Recent entries

Questioner

Have you thought about what all the Atium alloys do?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, but I have not canonized most of them. Even in my notes.

Questioner

If a mistwraith eats a Koloss will it [?].

Brandon Sanderson

If a Mistwraith eats a Koloss, you're asking "will it become it", um, "will it gain sapience because it now has Feruchemical* spikes?" Any Feruchemical* spike is not necessarily enough to make the creature we call 'Kandra', but there may be very weird side effects to what you just described.

Questioner

Welcome Brandon Sanderson here, and Angela, thank you all for coming. I will just turn the time over to him, he talks about himself way better than I am. It sounded like he's full of himself, but hes not.

Audience

*laughter*

Brandon Sanderson

A little! At Pheonix Comic Con last week me and Dan were on a panel together with a bunch of other panelists and at one point Dan said, pointing at me, "He was like this even before he got famous." So at least I'm the same person, I'm the same gregarious, somewhat... at times larger than life person.

Arkadious4028

In your opinion, who would win a fight between a Fullborn (with compounding knowledge of the sixteen base metals) and Nicol Bolas?

Brandon Sanderson

I think Bolas is more powerful in his realm and continuity than your average fullborn is--but that said, we haven't seen any with real mastery of all the metals. But I'd say if you take the lore of the two universes into account, Bolas wins.

Khalku

How do you decide where/what to cut in a project of this size? When you say it reads better, are you constantly reading the whole thing and re-reading?

Brandon Sanderson

That's exactly how I revise--I re-read the book, making notes about what is working and what isn't, then plan strategies for fixing it. I incorporate beta reader feedback into this. When a section I felt was explosive and interesting gets "meh" responses from the majority of readers, I have to ask myself why, look at the sections again and decide--is this the sort of section I leave as is or change? In some cases, you leave it, as while it might be only okay to some readers, it includes scenes that some others will absolutely love. In other cases, I've miss-evaluated somehow, and need to attack it again.

This is all done as I re-read the book again, using my notes as a guide on what to fix.

Le7o

How many books will the series have?

Brandon Sanderson

Two 5 book arcs.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Why did Kaladin's forehead scars never heal?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Stormlight healing has a lot to do with how one sees oneself.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Can anyone other than a Parshendi bond a Voidspren? Like, can a human bond a Voidspren?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

That is theoretically possible but humans are not good at bonding spren in the same way.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He RAFO'd any questions about where the Shardpools [Perpendicularities] are.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Is there a region-based magic like Elantris on any of the other worlds?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

The Aon magic is unique to that planet because it is intrinsic to the Shard that created it, but you could theoretically hack the magic system so that AonDor would work on another planet.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Is it possible to steal Stormlight?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It's theoretically possible.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Can a Hemalurgy chart be made?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes. We will make one eventually.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Demoux is the only worldhopper we've seen that inherently ages. Is there something about worldhopping that makes someone not age?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

There are ways around that. It is not intrinsic to the process. You would need to do something special.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Is the Nightwatcher a spren of Cultivation in a similar way that the Stormfather is to Honor?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

The Nightwatcher is not Cultivation but is related. You're on the right track.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Are the Parshendi of Cultivation?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Not originally.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Are the Parshendi of Odium?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Not originally.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Is Hoid the most knowledgeable about what's going on in the cosmere?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No, Khriss is the most aware by a long shot. Nazh knows a lot as well. Hoid might know more than Nazh but he is pretty in the know as well so it's close.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Have we seen Cultivation's magic?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Lift is my favorite character even though she was only in that one chapter.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

You will see much more of Lift in the future. Lift is seeded there because she will be very important later on.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Feruchemists that can store Investiture, would they be able to then use that to power Allomancy with say Stormlight?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Why were all the Shardblades swords when they can take on any weapon form they want? Would they all revert to swords when they die?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

When they die they'd revert to the basic form which was a sword since they were patterned after Honorblades.

Questioner (paraphrased)

If a non-Windrunner picked up Jezrien's Honorblade would they gain Windrunner powers as well?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

Questioner (paraphrased)

If a Windrunner picked up that blade, would their abilities be enhanced?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

There would be some compounding but strength is not as much an issue with Surgebinding as is the strength of the spren bond and how much Stormlight you are using.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Why is Vasher on Roshar? Is he trying to get back Nightblood?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Kind of a RAFO. I won't go into all his reasons right now but there is one thing that was difficult to get on Nalthis that is much easier to get on Roshar. Going to Roshar solved that problem for him.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Are the Ghostbloods accounted for in the Diagram?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

The Ghostbloods are in the Diagram.

Questioner (paraphrased)

If Hoid were to hold an unsheathed Nightblood, would he feel sick?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

*Loud laughing* RAFO.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Were the Heralds born on Roshar?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO.

Questioner (paraphrased)

What is the Realmatic composition of Investiture?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Investure is intended to be the building blocks of the cosmere so I would say for the most part it transcends the different realms. Probably more of the Spiritual if anything but more accurately it transcends them.

Questioner (paraphrased)

Where was Pattern before Shallan drew him?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He was around. The bonding process had started when Shallan was young but then she pushed him away and he withdrew mostly to the Cognitive Realm until the bonding was started again and she pulled him fully into the Physical when she drew him.

Chaos

 I asked Brandon to write in my book something about that opposing force.

Brandon Sanderson

There was a weapon created by the opposition of Adonalsium.

Pinpoint (paraphrased)

Belief has had a lot to do with the cosmere. (for example in Warbreaker. The appearances of the Returned had a lot to do with belief) Will belief have a big part to play in The Stormlight Archive?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It already has. The two scholars measuring the spren.

