Recent entries

Blightsong

Can you give us any information on Rall Elorim?

Brandon Sanderson

Uhhhm, no other than its called City of Shadows for a reason.

Blightsong

What is Proving Day in Vorin mythology?

Brandon Sanderson

Uhhhm, equivalent of bar mitzvah.

Blightsong

Last year I asked you if shadows turn the wrong way in the cognitive realm for a reason, you said to basically think of it like important flavor text. Is this happening because people are being drawn towards the Beyond?

Brandon Sanderson

Um, yea that's part of it. Definitely.

Questioner

Is Yolen named after Jane Yolen?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes.

Questioner

Yes, ok. I've always wondered.

Brandon Sanderson

One of the early fantasy books I read was Dragon's Blood, and so I named it after her.

Blightsong

Are sandlings from White Sand an early concept for crustaceans on Roshar, with greatshells being a parallel to deep sandlings?

Brandon Sanderson

No, um, the idea for white sandWhite Sand came first, and it was more that I was exploring divergent ecology, but I've been doing that in Dragonsteel and in White Sand and in here with Roshar. I would say that the fact that white sand hadn't been published meant that I could do something's that were similar without worrying about repeating myself, but it's not like I used them specifically as models.

Blightsong

*jokingly* So are we going to get to see little dragons running around in Dragonsteel?

Brandon Sanderson

Uh, well, in Dragonsteel the dragons are sapient, so when I write Dragonsteel I will put dragons in there, but the dragons are intelligent and uh, can take human form, but there are actual little dragons.

Blightsong

Wait, they can take human form?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, yes, yup.

Blightsong

Can Odium change written word on Roshar like Ruin could on Scadrial?

Brandon Sanderson

*apprehensive* This is not really a thing that Odium does. Um, yea.

Blightsong

Was Sadeas ever affected directly by Odium or an Unmade, not counting the Thrill?

Brandon Sanderson

NOT counting the Thrill, ok uhhhhm. There are affects of other unmade around, and Odium's effect - direct effect? I'm going to say, no, maybe some indirect effects.

Blightsong

What about Roshone?

Brandon Sanderson

Uhhhm, no. The Thrill is the main thing that is getting the Alethi so, I mean, there are others around, but it's not as obvious with that as with other things.

Cognizantastic

Did any countries not pass an equivalent of the Capitulation Act?

Brandon Sanderson

Some did, some didn't. For example, Canada didn't… and things didn't go very well for them.

Cognizantastic

Are the areas where they didn't livable?

Brandon Sanderson

Well, livable is a broad definition. For some people, Newcago is livable.

Cognizantastic

Was Adonalsium Shattered by an external force?

Brandon Sanderson

Adonalsium was not Shattered by himself, herself, or itself.

Cognizantastic

As I understand it, Nightblood is most comparable to a Shardblade. However, unlike a Shardblade, Nightblood requires constant input of Investiture in order to realize his full destructive potential. Why is this?

Brandon Sanderson

Vasher kind of hacked in order to imitate another magic system. Shardblades are organic parts of the world they are on, but Nightblood is a bunch of souls stuffed into something. Nightblood is like a Frankenstein.

kippurbird (paraphrased)

I asked him why he didn’t mention how Jews felt about Rithmatics.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He said that they had conflicting feelings about it and different ones had different ideas - they also had their own lore about it.

imriel452

Tell me something about the cosmere that has not been previously mentioned.

Brandon Sanderson

Long ago there was a plot to destroy Adonalsium. It failed.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Twenty-first - any future children's books?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes, really enjoys it. Nothing until after Steelheart/Rithmatist/Alcatraz, but wants to write about a world where wireless energy happens naturally and everything is electrified. That'll be the next kids' book, but it'll take a bit to get the science right. Also discusses plot from POV of the "Dark One" who is fated to be killed by the Chosen Hero - this might be the plot for the electrified planet but maybe not, as it's definitely Cosmere.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Twentieth - are there any characters you dislike writing about and would like to kill off?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Joking answer: Cadsuane from WoT, someone else from WoT - Masema.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Nineteenth -  who would finish the Cosmere if he couldn't.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Maybe Brent Weeks.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Eighteenth - Is his wife here?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No; she's home with the kids because touring is kind of miserable.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Seventeenth - how many series in the Cosmere?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

36 novels, don't tell some people because they'll get scared. (Mistborn is 9, Stormlight is 10, Dragonsteel is the prequel and those are the core; everything else will be a trilogy or one-off and some might be novellas.)

Questioner (paraphrased)

Sixteenth - there's a rumor about a second Elantris book.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes, that's coming someday, but Stormlight is the priority. Current schedule: Firefight is done, Rithmatist 2 is next, Stormlight 3 after that (working title might still be Stones Unhallowed if he can get it out before Rothfuss finishes Doors of Stone)

Questioner (paraphrased)

Fifteenth - Is there something that inspires the strength of his female characters?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

His mother graduated first in her class in accounting in a year when she was the only woman in the accounting department. First three fantasy writers he read were female (Melanie Rawn, Anne McCaffrey, and one other I missed) to the point where when someone tried to give him Eddings he said he didn’t think men could write the genre.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Fourteenth - Have you ever considered writing a horror novel or dark fantasy?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes, played with it, wrote a short story for a Charlaine Harris anthology coming out this year and a book called 'Death by Pizza’ about a necromancer running a pizza shop. Is glad dark fantasy exists, but 'fantasy is the language of imagination and the language of hope’ (quoting Robert Jordan) and will write about mostly people he would like to be/admires.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Thirteenth - Do the Windrunners have any Surges that Szeth doesn't have?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO because it's explained in WoR.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Twelfth - is it challenging to write from the POV of a female character and why/why not.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Early on - yes it was, now less so. problem was: treated characters other than the main character as roles only, centered around main character. "writing characters without giving them their due". "You have to be able to write the other. Every character has to be a piece of you and a piece of not you." discusses Jasnah in particular. Point of literature is "to see what it’s like to be people who aren't us".

