Personal connections/parallels you’ve made to the Cosmere, of any kind.

[IronMistborn]

Whether in your personal life, real world situations, or even other media, have you made any connections to our favorite Cosmere works? If you can make a solid connection in your mind to something Cosmere (think mind mapping, if you’re familiar with that), tell us! Especially if a particular scene or character spoke particularly loudly and personally to you—we love that stuff, don’t we?
 

Here’s some of my own examples. 
 

Elend Venture and Confidence. 
 

I first read Well of Ascension in 2020, and really enjoyed Elend’s story and arc. A few months after I read it, I found myself going through something similar (minus the deadly threats, fortunately). I was growing at work, with a coworker who sort of took me under his wing and helped me grow. I was horribly insecure at the time, but he raised me up in everything from better learning how to think things through, to understanding our field (cyber security) a bit better, and even drafting well written and professional emails and communications (as well as running meetings with other teammates).
 

Just like Twindyll was doing for Elend. And I grew massively in my confidence, just like Elend did. It’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for this book, even with its detractors, because it did speak to me on a personal level. It’s also why Elend is one of my favorite characters in the Cosmere. 
 

Mistborn and Cyber Security

So I work in cyber security, and as I was reading WOA, I noticed something. 
 

Spoiler

Some background for those not familiar. 
 

The CIA Triad—no, not the government organization—is a founding principle of cyber security, and is what we use every single day in this field. 

It stands for Confidentiality (keeping things secret—such as credit card info and the Coca Cola recipe), Integrity (making sure no unauthorized changes are made to systems or files), and Availability (keeping important systems up and running). 
 

So the major plot twist of WOA, as we know, is that Ruin was secretly modifying any words not written in steel—a direct reference to the Integrity principle of the CIA triad. Neat!

Raboniel and Nicodemus Archleone (Dresden Files)

(Major spoilers for both Rhythm of War and Skin Game of the Dresden Files.)

 

Spoiler

I noticed a very interesting parallel and sharp contrast between Raboniel and Nicodemus.

In Skin Game, we have Harry, Michael, Nicodemus, and his daughter Deirdre making their way to Hades’ vault to rob him. 
 

At one point, they are at a blood gate and must sacrifice someone to pass. Nicodemus, with ZERO hesitation, kills his own daughter. For power. This shocks Harry and Michael, both of whom are fathers (the former having recently John Wicked the entire Red Court to save his daughter). 
 

This is similar, yet a sharp contrast, to Raboniel killing her daughter in ROW. Navani and Harry/Michael are shocked by the respective events, but whereas Nicky did it for power, Raboniel did it out of mercy—not wanting to subject her daughter to the horrible fate of the Fused.

 

Moash and Texas Roadhouse (with the CrowdStrike outage as a guest star)
 

…okay, this one’s goofier, but I’m going to share it anyway lmao. 

Spoilers up through ROW. 
 

Spoiler

The last two times I’ve been to my local Texas Roadhouse restaurant have been on the same day I read a major “Storm Moash” moment.

 

A couple weeks ago? Went the day I read the chapter where Moash kills Teft (fork Moash).

The last time I went to TR before that? In September, the day I read the chapter where he kills Elhokar. 

and just for fun, the last time BEFORE THAT?! 
 

In July, when CrowdStrike had that massive outage and the everything was broken lmao 

 

I swear I don’t plan these; I go with my family…but I do admit I’m scared to think what chapter I’ve read the next time I go.  

 

Iron Maiden and Stormlight Archive. 
 

I mentioned this in my introduction post, but my biggest obsession outside of the Cosmere is the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. 
 

I have and will ALWAYS see the Stormfather as the Eddie the Head depicted on their 2000 Brave New World album, see picture below. (Fantastic album too!)

 

 

so, that’s me. But I want to hear from y’all! All the parallels and personal moments and random silly links you’ve made in your head. 

[Karger he/him]

"Symbol of your ignorance" from Dusk is probably the one that gets me the most.  Lots of opportunities to remember dumb mistakes.

Edited December 25, 2024 by Karger