Original Ending to Way of Kings?

[Phantom Monstrosity]

A couple years back, Peter was hinting that The Way of Kings was supposed to end with a totally unfair betrayal at the end of the book.

 

 

http://twg.17thshard.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=50fa8e16aa4c727b689ed3c3b40cbfd0&topic=4479.705
Way of Kings (or the Oathshards series) is quite ambitious, and very epic—Brandon means to write it to become a classic of fantasy. But it can't be all things to all people and while most of Brandon's fans will like it, I'm not sure all of them will. He means it to be taken seriously. Oh, sure, it has fun parts, but it's not the fun that's meant to make it enjoyable. Warbreaker was meant to be fun. Mistborn was meant to be a cool good read. The Oathshards series is meant to be a classic. Bad things happen to good people and you don't find out why until the end of the series. I'm not talking George R. R. Martin brutality or anything like that, but injustice and an ending to the first book that is just plain not fair. You are meant to love these characters and hurt for them when their life sucks. Brandon wrote Mistborn (first 2 books) purposely not having anyone betray their friends. The Oathshards is founded on betrayal; it's right there in the name. And there's a bunch of magic and stuff...

 

While there's Dalinar misinterpreting the Almighty (and trusting his fellow highprince), I don't really feel like the ending really fits the description Peter gave.  Does anyone know what the original ending was supposed to be like?  Was Dalinar supposed to die in the first draft, instead of being saved by Kaladin?

Edited May 22, 2013 by Phantom Monstrosity

[Meg]

A couple years back, Peter was hinting that The Way of Kings was supposed to end with a totally unfair betrayal at the end of the book.

 

 

 

While there's Dalinar misinterpreting the Almighty (and trusting his fellow highprince), I don't really feel like the ending really fits the description Peter gave.  Does anyone know what the original ending was supposed to be like?  Was Dalinar supposed to die in the first draft, instead of being saved by Kaladin?

 

I don't have an answer but want to note -- though you surely know this -- that formerly Kaladin('s life) should go the exact other way than it is now. He was supposed to take that Shards he won (source). That might, too, have changed Dalinar's history? 

[PeterAhlstrom he/him]

Mmmmmmm I think I was just talking about Dalinar/Sadeas and what did end up happening. I think I knew about that by that date. But it's also possible I was talking about the end of Way of Kings Prime, which was vastly different and what I would have been talking about involved different characters (though they are ones you have seen),

[Phantom Monstrosity]

Ah, cool. 

 

I vaguely remember reading something about WoK' being released once it was no longer spoileriffic, or after book 10... I can't find the info anymore.  Is that actually planned, or is it just a rumor?  Having an Alternate Universe book written by the same author would be pretty cool... actually, hmm... if it wasn't spoilery, would you guys consider releasing it in the Stormlight Drought (aka: the Weeping of Fans) between books five and six? 

[PeterAhlstrom he/him]

There's no way that Way of Kings Prime can be released for many years. It has aspects that won't make it into the series for many books yet. There might be a few small parts we can release sooner, as we did for the Jeksonsonvallano introduction, but there are not many of those.

[Phantom Monstrosity]

There's no way that Way of Kings Prime can be released for many years. It has aspects that won't make it into the series for many books yet. There might be a few small parts we can release sooner, as we did for the Jeksonsonvallano introduction, but there are not many of those.

Well, it'll be cool whenever it comes out! 

[Sabrina Stormshard she/her]

I thought I read somewhere that Kaladin changed a lot from WoK Prime. Perhaps the Amaram betrayal or similar happened at the end?

[PeterAhlstrom he/him]

Amaram wasn't in the old version, and Merin (the character who later became Kaladin) accepted the Shardblade at the beginning of the book. Dalinar was there when Merin defeated the Shardbearer, and of course Dalinar wouldn't act like Amaram did.