Recent entries

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3601 Copy

    thegatorgirl00

    Do you have a name for the Skyward universe that we can use on the Coppermind and in discussion beyond just calling it the Skyward universe?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I kind of think Skyward Universe is probably the best, for now. I'll ponder this.

    thegatorgirl00

    If you haven't considered it already, I'd like to bring the term Skyworld or Skyworlds to your attention.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ha! That's not bad, though it could get a little confusing if I ever write one of the books I've been planning that literally take place in a world with no ground...

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3602 Copy

    NotOJebus

    What do you feel is the main difference between writing sci fi and fantasy is? Did you learn things in writing Skyward that you feel will help you write Mistborn Era 4?

    Brandon Sanderson

    For me, it's a fine line, because I'm not writing Hard SF--but instead, a kind of hard fantasy. So my books tend to ride the line between SF/Fantasy anyway. And Skyward is straight up space opera, I'd say--most of the technology that we use in the books is fantastical anyway.

    In SF, I feel I can lean on shared vocabulary a little more. This has been particularly handy in the novellas I've done, where we can use Earth as a reference point. Modern (and beyond modern) communication, and expectations of character education, also play a big part in changing how I approach the stories.

    In some ways, it comes down to different storytelling traditions, and what they each afford you. Again, though, it would be different if I were writing hard SF.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3603 Copy

    CoverYourSafeHand

    My other question is about Wheel of Time. At the end, Rand just kinda walks away in Moridin's body. Does he stop being a ta'veren? I can't imagine the pattern would just let him live a quiet normal life if he still was.

    Brandon Sanderson

    The ending portion of WoT that you reference was written by [Robert Jordan] himself, and he didn't leave a lot of explanations. Subtext and things Mr. Jordan said lead me to believe that the character you indicate is free, now. But we don't have a 100% for sure answer.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3605 Copy

    6th_account_so_far

    How much of an impact did interviewing professional fighter pilots have on the story? Did anything learned from them actually change parts of the book in significant ways? Did you learn anything weird or unusual that you found fascinating?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The pilots were a HUGE help. The biggest issue I had, which was really hard to get through my skull, was the different ways that G-forces interacted with the human body.

    I knew the basics, and had flight suits operating correctly and was watching for people pulling too many Gs. But the fighter pilots kept explaining things like "eyes out" and how it wasn't just number of Gs, it was the direction they were pulling. It wasn't until I called one of them and had a lengthy conversation that it started to click with me.

    From there, some of the direct feelings of pulling Gs--feeling like your skin is sliding off your body, or that you've aged a hundred years--I got from them.

    As always with a sf/f book, one of my goals is to walk the line between realism and fiction. I tried to make the battles feel real enough to not kick an actual pilot out of the story, but at the same time, I specifically gave the fighters technology that we don't have, in order to spice up how the combat would work.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3606 Copy

    R'Shara

    Hey, is Brandon willing to tell us which universe Skyward is in yet? He said a while aback that it was in a universe (not cosmere) that he'd written before.

    Brandon Sanderson

    So, here's the thing--it's a pretty big spoiler. Meaning if you know the novella this is tied to (and it's one of the ones mentioned in this thread) you'll know a moderately large plot point in the book.

    It's not the type of spoiler that will ruin a story--I do think some readers would enjoy watching how I lace them together. But do be warned that if you haven't read my science fiction novellas, and you hate spoilers, you might want to wait until Skyward is out to read them.

    That said, if you know the terminology of the novellas in question, you'll find your answer in chapter seventeen.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3608 Copy

    Use_the_Falchion

    Have you ever thought of doing a magical school series a la Harry Potter, The Name of the Wind, or The Magisterium series? Or did Skyward kinda fill that spot for you?

    Brandon Sanderson

    We'll see. I've never had a really good idea for one. I need to feel like I'm bringing something new to a sub genre like that.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3610 Copy

    Use_the_Falchion

    I've been checking Dan Well's twitter pretty often, but there seems to be no update on Apocalypse Guard. Do you have any updates?

    Brandon Sanderson

    We got together before the cruise and did a big brainstorming session where we figured out once and for all how to fix the book--which is very exciting. However, it will take huge revisions (again) and this time, it's my turn to do that. So the ball is back in my court after he did a great job fixing characters. (The next fix involves plot and worldbuilding, which are my duties.)