Pinpoint (paraphrased)

Does Dalinar have Surgebinding abilities?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO.

Pinpoint (paraphrased)

If Hoid got beheaded, would his body grow a new head?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

Pinpoint (paraphrased)

What if Hoid got cut by a Shardblade?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

The Shardblade cuts the soul and what Hoid does heals the soul.

scm288 (paraphrased)

So, I don't actually own a hardcover copy of The Way of Kings, but I did notice when looking at one that there's a map of Shadesmar... And that the map shows that Shadesmar geography is precisely aligned with Roshar's geography... So I'm just going to assume that other planets we've visited so far also have realms of Shadesmar that are aligned geographically.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

That's very clever of you! *smiles* Very clever...

scm288 (paraphrased)

So I guess my follow-up question is: is Elantris a Dawncity?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Hmm. I could see where your reasoning could come to that conclusion, but no. No, that's not it. But your earlier extrapolations are in the right direction.

Chaos (paraphrased)

I asked Peter at the release what was the Shadows for Silence planet name.

Peter Ahlstrom (paraphrased)

It is Threnody.

Dalenthas

Was Kelsier under Ruin's influence as well? It seems to me that destroying the Pits of Hathsin (and thus preventing Ruin's power from leaking) is something that Ruin would want to happen...

Brandon Sanderson

There is a short story forthcoming which will deal with Kelsier, the days after he Snapped, his training, and what influence (if any) Ruin had on him. Most likely, this will appear in the Mistborn RPG coming out next year. So I'm afraid that's a RAFO.

Dalenthas

With all the talk about action and reaction and whatnot, will some force form to counter Sazed's new Ruin/Preservation mix? It seems to me like the whole nature of the world can't stand to have one person unopposed.

Brandon Sanderson

Ruin and Preservation were not the only Shards of Adonalsium, though they are the only ones on Scadrial at the moment. Sazed's ability to be both at once is actually something I drew from Eastern mythology, where it is believed that the ability to contain two opposing forces at the same time represents ultimate harmony. The Buddha, for instance, was said to have performed the miracle of producing both fire and ice from his hands at the same time.

Chaos

Is "Scadrial" the proper name to refer to the Mistborn world?

Brandon Sanderson

Scadrial is indeed the name of the planet

Dalenthas

Did Sazed leave information about how his new religion should be run for Spook and the others to find? His note to Spook implies that there is an afterlife...

Brandon Sanderson

Sazed didn't immediately leave this, as he was too focused on other things. The next period of time will be difficult for Sazed, as he essentially sees himself as an avatar of deity—the force of Preservation—and not God with an upper case letter. He's still not sure what Truth is 100%. And there is an afterlife, but it's probably not what you're thinking. In other words, Sazed has not touched Heaven or Hell, and actually doesn't yet know what the final beyond contains. He has, however, run into some people who have been sticking around something of a middle place. It's related to the larger cosmology, and I'm afraid that I'll need to RAFO anything further.

Dalenthas

Was TenSoon more susceptible to Ruin's powers than the other Kandra because he took OreSeur's Blessings?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, he was. However, the Blessing of Presence actually enhanced his mind to make him more resistant, so they balanced out.

Chaos (paraphrased)

This is other information we overheard while we were there. Skaze are the evil seons, and are related to Skai. Seons are related to the AonDor and thus Aona.

Chaos (paraphrased)

What do you call mixing Allomantic powers with Feruchemical powers? Allochemy?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He hasn't decided yet.

Chaos (paraphrased)

Does atium have a "side effect", much like how lerasium has a "side effect" in creating Mistborn?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

RAFO.

Chaos (paraphrased)

Can Hemalurgy be used to steal magic attributes from any Shardworld?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Hemalurgy has larger ramifications then just Scadrial. That's about all he'd say.

Chaos (paraphrased)

Is Hoid evil?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

*chuckle* What do YOU think?

Chaos (paraphrased)

Let's say hypothetically we get Ruin, Preservation, and Endowment to create a planet. Would there be *more* magic systems due to Endowment's involvement (think permutations), or would this specifically not work at all?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It could work. There is the potential for more magic systems.

Chaos (paraphrased)

In the future when atium is rare again and we have a good Table of Allomantic Metals, which metal steals Allomantic Temporal powers?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It will be on the table when Brandon brings them out. Feruchemy is the next poster to come out. Until then RAFO.

Chaos (paraphrased)

Does being female alter the spiritual overlays on a person, so that a Hemalurgically imbued spike would need to be placed differently than in a male body?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No. In fact, there are female inquisitors in the huge fight when Vin goes blasting through them, but he felt like bringing that out would have been distracting.

Chaos (paraphrased)

How long is the lifespan of an Inquisitor?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It depends on the powers they're given. Some burn up quickly, and others are extended. In general though they do tend to have slightly longer lives. Since Marsh has the missing bag of atium he's going to be around for a while.

Chaos (paraphrased)

Why did Rashek create mistwraiths the way that he did?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He wasn't sure what you meant by this, but he was sure that the annotations would cover what you wanted to know.

Chaos (paraphrased)

Can Inquisitors still breed through human reproductive methods?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

Yes.

Chaos (paraphrased)

Could you tell us a chronology of the Shardworlds thus far? Like, did Warbreaker happen after Mistborn or before, things like that. Personally, I was under the impression you said Mistborn was a sequel to Elantris, but Mi'ch and Josh disagree.

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

He wasn't positive on where Warbreaker went, but Elantris is first and MB is after it.