Brandon Sanderson's latest crowdfunding campaign is officially another success, bringing in more than $11 million for what could be the Cosmere's most unique addition yet. Sanderson's campaigns have become regular occurrences since his record-breaking Kickstarter for his first four Secret Projects in 2022. That brought in $41.7 million with over 185,000 backers (via CNBC), highlighting the massive demand behind Sanderson's Cosmere books.
Sanderson has since written and crowdfunded more Secret Projects, including Isles of the Emberdark and this year's The Fires of December. And his latest campaign on BackerKit just came to a close, collecting over $11 million with 80,000 backers. The campaign in question is for Hoid's Storybook Collection, a charming and fun addition to Sanderson's lineup. It's one he admits to being skeptical about at first, but the final product is both stunning and creative. It's no wonder fans of Sanderson's work are eager to support it.
What Is Hoid's Storybook Collection?
Sanderson's latest campaign raised money for what the author described on Instagram as a mix of picture books, coffee table books, and very short graphic novels. Comprised of four separate stories, Hoid's Storybook Collection blends stunning artwork with expanded tales featured in The Stormlight Archive and Story Deck. These are originally spun by the Cosmere's resident world-hopper, hence the lineup's name. The ones featured are as follows:
- The Dog and the Dragon (from Rhythm of War)
- Wandersail (from The Way of Kings)
- The Girl Who Looked Up (from Oathbringer)
- The ChasmFriends Get a Pet (from the Dragonsteel Nexus 2024 Story Deck)
According to Sanderson, fans have been asking him to illustrate these stories as picture books for years. However, he had "been hesitant, as those stories felt like they were for different audiences." However, he stated that eventually "it clicked for me that what I was writing weren’t quite picture books, and weren’t quite graphic novels, but fables. And they were for everyone."
This realization led him to move forward on Hoid's Storybook Collection, though Sanderson did shape each addition's packaging around that individual story's needs. Per the Backerkit page, The Dog and the Dragon will be presented as a children's picture book for the entire family, while Wandersail will feature "luxurious, graphic depictions" more suitable for established Sanderson fans.
The result is four stunning books, perfect for collectors and those hoping to experience the Cosmere from a new angle. Those who backed Sanderson's campaign will receive special-edition copies with gold foiling on the cover. Depending on which tier backers chose, they could also receive e-book copies, a copy of The Fires of December (the upcoming Hoid's Travails Secret Project novel), and sticker sheets. Add-ons like plushies were also for sale.
Like the other books Sanderson has released via crowdfunding, Hoid's Storybook Collection should become more widely available later on. It's worth keeping an eye out for, as these books are quite different from the Sanderson releases we're used to, at least in terms of presentation and potential.
Hoid's Storybook Collection Marks One of the Cosmere's Most Unique Additions Yet
Hoid's Storybook Collection is one of the most unique additions to Sanderson's Cosmere, which mostly consists of hefty full-length novels — though there are a few titles that diverge from that format, including the White Sand graphic novels. And although Sanderson has released special editions of his work, and several Secret Novels are narrated by Hoid, these have the most experimental packaging yet.
If nothing else, Hoid's Storybook Collection shows how much more can be done with Sanderson's work. These will make the Cosmere accessible to readers of all ages, and they'll highlight just how extensive the author's fantasy universe really is. They open the door for other experimental spinoffs of Sanderson's stories, especially given the campaign's success. And if anyone is creative enough to come up with more storybook ideas — and more fresh ways to expand an already-massive fantasy universe — it's Sanderson. And looking at his crowdfunding numbers, it's clear fans will continue to follow him wherever he takes us.