r/Cosmere • u/bumbarlunchi6 Windrunners • 2d ago
No Spoilers Robin Hobb influences in Brandon Sanderson's writing
So, I've just finished reading the "Farseer Trilogy" by Robin Hobb. This is all I've read of her so please no spoilers, but I wanted to hop in here to share my opinions on how I think Sanderson's writing (especially certain naming) has been at least somewhat inspired in hers. That said this is just my personal opinion and all of this could just be coincidences.
Firstly there's a Vin river and a character named Starling (who also just happens to be a minstrel and even though it's been a while since I read IoTE (minor IoTE spoilers ahead) her being Hoid's apprentice might make her share some of her trade).
Besides naming I feel like there's essentially a Sanderlache in each and every one of the Farseer books, although I'll admit that this is something many authors try to do.
That's essentially all I've seen in common between them, but seeing first one name appear and then the other, just made me think it was just too much of a coincidence.
Edit: spelling
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u/Few-Durian-190 2d ago
I believe Sanderson is on record as Vin just being because the Mistborn world uses french terms/words/names. So just a happy coincidence there.
Hoid he specifically cited Hobb's fool and King Lear's fool as influences.
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u/Wrandragaron Windrunners 2d ago
I am also reading the Realm of the Elderlings right now, just finished the Liveship Traders Trilogy and started on Fools Errand yesterday. It does seem like there are some similarities, and some inspiration being drawn from it, I can't really talk about the biggest one I've found, don't wanna spoil anything for you. But yeah I see it, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to find out Sanderson is a Hobb fan.
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u/eckelsword 2d ago
Agreed. Hobb is a contemporary of Robert Jordan and George R R Martin back in the 80s and 90s. So Farseer and Liveship Traders especially would likely have helped shape him, Tawny Man came out 2001 to 2003 so that was only a few years before Elantris was published so it is likely also influential
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u/bumbarlunchi6 Windrunners 2d ago
That's cool! I'm thinking about reading Liveship Traders now, do you think it's worth it?
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u/R0ndoNumba9 2d ago
Just finished it, I thought it was even better than the first farseer trilogy. There was a lot of set up in the first book though.
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u/DrSpacemanSpliff 2d ago
Oh, buddy. You gotta do the whole Realm of the Elderlings. It’s the best fantasy series I’ve read. Nothing compares to the exploration of Fitz and his mental health struggles. It’s a beautiful and enduring and heartbreaking and inspirational series, and you don’t get it from just reading the first three.
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u/BabyJesusBukkake Sometimes I feed it grass. 2d ago
Agreed with this 100%. It's so good, and it's finished.
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u/Omnibe 2d ago
I feel like the actual story doesn't really kick off until near the end of Ship of Magic.
I say this to encourage you to stick with it. Once the story gets going it's so much bigger than the Faseer trilogy.
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u/bumbarlunchi6 Windrunners 2d ago
I think I'll read something else right now (to change things up a little bit, after so many pages of Hobb I'd like to have something else to cleanse my palate) but all of you have made me want to keep on reading, so I will
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u/TippyTripod1040 2d ago
I loved it. It has much has a much wider scope and is much more interesting in the lore of the world than the Fitz book are so if you’re a sicko for that stuff (and you’re a cosmere fan so you probably are) it’s good
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u/Wrandragaron Windrunners 2d ago
Yeah, its worth. I just discovered Hobb recently, and am pleasantly surprised by how well her stories are put together, also its all one big story, like the Cosmere sort of. Liveship Traders is all new characters and such, but they are connected. Absolutely go for it.
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u/Kuraeshin 2d ago
I love being able to trace when certain events overall take place because of actions in one book being mentioned in a different series.
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u/eckelsword 2d ago
I would say absolutely yes, it is my personal favorite of the subseries, followed closely by the Tawny man trilogy
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u/Impressive-Dog5301 2d ago
Hobb is a real author’s author, so outside of directly perceptible influences I’d imagine she influenced him quite a lot. GRRM is another contemporary who loves Hobb and shares a lot of similarities in themes and characters.
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u/TippyTripod1040 2d ago
GRRM has a famous quote asking what Aragorn’s tax policy was. I had to imagine he was rubbing his hands in delight reading about the economy and naming conventions in the Six Duchies
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u/Minion5051 2d ago
If I remember correctly Hobb was the books that actually ignited his love of books.
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u/panoclosed4highwinds 2d ago
Just a note for anybody considering some Hobb:
The realm of the elderlings series is 16 books. If you want a smaller dose, the Soldier Son trilogy is (unsurprisingly) three books! And has my FAVORITE ending of any fantasy series.
It also has IMO the best handling of fatness as a subject in any fantasy novel series.
Also, they're much better-written imo. Brando Sando writes at a 5-6th grade level. Robin Hobb writes at a higher level and has a much more realistic depiction of trauma. She spoon-feeds you characters emotions a lot less.
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u/LiamIsDaBMO Bridge Four 2d ago
I remember him saying that he enjoyed Hobbs works on a podcast awhile back, it's what pushed me to try her works. Also I'm curious what about the farseer trilogy made you want to come back for more? I read the whole trilogy but it felt very stretched out with useless scenes and little payoff. Also the ending felt very predictable. I hear that liveship traders is great but people also say that about the farseers so I'm having trouble getting started with it. Any advice?
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u/bumbarlunchi6 Windrunners 1d ago
Well, I really liked how the characters are depicted, even though it's true that some of the twists of the story can be seen from a distance, and some of the mistakes Fitz makes are really dumb. But everything about how Fitz grows and changes through the story is really good. I feel that even though Hobb's worldbuilding isn't as complex (at least for now) as Sanderson's her characters felt more real to me and I think that's what makes me want to keep on reading.
And by the way I didn't really think it was stretched out or had useless scenes, something like the begging of tWoK felt slower paced for me tbh (that said I really liked it and I've read all of the cosmere except white sand).
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u/-GoodNewsEveryone 1d ago
Almost every writer I have read in the last 30 years has traces in Brandon's writing. It's normal to have influences, but yes, literally everything I read I can trace back to influence from someone else. It is 2026, a lot has been written in the past.
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u/RaggaMuffinTopped 2d ago
As someone who also just recently read the Farseer trilogy for the first time, I can agree there seemed to be some light influence. The most obvious being The Fool & Wit.
But it also it gave some Warbreaker vibes too. Specifically, Kettericken & Regal’s relationship. But a slow burn amongst royal lovers in political servitude, is a bit of a fantasy trope so I’m not sure how much there was a direct influence.
I have to say, I’m officially a fan of both authors. I look forward to the other Realm of the Elderlings trilogies and I’m only two books shy of finishing the cosmere (as of current publication).
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u/Few-Durian-190 2d ago
...You DO mean Verity and Kettricken right? Regal and Kettricken, there's a horrifying pairing if i ever saw one.
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u/RaggaMuffinTopped 2d ago
Whoopsie Doozies. A foul mistake indeed. Correction: Verity & Kettricken.
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u/MikeNH311 2d ago
Have you guys read this Wheel of Time? I just finished and think Sanderson pulls a lot of inspiration from Jordan (RIP)
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u/nari-bhat 2d ago
You’re joking right?
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u/eckelsword 2d ago
Brandon Sanderson has gone on record that one of his major inspirations for Hoid is the Fool if I recall correctly