Is one of the guys that is looking for Hoid in the Purelake Galladon from Elantris?
Yes.
*inaudible*
You’ll have to find out. He’s part of a group called the Seventeenth Shard, who have kind of been recruited from different planets.
That question I asked, I've been wondering about it a lot, how do you do misogyny *inaudible*? I think the message of the book...isn't really right wording.
No, I know exactly what you mean. How do you write misogynistic characters without writing a misogynistic book? That is tricky. You know, one thing that I didn’t bring up a lot is to have people on a spectrum. If every--‘cause even if you go back to, for instance--if you went back to 600 BC, there would be certain people who think different ways than everyone else. We think that cultures are monolithic, but they're not. And if you go back most of my characters are not acting like they would in the mid-1800’s. If you went back then you would find people who are anti-racist, even back then. So it’s legit that you can have certain...
Yeah. The trick is you can’t make anyone just a super paragon, like Ghandi was racist but he was really powerfully influential in what he did. Everyone has got their biases and so if you make someone with no biases then they’re a bad character, but if you make people’s biases shine a light on each other you’ll have a stronger story.
*inaudible about Kaladin* He does have that deep-seated prejudice against the lighteyes, but in every other way as with everyone else its a subtle reminder.
Except the Parshendi. He’s been getting better. But that’s the whole point of relaying this. This person has.
Like you said, there's the stereotypes about Herdazians.
Yeah. Herdazians. And most people don't pick it out that there's like this deep racism against the Herdazians.
Do people ever accuse you of being <misogynistic>?
Not yet. I know it will happen. It probably has happened and I haven't seen it, but no, I haven't been upfront accused of it. My worse thing is there's some unconscious sexism in Mistborn. Vin works very well but there aren't any other women. I kind of fall into the one woman in the whole world sort of thing. But part of learning about this is we all have these biases, we're all going to these make these mistakes. You have to be okay to fail. Better that than wrong. Why is that wrong? What about is it? In what way?
With The Bands of Mourning, now that we understand flight with potassium, or whatever alkali metal that actually was... So is that part of where we’re starting with the Faster Than Light travel? Something along those lines with potassium and maybe like--
I’m not going to tell you, but this is the bridge into the next Era, which the Era beyond will be FTL, but this sort of stuff needed to happen first.
Right, right exactly and the good stuff and the technology trying to get them up to speed and plus with Kelsier going to that other realm and the glimpse of Sel and stuff.
Yep, yep, there will be so much fun stuff in the next series.
So for Calamity, like about these others that you mentioned, are we ever going to figure that out? Or is just going to be...
Oh yeah, so the next series I’m doing deals with the greater-- kind of interdimensional travel and who are these people.
Okay good, because I was like “You can’t leave me like this” at the very end. I really liked how it was put together and stuff. My own theories were that David was actually, like his powers were actually figuring out Epics’ weaknesses...
I considered that, I really did. At the end of the day, when I brainstormed the trilogy I said you know what would be most fun for me in this series is to do a trilogy that is basically an origin story, for a character and then when I come back to The Reckoners, if I do, because the next one’s a parallel dimension, right?
From where Firefight is, or from like other?
That -- we will get into why certain ones are stable and certain ones aren’t and why you can pull from and we’ll do something there with a new character. And if I come back, then Mizzy will be the main character in the sequel series.
Awesome if you ask me, because I was always looking forward to more Mizzy.
Does that make sense? That’s where the plan for these is, we’ll see how the new series goes, they’re announcing it next week. And the entirety of the magic system is based on interdimensional stuff.
Right, especially with Megan and her--
Yep.
--multiple hundred personalities coming together and stuff.
So it’s kind of like Megan has opened up this idea of a quantum multiverse, and now I’m going to do a quantum multiverse, which is not something I can deal with in the cosmere so it’s exciting for me to be able to do it.
Yeah ‘cause the first one we see about the others I was like (okay cosmere fandom, but wait) this is not cosmere, don't worry about that.
Not cosmere. Going straight-up quantum multiverse, in kind of a classical sense. I’ve been doing a lot of reading on string theory and things. It’s so hard, string theory breaks my brain. Quantum mechanics break my brain.
I'm curious how you were <feeling about whole process of> the graphic novel. <Specifically how you felt about the whole thing translating,> because I have the draft.
Uh-huh.
<You were kind enough to send me that.> You know, you were very descriptive.
<And it didn't translate well?>
Not so much-- although I did see <glimpses of you popping through>.
Yeah, so, I focus on the positives. <But there might be some things I might not agree with.>
I think that's fair. Of course.
