The Cosmere Explained: Everything To Know About Brandon Sanderson’s Shared Fantasy Universe

Fantasy literature is more popular than ever, and the medium is always changing. Previously, it was considered “for nerds” and was a fairly niche community. In the 21st Century, however, things have opened up quite a bit, and fantasy literature has become much more mainstream and celebrated, and rightfully so, likely because it provides a method of escapism, free from the mundanity of everyday life.

While fantasy novels are a dime a dozen nowadays, some of them have made a larger mark on history than their peers. Among these historical feats is a massive undertaking that is still ongoing and will likely not conclude anytime soon. This ambitious, sprawling, and one-of-a-kind project is known as the Cosmere, which has been going strong with yearly releases for 20 years now. The name has been popular lately thanks to the creator scoring an adaptation deal with Apple TV. But what exactly is the Cosmere?

What Is the Cosmere?

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The Cosmere is a shared literary universe created by author Brandon Sanderson, beginning with his debut novel, Elantris, in 2005. The basic premise is that thousands of years ago, a god named Adonalsium was mysteriously shattered into 16 pieces called Shards. These Shards were scattered across the galaxy, each coming to rest within a particular solar system. Each stand-alone story or series takes place on its own planet within the same galaxy. Due to the influence of the Shards, many of these planets have developed unique magic systems, each of which is layered and complex. However, some stories also take place on worlds where no Shards are present. Moreover, while all Shards are known thanks to Sanderson’s own words, what is not known is where they all are or what influence they have on their worlds — in fact, only a select few are currently accounted for. While there are still aspects of magic here, there are no complex systems available.

Not only is each planet different in regard to magic, but also in regard to geography. Some planets, like Sel from Elantris, are pretty similar to Earth. Others, however, like Taldain of the White Sand graphic novels, are completely different. Taldain is tidally locked, meaning it is permanently day on one side of the planet and permanently night on the other. There’s also the barren, windswept world of Roshar, the burning world of Canticle, and the extremely alien planet Lumar, which doesn’t technically defy physics but doesn’t resemble any real planets that we know of.

The Cosmere isn’t strictly relegated to one particular sub-genre of fantasy, either. Elantris is more of a Medieval fantasy, but others fit firmly into the categories of steampunk, romantasy, space fantasy, urban fantasy, and epic fantasy. The universe isn’t relegated to one specific format either, as it consists of many short stories, novellas, novels, graphic novels, and even children’s picture books. There are over 30 of these entries, with many more planned to come. Recently, the universe has even expanded to include tabletop role-playing games. Their status as canon is debated, but they do add a new level of interaction with the universe that fans love so much.

How Are the Cosmere Stories Connected?

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The primary way in which the broader Cosmere is connected is via a mysterious character named Hoid (that’s one of his names, anyway). No matter which story you read, you’re almost guaranteed to find him lurking somewhere. Sometimes, he plays a major role, aiding the protagonists on their quests, whilst other times he is nothing more than a brief glimpse in the background. No one yet knows who Hoid truly is or what he wants, but he seems capable of performing all types of magic, regardless of the system. Hoid describes himself as a Worldsinger, meaning he is a sort of magical bard who tells stories, plays a flute, and inspires others. He has also taken up other professions, though, such as carriage driver, pirate, and even a coat hanger (yes, really).

Hoid isn’t the only Worldhopper, though he is the most prolific. Other Worldhoppers (that is to say, characters who can jump to other worlds) are present. There are also many shadowy organizations working behind the scenes, which seem to have a motive that spans the entire galaxy, though what these motives are have yet to make themselves clear. It’s here that the Cosmere excels the most: keeping the reader invested (pardon the pun, for those who are already fans). Not only are there secrets to be revealed over the span of numerous series, but each world is meticulously designed and more singular and different than any other work of fantasy out there.

What Makes the Cosmere so Enticing?

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One of the main reasons fans are constantly drawn to the Cosmere goes beyond its immersive worlds and varied settings. As any fan will tell you, there is some profound moral wisdom within the pages. Characters often give sage advice to others, which is also applicable to real life. Many of these tidbits are about perseverance, trauma, love, politics, and war. They show how Sanderson thinks and feels, and how he, like many of the greatest fantasy authors, believes there is good to be found, even amongst turmoil.

Another reason fans are drawn to the Cosmere is its diversity. The Stormlight Archive series, for example, mostly consists of People of Color, to the point that white people are rare. Other stories, like Mistborn, feature primarily white people, but still have their fair share of POCs. The stories also include numerous queer, neurodivergent, disabled, and gender non-conforming characters, and feature both women and men in leading roles. Within each race, various nationalities are represented as well, often bearing similarities to real-world cultures. This approach makes the story vastly accessible, to the point that no one feels alienated or left out. Everyone can see a little bit of themselves in at least one character.

Lastly, there’s the “Sanderlanche,” which occurs in pretty much every book. This term refers to a deluge of plot twists that happens all at once near the end, exposing Sanderson’s outside-the-box thinking and pre-planning. None of these twists feel like deus ex machinae, either, and all make sense within their contexts.

The Cosmere May Rival J. R. R. Tolkien

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The Cosmere has not ended, not by a mile. In fact, it has been said that we are only about halfway through everything, if not a little less than that, with more works planned for release over Sanderson’s lifetime. Other authors, such as Sanderson’s friend Dan Wells, are planning to collaborate on the project, too, meaning this prospect will likely end up turning into a five-decade affair, if not more. With each new series or stand-alone entry, the lore thickens, and new histories are introduced. Magic systems emerge, and the stories influence the whole Cosmere in unimaginable ways. Already, the Cosmere is one of the most comprehensive and expansive universes in all of fantasy, yet it still has a long way to go.

By the time it has concluded, the Cosmere might very well rival the legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien, who penned an enormous mythology surrounding his beloved The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Tolkien’s world is widely considered the most complex mythology ever written, with more and more of his work being revealed even today, decades after his death. While the histories of each planet in the Cosmere may not come close to Tolkien, the lore behind the universe as a whole might just. This lore isn’t revealed through history books, but rather by natural revelation, as part of the narrative (supplemented by a few short appendices). It’s enough that readers have even been able to piece together a distinct chronology, placing each story in an organized timeline. There is no doubt that this shared universe will eventually go down in literary history as a masterclass in writing — heck, it pretty much already has.