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #3613 Copy

    Use_the_Falchion

    I'd also just like to say I that while I know you mentioned it basically once and haven't had any time to work on it since, I'm too excited for Soulburner (even if I shouldn't expect it for the next decade, if at all ever).

    Brandon Sanderson

    Soulburner...well, I'll just say not to hold your breath. :)

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3615 Copy

    Stormlightning

    Okay so, also in Oathbringer, did Wit really speak into Shallan's mind when she was confronting the Heart of the Revel--is that what happened??

    Brandon Sanderson

    Eh, RAFO.

    Stormlightning

    Can't you tell me if that's what he did? If that was him?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *teasing sound* Come on. I won't even tell you. You would have gotten similar RAFOs - that does not indicate any yes or no - about stuff in Mistborn that I eventually came around to.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3618 Copy

    Questioner

    Is there a question that's asked most often?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah, "When's the sequel to X" is number one. Followed by what you would think are the standards. "Who's your favorite character," "What's your favorite book." Those style questions take up easily the top 20. Not at a signing like this at BYU full of Sharders, but at Comic Con, every second question is probably "When is this coming out, are you working on a sequel to this."

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3619 Copy

    Questioner

    Would it be possible to make Hemalurgic dental fillings? If there were a mad-scientist dentist?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I've thought about this. I think that would be possible, but for Hemalurgy to really work I need it to...it doesn't actually have to be touching the blood, despite what they think. But I think your average dental filling is not going deep enough...

    Questioner

    Root canal!

    Brandon Sanderson

    *Continues* But yeah, you could make it work.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3621 Copy

    Steeldancer

    Given a situation where they have perfect knowledge of Hemalurgy--everything is known. Is it possible they could use a Shard-scalpel and spike to carefully...

    Brandon Sanderson

    To excise without killing somebody? The real damage is to the soul...

    Steeldancer

    I'm imagining taking out toxic sort of things.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You've seen Vasher do something similar, so it's not off books that that's possible.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3622 Copy

    Steeldancer

    In Oathbringer, my one big issue with Oathbringer was Amaram's turn. I'm curious why you chose to not hint more at his turn. It felt a little bit out of nowhere. What were your thoughts on Amaram?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Which turn are you talking about?

    Steeldancer

    When he turns to Odium's side and he's like, "Okay, now I'm going to consume an Unmade."

    Brandon Sanderson

    I feel like Amaram was a slow and steady descent. But you didn't get to see viewpoints from him as he was doing it. And what he did to Kaladin was worse than anything he did in Oathbringer, in my mind.

    Steeldancer

    Why did you choose not to give him viewpoints.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Too many characters. To many people to give viewpoints to. It was kicked around. I kicked it around for a while. There just wasn't enough.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3627 Copy

    R'Shara

    Would Stormlight healing, Progression, or Feruchemical gold healing count as some of the ways that a transgender person could change their body to match their identity?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. Those would work. In fact, that's kind of the main way that you would make that happen. Injections of Investiture making the body match the Spiritual and Cognitive.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3631 Copy

    Stormlightning

    Is Kaladin related to Aesudan?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, but it's not a close relation. A very complex system of things, but yes.

    Stormlightning

    I was just wondering why he knew her...the melody she was humming.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, he did. That is not because they're related.

    Stormlightning

    So it's something else?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It's something else. I thought that was a sideways question about Kaladin's mom.

    Stormlightning

    It kinda was, I thought maybe she hummed that and so that's why he recognized it.

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, good question.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3638 Copy

    Walin

    Does Nightblood contain any of Ruin's Investiture? Like, not atium, but...

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, technically; and I'm not wiggling around that, because technically, location in the Cosmere and who belongs to what gets really weird, right? Because Ruin's Investiture is everywhere--but I'm not talking that way. I'm talking the way you actually mean it. 

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3639 Copy

    Walin

    If you had a metal plate, and you inscribed into it--with a living Shardblade--the description of a spren, so it's kind of like an Aon for a spren, in a way; if you had an Elsecaller in the Cognitive Realm force Stormlight through the bead for that plate, would it act as a fabrial for that spren? So like, if you drew a spren, like a flamespren onto a metal plate, so you'd make a heat fabrial?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So you're trying to trap the spren in the [plate]?

    Walin

    There's not a spren, it's just a drawing of a spren.

