Brandon Tweaking Words Of Radiance

[Kelsier Kenobi]

http://brandonsanderson.com/three-stories-in-new-formats/

 

 

This is a pretty big deal if you ask me.  I know BS wasn't happy with how that scene played out, but wow.  The High Storm killing Szeth?

Edited March 6, 2015 by Kelsier Kenobi

[Argent he/him]

Yeah, it's a little weird. I trust him enough to believe this will work better in the long run.

[18th Shard he/him]

Noticed this bit:

 

...as it’s an important plot point for the series that dead Shardblades cannot heal the soul, while living ones can.

The wording here really struck me.

[hoser he/him]

Thanks Kelsier, +1!

 

Sure, go ahead and change it.  The new ending sounds like it might be annoying plotting, but I can't tell w/out reading it. 

 

But I bought the book.  Give me the new ending, please.  Actually, I'll probably buy the ebook anyway, so never mind me.

 

As for 18th Shard's point, does that mean that Jezrien's Honorblade counts as a dead Shardblade?  That would explain why Szeth thinks that he can't heal Shard-severed limbs, while Kaladin can. 

 

Further, I guess that means that we will have Shard-severed limbs, the healing or lack of which will be vital to future plots. 

Edited March 6, 2015 by hoser

[soulcastJam he/him]

I'm also interested about the shardblades.  His wording makes it a little ambiguous.  I think he means that you cannot be healed from a wound inflicted by a dead shardblade but you can be healed from one inflicted by a living blade.  But his wording suggests that the living shardblades actually have spiritually healing properties.  Anyone else wondering about this?

 

it’s an important plot point for the series that dead Shardblades cannot heal the soul, while living ones can.

 

Edited March 6, 2015 by soulcastJam

[ccstat he/him]

Yes, though I'm interested to see how it actually plays out. Given his abilities, Szeth being killed by the storm smells slightly off suicide, an action forbidden to him and one he has avoided in the past.

On a separate note, Brandon's explanation surprised me because this is not the message I took from that final sequence, and I don't think I've seen it postulated here on the forums either.

The question this raises is about Szeth being stabbed by a Shardblade, then being resuscitated. I’m sad to lose this sequence, as it’s an important plot point for the series that dead Shardblades cannot heal the soul, while living ones can.

Edit: double ninja'd! Obviously we're all thinking the same thing.

Edited March 6, 2015 by ccstat

[WeiryWriter he/him]

For those interested here are all the changes made in the new edition:
 

Hardcover: PAGE 19
Revised word document: PAGE 12
Current:

• She took it as the rebuke it was, and found herself blushing. Even her mother Navani could not do that to her.

Replacement:

• She took it as the rebuke it was, and found herself blushing. Even her mother, Navani, could not do that to her.

Hardcover: PAGE 84
Revised word document: PAGE 104
Current:

• “Toward victory and, at long last, vengeance.”

Replacement:

• “On victory and, at long last, vengeance.”

Hardcover: PAGE 99
Revised word document: PAGE 126
Current:

• We start with some of the lesser Shardbearers and work up.”

Replacement:

• We start with some of the lesser Shardbearers and work up to him.”

Hardcover: PAGE 136
Revised word document: PAGE 181
Current:

• Father carried Shallan over the body of a woman in white. Little blood there.

Replacement:

• Father carried Shallan over the body of a woman in blue and gold. Little blood there.

Hardcover: PAGE 147
Revised word document: PAGE 196
Current:

• The other spheres were still there, but the the sleeve was unbuttoned.

Replacement:

• The other spheres were still there, but the sleeve was unbuttoned.

Hardcover: PAGE 367
Revised word document: PAGE 512
Current:

• If she knew that, it might tell her how her own princedom was fairing.

Replacement:

• If she knew that, it might tell her how her own princedom was faring.

Hardcover: PAGE 397
Revised word document: PAGE 556
Current:

• I SUPPOSE THIS MUST BE, the Stormfather said.

Replacement:

• I SUPPOSE THIS MUST BE, the Rider of Storms said.

Hardcover: PAGE 397
Revised word document: PAGE 556
Current:

• I CANNOT STOP THIS, the Stormfather said. I WOULD

Replacement:

• I CANNOT STOP THIS, the Rider of Storms said. I WOULD

Hardcover: PAGE 517
Revised word document: PAGE 727
Current:

• The terms were for an exchange of goods, Father trading some of his breechtree cotton and raw shum to Revilar in exchange for a small payment

Replacement:

• The terms were for an exchange of goods, Father trading some of his breachtree cotton and raw shum to Revilar in exchange for a small payment

Hardcover: PAGE 608
Revised word document: PAGE 857/858
Current:

• Even walking on her tiptoes—which was masked by the illusion—she was much shorter than the highprince.

