"Letters From the Cosmere" Official YouTube Series

[TheBlueShifting]

Hello fellow Shardlings!

(Is that the word? Oh well, your my Shardlings anyway)

So I am proud to announce that "Letters From the Cosmere" is officially out of production and live on YouTube! This is a YouTube series that I thought would be helpful as a resource for new community members who wished to learn about Brandon's Cosmere in manageable packets of information. I also wanted this to be entertaining for members of the community who were already well established. In this series the World Hopper Aarik writes letters to his acquaintances about the things he has observed as he has traversed the Cosmere. If you want to see it for yourself, follow the link here: 

 

 

Hello! If you want more info about why this exists, I have an explanation. So a couple years back I was first introduced to the Cosmere by a dear friend who handed me a copy of Mistborn. I devoured that book and proceeded to perchance every Brandon Sanderson Book I could. I remember my shock when I first suspected that there were characters and a particular Black Sword that I had seen in other books appearing in the newer stories. I had assumed that these were all just different stories. That was when my friend informed me about the idea of the Cosmere. I was so excited I jumped online and did a quick search for the Forms.

Holy Cow

The amount of information was staggering. It was amazing, but staggering. I remember not knowing where to start or even what questions to ask. I think everyone starts off a little star struck. Hoping to find a good foundation I turned to YouTube. In the past I had researched the Star Wars EU by watching informational videos fans had made for YouTube so I thought there would be Cosmere videos as well. 

There were none.

A few months latter when I staggered from 17th Shard a much wiser man, I started thinking about that first YouTube search. I had an active YouTube account where had started making serious weekly content. I decided that I wanted to make the videos that I had hoped to find when I had first joined. But I didn't want this to just be a boring list of facts, or a review of each book. I wanted to do something with more life and flavor. I wanted these letters to feel like they were a part of the Cosmere.

I worked on the premise for months, crafting and re crafting the idea in my mind and in my notes. I was prepared when Brandon came to town on his recent 2016 Book Signing Tour. Our convention was small, and I was able not only to pitch my idea to Brandon, but we were able to talk about it in length for several hours. At first he was concerned, and who wouldn't be? I was wanting to create something using his intellectual property. However as the discussion continued, I could see the gears turning in his mind. Eventually I must have sold him on the idea because he tanked me for asking him in person and said, "I give you personal permission to make this YouTube series." 

We spent the next several hours having a stop and start conversation about this project. Naturally I was trying not to hog him from the other fans, but playing him in a game of magic helped. He also seemed excited to give me tips. He made several suggestions about paths I could take with the character, but left a lot up to me. I will be sending him a personal detailed report so as to make sure everything checks out, but I got the clear impression that he wanted me to own this project. 

Also, I need to say that this project would be far weaker without the fantastic artists who offered their support for the work. I contacted the artist of each painting that I used and asked their permission to use their work. I will NEVER steal a piece of art, even if it's easy to download. I want to work with the artists and I hope that more artists will be inspired by this project and share their talent with all of us in these Letters. Please make sure you send some love and thankful messages to the amazing artists. They deserve every bit of praise they get.

And that now leads us here. I am so happy that this first episode is available. I have already received encouragement and support from the community members who have found it. I cannot wait to make more of these episodes. I honestly think this will be a series I will be making for years and years to come. I hope that you enjoyed this taste, and that you come back for more. If you are an artist and want to share your work with the world, I would love to work with you.I hope you all enjoy this series. If you have any thoughts I hope you will share them, just remember to be courteous with each other. Obviously I am not Brandon and will get things wrong from time to time. However I will do my best to only say what I know, or try to make it clear that the character is speculating. Hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you around the Cosmere!

 

-TheBlueShifting

 

PS I have had a couple requests to see the text version of the episode. I have decided to post that here on my Forms in 17th Shard. There may be slight deviations, but overall the text is the same. I also reserve the right to edit the content in the future if Brandon points out any changes that need to be made, though I doubt that will happen with this episode. Here you go!

 

I don’t quite know how to start this letter. Lines like dear friends or colleagues seem inconsistent with our perceived “relationship”. Needless to say, I have not decided to abandon our friend’s request that I chronical my travels. My father would be proud to see that after all this time I became a scholar after a fashion. But I suppose I should start with the fundamentals of what I have learned and work my way to the finer aspects. Although my knowledge is limited, I share what I know, and what I suspect to be true. But first, a foundation:

Look around you. Everything you see, the walls of your house, the air you are breathing, even the light entering your eyes are all a part of the Cosmere. It is all that is, all that was, and all that will be. Everything is connected by the forces that shape the universe. Light and Gravity. Investiture and Cognition. Even the souls of men are manifestations of the cosmere itself. In my travels I have gained a unique perspective of what the cosmere is and what it contains. Our inheritance, our birthright, is to explore this vast Cosmere, our home. And in it, to see the divine attributes that shape it. 

