Popular Post Blightsong Posted February 25, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 I shared this on The Stormlight subreddit and thought I'd share it here as well. Reddit post. In the WoK, Hoid tells the story of a group of people who committed horrible things under the orders of a king only to discover that that king had been dead for years, and that they were responsible for their horrible actions. The dead king is discovered in the passage below: “Derethil and his men came out of the tower a short time later, carrying a desiccated corpse in fine robes and jewelry. ‘This is your emperor?’ Derethil demanded. ‘We found him in the top room, alone.’ It appeared that the man had been dead for years, but nobody had dared enter his tower. They were too frightened of him." In the final chapter Dalinar finally realizes that the Almighty hadn't been talking in response to him, that he hadn't been following orders but had been misinterpreting the visions. He then learns that the Almighty is dead. The title of this final chapter? In the Top Room. 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argent Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 damnation. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kered Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 (edited) Well, storms. Edited February 25, 2017 by KereDerek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoolofwhool Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 That has disturbing implications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blightsong Posted February 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 3 minutes ago, Spoolofwhool said: That has disturbing implications. I think it's referencing how Dalinar was doing things he thought the Almighty had directly approved of, when in fact Honor was long dead by the time Dalinar interacted with the recordings. Or not, and Honor was secretly evil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoolofwhool Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Just now, Blightsong said: I think it's referencing how Dalinar was doing things he thought the Almighty had directly approved of, when in fact Honor was long dead by the time Dalinar interacted with the recordings. Or not, and Honor was secretly evil Yeah, I know what it's referencing. But the fact is that the people did really questionable things. It makes me wonder if there is going to be some backlash because if what Dalinar did. Also makes me wonder whether Hoid is aware or just was dropping a random story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kered Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Just now, Blightsong said: I think it's referencing how Dalinar was doing things he thought the Almighty had directly approved of, when in fact Honor was long dead by the time Dalinar interacted with the recordings. Or not, and Honor was secretly evil I agree with the first part. Dalinar thought the Almighty wanted him to trust Sadeas. We saw how that turned out. 1 minute ago, Spoolofwhool said: Yeah, I know what it's referencing. But the fact is that the people did really questionable things. It makes me wonder if there is going to be some backlash because if what Dalinar did. Also makes me wonder whether Hoid is aware or just was dropping a random story. Wouldn't the betrayal at the Tower be considered the backlash of trusting in the visions to literally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoolofwhool Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Just now, KereDerek said: I agree with the first part. Dalinar thought the Almighty wanted him to trust Sadeas. We saw how that turned out. Wouldn't the betrayal at the Tower be considered the backlash of trusting in the visions to literally? Yeah. I'm just wondering if there are more long term goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kered Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Just now, Spoolofwhool said: Yeah. I'm just wondering if there are more long term goals. Yeah, I could see him mistaking the whole "Unite them" in a big way. That has potential to have major backlash if Dalinar doesn't interpret it correctly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntentAwesome Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 This also brings to mind the fact that the Alethi revere soldiers as the highest calling because of the battle in the afterlife. What if the Alerhi now have to face the idea that this may be false and take responsibility for their warring? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blightsong Posted February 25, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 7 minutes ago, IntentAwesome said: This also brings to mind the fact that the Alethi revere soldiers as the highest calling because of the battle in the afterlife. What if the Alerhi now have to face the idea that this may be false and take responsibility for their warring? These are the kinds of religious themes I really respect Brandon for exploring, and that it took me years of regular re-reads to make the connection speaks volumes for the depth, care, and skill Brandon puts into writing these novels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TamagoDono Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 39 minutes ago, IntentAwesome said: This also brings to mind the fact that the Alethi revere soldiers as the highest calling because of the battle in the afterlife. What if the Alerhi now have to face the idea that this may be false and take responsibility for their warring? We've seen the Alethi already ignore the visions (albeit edited versions) from Dalinar saying the Almighty is dead, and I think they're likely to continue to ignore any such revelation of the Almighty's death until they can see proof. Until such time I find it unlikely the Alethi will suddenly turn from their warring ways. Having said that, it could be foreshadowing of events to come in later books, if/when they realise what Dalinar has seen is true. I think the most likely result of the revelation the Almighty is dead is the class system based on the eye colour will turn to chaos as the dark-eyes realise the light-eyes are not being elevated to a better position by the grace of God, and they're really people just like them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soyperson Posted February 25, 2017 Report Share Posted February 25, 2017 Storms, Blighty. Never thought about it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AerionBFII Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) On the bright side. Dalinar's doing better than Gavilar. Edited February 28, 2017 by AerionBFII Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vissy Posted February 27, 2017 Report Share Posted February 27, 2017 On 25.2.2017 at 5:23 AM, Blightsong said: These are the kinds of religious themes I really respect Brandon for exploring, and that it took me years of regular re-reads to make the connection speaks volumes for the depth, care, and skill Brandon puts into writing these novels. Brandon is exploring the themes, but as you pointed out, he does so in a very subtle manner. It's almost as if he isn't really comfortable dealing with those topics, so he puts them away elsewhere - or perhaps it is that, combined with the conscious desire not to make SA too religion-centric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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