mraize7
The similarity between the shades and the Fused can be due to the Investiture of Odium instead of that of Ambition?
Brandon Sanderson
RAFO.
The similarity between the shades and the Fused can be due to the Investiture of Odium instead of that of Ambition?
RAFO.
Do you have a writing/reading soundtrack that feels like it shouldn’t work but it does for you? Or do you ever give books (be it yours or others) theme songs?
I don't often choose theme songs, but I find that Daft Punk works for me as writing music, even when it really probably shouldn't.
What was your soundtrack for writing Skyward?
Soundtrack is on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/user/mistborn1/playlist/6g98k9ofImSyi37WeLwSOM?si=NZ0jQDEWQYeFonJ8npy8hg
Okay so Brandon, I've gotta ask, Rig's last name is McCaffrey. I thought, oh haha, nice McCaffrey reference.
Then I got thinking.
So Skyward is a story about a girl and her starship (dragon) who join a group to help defend their planet, which is made up of separate caverns (Holds) after humanity crashed (colonized) their world, and who has to defend said peoples from an enemy that periodically comes from the sky called the Krell (Thread).
Let's just assume the world takes place in the DE universe and that Spensa and Co will eventually work out how to psychically teleport and... Brandon... Is Skyward just a sci fi retelling of the Dragonriders of Pern...
The White Dragon (along with Dragon's Blood by Jane Yolen) are direct inspirations for Skyward. And Rodge's last name is a nod to Anne McCaffrey.
I wouldn't say it's only a sci-fi retelling of these stories. But the plot archetype that inspired me is the "boy and his dragon" story. (Including Eragon and How to train your Dragon as well.) I've always wanted to do a story like this, but wanted to find a way to put my own spin (heh heh) on the story.
You'll see how they diverge as the story progresses. But much as Mistborn was inspired by heist stories, this one was inspired by dragon egg stories.
Also, I noticed that Dalinar fits well enough with the Hero of Ages prophecy. Lines like "The Hero of Ages was the person who united others, who brought them together" and so on. So I wanted to ask if there is a coincidence or not? Or that's a RAFO?
RAFO.
Does Dalinar know about Adonalsium? Stormfather dropped the term during one of their talks, so did he tell Dalinar the whole story of Shattering and Shards? Also, does he understand what exactly he did when summoned perpendicularity or not? Does he understand what’s going on with him now (that he’s connected with Honor’s remnants)? Does he even know what “Shard” means?
I guess, the question is “How cosmere-aware Dalinar is?”
As of Oathbringer, Dalinar isn't specifically aware of the larger cosmere story--though he would have numerous "Aha" moments if it were explained to him, as pieces of what he does know would fall into place. The Stormfather isn't particularly interested in the larger story, however, and that's one reason.
Jasnah is a different story...
Did the kandra that's running around on Roshar have a speaking role in Oathbringer?
RAFO!
In the Mistborn series, when you were writing the prophecies, did you start with the "non-corrupted" versions and then corrupt them, or vice versa (or something else)?
I started (as is my usual process) with the end in mind, and outlined backward. In this case, that meant constructing the final version of the prophesies first.
An actual Skyward question: Were you inspired by the anime Gurren Lagann at all for this? That anime starts out with humans living in caves and being attacked in order to keep their population down. The cave dwelling and constant attacks is the only connection so far that I see (the rest of the anime gets pretty crazy and I don't think you'd go that far).
I'm afraid I haven't seen Gurren Lagann, which is probably an oversight--a lot of people talk about it being great.
1) What is the name for a Tineye/Archivist Twinborn?
2) How would copper compounding work for a double copper Twinborn? Would you relive the memories stored in the burned copperminds extra vividly?
1) I'm not ready to open the floodgates for giving names to each twinborn combination yet. So RAFO.
2) Another RAFO here. I'll delve into these ideas when/if I do this combination in a book series.
How much of Defiant has been colonised by humans? Do the caverns cover the entire world, or are they restricted to only a small area around Alta?
You're seeing the most populated part of the world. There are some little enclaves all over the planet (which is smaller than earth) but most everything is congregated near where the original fleet landed. (Note that the Defiant was the name of the flagship they crashed on, not the planet's name.)
We know that all in Cosmere have three aspects. So Adonalsium have three aspects as well?
RAFO.
The shards and their vessels we don`t know yet... Will they be featured in the existing works or will they have their own story in a novel or a novella?
A split between the two.