And I-- what we came up with was the < a list of a few things>... *inaudible* Like the only one that really bothered <me> was... where is the big battle?
*searches through the graphic novel*
<The big splash page> right there. I'm like... <when did this turn into> white people verse brown people? You've read the book. This isn't about white versus brown. This is, again, how did we end up with white versus brown? Why aren't these people wearing armor? These guys are the ones that are outcasts and these are the high society.
And so when I got this stuff, I was like, "Uhh..." These panels where they'd done earlier where they have the skin tones and the <the clothes for the Darksiders>, I'm like, "Really good!". But then when that one came together I was like, "Oh great, oh great, here we go." And when you put the whole thing together, some things came out really cool. Like I think the Darksiders turned out cool. The Darksiders were awesome. The magic turned out really great. But again, I'm like, "Where's the armor? Where's the cultural markings? Where's that stuff?".
But yeah, yeah. The thing is, the guy who's drawing them is Asian, right? So <he should, you know?>... alright, so that's my thing. But again, you've read the book. Like, where's <that detail?>... But that's-- when you give the story to someone else you have to let them <do what they will>.
So when you use an Allomancy metal--I know you had mentioned it once time, like *inaudible*... My question was, when that happens, is the metal like actually gone, or like conservation of...
No, it's becoming Investiture. Yeah, so... Investiture, energy, and matter are the same thing in the first category of *inaudible*.
Rosharans already have an ansible. (reported by Kurkistan)
Spanreeds are, basically, evidence that FTL is possible in the Cosmere. It's not the only example too. (reported by Blightsong)
If a person were tapping Connection would their language for Awakening change?
If the Connection is strong enough then yes, otherwise no.
My friend wants to know how fast steel Compounders could possibly go, can they run up walls or over water like the Flash?
*jokingly* Can they run through time?
Steelrunners can resist a lot things due to the power, like they can withstand the Gs they are out through, but they can't ignore wind resistance and friction. They will burn up if they start running too quickly.
Is Adolin's inability to form meaningful relationships important to his overall character arch?
Yes, it is.
Can a Parshendi with the right mind set transform with an Unmade?
RAFO.
Was Hoid trying to become an Elantrian kind of in a way how Kelsier was able to connect to Preservation to take up the Shard?
Yes, the thing about it is you're getting Hoid before he knew as much as he did in Scadrial era, so what he was trying to do was completely ineffective and it couldn't have worked.
Doesn't it get weaker the farther away you are, so it wouldn't help at all.
Mhm.
Well we have an example of an Elantrian on Roshar, so.
Yes we have an Elantrian on Roshar, but we don't see him use any powers, and his skin is dark on Roshar rather than glowing, granted that could be a disguise. That is something to be aware of.
Does magic happen on Sel because areas have a stronger cognitive presence, like, more sentient life in that area.
Uhhh, no, good question, good question. That is not the answer. I am going to give it in the Cosmere collection if people don't guess it by then. So I'm going to leave off, I could tell you right now but, I can't remember if anyone has guessed it or not.
Is it related to tectonics?
No, it's all kinda going in the wrong direction. I haven't really given you the clues to figure it out, I don't think. Once I say it, it will make a lot of sense.
How much did Super Mind Taravangian know about the Cosmere as a whole, roughly, rough estimate.
He had a little bit of knowledge. Not as much as... not as much conscious knowledge.
Did he guess about the three realms?
Yes, he knew about the three realms. He didn't have to guess on that, he had read philosophy and things, that knowledge is there on Roshar
Would it be harder for Jasnah to Soulcast a Knight Radiant?
Yes.
Would it be harder for her to Soulcast a Mistborn?
Yes, Investiture resists Investiture. It's harder for her to even Soulcast a person than a rock, right?
Is a Mistborn Invested?
The Mistborn, while they're burning the metal. They are not specifically Invested when they are not burning. When the Investiture becomes active, then yes. Before, no.
So Kelsier, he stayed around longer, not because he was Invested, but because he had the potential to use Investiture?
Over time using the magic will Invest you, on Scadrial. Most of the power is not coming from, on Roshar the power isn't coming from the person either [he cut himself off, so I assume this is how it works on Scadrial even though he didn't finish his thought] so I'm going to have to back up on that one and say, yes, the Mistborn are as Invested as a Knight Radiant, because in both cases the majority, bulk, of the power is coming from somewhere else, but there is the Spiritweb. Investing the wrong term, but you have all these connections in the Spiritual Realm, so yanking you away from them, or rewriting them is harder.
Would they be harder with more Stormlight or metals burning?
