There is a website that looks at all names in the US since 1880 and there are a couple cosmere names starting to show up. Granted it’s small but who knows when you’ll next run into a Kaladin.
Doesn't Yanagawn first appear in Edgedancer, as Gawx?
Rereading Mistborn Era 2 and it mentions Moonlight. Used the handy dandy wiki to help me remember that that’s Shai’s codename.
The wiki also said she’s an Elantrian because she stamped herself with a stamp that said she became an elantrian in her past. Is that possible?? Can she access any kind of Investment like that? Become Mistborn or a windrunner, etc?
Where does that stop? What if she stamped that she was actually Adonalsium, or held a Shard?
I have the theory that Sazed has been Discord since the begining and not that he is changing due to powers not being balanced. Sazed is a scholar and knows all the Terris prophecies, so following some narrative and realmatics narratives it makes sense that he's being Discord and that Harmony is merely a facade (or self-delusion) to buy time.
Not sure if this theory is already being discussed around or if anyone has a different idea. But that's the idea, to make discussion and see what happens when books are released. Leave me your comments...
>!In Isles of the Emberdark there was a casual line spoken with no elaboration. They described Autonomy as “Splintered” that wasn’t the case at the end of “The Lost Metal” as far as I can recall. I know autonomy made splinters for Taldain and First of the Sun is thus what they were referring to? Or was there an event we don’t know about yet?!<
So, over the past many years my passion has been holistic/embodied practices and the types practices/values/narratives that support them. I've drawn on my own indigenous community's stories and practices, the stories and practices of other communities, as well as on some surprisingly intuitive survival liturature, of which without a doubt Eric Gonzalez's book "Deep Survival: Who lives, who dies, and why" is probably the best. In it he outlines a way of being that leads to survival in extreme situations, not to mention the others. This practice is embodied by presence, engagement, honestly and love as skills rather than moral statements, and an understanding of the narratives that guide our thinking and an ability/willingness to engage with them, accept when they may be wrong, to hold our truths lightly while also being fully committed to truth.
When I read "Isles of the Emberdark" I found more than a few similarities that led me to suspect a few other things. first, a few things. In looking up online I noticed that a lot of people think of Patji as being potentially a shard of autonomy... This seems to be heavily reflected in the trapper ethos, as well as potentially fitting in with the idea that htere are other "gods" on the island, the idea that people can chart their own way while living in the same location. This said, Dusk is both the embodiment of this in his trapping practice, the carefulness, the radical independence, yet he is also a rejection of it - he gained his medallion through his uncle's sacrifice, and his first major action in the earlier book is to save Vathi - in other words, he is autonomy but expressly grounded in caring/loving/seeing/engagement.
Sanderson's decision to include Wayfinding as one of his skills is particularly telling - one of the more impressive of all human accomplishments - the ability to find one's way across the empty sees not through zeroing in on one skill but through learning to absorb and pay attention ot everything all at once.
When I start looking at the supposed origin of his values, the story of Cakoba the wayfinder/explorer, I see something at odds with later behaviours of trappers - it's as if the "deep survival" cohesion and rejection of any and all blind spots has been subtly replaced by attributes of autonomy, yet Dusk has learned to both embrace autonomy yet also to reject those aspects that prevent him from simultaneously learning from the experiences and perspectives of others. Over and over throughout the book he both learns new things, but also doesn't change. he is able to stand up to efforts to force him to simplify his narratives or knowledge to fit other frameworks, but yet he still learns all that is offered, and then moves on with new abilities.
My theory is this - Dusk is very similar to what an actual avatar of adonalsium would have to be like. Pre-shattering... or he is embodying an unshattered spark.... no powers of substance yet actually able to see.
there's a lot of other interesting little things that came to my mind, for example he is not only living fully in the present, but he is also informed by the past (oral history/mother frond) and the future (his aviar) and by the needs/realities of those around him. He is both conservative in his rejection of unnecessary simplification, but his honest in his refusal to be blind to what is or what is coming. He is not tied to one outcome, but he is tied to wrestling with it, he refused to be a figurehead or live without purpose, and now he is going off worldhopping with the express purpose of giving others true stories that give power, and maybe more concrete help, we'll see. And yes, I know there's theories about the Eelakin, about Sak, l of which I find connected.
Perhaps in sumamry i'd say it this way - all other characters in the cosmere seem to start to embody the goals of their investiture, yet Dusk expressly seems to reject this almost as a core trait while still embodying things.
