Brandon Sanderson is stepping away from his expansive Cosmere universe for his upcoming novel, Songs of the Dead. This new narrative unfolds in a fantastical, hidden version of contemporary London, protected by a secretive order of mages. The project also serves a vital cause: Sanderson’s co-author, Peter Orullian, is currently navigating significant health challenges. To assist with mounting medical expenses, Orullian is spearheading a massive science fiction and fantasy anthology that features an exclusive excerpt from Songs of the Dead alongside original contributions from 34 other acclaimed writers.
Titled Unbroken: New Tales by Masters of Fantasy, the collection has already garnered over $1 million following its successful Kickstarter launch on April 21. The initiative was spearheaded by Shawn Speakman, who successfully utilized a similar model for the 2013 anthology Unfettered to settle his own medical debts. Speakman is co-editing this new volume with Orullian. The lineup is stellar, boasting heavyweights like Dungeon Crawler Carl mastermind Matt Dinniman, fantasy titan R.A. Salvatore, and The Magicians creator Lev Grossman, with an audiobook narration provided by Legends & Lattes author Travis Baldree.
Pre-orders are currently open, with the ebook priced at $15 and the trade hardcover at $50. While limited-edition copies signed by the full roster of contributors sold out quickly at $250, supporters can still secure copies of Songs of the Dead signed by Orullian, or add his September release, The Bell Ringer—a creative reimagining of It’s a Wonderful Life—to their pledges.
Songs of the Dead is slated for release on June 16, marking the debut of The Strata Wars series. Sanderson remains incredibly prolific, with another Cosmere novel, The Fires of December, arriving later this year, alongside an Apple TV adaptation of his Mistborn saga in development. Should The Strata Wars expand, Sanderson may adopt a collaborative approach similar to his work on the Cytoverse series with Janci Patterson, with their next collaboration, Blightfall, hitting shelves in September.
Source: Polygon
