Brandon Sanderson is a highly prolific fantasy author who has made a huge impact on the modern connotation of the genre as a whole. In addition to this, the author has also set a refreshing new precedent in terms of transparency when it comes to his creative process.
Few authors or creatives in general are as vocally outspoken or open when it comes to how they create their work and how they got to the position they are currently in.
Over the last few years, Sanderson has embraced social media in a big way, but that is far from the extent of his work on this front. For years, Sanderson has kept a personal blog through which he deliberately fosters open and honest conversation with fans and critics alike. And for regular readers of this blog, there’s one project that Sanderson has spoken a lot about over the years that has never come to fruition: The Strata Wars.
The Strata Wars will release in 2026
According to a report from People, Sanderson is teaming up with Peter Orullian for The Strata Wars.
Ever since he first wrote about the project all the way back in mid-aughts, Sanderson has detailed this post-apocalyptic story as one that blends music and fantastical storytelling, with contributions and inspirations from musician and fellow author Peter Orullian.
The first installment in the trilogy is to be titled Songs of the Dead and follows the adventures of protagonist Jack Solomon, a musician who dies and goes to a new reality where music and light are categorized as magic unto themselves. This first book is co-written by Sanderson and Orullian, and it is set for release in 2026. The subsequent two installments will be written exclusively by Orullian, and release in the coming years.
Here's what Sanderson said about the project:
“Songs of the Dead is a long-time passion project of mine that I’m eager to finally see emerge from the shadows of half-finished outlines and world-building documents into a fully-fledged novel.”
With regard to collaborating with Orullian, and eventually passing the series off to him, much in the same way that The Wheel of Time series was once passed off to Sanderson, he states, “Peter is the ideal steward of the series. I’m pleased to have found someone to give the story to, and am excited to see what he does with it in the coming years.”
Orullian’s involvement in the project is immensely fitting, given his status as both a fantasy writer and a musician all his own, with the band Symphony North.
For his part, the rocker is extremely excited to be tackling the project, saying, “When Brandon and I began discussing a collaboration for The Strata Wars, it made perfect sense – he had this amazing new idea involving music; and as a musician who’s lived and breathed rock and media culture, I could give that idea punch and authenticity.”
He goes on to detail that he and Sanderson “had a blast building an epic story to tell in this new world, wrapping it around music and history; and setting the stage for a massive conflict between the present and the past.” He concludes that, “Our goal was definitely to turn this one up to eleven.”
For fans of Sanderson and Orullian’s work alike, this seeing The Strata Wars finally become a reality brings its own unique sense of satisfaction, and promises to be an exciting ride.
Stay tuned for more information about The Strata Wars! We'll share more information as we find out.