Recent entries

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4852 Copy

    mikkomikk

    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?

    Brandon Sanderson

    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.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4853 Copy

    Zireks

    Generally when do you think the next time you will write a book set on a new, never gotten a book, Cosmere shardworld?

    Brandon Sanderson

    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.

    Miscellaneous 2012 ()
    #4861 Copy

    Kurkistan

    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?

    Peter Ahlstrom

    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.

    Miscellaneous 2012 ()
    #4862 Copy

    Peter Ahlstrom

    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.

    Miscellaneous 2012 ()
    #4863 Copy

    Zas678

    Does Nightblood think when he's on his own, or is it only when he's next-

    Brandon Sanderson

    He does think when he's on his own.

    Zas678

    Okay. I thought that maybe he was like the Spren.

    Brandon Sanderson

    There might be a connection, but he does think on his own.

    Miscellaneous 2011 ()
    #4864 Copy

    Bremen

    Theory: Imperial KKell power is the power to control the other KKell powers.

    While considering the no relatives problem and what happened if the emperor died with no heir I thought "well the priests could just adopt someone into the imperial family like they tried with kkeris". This naturally led to the question, "Where do the priests get the power to adopt/unadopt people." With the logical conclusion that it is the imperial kkell power. Either the priests take a kkell oath or they adopt themselves into the imperial family.

    Peter Ahlstrom

    That is actually correct as far as I know, but it never comes out in the chapters that were written. Though there may have been more than that.

    Miscellaneous 2011 ()
    #4865 Copy

    Peter Ahlstrom

    Brandon cannibalized the magic system and at least one character from Aether of Night into Liar of Partinel. But that book didn't work and he hasn't decided if it will stay cannibalized into the Dragonsteel series or if he will separate it out again (when he gets around to rewriting Liar of Partinel from scratch).

    Some aspects of Aether of Night were also put into the Mistborn series. Decay in that book is Ruin. Obviously Ruin would not show up in a different Shard book now. Aether is the trunk novel with the most overt Shard presence. Also, it was never intended to be a standalone, especially with the blatant sequel setup at the end. None of Brandon's trunk Shard novels were meant as standalones, unless you count Elantris with its non-immediate sequel.

    Miscellaneous 2010 ()
    #4866 Copy

    Peter Ahlstrom

    Nobody except Brandon has ever read all of Liar of Partinel. His writing group got about 75% of it, and those people are not going to talk.

    Chaos

    And rightfully so, if Adonalsium was Shattered at its ending.

    Peter Ahlstrom

    As I understand it, that does not happen at the end of that book.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4870 Copy

    AltF4WillHelp

    Sorry if this has been asked before; I haven't been able to find a direct answer anywhere. It came up while playing the Mistborn Adventure Game (which has been very fun, btw!).

    A Feruchemist can easily determine whether any metal is a metalmind, regardless of whether it's theirs, simply by touching it. And a Ferring can definitely determine the same, but for their own metal.

    But, a question came up: can a Ferring also—perhaps with practice—tell whether any piece of metal has been stored in/is a metalmind? Would this be easier for certain kinds of Ferrings? (Ones that are more directly in tune with Investiture, perhaps?) And, if they can determine that a piece of metal is Invested, would they feel something similar to what Vin did when she was examining Sazed's metalmind? Would they be able to tell what the metal it is based on how that power feels? (That last bit might be infringing on what skilled/savant bronze Mistings might be able to do).

    Brandon Sanderson

    So, bronze Mistings are really good at reading investiture that is being used--it's harder to simply "detect investiture" as all things are made out of investiture in the cosmere. That said, I could see your game allowing this, as it's a natural extrapolation of the magic--and it could make for some good gameplay. Don't be afraid to extrapolate the magic for your own uses, even if it doesn't fall right in line with the way I do things.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4871 Copy

    WritesGeekyStuff

    I'd love to hear what some of your inspirations were for Skyward. I know you've listed How To Train Your Dragon and The Last Starfighter, but I'm curious if there are any books or movies that inspired you for the sci-fi worldbuilding and starfighter combat? As someone who loves pretty much anything starfighter, from Wing Commander to Stackpole's Rogue Squadron books, I'd love to hear how you approached it or if you have any reccos I'm not aware of!

    Brandon Sanderson

    I spent a lot of time on YouTube watching interviews and videos about what it's actually like to fly or take G-forces. Tom Scott did a nice one on centrifuges. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMKcO-T5Y4o

    As for starfighter books, there really aren't a ton are there? Most everything in books focuses on the Lost Fleet/Honor Harrington/Vorkosigan style large ship combat. Stackpole is great, but you've already read him. A Fire Upon the Deep is great, but again, not a lot of starfighter battles. I'll have to think about it more--I don't have any that were specific inspirations for this series.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4872 Copy

    Blightsong

    I've noticed that in the Listener songs there are two different, semi-conflicting stanzas between the song of histories and the song of secrets when it comes to Smokeform. The latter song also seems to be more consistently critical and fearful of Odium and the forms of power. Am I noticing something relevant here, and if so could you elaborate on why?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, you are noticing something real.

