Claim the Stars
Brandon Sanderson is well known for his fantasy worlds. He’s no stranger to science fiction, though. His flagship sci-fi series is Skyward, a soaring story that follows young pilots fighting for humanity's last bastion among the stars. A claustrophobic human colony and skies clogged with ancient satellite debris and alien invaders create a bleak situation in dire need of a hero. But when her family is disgraced after her father's last fight against the Krell, can Spensa ever become that hero? Skyward is a sci-fi novel full to the brim with dogfighting spaceships, alien locales, and the heart that Brandon Sanderson has made his trademark for the last twenty years.
Why Do We Read Sci-fi?
I fell in love with science fiction on the big screen, mostly because of Star Wars. Space operas, with laser swords and starfighters and alien races, are a playground for storytellers with fun ideas. On another side of the sci-fi spectrum are the stories that explore the consequences of new technologies and discoveries, social science fiction tales like Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness or Isaac Asimov’s Foundation.
Over the years I have expanded from a fledgling sci-fi movie watcher to a sci-fi enthusiast. Science fiction competes only with fantasy for my attention, and stories like Ender’s Game, Dune, and Project Hail Mary captivate me from my first read to my tenth. Incredible characters populate fascinating worlds in each of these stories, even when the world of the novel is contained in a single space ship. The authors of the best science fiction tell thought provoking stories that are as much about new situations and ideas as they are about the people affected by them.
Skyward: The Perfect Way to Unlock a Love for Sci-fi!
Skyward lives on to the space opera side of the genre, with human colonists far from Earth fighting for their survival against otherworldly threats. They struggle with normal people problems, like relationships and prejudice, but they spend their days training as pilots to defend the last remnants of humanity. Spensa is the main character of the series, and her deepest desire is to follow her father’s footsteps to become a pilot for the Defiant Defense Force (DDF) and fight for her home. Along the way she meets strange creatures and spirited space ships and fights against the odds for her people.
That premise is a seed for a series where every idea is pushed to the limit. From Skyward it expands to four novels, with tie-in novellas that flesh out other characters and worlds, and a sequel series whose debut novel Blightfall has spent the last five weeks on bestseller lists for YA and science fiction.
Skyward is a great place to start your sci-fi reading journey. The familiar blends with the new and the alien, with a pace that lets the story and characters take the front seat while big picture sci-fi ideas and worldbuilding fill in the gaps. With each installment in the series, its ideas get deeper and its characters take bigger steps in an ever-widening universe. Spensa is the through line, and her growth and relationships ground the series to an emotional center.
Creating the Visual World of Skyward with Isaac Stewart and Jake Parker
The Dragonsteel leatherbound edition of Skyward is coming with Light Day this year, and it is packed with fantastic art and one of our best leatherbound treatments yet. This volume is for you whether you’ve enjoyed Spensa’s story before or if this is your first flight with the DDF.
Jake Parker is the illustrator behind the incredible art in this leatherbound, and his style communicates Brandon’s world with clarity and charm. From the layers of space junk in orbit around Detritus to the Taynix slugs and human starfighters, there are so many ideas in Skyward that are brought to life like never before. The characters pop off the page with personality and complex dog-fighting maneuvers are visualized with motion and clarity through comic-book-like illustrations. There are two tone illustrations and full color spreads throughout, bringing flair to Spensa's story.
Come for the spaceships, stay for the slugs
Whatever part of your Skyward journey you're on, we're glad to have you flying with us. If you're ready to get your own Skyward leatherbound, you can grab it right here on Light Day. Add Light Day to your calendar and prepare to claim the stars starting October 24 at 9:00am!
https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com
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