Replacement:

• Even walking on her tiptoes—which was masked by the illusion—she was much shorter than the highlord.

Hardcover: PAGE 647
Revised word document: PAGE 915
Current:

• Blasted spren, Kaladin thought, walking up bedside Shallan and Adolin.

Replacement:

• Blasted spren, Kaladin thought, walking up beside Shallan and Adolin

Hardcover: PAGE 690
Revised word document: PAGE 977
Current:

• Gawk slunk around the corner.

Replacement:

• Gawx slunk around the corner.

Hardcover: PAGE 788
Revised word document: PAGE 1113
Current:

• “And then the storm would come,” Dalinar replied softly. Twelve days.

Replacement:

• “And then the storm would come,” Dalinar replied softly. Eleven days.

Hardcover: PAGE 955
Revised word document: PAGE 1355
Current:

• After no attack had come that night, Dalinar had pushed the three armies into another day of marching.

Replacement:

• After no attack had come that night, Dalinar had pushed the four armies into another day of marching.

Hardcover: PAGE 992
Revised word document: PAGE 1410
Current:

• Had they recovered Teleb’s Shards?

Replacement:

• Had they recovered Teleb’s Plate and the King’s Blade he was wielding?

Hardcover: PAGE 1003
Revised word document: PAGE 1424
Current:

• General Khal’s som wore his own Plate and bore Teleb’s Blade, which he’d blessedly recovered from the corpse after the other man had fallen.

Replacement:

• General Khal’s son wore his own Plate and bore the King’s Blade that he’d blessedly recovered from Teleb’s corpse after the other man had fallen.

Hardcover: PAGE 1009
Revised word document: PAGE 1433
Current:

• Two storms coming, one from each direction. They will crash into each other right here.”

Replacement:

• Two storms coming, one from each direction. They will crash into one another right here.”

Hardcover: PAGE 1009
Revised word document: PAGE 1433
Current:

• “They will feed each other,” Pattern said.

Replacement:

• “They will feed one another,” Pattern said.

Hardcover: PAGE 1041
Revised word document: PAGE 1478 / 1479
Current:

• Szeth did not parry. He just closed his eyes.
• Kaladin drove his Blade into the assassin’s chest right below the neck, severing the spine. Smoke burned out from beneath his eyelids, and his Blade slipped from his fingers. It did not vanish.
• Get that! Syl sent him, a mental shout. Grab it, Kaladin. Don’t lose it!
• Kaladin dove after the Blade, dropping Szeth’s corpse, letting it fall backward into the stormwall. It vanished among the wind, the rain, and the lightning, trailing faint wisps of Stormlight.
• Kaladin grabbed the Blade just before the storm consumed it. Then he Lashed himself back upward, passing along the stormwall, the windspren he’d attracted spiraling about him and laughing with pure joy. As he crested the top of the storm, they burst around him and zipped away, moving off to dance in front of the still-advancing storm.

Replacement:

• Szeth did not parry. He just closed his eyes to accept the attack.
• In that instant, for reasons he could not have articulated—pity, perhaps?— Kaladin diverted his blow, driving the Blade through Szeth’s wrist. The skin greyed. Flashing with reflected lightning, the sword tumbled from the assassin’s fingers, then dulled as it plummeted.
• The glow fled the assassin’s form. All his Stormlight vanished in a puff, all Lashings banished.
• Szeth started to fall.
• Get that sword! Syl sent to Kaladin, a mental shout. Grab it.
• “The assassin!”
• He has released the bond. He’s nothing without that sword! It must not be lost! Kaladin dove after the Blade, passing Szeth, who tumbled through the air like a rag doll, buffeted by winds toward the stormwall.
• Kaladin furiously Lashed himself downward, snatching the Blade just before the storm consumed it. Nearby, the assassin dropped past him into the storm and was swallowed up, leaving Kaladin with the haunting image of Szeth’s limp silhouette being driven into a plateau below with all the tempest’s force.
• Raising the assassin’s Blade, Kaladin Lashed himself back upward, passing along the stormwall, the windspren he’d attracted spiraling about him and laughing with pure joy. As he crested the top of the storm, they burst around him and zipped away, moving off to dance in front of the still advancing storm.

Hardcover: PAGE 1042
Revised word document: PAGE 1479
Current:

• “That was very nicely done,” she said. “Perhaps I’ll keep you around this time.”

