Questioner (Paraphrased)
Do you ever plan on writing a sequel to The Emperor's Soul?
Brandon Sanderson
The first one turned out so well, and it's one of those things that you kind of-- Like I didn't expect-- Like sometimes you're amazed at how well something turns out. I wrote that mostly on the flight home from Taiwan. It wasn't anything I was planning to write. I was inspired by my trip to Taiwan. I sat down, and I lived in Korea for two years, so I was kind of familiar with some of the culture, tojang, the stamps, and things like that, and so I ended up writing a story. It turned out so well, that it feels like it's one of those things that may not need a sequel. Does that make sense?
There's some things that are just better by themselves. *laughter* So we'll see. If the right inspiration strikes. I'm not planning one right now, though, for those of you that have read it, there is-- we have sold a movie option on it.
*applause*
So a movie option on Emperor's Soul, how would you do that? The producers are working very closely with me, and I'm working on the treatment , and I'm very excited. In fact, [Matt Hughes?], are you in here somewhere? The producer of it flew up from Hollywood, because he wanted to see WorldCon. So he's skulking around WorldCon for the first time. But yeah, so you might see a film.
Arthur Dent
(paraphrased)
Is [Mraize] a worldhopper?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes, he's been to a few planets, highly supervised by his babsk.
Arthur Dent
(paraphrased)
So what planet is she from?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Well, that's kind of a hard thing to say. She has 3 planets she's "from". For example, she's living now on Roshar, but then she's from a different planet, but that's not a planet that her people are from.
Arthur Dent
(paraphrased)
So there was a mass exodus to that planet?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Not exactly. If you were to find a Japanese American, where would they say that they are from? Her people did not have a mass exodus.
Arthur Dent
(paraphrased)
Have we seen mass exoduses before?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes, there are some in the cosmere. There's a mass exodus that is mentioned in one of the interludes in [Words of Radiance].
Questioner
And the Steelheart film?
Brandon Sanderson
Steelheart film is owned by Fox, different company, Shawn Levy's company, 21 Laps at Fox, they are the ones who did Real Steel if you ever saw that, the Richard Matheson story, and I thought their adaptation of that was really good. They also did the Night of the Museum films, and so when they came to me asking for Steelheart, I said yes, but I only signed on that in June, so I don't know- it's only been a couple months. I wouldn't expect an update for another couple months.
We signed on Emperor's Soul in November, October of last year, so I've been able to see the progress on that one come along.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Shadesmar- you can WALK to the other planets. It’s a pretty far ways away (at least days, if not more), but you can go to Shadesmar, walk in the directions where it says "The Realm of the Vapors" and it runs into Scadrial (which is confirmed). In Shadesmar all of that empty space doesn't really have any human interaction, so it doesn't really have an aspect in the cognitive realm, so all of that place gets shortened immensely. Whenever a planet has enough thinking life on it that's it's considering it a planet, it drops into Shadesmar.
Eventually, he’ll come out with a Shadesmar map of the Cosmere, and a Starmap as well.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
So what happens when Shards die?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Well, it depends on how long the Shardholders have held the Shard. After it dies, the Shard is often able to continue acting, a kind of "Cognitive Shadow" of sorts. For example, the mists were able to continue doing what Preservation wished in helping out Vin and Snapping people. With the Stormfather, he is that Cognitive Shadow, and he's semi-sentient. It's that power, but no one is actually holding it. We also see this on Threnody.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
We have met the [Ones Above] in Sixth of Dusk.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Stormlight Archive is before The Alloy of Law.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Odium didn't start on Roshar.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
When Hoid is playing for Kaladin, has he Awakened some part of himself to help him play?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
No, he's not Awakened anything to help him play.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
Did he use Allomancy?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
Could Shai Soul Forge herself into becoming an Elantrian?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
That would be really hard. First of all, she'd have to change where she's born, then Soul Forge the fact that she became an Elantrian. Even then, she'd probably look like an Elantrian, but not have any powers. There would probably need to be some kind of bridge, or she would need some kind of super push from AonDor to make it work.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
The way that Hoid and Defending Elysium do FTL travel is very different.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
How do spren choose what human they'll bond with?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Well, it depends on the spren type. There's some spren that choose on their own, while there's other spren where it's done by committee. Wyndle, Lift's spren was placed with Lift by a committee. It's a culture difference. Some are free-spirited, others more organized.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Another thing he talked about was some common themes that appear in fantasy. One of them is that Rennassaince air of the Rise of the Common man. You see that in Mistborn for example. The great writing question of the Cosmere, the underlying theme is, What do men do when given the Power of the Gods? How do they act? What do they do?
