BrightnessSamantha Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 This is my first post (besides the Introduce Yourself post) that I have done on the 17th Shard. I love coming on here and reading everyone's theories and speculations on the different series and books but I feel so completely overwhelmed that I'm hesitant to join in on any deep discussions. Besides The Stormlight Archives, I haven't re read any of the books yet as I have just recently finished them in the first place. Being a novice of the Cosmere I would love some tips and tricks from those of you who are well versed in the Cosmere. I'd love to join in on some discussions and not look completely ignorant! What are things you look for? Certain words or phrases to take note of? Next up on my list is the second Mistborn trilogy and then I will probably read the other Cosmere novels again. Help me go from 17th Shard stalker to contributor! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calderis Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 Honestly? Try not to worry about it. We all start off feeling overwhelmed. You jump in and learn. Dig into WoBs on Arcanum if that's your thing. Just enjoy the discussion, and when you don't understand something ask, and everyone learns from it. Have fun, and explore. It's the best way to learn. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goody153 Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 Yeah like Calderis said. Just have fun theorycraft, agree with people, add to discussions, argue/disagree with people. Quote Besides The Stormlight Archives, I haven't re read any of the books yet as I have just recently finished them in the first place. Quote Next up on my list is the second Mistborn trilogy and then I will probably read the other Cosmere novels again. Btw i'm confused what you mean. Anyways if you haven't read mistborn original trilogy then avoid any discussion/forums and avoid googling anything related to it cause that series is extremely spoiler-sensitive. One line literally ruins the series for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrightnessSamantha Posted August 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 I guess I did word that funny. I have read the original Mistborn trilogy, Warbreaker, Elantris, and The Stormlight Archives. I have re read the Stormlight Archives because I also have them on Audible. I still need to read the Wax and Wayne series. Which is next after Emperor's Soul. I just finished Elantris and was left feeling unsatisfied and with too many questions that I hope Emperor's Soul can fix for me. I just don't have a mind for theory craft and would love some pointers! I joined this forum to join in on conversations because Brandon Sanderson has quickly become a favorite author of mine and none of my friends have read anything by him, despite my insistence and shoving his books in their faces. (I wonder why I'm still friends with them at this point ) After being on here for a month or so and joining in on some basic discussions like, who is your favorite character, I've come to the conclusion that I need help if I'm to ever join in on anything other than a poll or basic discussion! Thankfully I have the Coppermind to refer too but would like to do some of the leg work myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goody153 Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 34 minutes ago, BrightnessSamantha said: I joined this forum to join in on conversations because Brandon Sanderson has quickly become a favorite author of mine and none of my friends have read anything by him, despite my insistence and shoving his books in their faces. (I wonder why I'm still friends with them at this point ) Ah you see you are not alone in that. I haven't been successful in converting people into the Church of Cosmere yet but i managed to made some of them read Mistborn. We'll get there(grudgingly) Don't worry about discussing or theorycrafting too much. Everybody can be wrong and who says the popular opinion is always the correct one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toaster Retribution Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 2 hours ago, BrightnessSamantha said: I just finished Elantris and was left feeling unsatisfied and with too many questions that I hope Emperor's Soul can fix for me. Not to be that guy, but they are extremely unrelated. There are some Elantris easter eggs there, but probably nothing that will fix your problems with Elantris. As to your major question, read WoBs, check out the Coppermind, ask about stuff you don’t get in the Q&A forum or on Discord. And then, don’t worry if you don’t know everything. I am a pretty bad theorycrafter myself, but there are other ways to contribute to the community :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vissy Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 Don't try to jump in and take it all in at once. Just go for what you think is interesting. And watch out for spoilers, especially if you plan to stick around. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanatos Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 Vissy, I see what you did there. Quote ...watch out for spoilers, especially if you plan to 'stick' around. Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrightnessSamantha Posted August 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 7 hours ago, Toaster Retribution said: Not to be that guy, but they are extremely unrelated. There are some Elantris easter eggs there, but probably nothing that will fix your problems with Elantris. As to your major question, read WoBs, check out the Coppermind, ask about stuff you don’t get in the Q&A forum or on Discord. And then, don’t worry if you don’t know everything. I am a pretty bad theorycrafter myself, but there are other ways to contribute to the community :-) I thought Emperor's Soul was the novella related to Elantris? Does it just take place in the Sel system or am I totally wrong on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johhny_Eastland Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 12 minutes ago, BrightnessSamantha said: I thought Emperor's Soul was the novella related to Elantris? Does it just take place in the Sel system or am I totally wrong on this? They both just take place on Sel and its about 100 years after the events of Elantris. They are not related as far as story content is concerned. Its a short read and its really good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrightnessSamantha Posted August 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 Just now, Johhny_Eastland said: They both just take place on Sel and its about 100 years after the events of Elantris. They are not related as far as story content is concerned. Its a short read and its really good. Well, that's a bit disappointing. Oh well, can't get everything that we want! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johhny_Eastland Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 Just now, BrightnessSamantha said: Well, that's a bit disappointing. Oh well, can't get everything that we want! I thought Elantris was fine but The Emperor's soul is incredibly good. His novella's quality are usually really high. Plus I like the magic system of this novela more that I like the one in Elantris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calderis Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, BrightnessSamantha said: Well, that's a bit disappointing. Oh well, can't get everything that we want! Elantris is my least favorite Cosmere book story wise. I love Hrathen, and the magic, but... Yeah. That said, TES is amazing. Has some very good information on the workings of the three realms, meshed seemlessly into what is just a beautifully constructed short. If there were only one story I could recommend to try to convert people to Sanderson, it would be that one. Edited August 22, 2018 by Calderis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrightnessSamantha Posted August 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 (edited) 28 minutes ago, Calderis said: Elantris is my least favorite Cosmere book story wise. I love Hrathen, and the magic, but... Yeah. That said, TES is amazing. Has some very good information on the workings of the three realms, meshed seemlessly into what is just a beautifully constructed short. If there were only one story I could recommend to try to convert people to Sanderson, it would be that one. Elantris is definitely my least favorite book as well. I agree that Hrathen was probably the only character with any kind of real development and the magic system and world building are the best part of the book. I will still read Emperor's Soul and the other novella's in Arcanum Unbound. I'm just glad Elantris wasn't the first Sanderson book I read as I probably wouldn't have continued with any other novels. At least not for a while. Edited August 22, 2018 by BrightnessSamantha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herowannabe Posted August 22, 2018 Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 @BrightnessSamantha: Contrary to what you're asking and what other people seem to be suggesting, my recommendation is to steer clear of the site (or at the very least avoid the theories forums and other sections that have lots of spoilers) until you have finished reading Brandon's major Cosmere works, which looking at your list means just the Wax and Wayne books + Mistborn: Secret History (make sure you read that one last). Once you've finished Secret History you won't have to worry about any major spoilers and can peruse the forums while reading the other novellas and non-Cosmere novels at your leisure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrightnessSamantha Posted August 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2018 @Herowannabe I have been steering clear of any Mistborn threads or forums and just sticking with SA, Warbreaker, and Elantris for that reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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