NEW YORK — Brandon Sanderson, whose epic ''Wind and Truth'' is a highlight of the upcoming publishing season, sees nothing wrong with the idea of ''escapism.''
''It's just the ability to go to another world and relate to other people's problems, problems that aren't our problems. It's a really valuable tool in our lives,'' the fantasy novelist told The Associated Press during a recent telephone interview. Sanderson's fans have waited four years for ''Wind and Truth,'' the 1,300-page fifth volume in his ''Stormlight Archive'' fantasy series.
He acknowledges, with mixed feelings, that some will take relatively little time to finish it.
''They will absolutely read it in two days, which feels both gratifying and a little horrifying,'' he says. ''You put your heart and soul into something for so long, knowing that fans are going to be done in a couple of days and say, ‘When's the next one?'''
The presidential election is expected to dominate headlines this fall, but booksellers look to Sanderson and others to sustain the wave of fantasy and the hybrid romantasy novels that have been selling strongly over the past few years. ''Wind and Truth'' is among numerous anticipated works that include Jeff VanderMeer's ''Absolution,'' Alan Moore's ''The Great When,'' Cecy Robson's ''Bloodguard'' and Kerri Maniscalco's ''Throne of Secrets,'' the second installment of her ''Prince of Sin'' series.
According to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the retail market, fantasy sales have been growing for the past five years and since last summer have jumped by nearly 75%, driven in part by the million-selling romantasy authors Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.
''The fantasy subject is the top growth segment of the total U.S. print book market," says Circana analyst Brenna Conner, who cites the reader-driven sales of #BookTok as a strong factor. "I also believe escapism is a component as more readers seek out stories with elements of escapism to counter daily stress and fatigue of the news cycle."
At Barnes & Noble, senior director of books Shannon DeVito notes that fantasy has expanded and diversified, blending horror and romance and mystery. She cites Maas and Yarros, and such upcoming releases as Frances White's gay-themed ''Voyage of the Damned,'' John Gwynn's Norse-inspired ''The Fury of the Gods'' and Ann Liang's mythical ''A Song to Drown Rivers."