yahasgaruna
So assuming that the other novels in the White Sand trilogy were meant to be the same length, that means White Sand will take about nine years to finish?
Brandon Sanderson
Well, there's a big "IF" in there. We don't know how the book will be received in the first place. If it IS well received, and people want more, I will sit down with the person who adapted my book and see if we can take my notes and do them justice in an adaptation for another graphic novel.
We'll see how things go. I'm hoping they come out faster than one a year, but I can't promise anything, as I really don't have much experience with this. My only mandate to the publisher was that we do them as graphic novel collections, instead of individual comics, as I didn't want to risk a repeat of the Wheel of Time comic situation (where one issue came out, and then a LONG delay came before the second appeared.)
yahasgaruna
Hah! As one of the people who've had the fortune to read a copy of the White Sand manuscript you sent, I have to say I find the likelihood of it not being a hit close to zero.
So we're getting at least 3 graphic novels, with a possibility of more depending on reception right?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes, that's correct.
Aurimus
Hold on, so there are 3 GN books being made from the 1 manuscript? nice!
Brandon Sanderson
Yes. The book is long enough, that the script turned out to be quite long. I don't know if they're planning an omnibus eventually or not.
Konet
Out of curiosity, which cosmere book are you most looking forward to writing/letting us read?
Brandon Sanderson
Hmm... Right now, either Stormlight 9 or Mistborn 10.
Argent
Where Mistborn 10 is the last book in Era 2?
Brandon Sanderson
The 1980s era. Whatever you want to call that era.
i_do_stuff
So Mr. Sanderson, I've been wondering. Since I am a very pop-culture interested person, when you say "1980s," I think leg-warmers, shoulder-pads, bright colors, hair metal, new wave and all that stuff. Lots of mousse. I guess that makes my question to you, will we see any of that "traditionally 80s" stuff make an appearance in the next series? I'm picturing Sazed/Harmony "looking down" (for lack of a better term) on Scadrial, seeing the cosmere equivalent of a Twisted Sister or Wyld Stallyns or the Beastie Boys concert and being very intrigued by it.
Brandon Sanderson
I'm planning it based more on tech level than pop culture, though I do think some of these things go hand in hand. (Like the rise of certain kinds of counter cultures, and musical departures.) So you may not see hair bands, but you will likely see counter cultures that fit the society.
i_do_stuff
Do the Allomantic and Feruchemic symbols for the metals have any extra meaning to them? More specifically, were they given those symbols on Scadrial for a reason?
Brandon Sanderson
As for the symbols, they go WAY back to before the Lord Ruler's ascension. So perhaps, perhaps not. (On other words, RAFO.) :)
Phantine
Do the other uses for those metals [nicrosil, aluminum, duralumin] currently in the RPG also work in-universe, or are they just there for RPG mechanics?
Brandon Sanderson
Most of the things in the RPG books relating to the metals that you don't see in the books fall under the "We need to make a game out of this somehow, Brandon" clause. I've told them they can extrapolate if they want, but that I wouldn't consider their extrapolations canon.
Herowannabe
So does that mean that these metals will be getting updated rules in a future RPG supplement?
Brandon Sanderson
That's a possibility. I've said before that you should consider any games you play to be in an alternate dimension anyway, where the rules work slightly differently, and your players can control the fate of what is going on. Plus, it will be years before I can get to the nature of all this in the next trilogy, so we'll see how relevant it all is in five years or so.
Traaailz
What is Wayne's last name?
I haven't finished BoM just yet so it may be in there but it's been bugging me for a while.
Is it to much of spoiler?
Brandon Sanderson
Dang. Have I never mentioned that? I'll put it in the last one. It's not a huge spoiler.