When I was first educated by my father, I often contemplated my place in the world. I would look North to the dark peeks that stood just at the edge of sight and wonder what lay beyond them. I look back now and almost laugh at the wide eyed youth who couldn’t imagine a world larger than the town I grew up in. I who have set foot in the shadows of other worlds and cultures across space and time. Although my introduction to the greater cosmere was a feat of happenstance, I find great pleasure in diving the nature of the universe in my own way.

Before I write anything else I need to clarify what the comere is by the simplest definition. There are three major aspects of the Cosmere, these three realms or dimensions shape and in turn are shaped by each other. They are effectively inseparable, Each one with its own rules and capacities. Despair their alien nature, the fundamentals of these realms are fairly straightforward.

First we have the tangible or Physical realm. This is the home of all the peoples of the Cosmere. Three dimensions ruled by gravity and light, physics is the language upon which we understand this dimension. Luckily I was educated in mathematics and physics, a far more useful education than I appreciated at the time. Although the worlds of men and sentient races are separated by vast oceans of distances, these worlds each share the common elements of mathematical proofs and similar ecosystems. Although the tree realms are intertwined, it is unclear if the physical realm is dependent on the other realms to exist. However, it is apparent that the physical world has a dramatic effect on the other two realms, especially in the cognitive realm.

When you step outside, you will find that you are followed by a shadow. Although you are the source of the shadow and it’s movements, the shadow is not a part of you, but a type of warped reflection. The cognitive realm is a shadow of the physical realm. Everything that has a conception, a form, or a name, has a spark of cognition. By naming and defining the objects and forces of our physical world, we give them a life and mind of their own. Most of the time, calling these entities “intelligent” is a stretch of the truth. Each idea starts as a small, simple spark, so fleeting that it is lost in the sea of drifting minds that form the substance of the cognitive realm. Sometimes these ideas can grow, and take a form and intelligence all their own. I have heard tales of creations like the Ceons of Sel which are created as helpers for the Elantrians. I’ve even encountered some advanced cognitive minds that call themselves spren on the Shard world of Roshar. If you were to physically visit the cognitive realm, you would find that what we see as a physical land mass is instead a sea of cognitive thoughts. Traveling through this sea can be tricky, even dangerous to some. In contrast, large bodies of water in the physical world manifest as a solid mass obscuring the minds that dwell below. Distance and time mean little in the cognitive realm, and the thoughts of men are connected across the cosmere. The men and women who world hop use the cognitive realm which bind the various shard worlds together. Those who have learned the secrets of travel by investiture can traverse the cosmere by simply walking.

The Spiritual Realm is the most mysterious of the three realms. In fact, I doubt that there is any being that still interacts with the cognitive and physical realms who truly knows what lies beyond its borders. All that is know is that there is a part of man, an essence of some kind that exists in this realm. What is very strange is that most of the powers and investitures that are used throughout the cosmere are manifestations of the spiritual realm in the physical world. Perhaps the soul forms a conduit for the power between the spiritual realm and the physical and cognitive. I feel that there is no limit to the breath and depth of the spiritual realm, and that mankind has only tapped into a miniscule sliver of the power that resides there.

These three form the trinity of all life in the cosmere. However to separate these into different categories is almost counter intuitive. In order to examine the different aspects of the Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual, we have to label and categorize them as individual places or planes of existence. However it is important to remember that these three occupy the same “space” or area. For instance, if you were to pass from the physical world into the Cognitive world, you would seem to appear in an alien and unstable land of darkness and mist. However in regards to traveling, you would remain in the same location and may find common recognizable landmarks on the other side. This connection is important, however the different realms do not seem to share the laws of physics and time as we understand it.

Having been one of the few to set foot beyond the Physical realm, I have developed a deep appreciation of the complexity, depth, and scope of the universe. With all our study and expansive thought, with the literal power of the Gods in our fingertips, we still know so little about the ways and wisdoms of the cosmere. I am not a scholar, not truly, which you dear reader must find incredibly frustrating. Yet as I look upon the surface of another world, I am compelled to learn all I can.

