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Kidpen

So what do Harrier's Lenses do?

Brandon Sanderson

Harrier's Lenses magnify the pain of someone you focus on.

They aren't terribly nice things.

Kidpen

What do Harrier's Lenses from Alcatraz do?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO. That's a RAFO because I am not in that brainspace right now.

grandpa_fathom

As I’ve read Brandon’s books, I smile every time I come across allusions, borrowings, and references to real-world influences. I’m hoping the community can help me flush out this list (speculation welcome).

• Kelsier as a Christ figure resurrected & starting a religion
• Dalinar as Genghis Kahn
• Shards as the Greek (or insert your favorite) pantheon
• Wit as a Shakespearean fool
• Chana & Shallan as Abraham & Isaac
• Nohadon as King Benjamin
• translation lenses (Alcatraz) as urim & thummim
• Iriali exodus as the Mosaic exodus

Brandon Sanderson

• Kelsier as a Christ figure resurrected & starting a religion (More that he is trying deliberately to ape off of similar stories from Sazeds myths. Then ended up living, kind of, and now has to work with what he did.)

• Dalinar as Genghis Kahn (More Subutai in military strategy and position. But I did intentionally include one Genghis myth for the history lovers in Dalinar's backstory. This is because one inspiration for the Alethi is the Yuan Dynasty, where the Mongols had to learn to rule China.)

• Shards as the Greek (or insert your favorite) pantheon (Kind of, kind of not. More uplifted humans in over their heads. I wasnt looking at panthons here as they don’t really involve one another.)

• Wit as a Shakespearean fool (Yup. See Lear and 12th night)

• Chana & Shallan as Abraham & Isaac (Not intentional, but I can see it might be unconscious.)

• Nohadon as King Benjamin (I doubt he was as silly, but this is an influence and a concious one.)

• translation lenses (Alcatraz) as urim & thummim (Also not intentional. When I think about powers, I just wish I could speak and read all languages. But maybe there is something unconscious here? For all this looks like a slam dunk, I really think it was just me thinking of powers I wanted, and relating them to wearing glasses.)

• Iriali exodus as the Mosaic exodus (Also not deliberately done...but you probably have something here. This is almost certain part of the inspiration.)

Questioner

lWhat if you mixed-- ike in Alcatraz, what if you mixed like a Windbringer's Lens with like a Fire--forgot the name.

Brandon Sanderson

Oh man that would be terrible. You'd have a big black firestorm. It'd be awesome. Someone should do that.

Questioner

So they are allowed to mix?

Brandon Sanderson

They can. It's very hard.

Questioner

I'm curious how you came up with the names of the different lenses.

Brandon Sanderson

I just went with what felt cool to me. 'Cause for Alcatraz, it's kinda just all about what feels cool to me, right now. There were no specific inspirations. Just cool words.