Recent entries

    Stormlight Three Update #5 ()
    #13152 Copy

    IHeartMyKitten

    Would Szeth still have been chosen to be a skybreaker if Nalan'Elin had known that Szeth was willing to kill Adolin "on his own time" unlawfully without being compelled by his oathstone? Or did Nalan'Elin know about that and still think he'd be a good fit?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nobody is perfect, and Nale knows this--but he has worse days than others. It's not so much the law, as willingness to follow a personal code, that Nale is most interested in. He's also more harsh with people once they join the order than before.

    So, he wouldn't have loved it, but it wouldn't have stopped him from offering.

    Stormlight Three Update #5 ()
    #13153 Copy

    zuriel45

    Jasnah, as I've said, grows more important in the back five.

    I'd say spoilers, but I doubt you'd kill her off..

    Pitchwife

    This is entirely from memory so please forgive me if I get this wrong, but I believe [Brandon] has hedged on this topic in the past, e.g. who says she has to be alive (in the usual sense) to be a POV character?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I've said that flashback characters (which are the ones I've announced as having "books" dedicated to them) can die before their book arrives.

    Stormlight Three Update #5 ()
    #13157 Copy

    Brandon Sanderson

    In book one, a main character was absent from several parts. (Dalinar and Shallan alternated.) Same with Words of Radiance, where Dalinar skipped two parts, I believe.

    Note that this is an absence of viewpoints from the character, not necessarily an absence of the character entirely.

    The main characters of the first part of the Stormlight are Shallan, Kaladin, and Dalinar. Two more flashback character (Eshonai and Szeth) can be considered important characters without as many viewpoints, though in the above outline, I'd have listed them as tertiary characters in terms of number of viewpoints.

    The actual tertiary characters are Jasnah, Adolin, Navani, and a few that I can't mention as it will be spoilers. These get significant screen time, but only have viewpoints here and there in the first five books. Jasnah, as I've said, grows more important in the back five. Others do as well.

    Stormlight Three Update #4 ()
    #13158 Copy

    Ray745

    When a person dies who is then Returned, do they come back essentially immediately? According to Llarimar it sounds like a quick process...

    "When we found you dead, I lost hope. I was going to resign my position. I knelt above your body, weeping. And then, the Colors started to glow. You lifted your head, body changing, getting larger, muscles growing stronger."

    When they do come back, are they unconscious? I only ask because as Llarimar was holding him when he changed, if he came back right then, Lightsong's first memory would be of this man who was to be his priest holding him. I assume this would be something Lightsong would have asked about numerous times, why he was with Llarimar when he died, so it seems to me a Returned must be unconscious for a while in order to give them a chance to be brought to the Court of the Gods without being exposed to their family, whom they were probably around when they died.

    Brandon Sanderson

    It's usually a quick process, but not standardized. It could take hours, or longer, but generally does not.

    It's something between what you're saying, and instantaneous waking up. More like they start to glow, and the transformation begins, then they wake up and stand. But they're confused and disoriented, and Lightsong was told his priests were gathered as soon as he started glowing, so that they could greet him as he came to himself. He never had reason to question, and that moment is fuzzy anyway. (As evidenced by him not remembering the event, and needing to be told about it.)

    At least, that's my rationale as I remember it. It's been ten years at this point, so I could be fuzzy on the details. :)

    Stormlight Three Update #4 ()
    #13159 Copy

    Argent

    The name Bleeder - does it come from (the incorrect) idea that bleeding a patient can make them feel better? And so Paalm sees herself as the one who needs to bleed Elendel to make it healthy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The idea of "bleeding" as we had on earth as a custom of medicine did not exist on scadrial. But the idea in your post isn't too far off.

    Oversleep

    What do you think about translating 'Bleeder' as 'barber surgeon'? It's the Polish translation (and the term is one-word and sounds really well). I think the translators went with the same train of thought as Argent did and since Bleeder has already described herself as a kind of surgeon - her comments about cleaning the wounds being more painful than the cut itself and so on. Is this a "on spot" translation or is it far off?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, that's not a bad translation at all. I like it.

    Stormlight Three Update #4 ()
    #13161 Copy

    Argent

    We know that you can't Lash people in Shardplate, but can you Lash the person inside the Plate? If they had their helm off, for example. At that point Plate should be just dead weight, right? 