This shall be the first of many letters I’m sure. Despite my hesitation to agree to this arrangement, I understand the value of the things I have observed and continue to observe. Should I fall prey to the dangers of the cosmere I would hope that I could leave some kind of legacy. Be wary with these letters for there are forces and organizations who seek to stop meddlers like. I find that the more I learn and explore the closer I get to catastrophe. Currently I am returning to the shard world Roshar.  Something is happening there that is sending ripples throughout the cognitive realm. There is a darkness coming and that is something I cannot ignore.

Until the next time,

Aarik

Edited June 20, 2016 by TheBlueShifting

[Landis963]

Aarik is Scadrian, I presume?  Cognitive Realm example is a place of "darkness and mist", the name "Aarik" mimics Earth names in ways that violate the rules of the other shardworlds and minor worlds we've seen (e.g. no Aon, no Vorinist almost-palindromy, no repeated consonant sounds, etc.), mentions of "dark peaks" that could either be ashmounts or the mountain range separating the Elendel Basin from the Roughs, and the clincher: Mistborn fanart all over the video.  (Fanart of the anteverdant period of TFE, WoA, and HoA, no less, which makes me consider that perhaps Aarik was from before the Catacendre).  

[TheBlueShifting]

You are the second person to make this point. I am very excited that you are thinking about this so well. However as far as my character's history and origins, I am ultimatly taking a position of RAFO. 

However there are a couple points that I wish to clarify that you have made. Aarik was my first choice for a name but there are circumstances coming to light that may force me to change his name in the near future. However this is not going to be a big issue due to the the character's background. (Although don't toss aside your points about this, you certainly are on the right track)

Also, the art is actually a coincidence. I only use the works of artists whom I am able to personally contact and seek permission from. I try to keep the pictures topical, but I am limited because I will not use image search copy and paste. I have found that the majority of art that is to be found revolves around the Mistborn series, and these artists are also willing and excited to showcase their art. I only say this because I fear that the art selection is being give far too much influence on the character's nature. Now as time goes forward I hope to have the honor of showcasing more and more art, and then the art selected may be more meaningful.

Otherwise I'm excited to see all that you have noticed, I hope that as this series progresses everyone will be able to piece together my character's backstory. Obviously my hope will be fulfilled because of great observers like you. 

[Landis963]

3 minutes ago, TheBlueShifting said:

You are the second person to make this point.

I use the same username on YouTube as here, so unless someone's brought this up independently of me (in which case I'd like to think they are a rather astute individual), I am the only person to make this point.  

Quote

I am very excited that you are thinking about this so well. However as far as my character's history and origins, I am ultimatly taking a position of RAFO. 

However there are a couple points that I wish to clarify that you have made. Aarik was my first choice for a name but there are circumstances coming to light that may force me to change his name in the near future. However this is not going to be a big issue due to the the character's background. (Although don't toss aside your points about this, you certainly are on the right track)

Also, the art is actually a coincidence. I only use the works of artists whom I am able to personally contact and seek permission from. I try to keep the pictures topical, but I am limited because I will not use image search copy and paste. I have found that the majority of art that is to be found revolves around the Mistborn series, and these artists are also willing and excited to showcase their art. I only say this because I fear that the art selection is being give far too much influence on the character's nature. Now as time goes forward I hope to have the honor of showcasing more and more art, and then the art selected may be more meaningful.

Otherwise I'm excited to see all that you have noticed, I hope that as this series progresses everyone will be able to piece together my character's backstory. Obviously my hope will be fulfilled because of great observers like you. 

Thanks for responding, and of course I understand the position of RAFO.  That will just make me work all the harder to solve the puzzle of our esteemed narrator.  >:)  (Pity about the art, though, I was so certain I'd picked up on some really subtle clue.  Ah well, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar)  

[Argent]

This is an interesting project. I've been thinking about how to tackle the problem with newcommers to the Cosmere being overwhelmed with information, and a structured series of... any kind of media really could work well. I don't know if I can offer you any kind of useful feedback because of how familiar I am with much of the lore, but hopefully you'll get some from others. It's a good contribution to the fandom

[Doc12]

This. This is amazing, good sir!  

[TheBlueShifting]

8 hours ago, Doctor12 said:

This. This is amazing, good sir!  

Thank you! I am super lucky to have permission to make this series, but I do my best to make it as good as possible! I hope you saw the other episodes that have come out, the Hoid episode will most likely come out next Friday!