Replacement:

• “I didn’t kill him,” Kaladin said.
• “Did you want to?”
• “No,” Kaladin said, surprised that it was the truth. “But I should have anyway.”
• “You have his Blade,” she replied. “The Stormfather likely took him. And if not … well, he is no longer the weapon he once was. I must say, that was very nicely done. Perhaps I’ll keep you around this time.”

Hardcover: PAGE 1043
Revised word document: PAGE 1481 / 1482
Current:

• “This is going to happen again?” Kaladin said. “That other storm is still out there?”
• “Yes,” Syl said, sitting on his shoulder. “A new storm. It’s not of us, but of him.”
• “Will it be this bad every time it passes?” Kaladin asked, surveying the wreckage. Of the plateaus he could see, only the one had been destroyed completely. But if the storm could do that to pure rock, what would it do to a city? Particularly since it blew the wrong way.

Replacement:

• He found no sign of Szeth’s corpse. That could mean the man had survived somehow, or it could just mean the storm had buried the body in rubble or blown it away, leaving it in some forgotten chasm to rot until the bones were finally picked over by an unfortunate salvage crew.
• For now, the fact that Szeth had not summoned his Blade back to him was enough. Either he was dead, or—as Syl had said—the strange weapon was no longer bound to him. Kaladin didn’t know how to tell. This Shardblade had no gemstone at the pommel to indicate.
• Kaladin stopped at a high point of the plateau and surveyed the wreckage. Then he glanced toward Syl, who sat on his shoulder. “This is going to happen again?” he said. “That other storm is still out there?”
• “Yes,” Syl said, “A new storm. It’s not of us, but of him.”
• “Will it be this bad every time it passes?” Of the plateaus he could see, only the one had been destroyed completely. But if the storm could do that to pure rock, what would it do to a city? Particularly since it blew the wrong way.

Hardcover: PAGE 1045
Revised word document: PAGE 1485
Current:

• “He is dead, then?” Teft asked.
• “Yes.”
• “You slew the Assassin in White,” Bisig breathed.

Replacement:

• “He is dead, then?” Teft asked.
• “Near enough.”
• “You defeated the Assassin in White,” Bisig breathed.

Hardcover: PAGE 1058
Revised word document: PAGE 1503
Current:

• Adolin had left a Stormlight lantern for her that was extravagant, considering how few lit gemstones they had—and it showed a small square chamber with a stone bench in the corner.

Replacement:

• Adolin had left a Stormlight lantern for her—that was extravagant, considering how few lit gemstones they had—and it showed a small square chamber with a stone bench in the corner.

Hardcover: PAGE 1062
Revised word document: PAGE 1510
Current:

• “Why am I not dead?” he whispered. “The Shardblade pierced me. I fell. Why didn’t I die?”

Replacement:

• “Why am I not dead?” he whispered. “I released my bond to the Shardblade. I fell into the storm without Lashings. Why didn’t I die?”

Hardcover: PAGE 1062
Revised word document: PAGE 1510 / 1511
Current:

• “Not if it is done before the brain dies. Like a drowned man restored to life with the proper ministrations, you could be restored with the right fabrial. If I had waited seconds longer, of course, it would have been too late.”

Replacement:

• “Not if it is done before the brain dies. Like a drowned man restored to life with the proper ministrations, you could be restored with the right Surgebinding. If I had waited seconds longer, of course, it would have been too late. But surely you know this. Two of the Blades held by your people allow Regrowth. I suspect you have already seen the newly dead restored to life.”

Hardcover: PAGE 1064
Revised word document: PAGE 1513
Current:

• Still kneeling, Szeth looked up after the man. “My people have the other Honorblades, and have kept them safe for millennia.

Replacement:

• Still kneeling, Szeth looked up after the man. “You are right. My people have the other Honorblades, and have kept them safe for millennia.

Hardcover: PAGE 1064
Revised word document: PAGE 1513
Current:

• “I have brought a Shardblade for you.

Replacement:

• “I have brought a replacement Shardblade for you.

 

Edit: Updated it with the final missing change.

Edited June 23, 2015 by WeiryWriter

[soulcastJam he/him]

OK.  That didn't really answer my question about what Brandon said about living/dead shardblades.  L'sigh.

[Kelek's Breath he/him]

I actually don't mind that Kaladin doesn't kill him. It shows both Kaladin's honor and Szeth's and it will actually set up for a better "reunion" when they meet further down in the series fighting Odium's armies.

 

One question: does having his wrist slashed by a shardblade count as severing Szeth's bond to the Honorblade? Is it bonded to the entire person or just the hand?

 

Also, Kaladin healed himself from Szeth's strike the first time they met, so the living/dead shardblade question can be ansewred both ways. But, Syl hadn't manifested as a shardblade yet, so maybe/possibly it's wounds made by a living shardblade can be healed?