    Brandon Sanderson

    There's a bit of an interference envelope. Wearing plate, the person has this big ball of investiture around them, and so pushing any through it--even by touching a person without a helm--is going to be tough. Easier than with the helm on though, I suppose.

    Investiture acts (roughly) like a saturated solution in these cases. Sticking more power into something like a Feruchemical storage or a hyper-invested object like Plate is increasingly hard. The other part is that Investiture tends to interfere with other Investiture, unless there's a familiar resonance. (This is part of what philosophers call Identity.) Slapping your hand through a sand master's stream of sand will cause interference, and make them start to drop. It's not that the sand is supporting them, it's that the investiture holding them up gets scrambled for a moment because of your own investiture.

    Investiture pushed toward someone inside a hyper-invested (supersaturated) system like a person in Shardplate is going to get hard push-back.

    This is similar to the reason that it's harder to Push on invested coins. Depends on how invested they are, in that case. It's generally not as hard as doing something like Lashing a person in plate. (This is more about the interference than the saturation of investiture.) But the two principles are what I use to guide the physics in these areas.

    quietandproud

    Can we take that as a hint that the Investiture in the Plates and the Investiture that the Surge of [Adhesion] uses come from different Shards? Or do they interfere because they "belong" to different spren?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You know, I should have realized this one would bring out the follow up questions. Let's leave it at what I posted for now. This is a deep, deep rabbit hole, and I do need to try to get some more writing done tonight. So...RAFO. (Sorry.)

    Stormlight Three Update #4 ()
    #13162 Copy

    ebilutionist

    Ah, so Azir has a larger population density, at least. Cosmere-wise, is Elendel the largest, or could say, T'Telir match it?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Azir has a large population density. Cosmere-wise, though, Eldendel is by far the largest. Though I don't have strict population numbers on places like Silverlight. (Which, for years, I assumed I'd have to rename--but I think the program Silverlight is dead, so I can go back to calling the city that.)

    ebilutionist

    And of course, what exactly is Silverlight? I don't think I've ever heard of it before. A Threnodian city?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Silverlight is mentioned in the Cosmere collection, I believe, in one of the essays. It's a city somewhere in the cosmere, with some relevance you will discover eventually.

    Tellingdwar

    Is Silverlight the city that exists in the Cognitive Realm, in an area corresponding to deep space in the Physical? And if that's the RAFO I expect it is, will we see an answer in Arcanum Unbounded?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    I believe it's referenced in Unbounded, but I can't remember if I cut it or not. (I have been touchy about mentioning the place since Microsoft took the name in 06 or whenever it was.)

    This one will remain a mystery for a while.

    Stormlight Three Update #4 ()
    #13163 Copy

    Aurimus

    I dont really understand what you mean by sympathetic magic. All that comes to mind is Kvothe, which certainly isn't part of your work. :p

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sympathetic magic is the classical science idea that "Like influences Like." Voodoo dolls are a more contemporary example, though even spontaneous generation and the humors connect to the idea slightly. It was the basis for Awakening, and (I believe) Rothfuss's sympathetic magic. It's a common theme in fantasy magics, though, much like alchemy and astrology.

    Stormlight Three Update #4 ()
    #13164 Copy

    Iceblade44

    Something that i've been wondering, you said before that Nightblood was modeled after Shardblades intentionally so my question is, did Vasher create his Phantoms with Shardplate in mind?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He was aware of Shardplate, but I wouldn't call them a conscious influence.

    Phantine

    Any sort of influence from the Soulcasting-to-Stone burial customs?

    (If Vasher were a little more sneaky I'd think he had created the custom in case he needed a ready supply of Phantom material)

    Brandon Sanderson

    Let's say that yes, Soulcasting was very interesting to Vasher.

    Stormlight Three Update #4 ()
    #13165 Copy

    ccstat

    In Words of Radiance, Shallan draws a picture of someone destroying a statue. If attentive, could that person have been aware of being "observed" at the time?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. I need more detail of what you're trying to get at here.