Questioner
(paraphrased)
Would Inquisitors' kids have Allomancy?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Not usually. It happens sometimes, but not usually. He then mentioned a little about sDNA, but that it's not inherited as much as it is when it's natural.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
So what does the term koloss-blooded mean?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Well, Sazed changed how the koloss reproduce, so now they reproduce naturally, and when the kids come to a coming-of-age, they decide if they're going to accept the spikes and become a koloss, or if they're going to stay normal.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
There's also going to be about a 15 year gap in-world between [The Stormlight Archive] arc 1 and [The Stormlight Archive] arc 2.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Odium is able to influence all 3 [inhabited] planets in the Rosharan system.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
Can Parshendi receive a Boon and a Curse?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes they can.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
Have we seen all of the Heralds?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned all of them, and you've seen a number of them, such as Shalash running around.
zas678
(paraphrased)
And my other question is about Taravangian. It becomes clear that when he's smart, he's less compassionate, and when he's dumb, he's more compassionate.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yeah, he mentions that in his interlude.
zas678
(paraphrased)
Is that intentional, or is that just how you believe intelligence works?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
No, that's intentional. There's plenty of really smart people who are also compassionate, and dumb people who aren't.
zas678
(paraphrased)
So when Taravangian is smart, his Cognitive aspect is stronger. So when he's dumb, is his Spiritual aspect stronger?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
*With a sly grin, pulls out a RAFO*
zas678
(paraphrased)
Can Odium influence people the same way that Ruin can?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Well, you see, the kandra and the koloss have a "hole" in them that allows Ruin to come in and take over. The Parshendi naturally are protected from this, but when they expose themselves to the storms, and the spren come in, many of these spren have that kind of "hole" in them, and that's what allows Odium to take control of them.
zas678
(paraphrased)
No, I'm talking about how Ruin was able to push people, place things in their minds, stuff like that. Can Odium do the same thing?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Well, Odium wasn't around when those people were created, so it's a little different for him than Ruin. So if he influences people in that way, it's through the Unmade.
Scriptorian
(paraphrased)
Will we ever read from a spren's viewpoint?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
It is likely you someday will.
Scriptorian
(paraphrased)
A book where the flashbacks are spren?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Probably not. Or it’s not planned right now.
Newan
(paraphrased)
Is there some kind of connection between Szeth and Yelig-nar, the Unmade?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Hmm... Szeth has no more of a connection with Yelig-nar than anyone else does.
Newan
(paraphrased)
When the kandra worldhopper is off-world, er off-Scadrial, does she take the form of a human female?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Not all of the time.
Newan
(paraphrased)
Has she spoken a word of dialogue in a non-Mistborn book?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
I can't remember.
Newan
(paraphrased)
Is the kandra worldhopper MeLaan?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Good question. *hands Newan a RAFO card* In upcoming Mistborn books, you are going to get to know a lot more of the kandra, so you will have a lot more options.
Questioner
(paraphrased)
How did TenSoon overpower OreSeur if TenSoon had the Blessing of Potency?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
"TenSoon is wily!" There are also some drugs that affect kandra bodies.
sanderfan
(paraphrased)
Did Kelsier chose not to move on after he died or did he want to move on but couldn't for some reason?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
RAFO. The thing is, Kelsier's wife Mare had certainly moved on, and that would be motivating him to go on to the next life.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Shouldn't the rest of Roshar be more Earth-like, more Shinovar-like, kind of, with Cultivation on Roshar?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Um, you are mistakenly assuming that Cultivation means Earth-like flora and fauna. Roshar is very bountiful, and, um, like it's not a barren land. Um, Roshar is very, um...
zas678
(paraphrased)
Thriving?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
It's thriving. Yeah, it just has a different ecology. Um, you're mistakenly assuming that our ecology is the only sort that can be bountiful.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Does a more Investiture-poor world make it so its magics are easier to use off-world? Because, you said that Scadrial is really Investiture-poor, and it can be used easily off-world, but Roshar is very Investiture-rich, and how can you get Stormlight off of Roshar?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yeah. Um, I would say that there is a correlation.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
There is a correlation?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Mmhmm.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Is Nightblood's sheath made out of aluminum?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
That is an excellent question that nobody has asked me yet! Um...I will RAFO that.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Oooh, I get a card. I got the card.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
That is an excellent question.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
How easy would it be to Pull metal through ["zombie" Elantrians]?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Pull metal out of them.... Easier.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Easier than a regular human?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
So can you affect [a "zombie" Elantrian] with Emotional Allomancy?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yes.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
What would a Shardblade do to [a "zombie" Elantrian]?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Um, a Shardblade would...oh boy. A Shardblade...a Shardblade would still be dangerous to them, um, the trick is, um, the Shardblade's gonna treat them half alive, half dead. So, it probably would be kind of a flicker, so it depends on when you hit them. It might cut the arm off.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
It might cut the arm off...
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
And it might just leave it dead.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Most of my questions are actually about the Reod Elantrians.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Okay.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
So, could they be felt by life sense?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
They would, um...they are in the middle of a transformation. I would say that yes they could be, but you're going to get like a stutter is what I'd guess you would get, it's like you would get a...a flashing.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Because they're kind of alive, and kind of not alive.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Yeah. And so, yeah, you'd just get a flashing sort of....something.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Could you spike Elantrian-ness? Like, could you Hemalurgically spike Elantrian-ness?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Theoretically, yes.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Could you out of a Reod Elantrian? The zombie ones?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Um, yes you could.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
You could?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
So what you would be spiking there is their Connection to...to the planet, first. That's gonna be the big important thing. So you're going to overwrite your Connection. Um, and then you're going to....it's going to be a complicated process because you're going to have to spike the actual ability to have been transformed, that's gonna be harder.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Okay.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Does that make sense?
