Difference between Truthless and Those Who Subtract

[Nitpicking]

At the Steelheart release party (Orem, UT), Brandon said:

 

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Questioner

When we get to the [interlude] in The Way of Kings, where we see the Shinovar merchant, he talks about his guards being different from Truthless. What makes the distinction?

Brandon Sanderson

You will find that out in Book 3 which has Szeth’s flashback sequences and show him becoming Truthless.

Footnote: Brandon decided to have Dalinar's flashbacks in Book 3 instead, so this question will likely now be answered in Book 5.

Did he specifically answer that question in WaT? I mean, he clarified both separately, but I don't remember a specific comparison. However, I (to be honest) skimmed the second half of the Shinovar odyssey thing. It was just ... not interesting to me. I could have missed it.

[sylphagayna she/her]

truthless is a social class given to the people who betrayed shinovar, i think. 'those who subtract' are looked down upon heavily, but they're still doing a service for their country. truthless are practically slaves, szeth was made one for betraying ishar

[alder24]

23 hours ago, Nitpicking said:

At the Steelheart release party (Orem, UT), Brandon said:

 

Did he specifically answer that question in WaT? I mean, he clarified both separately, but I don't remember a specific comparison. However, I (to be honest) skimmed the second half of the Shinovar odyssey thing. It was just ... not interesting to me. I could have missed it.

Yes, he did gradually in Szeth's flashbacks. Shins know the Truth, which is that Aharietiem was a lie and a new Desolation will one day come when Taln breaks. Because of this they are preparing for the coming of the True Desolation, they are training with Surges and Honorblades and they have a whole class of people dedicated only to fighting - those who subtract. They fight to protect Roshar when the time comes. Truthless is a title given to someone who betrayed the Truth, or falsely announced the arrival of the True Desolation.

Young Szeth mistook Ishar for an Unmade and said that the True Desolation had finally come. He and other Shins believe that Unmades, just like Fused and Voidspren, are on Braize in between Desolations and thus the presence of an Unmade in Shinovar means that Taln broke and soon a Desolation would start. He was wrong as Shins didn't know that Unmades were slumbering on Roshar in between Desolation and that it was Ishar corrupted by Odium's power whom he met, not an Unmade. Szeth announced the start of the True Desolation, raised an army and started a civil war in Shinovar trying to fight other Honorbearers, believing they are under an Unmade control and those are the reason he was given the title of the Truthless. He betrayed the Truth, announced the start of a Desolation and started a war in Shinovar. This is vastly different from a person who just subtracts.

In the end, the True Desolation actually came but not for the reasons Szeth saw. He was wrong but right at the same time.