    NeedsAdjustment

    I think he's asking if Shalash(???) could have (or did) felt Shallan observing her.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Looking at it again, I realize I'm asking for more clarity than they'd be able to provide. I do understand the question, but at the same time, my answers can can confirm or deny things that are (sometimes false) assumptions underpinning questions. So when we get into something like this, that has to do with mechanics I haven't explained very well yet, I get very hesitant about answering.

    So...I'll probably just RAFO this one. For now. Though look for a scene involving Syl where something similar happens, as they are related.

    ccstat

    I was being more vague than necessary, specifically to avoid a "you're making assumptions" RAFO. I'll go ahead and detail my thinking then and let you respond as much or as little as you like. I recognize that I'm poking at mechanisms we don't understand yet, so RAFO is pretty likely.

    I am working under the belief that Shallan's depiction of Ash is accurate and (likely) immediate. She could have visualized the scene in several ways: by having some portion of her aspect or of Pattern's travel there, by some connection-at-a-distance mechanism, or by "word-of-mouth" relay via (e.g.) spren.

    As we've seen elsewhere, savvy and/or powerful people (like I assume the heralds to be) are able to notice when an aspect of someone pops up looking at them. Similarly, they could possibly notice a remote observer through the connection. In both cases, I presume that the degree to which the observer is present determines how noticable the event is. In contrast, the passive reporting through intermediaries in the third option would probably not trigger the sense of being watched. So my question boils down to whether Shallan is projecting part of herself, part of Pattern, or doing something else entirely. And in the back of my mind I'm wondering how much manipulation (or aggression) could take place at the other end of the connection.

    If I understand correctly which scene you are referring to, where Kal was noticed, then you are saying that the two events share a mechanism which answers the original question, but still leaves me wondering about what is being projected across Roshar. (That you reference Syl is interesting.)

    Here is a follow-up question, hoping that I haven't already talked myself into a corner or out of an answer: The clairvoyant drawings occur at a particularly verdant lait, with plenty of growth/death/circle-of-life happening. In a mechanistic sense, did this location help enable the clairvoyance?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'll have to RAFO this, as I don't want to get into the mechanics right now.

    DrogaKrolow.pl interview ()
    #13170 Copy

    DrogaKrolow

    So do you know anything about Polish literature, especially something about fantasy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well I know-- I can't say his name. *attempts to say "Sapkowski"* --The Witcher guy. Everybody knows The Witcher, so I do know at least a little bit of Polish-- And I have read some of his work. So I'm a little bit familiar but I wouldn't say I know a ton more. Like I bet that’s all everyone knows. “Oh yeah, Poland. The Witcher guy”.

    DrogaKrolow

    You should try the game.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah? The Witcher games? I have all three of them, I bought them all in one bundle together.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13172 Copy

    Oversleep

    Could a Feruchemist hide from Lifesense by storing and which metals?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So Lifesense on Nalthis, someone storing, what now, Investiture? Could they hide from Lifesense? Um, yeah that would work.

    Oversleep

    And which metals would they need to store, Investiture, Connection…

    Brandon Sanderson

    That would probably be Investiture, that’s theoretically plausible, hiding your entire sense, a little bit easier with a copper cloud, which is how you would normally go about it, but you could make your Investiture vanish to the point that… yeah I think that’s theoretically possible.

    Oversleep

    So Lifesense works on Connection?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Lifesense works by sensing… life, so it’s not necessarily just Connection because you can go off-world from Nalthis and still sense the life to which you are not Connected.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13173 Copy

    swieczq

    Would someone with enough knowledge be able to use Autonomy’s Investiture if Taldain’s star was seen from his world?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So I’m on a world and I see Taldain’s star, what you're asking if someone could use the Investiture? Oh, OK I see. Yeah yeah yeah yeah. That’s good! You stumped me. I haven’t gotten that question before. I would say yes, if the light particles are reaching you. I mean technically you could use the light from one of those stars to power a solar sail so…

    Kraków signing ()
    #13174 Copy

    Mr. Suit

    Can spren - like Syl - be pierced by hemalurgic spike? Will it give some effect?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. A spren can be pierced by Invested metal…

    Oversleep

    Could it be spiked?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Could a spike be used to give abilities to spren? That’s not going to work really well.

