Is this where I say what I gave to people after they were done reading Sanderson's works?
Here is the thing, Brandon doesn't really write like other authors, so it's hard to say, "get this, it's like his stuff." However, that being said, here are the books I recommend people read:
1) Steven Erikson - He is always my #1 (sorry Brandon), but he has the steepest learning curve of any author I have read (with the exception of R Scott Bakker - see below). He has the complexity of a Martin world, but with an extreme amount of magic. The first book is Gardens of the Moon
2) Jim Butcher - Dresden Files - Reading about the only Wizard in Chicago's phone book never disappoints. Fun, fast reads that have managed to get better with each novel, as well as getting more complex with each novel. The first book is Storm Front
3) George R R Martin - Already mentioned, but worth it again. The one drawback is some fairly explicit material at times, and his tendency to kill off characters faster than he introduces them, and it takes him forever to publish the next volumes. However, this is an amazingly well told story that he miraculously pulls off some how from 43985748937938763 view-points.
4) Robin Hobb - Great stuff told from First Person. On of Brandon's favorite authors. Cover quoted him for Mistborn 1. The book to start with of her's is Assassin's Apprentice.
5) John Scalzi - SCALZIIIII!!!!!!! Beat out Brandon's Elantris for the Campbell Award in '06. Good stuff. Fun SF. First book is Old Man's War.
6) Scott Lynch - Along with Brandon, lost to Namoi Novikfor the '07 Campbell Award. The main character in his stuff is a con-artist. Awesomely put-together. First book is The Lies of Locke Lamora.
7) R Scott Bakker - I love this guy, but I rarely recommend him. He's really really deep, and pretty graphic. His story, however, is amazing. The first book is The Darkness that Comes Before.
David Farland - Way cool ideas. Brandon took the writing class he currently teaches from Dave back in the day. Dave is also one of the classiest guys I have met from signings. First book to read is Runelords.
9)My last favorite is James Clemens. The Wit'ch series is great dark fantasy. His new series is getting great reviews also. He also writes fun fiction under the name of James Rollins (Map of Bones).