About Wind and Truth Cover and the work of Michael Whelan

[AlastorBM He]

Hello, everyone! What a beautiful cover we have.

I just want to share a little bit of the details I've been seeing on the cover. Let's remember that these covers are not canonical, but it is worth taking a look at the small details.

 

We have a good shot of Dalinar looking towards the horizon, on a platform surrounded by infused spheres, doesn't seem to be Urithiru. Dalinar undoubtedly holds a copy of the Way of Kings and curiously it looks very similar to its real version in leather cover. 

We have nine infused spheres, covering one. The ones that are missing in my opinion are Smokestone and Diamond, which represent the orders of Edgedancers and Skyebreakers.

In the lower left corner we have a rock covered with symbols? At the moment it doesn't sound like anything to me,

We can see what appears to be the Everstorm swirling, creating circles of clouds that almost cover the entire sky.

It is a somewhat simple analysis, more oriented towards practical details, but I would like to know what else you can see.

 

Finally, I love the work of Michael Whelan, all his covers are fascinating, colorful, epic. They bring Roshar to life every time I see them. 
From what I have been able to read, it is possible that this is his last work for Stormlight Archive and perhaps of his career, he has already been involved in these projects for many years and is almost retired. But who knows, hopefully it will bring us some good surprises.

 

Feel free to give your opinions and if I find more details I will add them!

 

Edit: Here are the image references 

https://reactormag.com/revealing-the-cover-of-wind-and-truth-the-fifth-book-in-brandon-sandersons-stormlight-archive/

https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/blogs/the-cognitive-realm/wind-and-truth-cover-reveal-stormlight-archive

 

Here is a sample of the cover

 

Edited August 29, 2024 by AlastorBM

[basement_boi he/him]

The copy of TWoK he’s holding I think was meant to be an Easter egg for the real-world leatherbound. 

I don’t know how I didn’t notice the giant bolts of red lightning before, but it’s definitely the Everstorm.

I definitely agree that it doesn’t seem like Urithiru. If it was it would have to be a balcony of some sort because of the top of the tower is that small, then we’re due for an either very interesting or very disappointing battle of champions. Regarding the polestones, I don’t necessarily know if there’s a significance to which polestones are missing. People keep saying there’s nine, but I don’t think it’s a bad assumption at all to say that there would be another stone either behind the rocks in the front left corner or outside of the cover on the right side.

And the American covers of the Stormlight Archive are absolutely incredible. Definitely the best Brandon covers, the Mistborn ones are either not very artistic or too cartoony IMHO. They are a huge part of the books for me and even if they aren’t canonical, they definitely provide at least a small bit of information that I use to visualize the characters, scenes and background.

[+Child of Hodor]

I think it has to be the top of Urithiru as they are meeting for the contest. Either Navani put the gems up there for a reason or it’s an artistic license thing. 

It looks smaller than I imagine it being but this doesn’t have to be one to one accurate. 

Definitely the everstorm overhead. Really wish we could see the back cover. 
 

[The Stick]

I think that that is the top of Urithiru. I would think that the 9 gemstones, if there are nine, are for the 9 Unmade as perfect stones. In my view, their distribution makes me think it is the top of Urithiru. They all seem heavily weighted to once side, which makes sense if the other side is cut off. 

[LewsTherinTelescope]

26 minutes ago, The Stick said:

I think that that is the top of Urithiru. I would think that the 9 gemstones, if there are nine, are for the 9 Unmade as perfect stones. In my view, their distribution makes me think it is the top of Urithiru. They all seem heavily weighted to once side, which makes sense if the other side is cut off. 

The audiobook cover actually has a lot more (14, with space still left offscreen that could hold several others):

 

3 hours ago, AlastorBM said:

We have a good shot of Dalinar looking towards the horizon, on a platform surrounded by infused spheres, doesn't seem to be Urithiru.

2 hours ago, basement_boi said:

I definitely agree that it doesn’t seem like Urithiru. If it was it would have to be a balcony of some sort because of the top of the tower is that small, then we’re due for an either very interesting or very disappointing battle of champions.

It's the top of Urithiru, this article includes the pitch Isaac and Brandon gave Michael and Tor:

Spoiler

Dalinar stands on the top of the tower of Urithiru looking west toward the oncoming Everstorm. In his hand is a copy of The Way of Kings. Below, in the distance, and around him are snowcapped mountains. The sweeping view of these mountains and the oncoming Everstorm takes up most of the sky.

Presumably there's heavy artistic license involved, because in Oathbringer ch. 4 we're told it's over a hundred yards wide:

Spoiler

Although each tier was smaller than the one below it, this roof was still over a hundred yards wide. It was cold up here, but someone had set up braziers for warmth and torches for light. The night was strikingly clear, and high above, starspren swirled and made distant patterns.

Edited August 30, 2024 by LewsTherinTelescope
link audiobook cover source

[Gilly]

Here is the full cover from Michael's page:
Wind and Truth Art Unveiled (substack.com)

 

Edited September 1, 2024 by Gilly

[Gilly]

Here is the text for the prompt from his site as well:

[Forts Board]

"He must pick it up! The Tower, the Crown!"

That's the Forts Board Bad Paraphrase Version. 

Poor Kal, being a king is gonna suck for him. 

 

Edited September 2, 2024 by Forts Board