Fall is bringing fantasy (and romantasy), literary fiction, politics and Taylor-ed book offerings

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?'”