Questioner (paraphrased)

Eleventh - Who's your favorite Firefly character?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

WASH.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Tenth - third son born during WoR, did that affect the writing process?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes, can now pick out when children are written poorly in books. family keeps him grounded; writing is about our world, not the fantasy world, and family reminds him of that.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Ninth - target audience

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

"Honestly I want everyone to read my books"; WoK/SA is targeted at epic fantasy lovers, Mistborn is more approachable for heist novels, Alcatraz books are written at himself at age 13 (kid too clever for their own good but convinced that books are boring).

Questioner (paraphrased)

Eighth - favorite character from Stormlight and why

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Obligatory "like picking a favorite child".

Questioner (paraphrased)

Seventh - By the end of The Stormlight Archive will you look into the minds of everyone who will develop powers?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No. Lists flashback characters; the next three are, in order: Szeth, Eshonai, and Dalinar.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Sixth - when he comes up with a new magic system, what's the first basic thing he works on?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

References Sanderson's First Law; magic limitations come first.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Fifth - Favorite fictional curse word

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

the ones from Alcatraz, esp. Grandpa Smedry's cursing by SF/F writers.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Fourth - Outside of books, what influences his writing?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

1. People he knows (Sarene is based on a friend, etc; also includes character conflicts)

2. Cinema, especially when it does something poorly and he wants to do it better

3. video games may be an influence, unsure.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Third - when is the fifth Alcatraz book?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Whole series will be re-released next year, last book will probably come out with it. new versions will have artwork!

Questioner (paraphrased)

Second - most difficult character interaction he's ever written.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Mat and someone else from WoT, didn't catch it because it's a bit noisy but apparently they're both liars.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

First question is about a joke - writing a book with Rothfuss with competing teams of characters, giving it to GRRM for the ending - sounds like it probably won't happen but both Sanderson and Rothfuss have apparently joked about it.

Kaymyth

I also asked him about Terris food.

Brandon Sanderson

He said that he imagines it to be like Mediterranean food. He also allows that it could totally involve noodles.

Kaymyth (paraphrased)

I asked him about what the board refers to as "reverse" compounding - i.e., using Feruchemy to enhance Allomancy, rather than the other way around. I wanted to make sure that it was really a thing that exists.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He said that it was.

Kaymyth (paraphrased)

Is this what the Southern Scadrians have been doing?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It's similar, but not exactly the same.

little wilson (paraphrased)

Are any of the Lord Ruler's descendants alive at the time of Alloy of Law?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

scottwo

This guy [in the broadsheet], is that Nazh...

Brandon Sanderson

Nazh, yeah. Nazh. It's short for something.

dougpgc (paraphrased)

Could Hemalurgy be performed anywhere in the Cosmere

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

dougpgc (paraphrased)

So Hemalurgy is unique because not only can the power of Ruin be accessed anywhere (not just on Scadrial), but also by anyone (not just someone who's invested)?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It is weird that way.

dougpgc (paraphrased)

I asked him if a feruchemist were to visit Earth and tap Duralumin, could they do something as involved as talk local sports with someone?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No -- when you trick your spirit into thinking it's from where you're currently tapping, it's not a full transformation, like Sel-ish magic making a copy.. It doesn't just fill your head with things from the place you're visiting.

@Effir

What happens to the investiture that nightblood 'consumes'?

Brandon Sanderson

RAFO.

Brandon Sanderson

Most of the Unmade are not what we would call sapient. But a few are different...

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Quote from Oathbringer: "You cannot have my pain"

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Someone asked about the metal from if the metal of Paalm's spike could be used combined with another of the "normal" metals (maybe as an alloy?). He RAFOed that one.

Axies (paraphrased)

You told us Odium broke 4 Shards. Can you talk about the 4th one?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

I can say that you've seen, maybe not in Spain, but American fans have seen, the effects of that. You'll see something about it on Arcanum Unbounded.

Axies (paraphrased)

Is Hoid human?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes... but. Hoid is... you can say that he is still human, but his DNA have changed. Now he is human but you wouldn't call him Homo sapiens anymore. It happens something similar with the Steel Inquisitors

Moridin997 (paraphrased)

Did Bavadin in any way help Odium splinter Dominion and Devotion?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Uhh...

Moridin997 (paraphrased)

(sensing an incoming RAFO): In any way...

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Uhh... Yes... Yes, you could say that...

dgenio8 (paraphrased)

What made Vin so special?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO.

dgenio8 (paraphrased)

If the force opposing Adonalsium is an entity like him/it (?), have we seen any magic that is related to this entity?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No. All the magic you see come from the shards of Adonalsium.

dgenio8 (paraphrased)

You mention that, before the shattering, there was a force opposing Adonalsium. Was it an entity like Adonalsium?

He explain that they gave him to much wiggle room when the anti-Adonalsium question was made, explaining that is answer could mean that a group of people was against Adonalsium. But, for this question, we had to RAFO.

dgenio8 (paraphrased)

Was the Hoid we see born naturally, or was he created?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He was born naturally.