plagued by sunlight so intense it’s only livable in the thin band of twilight that preludes the dawn.

One of my favorite things about science fiction is when an author creates a fantastical world that has deeply impacted the shaping of its society, from the rulers to the rebels and everyone in between. Sanderson delivers on this front, and I love how integral its setting is to its plot and the development… show more.

Reluctant hero, anyone? Brandon Sanderson is often thought of more as a fantasy author, but this book is unapologetically sci-fi. I love how Sanderson creates a hero with the promise of great power but who has to fight for every ounce of advantage.

His main character, the titular Sunlit Man, should be an alpha on the new planet he arrives on. Still, a series of unfortunate events put him on his heels and forced him to play as the underdog, finding creative solutions to make up for his allies' flaws and weaknesses. The exciting conclusion was hard to foresee, and… show more.