Edited March 6, 2015 by Kelek's Breath

[Argent he/him]

One question: does having his wrist slashed by a shardblade count as severing Szeth's bond to the Honorblade? Is it bonded to the entire person or just the hand?

 

I doubt it's the latter - I feel like I've read about Shardbearers summoning their Blade with either hand. It would be weird if it bonded to the hand only anyway.

 

No, the way I interpret the whole thing is that as a Surgebinder, your ability to heal comes from your spren - who is also your Shardblade, once you progress far enough. So if you have a living Shardblade, you are "Radiant enough" to be able to heal yourself from Blade-inflicted wounds, you can heal your soul. Szeth couldn't do that - the Honorblade he wielded gave him the ability to Surgebind, and also allowed him some basic healing, but something as advanced as restoring his Spiritweb, it couldn't do. 

[WeiryWriter he/him]

One question: does having his wrist slashed by a shardblade count as severing Szeth's bond to the Honorblade? Is it bonded to the entire person or just the hand?

 

In this case we really can't say, since Szeth willing released the Bond.

[Left he/him]

 

No, the way I interpret the whole thing is that as a Surgebinder, your ability to heal comes from your spren - who is also your Shardblade, once you progress far enough. So if you have a living Shardblade, you are "Radiant enough" to be able to heal yourself from Blade-inflicted wounds, you can heal your soul. Szeth couldn't do that - the Honorblade he wielded gave him the ability to Surgebind, and also allowed him some basic healing, but something as advanced as restoring his Spiritweb, it couldn't do.

 

I really like that explanation and seems the most reasonable. I'm really kind of scared about this move though, I mean that's a big difference for Kaladin/Syl as a character duo and for people who read the original but don't follow the blog, which I'm going to assume is a large number of people, could potentially be quite confusing.

[CHOUTAGOD he/him]

I support the Creator in this change. I personally dont much like it, but its his Cosmere after all. We all make decisions we regret later. If the oppurtunity to fix it comes along why not fix it. Cleans the body and soul and.... whatever else you want to clean I guess. A windshield maybe?

[Blaze1616 he/him]

Though I am happy with the changes made, particularly because now we don't know exactly if Szeth truly died or not (and therefore brandon doesn't revive 2 dead characters in the same book), and Kaladin killing Szeth had always bothered me, I'm a little upset. I was looking forward to Kaladin having to deal with the fact that he slaughtered Szeth in a fit of rage. Now he didn't...

 

Edit: Also, why the two changes of "Stormfather" to "Rider of the Storms?" Is Brandon specifically wanting to distance the Stormfather from spren? This also solidifies Kaladin's vision as taking place from the Stormfather's perspective, at least to me...

Edited March 6, 2015 by Blaze1616

[dvoraen]

Wouldn't that change for what Nale says to Szeth about restoration imply that Nale has the Truthwatcher or Edgedancer Honorblade?

 

Peter, you got some explaining to do on why it changed from fabrial.

[Zea mays]

I really like that explanation and seems the most reasonable. I'm really kind of scared about this move though, I mean that's a big difference for Kaladin/Syl as a character duo and for people who read the original but don't follow the blog, which I'm going to assume is a large number of people, could potentially be quite confusing.

They should probably include a note about this in the beginning of book 3.

 

I find myself agreeing with this change also. It fits Kaladin's character better and makes Szeth's 'resurrection' less egregious.

[WeiryWriter he/him]

Edit: Also, why the two changes of "Stormfather" to "Rider of the Storms?" Is Brandon specifically wanting to distance the Stormfather from spren? This also solidifies Kaladin's vision as taking place from the Stormfather's perspective, at least to me...

 

This I think has to do with the fact that it's in Eshonai's POV and the listeners call the Stormfather the Rider of Storms.

[Blaze1616 he/him]

This I think has to do with the fact that it's in Eshonai's POV and the listeners call the Stormfather the Rider of Storms.

 

Ah. That explains it. Thanks.

[HK-42]

I really like that explanation and seems the most reasonable. I'm really kind of scared about this move though, I mean that's a big difference for Kaladin/Syl as a character duo and for people who read the original but don't follow the blog, which I'm going to assume is a large number of people, could potentially be quite confusing.

 

Maybe Brandon will add in a forward or something after the ending of the next book that explains the change to readers who don't read the blog. 

[king of nowhere]

Well, I can see why brandon would like that more.

Still, I am worried that it  could be confusing to people who don't follow the blog. if they have the book saying kaladin killed szeth, and then in book 3 it will be referenced that kaladin did not kill, then what will they think?