I felt that it was building towards an Aux sacrifice but man was I not prepared. I cried like a baby when I read
“I am the leftover strength of oaths once sworn. I am the truth you once knew. Take it again, for the briefest time, and soar “
And then I smiled so hard when he got the armor. I love Sanderson so much and love this universe so much.
Side note: interested to see how the space travel and technological advancements we see in Sunlit will be covered
Isles of the Emberdark next, and then re-reading SLA!
Hey guys what do you think about this fanart of Vin? As I was looking up the fanarts of here nothing really clicked for me, so I payed for this one and I gotta say I love it.
Its Vin from the first book, but I wanted to add the horseshoe that she likes to use later on. I was aiming for more “I’m scared and don’t want to be here” look on her face, but honestly I might like this one even more.
I also like the hair a lot, it shows how she was cutting her own hair ik.
I have read Mistborn: SH, so I know that bodies of water appear as stone in the Cognitive Realm. As I am reading Words of Radiance, I just finished the chapter where Shallan soulcasts the bottom of the ship to open up to the ocean, and she is on solid ground (water) in Shadesmar because of the aforementioned rule. I THINK I understand why ground shows up as beads in the Cognitive Realm (humans see "dirt", "pebble", "rock", etc. that make up "ground" so the Cognitive aspect of "ground" will show up as those several smaller aspects, hence why it's made of beads). If that is the case, shouldn't bodies of water follow that same rule? We see "waves", "ripples", etc as the aspects of water. Shouldn't that influence the Cognitive aspect of water to follow the same rules as ground to appear as smaller aspects? Am I misinterpreting something?
I read this chapter of Wind and Truth yesterday (please no spoilers beyond that). I'm still fuming and need to vent.
Not only does it mischaracterize Jasnah, but its whole premise is flawed: Fen is reduced to a puppet with no thoughts, opinions, or beliefs. The queen of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world, recognized for their shrewd negotiation abilities, is suddenly just a child under the influence of two adults. She will just do whatever Jasnah's true beliefs points to?
Beliefs that are resting on very flimsy arguments, too. Proving that Jasnah cares more about her people and her feelings than she cares about the greater good? So, letting her emotions steer her decisions? But wait, wasn't that the main difference Odium was exploiting between Jasnah and Fen, who would also let her feelings for her friends steer her decisions over the greater good?
And even then, sure, Odium may say Jasnah loves Alehtkar more than the rest of the world. But didn't the previous books repeatedly show how frustrated - but equally decisive - she and Dalinar were at having to delay their attempts to retake Alethkar for the good of the Coalition as a whole?
Yeah, I was very frustrated with how this chapter was written. Not only because of Fen's characterization, but also because of Jasnah's. Sure, she was tired and had misprepared for the conversation. But, even though that is mentioned, the main impression it leaves is that Jasnah is having a moment of realization, not that she is unable to keep up due to her limitations.
So, am I supposed to think that the woman who's spent a large portion of her life studying philosophy and analyzing her own behaviors and beliefs wouldn't have reflected, until now, on what had transpired in the very pivotal moment when she didn't swing her sword against Renarin?
I dislike it when the story makes me feel like the author has a goal in mind and has to walk back from it to write the events that lead to it, and that's exactly how this chapter made me feel.
Sorry, like I said, I needed to vent.
So, I've just finished reading the "Farseer Trilogy" by Robin Hobb. This is all I've read of her so please no spoilers, but I wanted to hop in here to share my opinions on how I think Sanderson's writing (especially certain naming) has been at least somewhat inspired in hers. That said this is just my personal opinion and all of this could just be coincidences.
Firstly there's a Vin river and a character named Starling (who also just happens to be a minstrel and even though it's been a while since I read IoTE (minor IoTE spoilers ahead) >!her being Hoid's apprentice might make her share some of her trade!<).
Besides naming I feel like there's essentially a Sanderlache in each and every one of the Farseer books, although I'll admit that this is something many authors try to do.
That's essentially all I've seen in common between them, but seeing first one name appear and then the other, just made me think it was just too much of a coincidence.
Edit: spelling
I'm looking for cosmere-themed cat names for a pair of kittens. We're naming the male Bearer of Agonies, or just Bear for short. I'm trying to come up with a good campanion name for the female cat that is similarly chaotic. The best I could come up with is Lady of Dreams, which is one of Shalash's titles, but it doesnt abbreviate well and isn't the right vibe. Any ideas?
