It's a massive week for fantasy book fans, and it just got even better. Right now, author Brandon Sanderson and his company Dragonsteel are in the middle of running their yearly convention, Dragonsteel Nexus. Taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah from December 5 to December 7, Dragonsteel Nexus is a fan convention which celebrates Sanderson's works, as well as the works of other creators in the fantasy and science fiction space. Every year it gets a bit bigger, and since this weekend Sanderson is also launching Wind and Truth, the fifth book in his fantasy epic The Stormlight Archive and one of the most important books of his career to date, it's extra special.
It's fitting then that this year's Dragonsteel is coming with some pretty big announcements, and not all of them about Sanderson's fictional universe, the Cosmere. During the opening night of Dragonsteel Nexus, Sanderson announced that his publishing company Dragonsteel Books will soon start launching a whole new run of deluxe leatherbound editions for none other than The Wheel of Time, the iconic fantasy series written by Robert Jordan and finished years later by Sanderson after the author's passing.
Obviously, this new run will start with the first book, The Eye of the World. You can see the gorgeous cover artwork for it above, and watch Sanderson's announcement below, starting around the 19:00 mark:
"We wanted to give The Wheel of Time the treatment it deserves," Sanderson said. "Our goal is one book a year to get through the whole series...and to give it our best possible leatherbound treatment."
Sanderson's publishing company Dragonsteel has a reputation for making excellent leatherbound editions of his novels, including Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, and more. So far they've been incredibly well-received. Expanding to create these editions for other series feels like a logical next step, especially considering Sanderson's own connection to The Wheel of Time.
Sanderson also showed off some of the chapter header artwork from The Eye of the World. The glyphs that start each chapter have become ingrained in many Wheel of Time fans' heads, and these new editions will still feature them, but with brand new renditions that give them a bit more detail to better fit the deluxe package. Sanderson also promised "all new artwork" in the leatherbound editions, revealing a few gorgeous pieces of concept art.
"We are doing our best to make the most incredible Wheel of Time leatherbound books that you could possibly imagine," Sanderson said.
For my part, I fully believe him. Sanderson was a fan of The Wheel of Time long before he was an author; he's talked about that journey from megafan to becoming the author who was chosen to finish The Wheel of Time quite a lot over the years. It feels fitting that his company is now spearheading what will probably be the most beautiful editions of The Wheel of Time ever made. He sounds pretty excited about these new leatherbounds, and that's encouraging that they're going to be just as special as they sound.
The Eye of the World leatherbound edition releases in Winter 2025
These Wheel of Time leatherbound editions are a joint production between Dragonsteel Books and Tor Books, the company which publishes The Wheel of Time as well as most of Sanderson's adult fantasy novels in the United States. The project has been in the works for at least three years, dating back to a time when Sanderson approached Robert Jordan's widow and editor Harriet McDougal with the idea.
The Eye of the World leatherbound edition is currently slated for a Winter 2025 release. Dragonsteel won't be running any sort of crowdfunding campaign to support these Wheel of Time books; instead, they'll go up for regular pre-order as the final release date approaches. Dragonsteel has also launched a new mailing list, which you can sign up for to stay up-to-date on the production process for The Eye of the World leatherbound edition.
"We are honored to unveil a landmark addition to our world of fantasy collectibles: Dragonsteel’s first-ever deluxe edition of The Wheel of Time," the announcement on the Dragonsteel website reads. "This iconic series, beloved by millions, stands as one of the most influential works in modern fantasy. With Brandon Sanderson’s legacy as its chosen finisher after Robert Jordan’s passing, the series holds a special place in our hearts."
As for what you can expect from the mailing list: "Throughout 2025, we invite you to embark on this quest with us as we reimagine The Eye of the World. From exclusive insights shared by Team Jordan to visiting legendary locations that inspired Robert Jordan’s vision, we’ll take you deep into the heart of this iconic series...ou’ll gain behind-the-scenes access to every step, from sourcing breathtaking new art to adding signature Dragonsteel touches that make this leatherbound edition truly one-of-a-kind."
So if you've ever wanted a stunningly gorgeous leatherbound edition of The Eye of the World, now you'll finally have your chance. And even if leatherbounds aren't your thing, it sounds like the mailing list will still be a valuable ride for lovers of The Wheel of Time.
Dragonsteel Nexus is running for a few more days, and with Wind and Truth hitting shelves it's likely there'll be more exciting news coming out of the convention. We'll have our ear to the ground for more.
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