Yes, yes. That would increase the difficulty ratio. For instance, wearing Shardplate is gonna be a great barrier, right, and things like that so yeah. The problem is like, Invested is the wrong term for that, their Spiritweb is connected in different ways.
Were the ideals of the Knights Radiant consciously chosen, or did they happen naturally?
*apprehension*. This is one of those vague ones in that yes and no. They are a natural outgrowth of the spren, but the spren are a natural outgrowth of human's perception of natural forces, but the spren are sentient, so I would say it's a little more by instinct than not. For example two Knights Radiant in the same Order might speak the words differently, but the concept is the same. You will see this happen in a future book, where a Windrunner will speak the oaths. It's a slightly different take on the same concept. Some are moreso, like Shallan's oaths are very individualized truths, so.
Is it possible for a Knight Radiant to become a kind of Drab if they use too much Investiture?
No, you can't really burn yourself out that way, no. I mean, it's possible for drabbery to be mimicked on other planets, but it wouldn't be through that method.
Does Baon's name sound Selish for a reason?
No, that just a coincidence. His name was Bowen in the original, but I'm like ehhh, hes like an archer and gun man, I don't want to call him Bowen, that's a little like calling him 'Bowman'; and so I shortened that. That was before I had written Elantris, so its complete coincidence.
Is anything magical going on with the screams Szeth hears?
Uhhh, Szeth's screams. Uhhm, I'm trying to decide how to answer this. It is not, see here's the thing. What we would call magical may not be considered magical in the Cosmere, but it depends on your definition of magic. Would Szeth if he were on our planet and have done those things would he hear those screams, probably not, but would someone else in the Cosmere who had gone through what he had gone through hear those screams, yes.
So it has to do with the spiritual realm?
Yea, mhmm, yea.
Is Aon Omi a kind of God Aon?
It's what they use it for, so, it would be kind of, equivalent to the god symbols, but it's also partially an adoption if that makes sense.
Could Kelsier theoretically bond with someone on Roshar?
Yes.
Are you just getting these questions off of the 17th Shard?
No, these are mine.
These are actually yours? OK, i'll keep going then. If these are actually yours you can have as many as you want, yeah. Some people just go to the list of all the questions to ask Brandon and then they come and like "i'm just going to ask all of these" and i'm like "no, you can have three or four", but if they're your own questions you can have as many as you want.
Would Hoid's spirit web seem more similar to that of a savant or a regular human?
Oh, neither one, but it would be weirder than a savant.
Would a savant look different in the spiritual realm than a regular human?
Yes, yes.
How well would Jasnah and Khriss get along?
Uhhhm, I would say that they would get along well, like scholars from different disciplines, meaning with respect for the other's discipline.
Can forgery change eye or hair color?
It could theoretically change eye or hair color
What would Rock's name mean translated directly to English?
You want the poem? I've got the poem somewhere, I can't quote the poem at you, I'm sorry. Maybe I'll release it someday. I do have the poem, it's not that long. It's more like a Haiku style poem.
With reversals fabrials, if one fell and sat on the ground will the other one continue to rise due to the gravity affecting the one on the ground?
No, good question.
Is it theoretically possible to Hemalurgically spike a Shard into someone else, and if so, what would be the outcome?
A full shard? Hemalurgy could not hold that much of an Invested charge... not... yeah, like a hemallurgic spike really couldn't hold that much. Not without something really weird happening, so.
In the end, how many bridge runs did Kaladin go on?
I didn't count them, uhhm, dozens. Probably not hundreds.
Can you give us any information on Rall Elorim?
Uhhhm, no other than its called City of Shadows for a reason.
What is Proving Day in Vorin mythology?
Uhhhm, equivalent of bar mitzvah.
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?
Um, yea that's part of it. Definitely.
Is Yolen named after Jane Yolen?
Yes.
Yes, ok. I've always wondered.
One of the early fantasy books I read was Dragon's Blood, and so I named it after her.
Are sandlings from White Sand an early concept for crustaceans on Roshar, with greatshells being a parallel to deep sandlings?
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.
*jokingly* So are we going to get to see little dragons running around in Dragonsteel?
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.
Wait, they can take human form?
Yes, yes, yup.
Can Odium change written word on Roshar like Ruin could on Scadrial?
*apprehensive* This is not really a thing that Odium does. Um, yea.
Was Sadeas ever affected directly by Odium or an Unmade, not counting the Thrill?
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.
What about Roshone?
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.
So there are some forms of Investiture that some people can access regardless: like BioChromatic Breath, but there are some that are not like Allomancy—and there are a few exceptions of course—but are there other ways besides [hemalurgic] spikes that you can access investiture from different worlds?