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Yeah, so it's gonna take two spikes.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
It's gonna take two spikes.
mail-mi
(paraphrased)
Alright.
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
And you gonna have to get the right Connection to the right place. Let's say you spike somebody from MaiPon, and then you spike an Elantrian, you're not going to be able to use it, you're not connected to the right area.
ProfessionalLurker
(paraphrased)
Where's Marsh?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Investigating the Southern Continent of Scadrial.
ProfessionalLurker
(paraphrased)
Any news on Alcatraz 5?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
He said he wrote the book last summer, and is waiting for the greenlight from Tor to hand it off, basically. They want to publish books 1-4 first, followed by this one. But the only thing needed is a schedule and edits! Still sounds like an early/mid 2016 thing to me.
ProfessionalLurker
(paraphrased)
Are the Elantrian pool and Horneater lake connected?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
They are the same thing.
leftinspace
Can you write in one of my books about something we don't know about the Shards, or at least one of the Shards?
Brandon Sanderson
*written* Odium has killed at least one more Shard than the ones we know about.
leftinspace
I've picked up in bits in pieces that it's possible, for some people at least, to use the Shardpools to worldhop...
Brandon Sanderson
Yes.
leftinspace
Can non-Invested people do that, or do you have to have some form of Investiture?
Brandon Sanderson
*hesitantly* Every individual is Invested to some extent...
leftinspace
Do you have to have any special Investiture above and beyond the normal spark of life?
Brandon Sanderson
I'm gonna go ahead and RAFO that.
leftinspace
Can you tell me how long it was from the Shattering of Adonalsium to the prelude of The Way of Kings when the Heralds abandoned the Oathpact?
Brandon Sanderson
Current timeline, which I have NOT canonized, is around 6,000 years... I have not finished with my outline document yet.
leftinspace
'Cause I've looked at the current chronology and it's very, very spotty...
Brandon Sanderson
Yes it is... the real trick is... making sure that I fit in, for instance, White Sand and things with the proper amount... because I haven't released that book series yet, I have to make sure while we're doing the graphic novel, that it fits the chronology, which is why I can't quite canonize things yet.
leftinspace
That one takes place before Way of Kings doesn't it?
Brandon Sanderson
Yes
leftinspace
'Cause I know one of the worldhoppers from there shows up in Way of Kings...
Brandon Sanderson
Yeah, White Sand is one of the very earliest.
Lady Radagu
(paraphrased)
How do Shallan's Memory blinks work? When she takes a Memory, is it of what she sees in the instant before her eyes close, or is it while they're closed?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
It is what she sees right as they're closing.
Lady Radagu
(paraphrased)
Since Horneaters don't really go for Vorin dresses, what would your average Horneater guy and girl wear? Anything special to differentiate a Nuatoma and their retinue?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
I'm going to have to RAFO that. We're actually working on the sketches for those, and until they're finalized, I don't want to say anything to canonize them. But we will get you that information.
Lady Radagu
(paraphrased)
Were there cadmium/bendalloy and possibly chromium/nicrosil mistings in the Final Empire? If yes, were the mists Snapping those too?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Um, yes, there were, but since the mists were trying to create a pattern to be a sign, and people didn't know all the metals, they (the mists) had to use substitutions. They were acting the way we've seen other cognitive shadows, who are deceased, act.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
How and when is the type of Misting you become determined? Can you tell what type of Misting you are before you Snap?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
It's determined at birth. The cosmere by combining 3 aspects of self. Your physical self, mental self, and spiritual self. The spiritual self is tied to the Investiture of the world that you come from. When an Allomancer snaps, a piece of their soul is broken and some of that power leaks into them, giving them their abilities.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
Why is Breath not consumed in Awakening, unlike most all other uses of Investiture?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
Not all Investitures are "used up." Much like energy, it isn't typically created or destroyed, just changes for. With Breath, in what it's used for, it is just more easily and readily recovered than in other forms.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
So Alethi hair "breeds true" based on the individual's ancestry, why then does Renarin have more black than Adolin?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
As with us regular people, different shades of skin can be had within the same family with the same parents, its just a matter of how their DNA falls out. No different here. Nothing special with Adolin and Renarin's hair.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
Can any Oathgate go to any of the 11 locations?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
As far as [the people who discovered Urithiru] are aware, the gates can only go to Urithiru.
PrncRny
(paraphrased)
What connection is there between Lifeless and Shard-severed limbs?
Brandon Sanderson
(paraphrased)
They are similar, but different. With Lifeless it's due to the soul being drained away, shrinking to nearly nothing. With Shard-severed limbs, that portion of the soul is sheared clean away.
Is "dragon's nest" a Nalthis to English translation or are dragons part of their culture? Is Edgli a dragon?
I don't know the answer to that.
Dragons are mythological on Nalthis, but there is a reason that the stories exist. It's not a translation quirk.
