📖 Overview
David Farland (1957-2022), born John David Wolverton, was an American author best known for his fantasy and science fiction works, including the Runelords series and On My Way to Paradise.
As a writing instructor and mentor, Farland taught creative writing at Brigham Young University and discovered or influenced several bestselling authors including Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Mull, and Stephenie Meyer. His book Million Dollar Outlines became a respected resource for aspiring writers.
Writing under both David Farland and David Wolverton, he published over fifty novels across multiple genres and won numerous awards, including the Philip K. Dick Memorial Special Award and the Whitney Award for Lifetime Achievement. His Runelords series, beginning with The Sum of All Men, explored unique magical systems and became his most commercially successful work.
Beyond his literary contributions, Farland worked as a video game designer and Hollywood screenwriting consultant, applying his storytelling expertise across different media. He served as the coordinating judge for one of the world's largest science fiction and fantasy writing contests, Writers of the Future.
👀 Reviews
Readers appreciate Farland's worldbuilding skills and unique magic systems, particularly in the Runelords series. Fans note his ability to explore complex moral themes through accessible storytelling. Multiple reviews highlight his clear writing style and action sequences.
Common criticisms include pacing issues in later Runelords books, with some readers feeling the series loses focus after book 3. Some reviews point out repetitive character descriptions and dialogue that can feel stiff.
From online ratings:
Goodreads
- Runelords Book 1: 3.9/5 (18,000+ ratings)
- Million Dollar Outlines: 4.1/5 (400+ ratings)
Amazon
- Runelords Book 1: 4.4/5 stars
- Writing Wonder: 4.7/5 stars
Specific reader comments mention strong opening hooks but occasional middle-book slumps. Writing craft books receive consistent praise from aspiring authors, with one reviewer noting: "His beat sheet method transformed my plotting process."
📚 Books by David Farland
Sons of the Oak - Book 5 of the Runelords series follows Gaborn's son Fallion as he discovers his own Earth Powers while facing a growing darkness in the land of Mystarria.
The Lair of Bones - Book 4 of the Runelords series chronicles the final battle between Gaborn Val Orden and Raj Ahten as they race to defeat a greater enemy threatening their world.
The Wyrmling Horde - Book 7 of the Runelords series details Fallion's struggle against an invasion of humanoid creatures that threaten to consume all life.
Wizardborn - Book 3 of the Runelords series explores Gaborn's journey to understand his Earth Powers while protecting his people from multiple threats.
Worldbinder - Book 6 of the Runelords series follows Fallion as he discovers the ability to merge parallel worlds and faces the consequences of this power.
Chaosbound - Book 8 of the Runelords series depicts a world where endowments of brawn and grace become unstable, threatening the fabric of civilization.
The Lair of Bones - Book 4 of the Runelords series chronicles the final battle between Gaborn Val Orden and Raj Ahten as they race to defeat a greater enemy threatening their world.
The Wyrmling Horde - Book 7 of the Runelords series details Fallion's struggle against an invasion of humanoid creatures that threaten to consume all life.
Wizardborn - Book 3 of the Runelords series explores Gaborn's journey to understand his Earth Powers while protecting his people from multiple threats.
Worldbinder - Book 6 of the Runelords series follows Fallion as he discovers the ability to merge parallel worlds and faces the consequences of this power.
Chaosbound - Book 8 of the Runelords series depicts a world where endowments of brawn and grace become unstable, threatening the fabric of civilization.
👥 Similar authors
Brandon Sanderson writes complex magic systems and epic fantasy series with detailed worldbuilding, similar to Farland's approach in Runelords. He focuses on intricate plot structures and innovative magic mechanics in series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive.
Raymond E. Feist creates fantasy worlds with well-developed magical systems and political intrigue throughout his Riftwar Cycle. His work features similar themes of power dynamics and consequences that appear in Farland's writing.
L.E. Modesitt Jr. builds detailed fantasy worlds with systematic magic and examines the societal impacts of power, particularly in his Saga of Recluce series. His writing style emphasizes the practical applications and costs of magic use.
Terry Brooks writes fantasy series with strong character development and explores themes of responsibility and power in his Shannara series. His work contains similar elements of epic scope and magical consequences found in Farland's books.
Robin Hobb creates character-driven fantasy with deep magical systems and political complexity in series like The Realm of the Elderlings. Her work shares Farland's focus on the personal costs of power and magic use.
Raymond E. Feist creates fantasy worlds with well-developed magical systems and political intrigue throughout his Riftwar Cycle. His work features similar themes of power dynamics and consequences that appear in Farland's writing.
L.E. Modesitt Jr. builds detailed fantasy worlds with systematic magic and examines the societal impacts of power, particularly in his Saga of Recluce series. His writing style emphasizes the practical applications and costs of magic use.
Terry Brooks writes fantasy series with strong character development and explores themes of responsibility and power in his Shannara series. His work contains similar elements of epic scope and magical consequences found in Farland's books.
Robin Hobb creates character-driven fantasy with deep magical systems and political complexity in series like The Realm of the Elderlings. Her work shares Farland's focus on the personal costs of power and magic use.