Recent entries

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9805 Copy

    Seonid

    Would you tell me the intent of Bavadin's Shard?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hmm…  Are we ready to release that?

    Isaac Stewart

    I don't know-- well we haven't-- We haven't written it into the scripts yet, but we've only done so many of the scripts so-- I don't know if that would be better place for us to reveal it or not...

    Brandon Sanderson

    If you're confident that you like what we're doing with it then we can release it now.

    Isaac Stewart

    Great. Well we had that big discussion and it sounded like that’s what we wanted to do.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay, we're going to have Isaac write it. He's in charge of White Sand now. And you can choose whether to share this with people or not because it's not on the recording.

    Seonid

    Oh it isn't?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, I talked around it on purpose.

    Isaac Stewart

    *writes* Autonomy.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9806 Copy

    Questioner 1

    What is something that we don't know about Bavadin?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Somebody asked that already too…  Those are both things that you will find out eventually and I'm holding those answers close to my heart right now...

    Questioner 2

    So can I assume that any question about Bavadin is going to be a RAFO?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It depends on how specific it is. Like "I just want to know something more" is almost always going to be a RAFO on any question nowadays. Something asks very specifics has a better chance.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9807 Copy

    Questioner

    I was curious, what would happen if a full Mistborn burned lerasium? What would the Allomantic powers be?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oohh, excellent, excellent question. So, I have not revealed what lerasium does if you already have Investiture. So, the answer to that is a RAFO. We've actually had like three people ask that tonight, so there must have been a discussion on the Sh-- the forums about it and I didn't answer them, so I can't answer you.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9809 Copy

    Questioner

    So I know the last Alloy of Law was a standalone book, not part of the next trilogy. Is this book [Shadows of Self] the start of the next trilogy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. This is not the start of the actual, official next-- Like-- So, I'm calling these books all Era 2, I moved the next books to Era 3, but this is the start of a trilogy about Wax and Wayne.

    Questioner

    Is that why they're kind of shorter?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. Well they're kind of shorter because I wanted something to balance Stormlight that was-- So like Stormlight you have to keep track of all these characters and they have this continuing storyline that is so deep that it's-- you kind of have to re-read each in the series each time. I did not want you to have track that in another series, any of my other series. That's why both Steelheart and Mistborn now you will see the self-contained stories, where certain things-- it's a trilogy, but it's keep track of one, or two, characters, not keep track of an entire thing. And then there's an arc and done, an arc and done, an arc and done. That is intentional. So, you might see Stormlight stories more that length when I go back to... Scadrial for longer stories.

    Questioner

    So there's still going to be another trilogy that's more modern and then a sci-fi one?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes there's still going to be a modern trilogy and a sci-fi trilogy.

    Words of Radiance Omaha signing ()
    #9810 Copy

    Questioner

    Are they any other continents on Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Roshar is, I haven't said that there's anything else out there, but I have said it's pangea, meaning if there's anything else out there, they are small.  They are not of a similar scope and size.  Now on Scadrial, there is other stuff going on.  And I've told people that for years, and years, and years.  So, you may find some other stuff going on there.  For years, you know, the southern continent was populated on Scadrial during the Final Empire era, even.  It was just impossible to reach because the heat, the poles were the only habitable places on that planet, and so anything in between, you just couldn't deal with it.  The Final Empire was on the North Pole.  

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9811 Copy

    the.fulgid

    It seems to be more apparent that different abilities are granted depending on the design of one's Spiritweb. Is the design of a Spiritweb, and the abilities it grants, limited to a specific Shardworld or are the designs universal across the cosmere? For example could someone from Roshar go to Scadrial and have Hemalurgy done on them and have it work?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah, yeah, some of the magics are more regionally-locked than others. Hemalurgy will work on any planet. But, for instance, you'll notice that Elantrians have trouble even going to the next nation over. There's a specific reason for that. Most of the magics transcend location.

    the.fulgid

    My question, in regards to Dragonsteel, is: Is there a possibility that somebody with the ability of microkinesis can see the spiritweb and alter it according to their will?

