10 epic sci-fi/fantasy book series to binge

Image: Daniel DeVita

7. The Cosmere

When it comes to the steady release of books, Brandon Sanderson might just be the grand champion. The author responsible for finishing Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time has released novels every year like clockwork in the seven years since, which means he’s an author whose work you can get invested in without fear of starting a story that will never be finished. While he has many good standalone series, like Skyward and The Reckoners, the vast majority of his adult fantasy novels are all tied together in a shared universe called the Cosmere. Think the MCU, but with books and fewer crossovers (for now…).

Describing the Cosmere is difficult. Each world — all of the five series currently running are set on a different one — has its own incredibly well-developed magic system, ecosystem and politics. Roshar — the setting of the crown jewel of the saga, The Stormlight Archive — is a world wracked by constant storms, where magic is beginning to return and powerful warriors called Knights Radiant are once again being born to safeguard humanity. Scadrial — where the other big Cosmere series Mistborn take place — begins as a world shrouded in perpetual ash and gloom, where people can ingest metals to use a variety of special powers that would make any super hero jealous. These are big, epic tales in the vein of The Wheel of Time, and every bit as satisfying.

While each series can be enjoyed on its own (several, like the original Mistborn trilogy, are already finished), the big picture of the Cosmere is best taken in by reading everything set in the universe. To date, that’s 11 novels — some of them upwards of 1,200 pages — a collection of short stories, and three graphic novels.

And considering that the fourth book in The Stormlight Archive is coming out this fall, this is a great time to get caught up and find out what all the talk is about.