Recent entries

    Kraków signing ()
    #11354 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 ()
    #11355 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 ()
    #11357 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 ()
    #11358 Copy

    Questioner

    Have you ever considered giving your brain - when you die in a hundred years, [having] written thousand books, have you considered giving your brain to scientists?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Did you know that there's an app for Einstein's brain? You can download an app that has a diagram of his brain cause he did donate his to science and was dissected.

    Questioner

    Are you planning to do that?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Not right now but I'm an organ donor so maybe... I don't think they donate the brain to people.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11359 Copy

    Questioner

    Did Hoid use the bead of lerasium to rewrite his spiritual DNA or Web in a way other than just giving himself Allomantic powers?

    Brandon Sanderson

    His goal was to become an Allomancer.

    Questioner

    And did he use it to create other powers than Allomancy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It could not give powers other than Allomancy.

    Questioner

    Because it’s lerasium?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Oversleep

    So he did burn it and become a Mistborn, right?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You have seen him use Allomancy…

    Oversleep

    Yes, because it’s creating a lot of <misunderstandings>.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You have actually seen him use Allomancy.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11360 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 ()
    #11362 Copy

    Oversleep

    You told me - when we were interviewing you on Friday to tell the 17th Shard to tell them you told us how the Cosmere ends and...

    Brandon Sanderson

    And I totally did, right! The answer is it ends well.

    Oversleep

    They wanted me to tell you that they were like mindblown!

    Kraków signing ()
    #11363 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 ()
    #11364 Copy

    Questioner

    Is there going to be more Lift in the next book?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, you’ll see some of her, she's reserved... most of her you'll see in the book 6 and on but you'll see little glimpses of her in the other ones. The stuff she has in Oathbringer is a riot, it's very fun.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11365 Copy

    Questioner

    In all your books, who's your favorite character?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You know, I usually cheat on that question and I say "whoever I'm writing right now", cause I like them all, they're my children...

    Questioner

    Okay, but you have to pick one.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Probably Dalinar, probably but...

    Translator

    My favorite is Steris.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Steris is a lot of fun.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11369 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 ()
    #11370 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 ()
    #11371 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 ()
    #11372 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 ()
    #11376 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 ()
    #11377 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 ()
    #11379 Copy

    Questioner

    Do you have any idea when you’ll finish this series?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So there’ll be two five-book groups, first five should finish fairly soon. But then there’ll be a break while I write something else and then I’ll come back to the back five, so i’m not sure, but the first five will have their own arc.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11383 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 ()
    #11385 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.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11392 Copy

    Oversleep

    What if a Connector tried to store his Connection to his time of birth? Because I understand that’s how spiritual age works.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Right, Connection to his time of birth. I’m not sure exactly how he would manage that.

    I don’t think that would work, I’m not sure how you would manage it. There are other ways to make, you’re along the right path, but that’s not exactly what, the terminology it's just not working right there.

    Oversleep

    By the way Shadows of Self was my favourite Mistborn book. That ending was just emotional trainwreck for me. It was awesome.

    Brandon Sanderson

    It's weird because I think that the weakest Mistborn novel is actually Alloy of Law but I think Shadows of Self and Bands of Mourning are among the strongest.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11394 Copy

    Questioner

    Have you ever read any Polish fantasy or are you planning to?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I am planning to read cause I have this! *shows flashdrive* I was just given this flashdrive in Warsaw with a bunch of Polish writers translated to English and I plan to do some of that.

    Before that my only knowledge of Polish fantasy was Spa... Sark... [Sapkowski] the Witcher guy! *laughter* I mean, everybody knows him though.

    But, the Solaris writer I didn't know he was also Polish. Lem.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11395 Copy

    Questioner

    My question is for both of you: regarding the translation process, is word-for-word translation more important or do you go with the feeling and how much communication is done with Brandon during the process?

    Translator

    When I was at university, I had two lecturers. One said: "The original is sacred. You mustn't do anything too original. It's so important, you have to remember/take everything." and the other when I went fifteen minutes later to another class it was "Oh dear. It should read well. Forget the original, it should read well". So I think I found a kind of balance between those two stances.

    Brandon Sanderson

    And I always tell translators to err on the side of reading well rather than preserving the exact words. Particularly because, some of the languages we're translating into, you can't preserve exact words.

    When Anna wrote to us I sent her to my assistant Peter, who is an editor and continuity editor and I let him interface with all of the translators because I would probably just ask him anyway to look the details up in our wiki. We do occasionally have to answer new questions, though, because for instance -- as Anna pointed out to me -- Polish has a lot of gendered words that aren't gendered in English and sometimes I'd use a phrase and would have to say whether this person was male or female.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11396 Copy

    Oversleep

    Will we see Scadrial in cyberpunk era?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I have plans for Scadrial cyberpunk but the problem is I don't know if I'll have a long enough lifespan to write all these books. So I'm trying to avoid adding any more books to the Cosmere outline until I get a little further along I'm gonna have to write; consider that Oathbringer turned out to be a quarter longer than Words of Radiance. I really need to be sure I'm keeping going and trying to keep from expanding too big. Definitely the 1980s one, some cyberpunk themes will bleed into it cause that's when cyberpunk started.

    But maybe I'll see the new Blade Runner and I'll have to write one, so...

    Kraków signing ()
    #11397 Copy

    Questioner

    Three books or three authors you'd recommend to any fantasy reader?

    Brandon Sanderson

    If I were to recommend one, it would probably be the first Mistborn novel.

    *laughter*

    Translator

    Apart from your books.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Terry Pratchett is probably my favorite writer. I really liked Anne McCarthy work and I think it translates very well to large or different types of audiences. I often give Name of the Wind to people, it's good introduction to fantasy, it's a really solid novel.

    But of course there is also Wheel of Time. I genuinely recommend Wheel of Time to people who already love fantasy cause it's a big commitment.

    Kraków signing ()
    #11399 Copy

    Questioner

    Do you listen to music while writing and what kind of music is it? Is there perhaps any song that is particularly connected to Cosmere?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I made a Spotify playlist. You can go on Spotify - I assume you can get it in Poland - and you look for Stormlight 3 soundtrack. That was the soundtrack I listened to while I was writing the third Stormlight novel. You'll know it is me when you look for it cause my Spotify name is "mistborn1".

    And - because people are going to ask, so we'll answer it now - Stormlight 3 comes out in November in English.

    Translator

    *in Polish*

    And it will come out in Polish when I translate it.

    *applause*

    Brandon Sanderson

    So it's all up to Anna.

    And I did write one more scene for it this morning that I needed to add, in Kraków, so when you read Stormlight 3 you can know there was one scene that was written in my hotel here.

    It involves one of the Ryshadium horses, so you'll know.

    Footnote: the scene in question is from Chapter 10 of Oathbringer
    Kraków signing ()
    #11400 Copy

    Questioner

    How many hours a day to you spend on writing and how much do you sleep?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *laughter* I'm an insomniac, that helps a little bit. But actually I don't... I have a very good work-life balance. People think that I must be writing sixteen hours a day but I'm not. I'm very good with my time and I have no commute which saves me a bit of time. So I spend around eight to ten hours working a day. A chunk of that is answering interview questions or email or things like that. I spend maybe four hours a day with my wife and my kids, doing whatever they want and a couple hours goofing off.

    What more can I ask for?