    Oversleep

    Could you steal from a spren?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, you could steal the Investiture of a spren. Any Investiture can be used in a spike if you know what you’re doing. It’s actually not that hard to use one on a spren.

    Oversleep

    Because I thought you said Hemalurgy needs moving blood.

    Brandon Sanderson

    It needs, uh, yeah… there are places where spren have more physical form, more tangible form.

    Questioner

    Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, no, no, not Roshar.

    Questioner

    The Cognitive Realm on Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah, if you go to the Cognitive Realm on Roshar the spren act differently than they do.

    Oversleep

    So you could spike in the Cognitive Realm?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah I’ll leave a RAFO with you on that. That’s your fifth one. So there are ways to get any Investiture into Hemalurgy if you know what you’re doing. But yeah this is not something that would be a common use for Hemalurgy. Let’s just say that.

    Oversleep

    We do not concern ourselves with common uses.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, I know you don’t. But yeah Hemalurgy, when you’re spiking into somebody you… you’ll see when we get around to it.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13175 Copy

    Oversleep

    Is gravity a physical aspect of the spiritual bond Connecting objects to the planet?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Gravity, like all laws of physics in the cosmere, works like it does here with an additional aspect in that mass and energy can become Investiture. So while you are Connected to the planet gravity is not a manifestation of that. But Investiture can override it because Investiture, energy, mass are all the same thing.

    Oversleep

    So can Connectors alter it, store it?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. You know I’m going to RAFO all that stuff.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13177 Copy

    Mr. Suit

    Is it possible to bring Adonalsium together again and was it the reason the Ire was on Scadrial?

    Brandon Sanderson

    This is a RAFO. There are people who believe it's possible and others who believe it's impossible. It’s one of the big questions of the series.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13180 Copy

    Questioner

    Do you plan to kill Shallan and do you think she’s an awful person?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I do not think she’s an awful person, because she is a person, who has done the best she can in some very bad situations and we will see what happens, I can’t tell you whether or not she will live.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13181 Copy

    Questioner

    Have you ever created a character, that you will then thought is too powerful?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, I've never had that problem, I have written my characters in a problems that it was hard to get them out of. But usually I get together my friends and I brainstorm, and so far so good, but no, I have never got into that specific problem yet, because everybody's got a weakness.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13182 Copy

    Questioner

    In Mistborn, Ruin could talk to you when you were Hemalurgically spiked, and Preservation could hear you. Do other Shards have different abilities?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It varies, but yes. But that was related to the way they created people.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13183 Copy

    Questioner

    If I spoke the words <inaudible>

    Brandon Sanderson

    If you spoke the words it would depend on the spren to choose, but I think so!

    Questioner

    So, can I try?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sure, go for it!

    Questioner

    Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.

    Translator

    So just waiting for the spren to appear.

    Brandon Sanderson

    *completely serious*

    These words are accepted.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13187 Copy

    Questioner

    Are you planning to resurrect Kelsier?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well, how far have you read in this book?

    Questioner

    I have read it all.

    Translator

    So he's not really dead.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well, it depends on what you count as Cognitive Shadow. So resurrect… no… but…

    Questioner

    There was this quote about the kite that was without a string.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, he’s looking for a string. He’s indeed looking for a string, so what’s actually going to happen is RAFO.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13188 Copy

    Questioner

    Is next Elantris any closer plans?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Not really unfortunately, I just have to get as much Stormlight done as I can, before I can do other things. It’s still probably after Stormlight Five.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13193 Copy

    Questioner

    Which one of the ten abilities on Roshar <inaudible> it depends on spren?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Which of the Orders?

    Questioner

    Of the abilities on Roshar.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, the abilities of the Knights Radiant?

    So, this depends on which spren indeed. Each spren can give two of the abilities, and they're slightly different for each Order.

    Questioner

    If you could have one, which one would it be?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Probably Windrunners, cause I would want to fly.

    Translator

    I would prefer Regrowth it's very much for growing plants.

    Brandon Sanderson

    That would be very convenient.

    Kraków signing ()
    #13195 Copy

    Questioner

    Could you tell me something about Cosmere, that we don't know?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oooh boy, that is so hard, people ask this all the time and I keep running out of things... Was there anything I haven't added recently... There are Shards whose Shardpools are not on a planet they currently inhabit. At least one.