Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson raises $41.7 million via Kickstarter

American fantasy author Brandon Sanderson has raised $41.7 million with his Kickstarter campaign. In doing so, he beats the Kickstarter record he set in early March to fund the publication of four new books. 185,341 backers have supported the project.

Of the fundraiser Sanderson plans to publish four new books by 2023. Three of those books will be set in the Cosmere universe known from other books by the American fantasy author. Each story, according to Sanderson, will take place on a unique fictional planet from that universe. They will contain their own fauna and flora, as well as a unique magical system. on became the author’s YouTube channel the first details of the books revealed.

The first book is to be published in January 2023, the second in April, the third in July and the fourth in October of that year. The books are available as e-book, audiobook and premium hardcover. The premium hardcover version contains about 400 pages, according to Sanderson. After the kickstarter campaign has ended, there will also be an option to order a regular hardcover.

Backers who have deposited $40 will receive a new e-book every quarter. Backers who have transferred 60 euros will receive an e-book and an audiobook every quarter. Individuals who deposit $160 will receive the eBooks and the premium hardcover version of the books. All editions could be received from a deposit of 220 dollars. The author has also provided other, more expensive tiers where interested parties receive extras.

Sanderson’s Kickstarter campaign started on March 1, lasted for 30 days and was supposed to raise $1 million. That amount was quickly achieved because after six hours, according to the underlying organization Dragonsteel Entertainment, more than 7.5 million euros was raised through the collection. After four days, $20 million had already been raised and Sanderson’s fundraiser dethroned Pebble’s from 2015 as the most successful Kickstarter campaign ever. That campaign then raised approximately $20.3 million.