Like if an Elantrian went to-
If you can blank your Identity and create the right Connection you can have it happen.
If an Elantrian showed up on Roshar, they wouldn't bond with a spren?
They can bond with a spren, the spren is up to the spren's choice. The spren can bond with whoever they choose to bond with.
What is the purpose of the gigantic four armed spren that looks at the origin of the Surgestorms?
Good question, haha, RAFO.
Do Surgebinders have Gemhearts?
*laughs* I was about to ask that.
No, good question.
Are we ever going to learn what threat Taravangian is referring to?
Uhhh, yes.
It will be big, I assume so.
I was wondering if we were ever going to see dragons in the Cosmere?
Yes, Dragonsteel, which is one of the first books that I wrote in the Cosmere has dragons. It's also just one of the weaker books, so I can't publish it as is, but yea. Being a big fan of dragons, I did write them into the Cosmere. They are the one kind of generic- kind of the standard fantasy race in there.
Are they ever going to infiltrate the other worlds kind of?
Well Hoid writes a letter to one, he calls him you old reptile. And that's in Words of Radiance. So that's a letter to one of the dragons. So they are referenced.
I thought that was a general insult.
Nope, he's actually writing to Frost, an old reptile.
How does corrupted investiture work, like Nightblood?
Oh, Nightblood. Again, this is a definition of what somebody feels is a corruption. For instance, there are spren that people would feel are corrupted. But that's corruption where the mixing of different Shards has changed things, and I think a lot of times when people say corruption, what they're meaning is the mixing of Shards' powers.
So is there a mixing of Shards' powers happening with Nightblood?
*smirks* RAFO. That's the natural question, I'm glad you asked it.
Ok, uhhh, so something similar is happening with Gavilar's sphere, right?
*contemplative silence* RAFO.
Can you shed some [light] on why Ruin's last words were "Vax"?
No, I can't, I mean I can but I'm not going to.
Can honorspren, or any other type of Knight Radiant spren, be evil despite their relationship to Tanavast or Cultivation?
Yes, because I don't call the Shards good and evil. There are no good and evil Shards in my opinion, like and so, what's evil and what's not evil- you can totally have spren that are of Honor that you would consider evil. They have free will; they are much more strictly limited in that free will than we are, because of their nature as spren. It's very hard for most spren to ever break an oath or to lie. That's just like- as manifestations of laws of nature makes it very hard for that to happen, but they can be cruel.
What exactly- When an object enters a time bubble, how exactly does it determine- how does it know how fast and which direction it's really going?
It gets deflected a little bit when it enters, but then it adapts to the momentum that it would have going in.
Like Spiritual bonds to something or other?
Riiight *sounds hesitant* it's- so... I can't explain that because it has relevance in the future. But in that moment when it passes [into the bubble], something is happening with conservation of momentum. The trick we have to do with it in order to keep from irradiating people.
What exactly was Harmony's original plan for Lessie if she'd gone along with it?
Well the original plan was to turn Wax into what he kind of ended up being.
And Lessie would still be alive, then?
Yes, and kind of as his minder, slash, ya know...
How exactly, Realmatically, is it tracked- like [for example] Aon Aon with these swirls and lines means "Arelon"?
I'm not gonna' explain that yet; I can explain how the shape is, but the whole relationship between the Aons and the magic and the landscape-
*Draws out/describes AonAon like in the book*
Riddle me this: Why did the Horneater couple stop after four kids?
*Playing along*
Alright, go for it.
They didn't want to get heir-sick.
*Laughs/groans*
A Rioter, a Soother, and a Coinshot all go to buy a car.
The Soother goes up to the salesman and is like "hey can I buy a car" and the salesman goes "No, every time I sell to you people I always end up wanting to please you too much: I don't want to sell you the car, get out of here."
The Rioter walks up. He's like "hey, can I buy a car?" and the salesman goes "No, every time I try to sell to you folks I always end up wanting to try and *garbled* too much, get out of here."
The Coinshot walks up and the salesman goes "No you gotta *garbled* too, get out here." The Coinshot's like "what!? I can't mess with your emotions." The salesman goes "well yeah, but you guys are way too pushy."
Wow.
We've seen a number of human/singer hybrids (Unkalaki and Herdazians) and even human/Aimian hybrids (Natans). How is such a thing possible biologically or is there some outside influence there?
He said that they (humans and parshendi/aimians) can interbreed because they were made by the same person, or rather that they were made with the same intent, that they were made that way on purpose. They don't have a common heritage or anything though.