    Brandon Sanderson

    So you're trying to Invest a drawing of a spren, and turn that Investiture into an actual spren, and make it work...I don't think this is going to work. I can see an argument that it would; I would err on "I don't think this is gonna work." But, you know, stranger things have happened, right?

    Walin

    My purpose for that question was asking whether Sel is the only one that can have Cognitive Investing--er, the one that's best at doing Cognitive Investing.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, it is definitely best; it is nothing to do with the Shards themselves, and everything to do with what happened to them.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3640 Copy

    OrangeJedi

    So if the skaa on Scadrial had gone out in the mists more often, would they have had a longer lifespan?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *Hesitant* The skaa lifespans are more related to their status in life than genetic predisposition. Going in the mists probably would not have changed that.

    OrangeJedi

    I didn't think of it that way, I thought of it more from a, "Oh, people on Roshar have a longer lifespan because of Investiture." Because the mists are Invested.

    Brandon Sanderson

    *Hesitant* Technically yes, but I think it's going to be pretty miniscule. Technically yes.

    FanX 2018 ()
    #3642 Copy

    Questioner

    If there was a story in Arcanum Unbounded that you thought was most informative? What's your favorite story in Arcanum Unbounded?

    Brandon Sanderson

    My favorite is Emperor's Soul. Probably the most Cosmere aware is Sixth of the Dusk.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3643 Copy

    Questioner

    So the difference between the White Sand novel and the White Sand graphic novels, what was the thought behind changing Ais's gender?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There were a couple thoughts. The main one was, I just thought the character was more interesting. A lot of my early books, you'll notice I did a thing where I'm like "I want to make sure that I'm doing the female character really well." And you can see the problem in that sentence, and that is really how I approached it, I'd say "Well I want to make sure I do the female character really well." And I think I did do the female character pretty well in some of those early books. But you'll see a consistency to them, and this is just coming aware of your biases.

    Now, there is nothing wrong with writing a book intentionally and saying, "You know what? Because of the way I want to write this book in this world, I'm going to make the cast almost all one gender or the other. It's when you're doing it consistently on accident, that there's a problem. And I had to kind of sit down and say, "Did I do this because I thought it was best for the character, or did I do this because I love Inspector Javert and I just wanna have to have Inspector Javert in my book?" And that's where the character came from, quite obviously.

    And I sat down and said, "If I were going to build this character from the ground up to be my own character and I were trying to throw away all biases, what would be the best for the character?" And Ais being female was not a "I need more women in the book," it was more of, "If I'm throwing away these biases and building the characters, what works the best?" and I just really liked how that character came out when I was rebuilding. Yeah, anyway, we'll go with that.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3644 Copy

    Questioner

    If a wrench is constantly used to hit things, would it consider itself a hammer?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'm not sure if it could phrase, "Hammer." But yes.

    There's a little linguistic hoop-jumping here. When Shallan talks to the stick and it says, "I am a stick," what is it doing? It's conveying the idea, "I am this thing." It would convey, "I am a thing that looks like this used to hits things." You could argue a brain might interpret that as hammer. I think you would get, "I'm a wrench that hits things!"

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3646 Copy

    Questioner

    In the Cognitive Realm, would they be the Berenstein or Berenstain Bears?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Excellent question, The Mandela effect and the Cognitive Realm. Depends on if the authors are still alive, will influence it. But the way the Cosmere works, I'm going to go with the way most people say it. So Berenstain Bears, probably. That would override.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3647 Copy

    little wilson

    If Vin were alive, would she recognize the Sovereign's facial features?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'll RAFO that. Do you mean the statue or the actual...Did you mean the statue?

    Sunbird

    I think we mean the actual Sovereign.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You mean if they met the person that the statue...I'll RAFO both of them. But someone making a statue...like if you met Homer, would he look like his statue? Is a different question also. But I'll RAFO that. But there will be answers forthcoming.

    Legion Release Party ()
    #3648 Copy

    Questioner

    What can you tell us about food in Arelon? Is there a specific Earth culture that it resembles? Because in Elantris, we only really see cooking an eating when it's Kiin's cooking. And he kind of has a mishmash.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I was looking at Renaissance Europe, maybe Spanish...with the coastline...Let's go with Spanish-esque. So some olives, something close to a paella. I would imagine it being somewhere along those likes, probably. The problem is I don't really know what they ate in Renaissance Spain. I only know what they eat in Spain right now. But I was looking at it like a Renaissance Mediterranean for Arelon when I was building it.