    Brandon Sanderson

    This is, this is totally possible. But you have to remember this is pre-Shattering of Adonalsium. Dragonsteel is the story of the Shattering of Adonalsium... the whole book is before, the whole series... So there are lots of things going on there that are-- like you will-- yeah. But it’s not canon yet.

    Words of Radiance Omaha signing ()
    #9812 Copy

    Questioner

    How do you start a new book?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I start with an outline.  I like very detailed outlines, and I like to know where I'm going before I start.  If I don't have an ending in mind I'm in trouble.  So, I will often spend a lot of time imagining that I'm *inaudible*, you know, walking on the treadmill or going for a walk or something, and getting through my head just what I would imagine being the cool scenes from this book.  What are the scenes that people are going to want to read, that are going to make it all come together.  And then I build those into my outline.  And I usually outline backward, start with those cool scenes, and then I write my book forward.  

    Words of Radiance Seattle signing ()
    #9813 Copy

    Questioner

    Safehands: Where did, that-- like why? Is there like a cultural *inaudible*?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There is a culture-- Now the actual answer to that is because different cultures have really different mores, and if you go around our world you will find places where, for instance, showing the bottom of your foot-- where the bottom of your foot is offensive, or where showing certain parts of your anatomy is not offensive that it is here. And that is very common, it's part of what it means to be human.

    Now if you want to trace back in Rosharan time, there is actually a moment that you can point at and say "this is where it started" and it started right after the Recreance where all these Shardblades and Shardplate were suddenly out there everywhere, and certain people in power wanted to make sure that half the population didn't have access to them, and so they started emphasizing a certain philosophy book that had been written by a woman that said "feminine arts were one-handed, masculine arts were two-handed".

    And because of this it became culturally ingrained, which then-- basically it was a misogynistic ploy to keep the women from having the Shardblades, and then in that a certain movement of the women seized writing, and that's when men stopped writing. It's kind of a reciprocation on it. But that's kind of where it went, but it's become much bigger than that, if that makes any sense.

    Questioner

    What do you do if you safehand is your dominant hand?

    Brandon Sanderson

    If you are darkeyed it's not a problem, you just wear a glove. If you are lighteyed then you learn to write with your non-dominant hand, which is a problem.

    Footnote: The book here is likely Arts and Majesty, referenced in WoR 25
    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9816 Copy

    Questioner

    Before Preservation locked up Ruin, or whatever, or if Ruin had won. Would atium exist?

    Brandon Sanderson

    ...There are timelines where there would be no atium.

    Questioner

    ...So if Harmony exists, does atium exist?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Atium does not exist because there is no Ati. Well there is atium left over from before, but--

    Questioner

    So it was only part of Ati's body and not part of Harmony's body.

    Brandon Sanderson

    There is no atium, there is no Preservation any longer, there is no Ati.

    Questioner

    So does harmonium exist?

    Brandon Sanderson

    ...There's no Leras and there's no Ati, there's no Ruin--

    Questioner

    Does harmonium exist then?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Good question.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9818 Copy

    Questioner

    Miscellaneous questions about safehands. So the women are described playing instruments, are they just instruments they can play with one hand?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, often feminine arts are one-handed arts, but you got to remember that one, a lot of the darkeyes will wear a glove instead, and number two, the safehands of some of the more utilitarian dresses are built with something like an oven-mitt glove on them, underneath, so you can grab things and stuff. So Shallan, she can grab her sketchbook with it and draw. But yes, feminine arts are supposed to be one-handed, so they would, y'know, try to play these it would be one-handed.

    Words of Radiance Seattle signing ()
    #9819 Copy

    Questioner

    How does a bridge crew set a bridge down across a chasm in front of them?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So... I may have to act this out.

    *Proceeds to act it out, no video available*

    I am Kaladin, running at the front of the bridge, right? Now there's a chasm there. I'm going to step out to the side and grab the poles to the side, and lower the front bridge down. Then these guys are going to lower theirs down while I run around to the back and grab the poles on the side, which extend out. And we're going to get several ranks and then we're going to shove together.