Is possible that I'm overthinking about it but in Oathbringer, in Puuli's Interlude he spoke about what seems a new kind of faction-to-be in Roshar. Given how Puuli talks about them one can think he is describing the Knight Radiants we know. But he also mentions that, "They will come from the Origin," and that them are, "The sailors lost on an infinite sea." My question then is... Are they direct descendants of the original humans that migrated from Ashyn eons ago? Yeah, I know that in some way all are descendants of those humans but my question, to be clear, is if they are more Odium inclined for example. An Odium-winning-card.
RAFO.
Who was your favorite character to write?
It was definitely the character named M-Bot, whom you haven't met yet. :)
If, "Evil superheroes" was the hook for The Reckoners series, what is the hook for Skyward?
How to Train Your Dragon - but with spaceships.
Is the whole story going to be told through Spensa's perspective?
95% her viewpoint, but there are three brief chapters sprinkled through the books from another character's viewpoint.
Is their planet purple?
More blue-grey.
Can the ships go backwards at all while airborne?
Very slowly with maneuvering thrusters.
What Skyward-inspired cosplay are you most excited to see at upcoming cons?
Doomslug the Destroyer, obviously.
Will we be seeing more of Spensa's mom?
Yes, you will.
Will Jorgen keep the callsign "Jerkface?"
He hopes not.
Is there a romance planned?
You'll have to wait and see! This is an action/adventure story first and a character study second. So know that if there's romance, it won't be a focus.
From all your characters, to whom you relate the most? Personality wise.
Hmm. I'd like to think I'm most like Sazed, but I'm actually the most like Alcatraz. Both in bad ways and good.
You previously confirmed Kaladin has a depression. What about other two characters? Does Shallan has split personality disorder? And Dalinar has PTSD?
I don't know that I'd say Shallan has straight up DID--and that is a controversial topic even under the more current terminology. More, Shallan is certainly disassociating herself, but the result is something I consider very individual to her. (Unlike Kaladin's fairly textbook chemical depression.)
Dalinar has had some PTSD, though you'll see more of the traditional symptoms in Kaladin, and is a recovering alcoholic--and a few other things.
Does Dalinar's "unite them" thing has something to do with Adonalsium?
RAFO, I'm afraid.
Venli is going to be a main character in Stormlight 4? With big focus like previous flashback characters had? I wanted to read more of Dalinar considering how Oathbringer ended with massive cliffhanger (sorta) for him.
Dalinar will get more in 5 than in 4. Eshonai will have the flashbacks in 4, though Venli will be featured in them.
How does Connection to a Shard actually work? 16 random people took 16 Shards in the past, I don't think all of them had special Connection to a certain Shard each of them picked. We even know that Ati, Ruin's Vessel, was a kind, generous man, direct opposition to Ruin's Intent.
However, in Mistborn we find out that you must gain certain amount of Connection to become a Shard Vessel. Kelsier wasn't Connected to Preservation well enough (he's more of Ruin), Sazed was somehow Connected to both Preservation and Ruin? So, should you be Connected to a Shard to Ascend? Why was it different in the past?
Also, what would happen if, theoretically Dalinar, a good, honorable man, kill Odium's Vessel and take a Shard for himself? Will he change Shard's Intent to something...let's say less destructive or Odium's intent will just devour his personality and he'll act just like Odium's current Vessel?
That's pretty big RAFO territory, I'm afraid. I'll just say that this is something I do intend to delve into in the books.
Will Dalinar get Shardplate once he swears his Fourth Ideal? Or Bondsmiths don’t have Plates?
RAFO. :)
I was surprised to find out Skyward trilogy is not a trilogy anymore, but four books. How did this happen? You have more stories in this world or book 3 is growing too big, so you decided to split it in two smaller books?
My normal mode for a series is to write the first book, make sure it works and that I have a good feel for the characters, then sit down and really hammer out the outline for the series.
When I did that for this book (sometime in early July) the outline that worked best was four books instead of three because of where the breaks and climactic moments were.
During a reread of The Way of Kings, I noticed Kaladin mentions a light eyes by the name of Katarotam. Will we ever find out more about this light eyes? (For some context, Katarotam is listed along side Roshone and Amaram as a light eyes that Kaladin believes to be corrupt).
RAFO. (This is possible, but not likely, in a Kaladin flashback.)
Ever considered a novella set in the Silver Kingdoms or during another ancient Rosharan era?
I have considered earlier-era Rosharan novellas, but I don't think one is likely in the near future.
Was Hoid a worldhopper before the Shattering?
