Summary

The Sunlit Man is the latest standalone novel in Brandon Sanderson's expansive Cosmere universe. Released in 2023, it marks the fourth and final installment of Sanderson's secret projects, funded through the most successful Kickstarter campaign in history. This science fantasy adventure introduces readers to a unique world where survival depends on constant motion to escape a deadly sun.

Narrated by William DeMeritt for the audiobook version, The Sunlit Man follows Nomad, a character fleeing across the Cosmere from the relentless Night Brigade. The story takes place on Canticle, a harsh planet where inhabitants live on floating cities to avoid incineration by daylight. Sanderson's signature blend of intricate worldbuilding and fast-paced action is on full display in this novel.

While The Sunlit Man can be enjoyed as a standalone story, it's particularly rewarding for longtime Cosmere fans. The book seamlessly integrates elements of fantasy and science fiction, expanding the boundaries of Sanderson's interconnected universe. Critics have noted that while newcomers may find some aspects challenging, the novel offers an exciting experience for those familiar with the author's other works.

Plot

In Brandon Sanderson's The Sunlit Man, we follow Nomad, a man pursued by the Night Brigade across various worlds in the Cosmere universe. Exhausted and unable to escape further, Nomad finds himself stranded on Canticle, a harsh planet where the sun's heat is lethal. The inhabitants of this world survive by constantly moving on floating cities to stay ahead of the deadly sunrise.

Upon arrival, Nomad is captured by the Cinder King, a tyrannical ruler who controls his subjects using cinderhearts—devices that burn away personalities and create mindless slaves called Charred. Nomad manages to escape with Rebeke and her sister Elegy, who has been turned into a Charred. They make their way to Beacon, a floating city fleeing from the Cinder King's forces.

As Nomad integrates with the Beaconites, he learns about their society and the sunhearts—power sources created from humans left to burn in the sunlight. He promises to lead them to a mythical safe haven, knowing it's actually a small Scadrian research station incapable of sheltering them all. Nomad, now renamed Zellion by the Beaconites, decides to stay and help rather than accept a mercenary job from the Scadrians.

Zellion works with the Beaconites to find solutions to their problems. He helps Elegy regain some of her humanity and, alongside Rebeke, discovers a more efficient way to power their cities without sacrificing lives for sunhearts. The story culminates with Zellion confronting and defeating the Cinder King before departing Canticle, leaving behind the world he briefly called home.

Themes

• Survival in a hostile environment

• Redemption and personal growth

• Rebellion against tyranny

• Consequences of past actions

• Power of community and cooperation

• Balance between science and magic

• Adaptation to extreme circumstances

Setting

The Sunlit Man takes place in a far-future setting within Brandon Sanderson's expansive Cosmere universe. The story unfolds across multiple planets and realms, showcasing the author's blend of fantasy and science fiction elements. At its core, the novel is set on the harsh world of Canticle, a small planet with extreme environmental conditions.

Canticle presents a unique and perilous landscape where the sun's intense heat can melt stone and incinerate any living thing caught in its rays. To survive, the planet's inhabitants reside in floating cities that constantly move to stay ahead of the deadly sunrise. This creates a nomadic society always on the edge of destruction, fleeing from one temporary refuge to the next.

Within this larger setting, much of the action takes place in and around the floating city of Beacon. This mobile settlement serves as a central hub for the story's characters and conflicts, including the struggle against the tyrannical Cinder King. The novel also briefly touches on other locations within the Cosmere, such as Scadrial, further expanding the scope of its interplanetary setting.

Characters

• Nomad/Zellion: The protagonist, a dimension-hopping fugitive pursued by the Night Brigade. He arrives on Canticle with depleted powers and becomes entangled in local conflicts. Nomad struggles with his past and fights for both survival and redemption. As the story progresses, he forms connections with the Beaconites and adopts the name Zellion.

• Auxiliary: Nomad's spren companion. A spren is a type of cognitive entity in the Cosmere universe.

• Rebeke: A woman from Canticle who helps Nomad escape from the Cinder King. She becomes a key ally in his journey and helps discover more efficient ways to power the floating cities.

• Elegy: Rebeke's sister who has been turned into a Charred, a mindless slave of the Cinder King. Nomad helps her regain some of her humanity throughout the story.

• The Cinder King: The main antagonist, a tyrannical warlord who controls his subjects using cinderhearts. He pursues Nomad and the Beaconites throughout the story.

• Beaconites: The inhabitants of the floating city of Beacon. They befriend Nomad and rename him Zellion as he helps them flee from the Cinder King.

Quick facts

• It is the fourth and final book in Sanderson's “secret projects” series written during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The book was initially funded through a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign in 2022.

• It is set in Sanderson's larger Cosmere universe, which includes series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive.

• The story takes place on a planet called Canticle, where the sun's heat is deadly.

• The main character, initially called Nomad, is renamed Zellion by the inhabitants of Canticle.

• The novel combines elements of both fantasy and science fiction.

• The audiobook is narrated by William DeMeritt.

• The hardcover edition is 400 pages long.

• It was published by Dragonsteel Entertainment before being acquired by Tor Books for wider release.

About the Author

Brandon Sanderson is a prolific American author of fantasy and science fiction, best known for his expansive Cosmere universe. Born in 1975, Sanderson began his writing career in the early 2000s and quickly gained recognition for his intricate magic systems and world-building. His breakout novel Elantris was published in 2005, followed by the popular Mistborn trilogy.

Sanderson's career reached new heights when he was chosen to complete Robert Jordan's epic Wheel of Time series after Jordan's death. This opportunity catapulted him to international fame. He has since published numerous bestselling series, including The Stormlight Archive, which began with The Way of Kings in 2010. Sanderson is known for his prolific output, often releasing multiple books per year across various series and age categories.

In addition to his novels, Sanderson has made significant contributions to the writing community. He teaches creative writing at Brigham Young University and co-hosts the popular podcast Writing Excuses. Sanderson has also formulated “Sanderson's Laws of Magic,” a set of guidelines for creating compelling magic systems in fiction. These principles have influenced many aspiring fantasy authors.

Sanderson's work has garnered numerous awards and accolades, including Hugo Awards and Goodreads Choice Awards. In 2022, he made headlines with a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign for four “secret novels,” raising over $41 million from fans eager to support his independent publishing efforts. This unprecedented success further solidified Sanderson's position as one of the most popular and influential fantasy authors of his generation.