    We're waited on this side, remember, we've got the weights that roll to one side or the other. So it's weighted on this side, so we get it over and then plot it down. We're looking for a place where we're a little bit above-- with the paths, alright? And then we go to the other side, your reposition the weights or the poles or whatever it is on the thing so that it's heavier on this side and then get everyone and then you pull it back across and then you can lift it.

    Questioner

    Okay, great, thank you very much.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Now also keep in mind a couple of things: 0.7 Earth gravity, a very important aspect for actually making this bridge weight work for carrying it; and it is a soulcast wood. The only way to get the numbers to work if you've got engineers, the weight-- you actually have to realize that we've got a wood that is slightly stronger, yet lighter, than what-- it's like a-- Peter came up, it's like a balsa, there's a soulcast wood that is really a great wood for this sort of thing.

    That doesn't mean it's light, it's still a really heavy book

    Questioner

    *Laughter*

    Brandon Sanderson

    A really heavy bridge.

    Words of Radiance Seattle signing ()
    #9821 Copy

    Questioner

    Are the Unmade the analogs to Heralds?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There is certainly something similar going on there. Be aware that it's not a one-to-one correlation, that they're not exactly the same. For instance: Many of the- the Unmade are referenced by Taravangian in this, and he uses a phrase for them, and that is correct, that's what they are.

    Footnote: In the epigraph for WoR 81 the Diagram says "The Unmade are a deviation, a flair, a conundrum that may not be worth your time. You cannot help but think of them. They are fascinating. Many are mindless. Like the spren of human emotions, only much more nasty. I do believe a few can think, however."
    Words of Radiance Omaha signing ()
    #9827 Copy

    Questioner

    I have read White Sand and Aether of Night, and I don't know why they're not published because I loved both of them.

    Brandon Sanderson

    White Sand is not published because I don't feel that for one, Kenton has the depth of character that I like to have nowadays.  He's more an old school character of mine where he just isn't, personality wise, doesn't have quite enough.  Beyond that I feel that White Sand as a narrative meanders a little too much.  I feel if I cut back about a thousand words and fix him, we would have a good book.  Aether is not published because I feel that I wrote two different books and didn't blend them together very well.  There is the kind of farcical, Shakespearean, switched places, silliness, and it's fun, but it's like a mistaken identity almost sort of stuff and romance and things like that mixed with these dark things are coming out of the shard pool and destroying the world.  And those two stories never meshed together well enough for me to want to publish them.  

    Questioner

    So would you say it would take one more revision?

    Brandon Sanderson

    White Sand one more revision. I'm not sure what I could do with Aether of Night because those two just don't work together.  White Sand we are trying to do as a graphic novel.  

    Words of Radiance Omaha signing ()
    #9828 Copy

    Questioner

    Are you going to release more Laws of Magic?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Maybe.  The three that I have are really solid.  I'll have to see if there's anything else I would want to write.  It partially is while I learn.  There's kind of two unofficial laws right: Law 0 which is err on the side of a process, and then there's a law about trying to make everything interconnected.  But that kind of blends into the three, right?  So I'm not sure if I need a new law for that one or not.  

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9830 Copy

    Questioner

    Would Dalinar make it so they couldn't retreat to make it more a challenge or would he just--

    Brandon Sanderson

    He will follow good tactics when it's time for good tactics. He won't lose a battle because he wants a better challenge. In an individual sense he will seek the best challenge for himself on the battlefield.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9831 Copy

    Questioner

    I don't think Marsh would get along too well with Hoid, but are they ever going to hang out?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *pause* Are they ever going to hang out?

    Questioner

    Are they ever going to meet?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Are they ever going to meet. It is likely that if they both survive for many more books that they would, but I can't promise it.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9832 Copy

    Questioner

    Who's Tarah?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *long pause* Why do you want to know?  ...Tell me why you want to know.