    Note that Listener history is...fraught. And while the rhythms are standardized, the words are applied to them have a lot more cultural influence and interpretation.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4875 Copy

    athos45678

    Has anyone in the history of Roshar ever had Lift’s special physiology? Or is she like a whole new human

    Brandon Sanderson

    You could say anyone that has their DNA or spiritweb meddled with by the Nightwatcher is something new--that said, Lift is an experiment that hasn't been tried before.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4876 Copy

    Snarlezz

    What's the incentive of alloying lerasium and becoming a misting when you could just burn it normal and be a Mistborn?

    AltF4WillHelp

    My guess is that you'd presumably you'd use less of it? Also, arguably, not every way of using a magic is going to be the most optimal way.

    It's probably just a way that lerasium can work. If you alloy it or somehow mix it with things from other systems, it's quite possible you'd end up getting those magics instead, because it'd Connect you more strongly to a different Shard.

    Brandon Sanderson

    The replies to this are correct.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4877 Copy

    MasterDex

    I love every book of yours I've read. However, I'm a sucker for grim, dark and/or mature fantasy tales (Malazan, Black Company, The First Law, etc). Have you ever considered going right down that route? Have you any stories that you think would fall into more mature/darker territory? Or do you feel that you have no need to go there? (obviously, Stormlight Archive has some quite dark and mature moments but not quite to the level of the aforementioned series)

    If you're answer is No, could you explain why?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Threnody novel, if I find time with it, would probably be the closest you'll see from me. I've read and enjoyed each of the authors you listed above, though my own writing tends to not lean that direction. One reason is that I tried (when trying to break in) to make my style more gritty to see, since GRRM-like was what everyone was searching for. It just didn't feel true to my own voice.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4882 Copy

    Stormstoyou

    The Third Bondsmith Ideal that Dalinar swears in the end of Oathbringer. About taking responsibilities and becoming a better man. Is it the basic Ideal for ALL Bondsmith or this is Dalinar’s personal interpretation of the Ideal?

    Brandon Sanderson

    This is Dalinar's personal interpretation, but ideals for a given order do have similar themes person to person.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4884 Copy

    Turambar97

    Will there ever be a point in your books where different or all types of investiture clash ?? What I mean will there be a fight between people with different kinds of investiture or will there be a team composed of such people ?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, this will happen.

    Look for the future of the cosmere to be about the interaction of ideologies, magics, and settings. It's less about an avengers style team up, and more about the clash between cultures.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4886 Copy

    kdt05b

    Can Megan manifest a Cosmere reality? The Reckoners is not part of the Cosmere, but one of they main character's power is reaching into alternate dimensions. I want to see some epics on Roshar!

    Brandon Sanderson

    I wanted to avoid multi-verse theory type things in the Cosmere, in part because the Wheel of Time delved into these concepts, and even before working on the WoT was looking for ways to keep the Cosmere distinctive from it.

    Beyond that, multiverses (along with time travel) really play havoc with continuity. I felt the cosmere was stronger if I kept to the three Realms--that's complex enough. Assume that in the cosmere, while different possible futures/pasts do branch (and can be seen) things like Allomantic gold are NOT looking at other realities--and there is only one reality, once events actually occur.

    This does mean that time travel into the past is not going to be a factor in the cosmere.

    This separation does let me divide these concepts off and play with them in other realms (like the Reckoners) where they're 'quarantined' so to speak.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4887 Copy

    Kyrroti

    If I were burning iron, where would the line point to on a steel hula-hoop?

    Brandon Sanderson

    For something like that, it would depend on the Steelpusher's power. For some, it would just be pointing generally toward the center of the hoop--but for skilled Steelpushers, they'd be able to see softer lines pointing in all directions around the hoop.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4888 Copy

    Kyrroti

    What's your process for writing Rosharan Myths such as Fleet's race? They are always my favorite parts of the Stormlight novels.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I love folklore, and spend a lot of time looking into the folk myths and stories for various cultures. I try to make the various myths, particularly those shared by Wit, have a different "Voice" from my normal narrative voice, as I want them to feel like legitimate ephemera from the world.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4889 Copy

    mbue

    Do people on Threnody get really old or something? I can't work out the timeline of the events leading up to Shadows for Silence. She says her grandparents were among the first to reach the Forests of Hell, but also that the waystop has been safe for over a hundred years. Given Silence's age, her grandparents couldn't really have founded the waystop over a hundred years ago if life expectancy on Threnody is similar to other planets.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'd have to look at the timeline myself. That might just be me not looking at continuity closely. I wasn't trying to imply people living very long.

    Skyward Pre-Release AMA ()
    #4891 Copy

    valmeister

    Though question on Skyward, you recently said it was going to be 4 books instead of 3, and also said you have sent the second novel to your editor. Also you said next you will be doing Stormlight Archive 4. Do you think you will hop back in to Skyward after, or will it be much later? I just normally hate starting series that are underway, and Skyward sounds like a refreshing change of pace, so curious roughly how long the wait to see the end would be.

    Brandon Sanderson

    My hope is to keep the Skyward books at one a year. Their shorter nature, and the extensive outlines I've done, should let me hop over to keep myself fresh while working on Stormlight.

    If there's a break, it will be 2020 when Stormlight four (hopefully) will come out. But as I already have 2018 and 2019's books done, I'm confident that at the very least, we'll have Skyward 3 and 4 in 2020 and 2021.