Hoid, Spren, and Shadesmar?

[Rew he/him]

So, haven't seen this up anywhere else, but came across this in my recent rereading in WoK and with what's been seen in WoR so far - interesting possibilities are afoot at the Circle K. (Otherwise known as Shadesmar? Is that how Bill and Ted did it?)

 

In Shallan's chapter of WoR, we are given a much better idea/definition of Spren and their relation to the Cognitive realm, and humans than previously:

 

“What are spren?” Jasnah asked.

The question caught Shallan off guard, but by now she was accustomed to challenging questions from Jasnah. She took time to think and consider her answer.

“Nobody knows what spren are,” Shallan said, “though many philosophers have different opinions on—”

“No,” Jasnah said. “What are they?”

“I…” Shallan looked up at a pair of windspren spinning through the air above. They looked like tiny ribbons of light, glowing softly, dancing around one another. “They’re living ideas.”

Jasnah spun on her.

“What?” Shallan said, jumping. “Am I wrong?”

“No,” Jasnah said. “You’re right.” The woman narrowed her eyes. “By my best guess, spren are elements of the Cognitive Realm that have leaked into the physical world. They’re concepts that have gained a fragment of sentience, perhaps because of human intervention.

“Think of a man who gets angry often. Think of how his friends and family might start referring to that anger as a beast, as a thing that possesses him, as something external to him. Humans personify. We speak of the wind as if it has a will of its own.

“Spren are those ideas—the ideas of collective human experience— somehow come alive. Shadesmar is where that first happens, and it is their place. Though we created it, they shaped it. They live there; they rule there, within their own cities.”

 

Now, comparing the idea of spren as "living ideas" with this from "Wandersail":

 

The King’s Wit cocked his head, then smiled. Finally, he held out his hand to Kaladin. “And what is your name, my thoughtful bridgeman?” Kaladin hesitantly raised his own hand. “Kaladin. And yours?” “I’ve many.” The man shook Kaladin’s hand. “I began life as a thought, a concept, words on a page. That was another thing I stole. Myself. Another time, I was named for a rock.”

Sanderson, Brandon (2010-08-31). The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive, The) (p. 801). Tom Doherty Associates. Kindle Edition.

 

Now, Hoid may just be being cryptic here about the way he stole his identity from someone.  But there seems to be just a little too much of a correspondence to Shallan and Jasnah's discussion.

 

We know Hoid is intimately involved with and expert at manipulating Shadesmar to travel between worlds.  What could this mean for him, if he originated somehow in the Cognitive Realm? This would be an interesting idea (see what I did there? ), as Hoid could then be literally the embodiment of storytelling - which would explain his penchant for being a spreader of knowledge and tales...

 

Ok, all you who are smarter than me in the ways of the Cosmere - Discuss!

[Rew he/him]

Don't know why it posted a couple times.  Mods- delete the extra posts.  Thanks! (Sorry if it was something I did)

[hoser he/him]

There is a hide link at the bottom of my posts.  I don't know if it works for OPs, but you might want to try it if you haven't already.  Might as well minimize the admin's burdens if we can. 

[Mysty she/her]

I think I remember hearing that Hoid is actually the name of Hoid's master. When the master died, the Hoid that we know took the name for himself (that is what comes to my mind when I read "That was another thing I stole, myself"). I believe this info came from Brandons master thesis Dragonsteel, but he doesn't like sharing it because it is too cosemere spolerific.

But just because Hoid stole his masters identity doesn't mean he didn't originate in the cognitive realm, although I doubt it. Maybe he is similar to Lift who can touch a sprens cognitive aspect in the physical realm. Did that control come from sDNA? Who knows?

[WeiryWriter he/him]

I think I remember hearing that Hoid is actually the name of Hoid's master. When the master died, the Hoid that we know took the name for himself (that is what comes to my mind when I read "That was another thing I stole, myself"). I believe this info came from Brandons master thesis Dragonsteel, but he doesn't like sharing it because it is too cosemere spolerific.

 

It comes from The Liar of Partinel sample chapters.

[Aether he/him]

Brandon has released some samples from the Liar of Partienel, which you get read here.

 

EDIT: Ninja'd.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Aether

[Isomere]

Up vote just for Hoid being "cryptic"

[DocHoliday he/him]

Nomhuminoohakimaluma. I know I spell wrong. Is description of very special rock father found day before my birth.

[Colby Jack he/him]

I like this theory, if for no other reason than it perfectly fits in with my own crack theory that Hoid is just a creation of thought that was wished into existence by all the Whovians who currently inhabits the Cosmere.

[krill]

During Brandon's live writing event for worldbuilders he was doing a break with some quick fire Q&A and someone asked who was the most powerful non shardholder in the cosmere. He quickly said Hoid. 

 

Knowing that Brandon wont release the first draft of WoK until after book 5 because Hoid does something big in that first draft that would be a huge spoiler, I cant think that he is just a storyteller. I think Hoid is such an intriguing character and I can't wait to see what this big event is that gets pushed to book 5.

[HydrogenAlpha he/him]

I like your theory very much, i would certainly be a very sandersonesque turn of events.
Shame that we won't find out about his origins and how he was involved with Adonalsium until Brandon starts with Dragonsteel/ rewrites Liar of Partinel ( although i think he said that this is unlikely) - which is years away. I sincerely hope that we'll get some major foreshadowing in the next Stormlight books.