    Questioner

    Because she's important to Kaladin and Kaladin's important to me?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay, that's a decent answer. She-- um. Ehhhh. She was someone Kaladin cared for deeply in a romantic way.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9833 Copy

    Questioner

    Since a computer monitor, the monitor itself isn't metal, could Ruin read something on that and change that. Could you essentially have a conversation with Ruin by typing something on your monitor and having him change it and respond to that?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah. I think that could work.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9834 Copy

    Questioner

    Are we ever going to get a list of Wayne's Twinborn names?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Heh, what do you mean? The--

    Questioner

    He claims to have all the Twinborns memorized?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, okay.

    Questioner

    Are we going to have a list of that anywhere sometime?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah I think I let the RPG go wild with naming them, and-- I haven't named them all, I'll be honest with you. I name the ones that I need when I need them.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9836 Copy

    Nethseäar

    If you were to Hemalurgically give a fallen Elantrian Feruchemic gold, would they be able to store Health?

    Brandon Sanderson

    A fallen Elantrian store Health-- And you gave them a Hemalurgic spike-- That’s a good question, I would think-- *long pause* You know I think they would not be able to, that’s an excellent question.

    Nethseäar

    Would it suddenly store up the moment they were restored?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, it would not suddenly recover everything. Unless you wanted to channel-- You could do some goofy things but it would kinda ruin their connection to the Dor. But I don’t think it would suddenly-- Y’know. You might be able to do something where you steal it away from them, that could possibly happen. If they were spiked while they were full Elantrian you could probably get more out of them than your average person.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9840 Copy

    Questioner

    Did a lot of the life on land from Roshar come from the sea? Because they all have shells. Or is that just the highstorm?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That’s just the highstorms. Good question actually.  I mean I would say that evolutionary, certain traits that vanished on Earth did not vanish on Roshar because of the highstorms. But also things evolved independently similar attributes because of the storms. So it's a yes and a no.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9844 Copy

    Questioner

    Are we going to find out if the earring gives him [Wax] any other Hemalurgic powers?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I mean, I might eventually dig into it a bit. The thing is, it's so weak that--

    Questioner

    It's probably not--

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah... I assume that people are thinking this is a gun on the mantle, so I will have to deal with it.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9845 Copy

    Questioner

    My theory currently on Spiritwebs is that they are-- when they exist on the Spiritual Realm a person exists as nodes connected between concepts, Physical makeup, and whatnot, that’s what makes up your Spiritual DNA.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Mmhmm.

    Questioner

    Is there a different set of nodes for each person or do they all kind of share?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You're kind of imagining it the wrong way, each person is a node.

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9848 Copy

    Questioner

    My question is, I think it was probably in the chapter annotations for the original Mistborn trilogy. You brought up that all of the events thus far were in the north pole of Scadrial--

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yep, they were.

    Questioner

    So where there events going on at the same time in the south pole?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, there were.

    Questioner

    And will we be seeing those in the next trilogy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will find out about them eventually. By the time we hit the 1980's level technology the world will be a little more explored.

    Questioner

    So that will be like-- You are still planning on the three--

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'm now planning on four because this [Era 2] has turned into a sequence.

    Questioner

    This has turned into a trilogy.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah... So you will find this stuff out eventually. And you have already seen people from Southern Scadrial before... At least one..

    Shadows of Self release party ()
    #9849 Copy

    Questioner

    Nightblood. He just showed up at the end of The Stormlight Archive--

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Questioner

    --the last one. So, is there a place that's a connection between all of the universes?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, there is.

    Questioner

    And it's been reached in The Stormlight Archive?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay, so I'm guessing you don't know about all of this but there are characters from Elantris that are in Mistborn--

    Questioner

    Yes. Like Hoid.

    Brandon Sanderson

    --and all of this stuff. I would say one of the things is that Roshar is a little bit easier to get to than some of the others, but it's not that it has been breached there so much as it's a little bit easier to get to.

    Questioner

    Yes, I'm assuming it has something to do with the Cognitive Realm but then objects going through the Cognitive Realm is kind of tripping me.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hehe… *long pause* There are places in the Cognitive Realm that are somewhat nexus-like, like you're talking about. Yes there are places like that. ...So Roshar might actually be the easiest place to get to in the cosmere, like from planet to planet. Sel is probably the hardest, right now. For a long time Taldain was very hard, but not anymore.