Though there are some RAFOy things that I can't exactly say, I CAN say that I don't think most would consider Hoid a worldhopper before the Shattering.
Is Iyatil left-handed?
RAFO
The one thing that impressed me the most [about Skyward] are the awesomely vivid and thrilling dogfight scenes. How did you come up with these dogfighting techniques? Any particular inspiration that you can share with us? Thank you!
So, one of the things I try to do in combat situations is define a few rules that are different from the way our world works, nudging the combat to be more fantastical. This (hopefully) allows even those who are familiar with the situation to better suspend disbelief--since the rules of combat are different, then battles can theoretically play out in (plausible) ways that I decide and present, rather than running into real-world situations.
For Skyward, I started with studying real-world dogfights, then added a couple big changes. One was some anti-gravity, the other was nudging the battles more toward the way they might work in a vacuum by removing some of the air resistance. The final piece was the light-lances, further pushing the combat into a direction where pilot maneuverability was enhanced. (And the battlefield could be different each time, allowing more variety.)
That all together gave me the way I went about these battles. But I will say this--watching what some fighter pilots can do with their jets was enormously impressive. I had no idea, honestly, the things they are capable of doing.
I'm wondering if Shai could create a stamp that would turn someone into an Allomancer. Or, alternatively, create a stamp that would break a bond between a Radiant and their Spren?
This is possible--but likely beyond Shai's ability. It would require large amounts of investiture. The second would be easier.
Can a Parshendi/Singer/nonhuman-humanoid become a Sliver?
Yes.
Is Trell (Era 2) and/or Austre related to a Shard? Like are they one, or working for one, or an avatar of one?
Yes, Trell is related to a Shard.
Is Ishnah a kandra? Mraize said that she was just an assistant(maybe the original), but she seems to have a lot of practical experience and knowledge.. Seems like a kandra thing to be good spies :D
RAFO.
SKYWARD QUESTION! I've just read the prologue, did you do anything special to get in to the mind of a 7 yr old girl? Any inspirations for Spensa?
This one took a few tries--you can probably find earlier readings of it where the age was different, and the speech style was different. As with most things, it's a matter of trying something out, then looking for feedback.
Generally when do you think the next time you will write a book set on a new, never gotten a book, Cosmere shardworld?
Does Threnody count? It got a short story. It's most likely, and could happen in the space between Stormlight 5 and 6 (though that is a busy time period for me--I've put a lot of books in there potentially.
I think the chances of seeing a new world in a novella is much more likely.
When you tap the nicrosil portion of a medallion, will it run out over time? Or is it like a coppermind, where something discrete is taken, used, and returned?
Good question! Like a coppermind.
Khriss says there was Investiture on Threnody prior to Odium and Ambition's battle. Was that Investiture of Ambition?
RAFO!
Are the Aethers from one of the Shards that we know? Or are they of a Shard we haven't learned about?
Right now they are pre-Shattering.
But I will probably change that.
Can you hint at a form of Selish magic we haven't seen yet?
It is about patterns...
It's not that the glyphs use Thaylen graphemes. It's that they ultimately derive from the same source.
Did the Reod coincide with the Recreance?
These two are not at the same time, but good question.
Skyward: Is Rodge a hat tip to Anne McCaffrey?
Yup, he is! The White Dragon is one of my inspirations here.
Looking more closely at the [Steel Alphabet] font, it looks like we're missing some information. Note that the tin symbol for 'e' and 'i' are slightly different: the dot is in a different location. I suppose that the dots are diacritical marks, then.
Any other diacritical information we should know about the Steel Alphabet (or Alethi, for that matter), Peter?
Moving the dot to distinguish vowels is a modern innovation, within the last 100 years by ALLOY OF LAW. I suspect that dots may be gone entirely (except for the two changed vowels, and maybe "capital" letters) in many fonts by the time you get to the second trilogy. Numbers might get a moved dot too. The placement of the dots in the original symbology has to do with Allomancy, but they're largely superfluous in writing.
The Feruchemical symbols (which are in the RPG) are evolved from the same root (the ancient symbols you can see in MISTBORN 3), but I don't know about their use in modern writing. It could be something like the hiragana/katakana distinction. But that's just speculation right now.
Silver is not Allomantically inert the way aluminum is. In that annotation, Brandon just meant that silver didn't do anything if you swallowed it and tried to burn it. It can be Pushed and Pulled. Years after Brandon wrote that annotation, what he means by "Allomantically inert" has changed.