Future Mistborn Books Are Even More Exciting After 1 Underrated Sci-Fi Series

Summary Future Mistborn series will be more sci-fi, drawing on author's success with underrated Skyward Series.

Setting for Era 3 onwards will evolve from modernized to full-blown science fiction space opera, per author.

Metal-based magic system in Mistborn will be explored in technologically advanced world, adding intrigue.

The second era of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn saga came to a close in 2022, but the author plans to write more books in this world — and these future installments are even more exciting after an underrated sci-fi series. Sanderson's original Mistborn trilogy is one of the best entry points into the adult fantasy genre, and the books' unique magic system is a particular highlight. Set in a world where Mistings and Mistborn are able to ingest metals and draw power from them, Mistborn sees its characters taking on everything from tyrannical empires to powerful gods.

Mistborn Era 2 takes on a more Western tone, and it makes some major changes to the magic system established in the first series. And the next Mistborn book will likely jump even further into the future, marking another significant shift from previous installments. Judging by what Sanderson has said about future Mistborn books, the world and technology will be remarkably different when Era 3 begins. Fortunately, the quality of an underrated sci-fi series bodes well for this change's success.

Related 10 Books To Read If You Love Mistborn Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books feature some of the best storytelling in fantasy, and they may leave readers wondering what to pick up next.

Brandon Sanderson's Skyward Series Proves He Can Handle Science-Fiction

The YA Sci-Fi Series Deserves More Attention

Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, which includes the Mistborn and Stormlight Archive books, is probably what the author is best known for. However, he's also written a young adult sci-fi series totally separate from the Cosmere. And although Sanderson's Skyward Series doesn't get as much attention as his other novels, it serves as another testament to his storytelling skills. Set on a planet where the last members of humanity reside — and are constantly dealing with alien attacks — Skyward follows a girl named Spensa whose dream is to become a pilot.

This is good news, as Mistborn is inching closer and closer to a futuristic setting.

When Spensa uncovers an old ship, it seems as though this dream is inevitable. However, her discovery is made complicated by the fact that the ship is sentient. Sanderson's Skyward Series unravels from there, crafting a narrative that's as gripping and full of lovable characters as his other series. The best thing about Skyward is that it proves Sanderson can handle the science-fiction genre. Much of the author's work falls into the fantasy category, but Skyward showcases his talents beyond it. This is good news, as Mistborn is inching closer and closer to a futuristic setting as well.

The Author's Underrated Sci-Fi Series Bodes Well For Future Mistborn Books

Mistborn Will Eventually Lean Into A Sci-Fi Setting

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Sanderson has a plan for future Mistborn series, and he revealed what Era 3, Era 4, and even Era 5 might look like at Salt Lake City Comic-Con in 2014 (via The Coppermind Wiki). The author intends for the third series of Mistborn novels to take place in a more modernized setting, one that he likened to the 1980s in terms of technological advancement. From there, he said the saga's setting could evolve into "maybe near-future and then full-blown science-fiction space opera." The latter suggests that Mistborn will eventually have more of a sci-fi feel than a fantasy one.

If Sanderson sticks to the Mistborn plan he teased back in 2014, it'll be a good thing that he has experience with sci-fi storytelling.

If Sanderson sticks to the Mistborn plan he teased back in 2014, it'll be a good thing that he has experience with sci-fi storytelling. The quality of the Skyward Series bodes well for future Mistborn books, especially when they transform into something of a space opera. After Skyward, Sanderson should have no problem capturing the advanced technology of the future. He'll also have no problem with the setting, which sounds like it will be closer to Skyward's than that of Mistborn Era 1 or 2. This will be especially fun to see because of Mistborn's magic system.

Mistborn's Magic System Makes The Next Mistborn Eras Even More Exciting

Metal-Based Magic Will Be Especially Interesting In A Sci-Fi Setting

With Mistborn heading into the future, Sanderson will be able to explore its magic system in fascinating new ways. Since the saga's magic is based on metal, adding technology like computers and spaceships could prove a recipe for success. It'll be interesting to see how characters who can push and pull on metal fare in such a technologically advanced world. Such advancements will also raise questions about how Allomancy and Feruchemy might evolve alongside them.

Sanderson's approach to Mistborn's timeline is probably the best element of the saga, so hopefully, he goes through with writing more series set in this world. It's already intriguing how much changes between Era 1 and Era 2, and jumping even further into the future is a compelling way to keep readers hooked. Mistborn can show how the religions and powers from the earlier books develop over time. Not many fantasy series are able to take such a large-scale approach, but if anyone can accomplish it, it's Sanderson.