Spoilers for Oathbringer. I hope I have the right flair! Sorry if I don’t.
I just finished I-6 on Oathbringer, so If my question is RAFO, please let me know.
I just finished the part where Ulim has the 9 listeners sacrifice themselves for the Fused without their knowledge. My question is if there are only these 7? Or are there more? (Venli survived, and one listener was crushed by a rock).
I am a bit confused because Moash meets a couple before this interlude, and even killed one. So, does the interlude take place before Part 2. Or are they completely different Fused?
Also, are these Odium’s champions that the Stormfather mentions? Thanks!
edit: Answered! Thanks guys!
Hey guys, I've already read both Mustborn series, Elantris and Warbreaker. I feel a little overwhelmed by the length of The Stormlight Archive books, though. What do you guys think? Should I start them?
SINGERS ARE FABRIALS, and this is a hill I'll die on.
If you really think about it, what makes a fabrial? They have a spren, are powered by Light, and they serve some function, which changes depending on the spren. The spren is inside a gemstone in the middle.
Now lets look at a Singer. They have a gemheart at their core, there's a spren in the gemheart, and depending on the spren they serve different functions(forms).
Singers are fabrials. Fight me.
It is rare that we experience odd capitalisations in the Cosmere and yet it is always meaningful.
There are 2 main scenarios I know of:
- Dalinar claiming “I am Unity” in Stormlight when he first opens a perpendicularity in Oathbringer
And
- Whatever Discord is in Mistborn
Unity has been theorised to be Adonalsium himself with Odium claiming “We killed you” after this line from Dalinar. I think this makes sense to a degree. Obviously Adonalsium is dead, but in the same way the storm-father lived on without Honor having a vessel perhaps Unity is a part of Adonalsium or perhaps just an echo of the idea of the shards being combined and a desire of the shards to Unite and become something more again.
Meanwhile, Discord is widely believed to be almost an alter-ego to Sazed which he will become due to the difficulties of holding two opposing shards but I believe it is more it’s own thing or entity. In fact, I believe this could essentially be the opposite of Unity. Another fundamental force but this one more designed around the separation of shards than combining of them.
Basically, the theory goes, whatever Unity and Discord are they are opposites: one entity focussed on the combining of shards and intents perhaps to restore Adonalsium and the other focussed on the keeping shards separated and perhaps even splintering them further. 2 opposing forces trying to break apart and combine the powers of the cosmere.
Perhaps these forces are older than the cosmere itself or at least Adonalsium and maybe Discord even had a hand in the Shattering. Do others think perhaps these 2 capitalised concepts are related?
So, the powers of Devotion and Dominion make up The Dor in the cognitive realm, yes? Could someone come along and claim those shards, or have they been splintered, and the investiture that made them up now creates The Dor?
We see in Mistborn Secret History that when someone dies on Scadrial they are first greeted by Preservation in the Cognitive Realm before going to the Beyond. In all other Cosmere books/worlds, this doesn’t seem to happen.
How and why does this happen on Scadrial?
Last night at 3am, I wrapped up my Cosmere journey (for the most part. I did not read White Sands as I'm not super into graphic novels.)
After reading the Stormlight Archive last year, I started Mistborn on Jan. 1 and went from there. Full reading order will be below if you're curious. I ended early this morning with Yumi and The Nightmare Painter and honestly was really happy with that decision. The epilogue (can't remember if it was first or second one.) about stories felt perfect to wrap up the current Cosmere.
It was bittersweet ending the current Cosmere, but I've already been listening to Stormlight again when I'm driving or working around my apartment since it feels so long ago and for sure missed a lot of Cosmere related pieces.
The Cosmere got me back into reading and I love the grand scale of the universe and just excited to be up to speed with everything and begin theory crafting and reading deeper into meanings of certain books and implications of events on certain worlds.
I already have Fires of December on pre-order and will defintely be reading that when it comes out.
For fun here are a few top 5s (This was off the dome and not organized beforehand so it may be a little bit all over and missing a few here and there.) and my reading order if you're interested:
Top 5 Characters:
Top 5 Magic Systems:
Top 5 Favorite Scenes: (This was hard)
Top 5 Saddest Moments:
Top 10(yes 10!) Reveals:
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I def. missed some in all of these, but this is just what came to mind when writing this post.
Reading Order: