relative newcomer to this site

[Terrisman]

As a avid reader of everything sanderson, ive picked up quite a few of the hidden secrets and connections between the different books. however ive just gotten on this site for the first time in years and im beginning to understand just how much ive missed. any suggestions about where to start picking up all the background? 

[Treamayne]

Welcome to the Shard. Your Intro Post does not say what you have or have not read (whichever list is shorter), so please let us know so that spoilers can be avoided (as necessary). Please see the Sharder FAQ if you need help editing that post or would like other helpful forums tips and information.  

1 hour ago, Terrisman said:

As a avid reader of everything sanderson, ive picked up quite a few of the hidden secrets and connections between the different books. however ive just gotten on this site for the first time in years and im beginning to understand just how much ive missed. any suggestions about where to start picking up all the background? 

Part of this answer is how you prefer to learn or process information (most of these references also have more information and tips in the Sharder FAQ).
Some examples:

• Use the Coppermind to read Articles on specific areas of interest (since the Coppermind will reference relevant Words of Brandon (WoB) and other sources)
  • Be sure to turn on the Time Machine if you need to set the article dates to a point before a book you have not read (such as before TLM or WaT)
• Use the Arcanum to read Words of Brandon, since you can use Tags to read all WoBs with a specific Tag (and fall down the rabbit-hole of linking from one set of tags to another)
  • This is how I started down learning as much as possible a number of years ago - back when WoR was new and I realised Zahel = Vasher. I read every #Vasher tagged WoB, which led to all #Nightblood tags, which led to . . . you get the point. 
• Use the Github (Discussed in this thread) and/or Roshar Interactive Map (Visual Learners)
  • They take some practice, but can be a great tool for putting things together. There are a lot of features and filters to turn off and on
• Just read here in the forums. The Search for the forums is very robust. So if you want , for example, to explore what others have said about Bond Theory you can do something like:
  • Search for Nahel Luhel Bond, set the "use all terms" and limit the search to Cosmere Q&A and Cosmere Discussion (knowing which forum will have which kind of threads is necessary to really make this work - see below) and read through some of the threads that are found.

And, if none of those are appealing, just dive in and participate in threads that interest you, or start a new thread (hopefully in the correct forum). 

Forum Topics: Fortunately each forum, on the main page, has a description telling you what kind of threads can be found inside (and where you should post certain types of threads) Examples:

Spoiler

Quote

The Coppermind Wiki

Talk about our wiki here! (Note: do not use for general Cosmere Q&A, we have a separate board for that!)

Quote

Cosmere Discussion

Post discussion for the cosmere at large, Shards, Hoid, or general Arcanum Unbounded content here. All spoilers are allowed, except for upcoming releases/new releases, which have their own forums for discussion. Use book forums if your post only relates to a single series. 

Quote

Cosmere Q&A

New to the cosmere and want to know more? Have intensely deep questions and want cosmere experts to answer them? Here you can ask anything you desire! Spoilers are allowed, except for upcoming/new releases. 

 

Hope that helps

Edited January 20, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Through the Living Shadow he/him]

There is also a thread - I’ll edit this post and add it, called Cosmere 101.

May have a few minor spoilers, but explains the background mechanics that haven’t been explained yet within the books.

Here:

 

Edited February 9, 2025 by SpiritOfWrath