 

Also, I can't get out of my head the alternate scene

• Szeth did not parry. He just closed his eyes to accept the attack.
• In that instant, for reasons he could not have articulated—pity, perhaps?— Kaladin diverted his blow, driving the Blade through Szeth’s wrist. The skin greyed. Flashing with reflected lightning, the sword tumbled from the assassin’s fingers, then dulled as it plummeted.
• Then, before he could think, kaladin said "Luke, I am your father". Huh, I wonder what was that about?

[Moogle]

Wouldn't that change for what Nale says to Szeth about restoration imply that Nale has the Truthwatcher or Edgedancer Honorblade?

 

Peter, you got some explaining to do on why it changed from fabrial.

 

I imagine it was still a fabrial. Nalan puts away something glowing into a pocket after reviving Szeth. I would be highly surprised if it were not a Regrowth fabrial, given we know those exist from WoK.

 

As to the changes: good. I'm glad Kaladin didn't kill him. Szeth was surrendering and giving up. Brandon has previously said this irked him. I don't like retcons in general, but this is fine.

[Blaze1616 he/him]

Also, I can't get out of my head the alternate scene

• Szeth did not parry. He just closed his eyes to accept the attack.
• In that instant, for reasons he could not have articulated—pity, perhaps?— Kaladin diverted his blow, driving the Blade through Szeth’s wrist. The skin greyed. Flashing with reflected lightning, the sword tumbled from the assassin’s fingers, then dulled as it plummeted.
• Then, before he could think, kaladin said "Luke, I am your father". Huh, I wonder what was that about?

 

Although this is a great alternate scene, I'm going to be that guy and tell you that what you've quoted is not Vader's line...

 

To contribute to the topic at hand though, Changing the "fabrial" to "Surgebinding" makes the scene more confusing if Nalan still used a Regrowth fabrial.

[dvoraen]

I imagine it was still a fabrial. Nalan puts away something glowing into a pocket after reviving Szeth. I would be highly surprised if it were not a Regrowth fabrial, given we know those exist from WoK.

 

As to the changes: good. I'm glad Kaladin didn't kill him. Szeth was surrendering and giving up. Brandon has previously said this irked him. I don't like retcons in general, but this is fine.

Sure, but why change the wording from fabrial when we (as readers) already know, and can infer that Regrowth fabrials exist?  Saying 'the right Surgebinding' would suggest that the method Nale used was the actual power (presumably via an Honorblade) rather than what he tucked away.  While there are fabrials that, strictly speaking, can duplicate Surgebinding, the change doesn't make it clear what the source of this particular use Surgebinding was, and arguably obfuscates matters more.  I just don't see the point of the change when the previous text was rather clear about how Szeth was healed, I guess.

Edited March 6, 2015 by dvoraen

[The Rooster he/him]

I think the change is better.

It's really weird that it was changed tho. If this forum weren't so PC I'd say it is Copulated-up to change it. But whatever I can hang. Hopefully with a more reasonable amount of time to crank out the future books this will not happen again.

Will the audiobooks be changed?

Edited March 6, 2015 by The Rooster

[Green Hoodie Mistborn he/him]

 

Well, I can see why brandon would like that more.

Still, I am worried that it  could be confusing to people who don't follow the blog. if they have the book saying kaladin killed szeth, and then in book 3 it will be referenced that kaladin did not kill, then what will they think?

 

Also, I can't get out of my head the alternate scene

• Szeth did not parry. He just closed his eyes to accept the attack.
• In that instant, for reasons he could not have articulated—pity, perhaps?— Kaladin diverted his blow, driving the Blade through Szeth’s wrist. The skin greyed. Flashing with reflected lightning, the sword tumbled from the assassin’s fingers, then dulled as it plummeted.
• Then, before he could think, kaladin said "Luke, I am your father". Huh, I wonder what was that about?

 

 

• Szeth did not parry. He just closed his eyes to accept the attack.
• In that instant, for reasons he could not have articulated—pity, perhaps?— Kaladin diverted his blow, driving the Blade through Szeth’s wrist. The skin greyed. Flashing with reflected lightning, the sword tumbled from the assassin’s fingers, then dulled as it plummeted.
• "Well done Kaladin," Syl said, "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Szeth can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of Roshar. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, your pity may rule the fate of many - your own not least."

That's all I could think of when I saw the word "pity" in the changed section. 

 

I do like this better for Kaladin at least, after all the growth he has done in his book especially from his vengeance against Amaram to saving the king. It may be confusing, and now I have to buy to versions, but still... better for the character of Kaladin. 

Edited March 6, 2015 by Green Hoodie Mistborn