Why don't we think book Taln is real Taln again?

[Brightness Enna she/her]

I know I should know this, but after a bit of searching, I could not find a clear argument. I mean, people reference it all the time but I can't seem to find an original theory or something.

I thought the dude everybody calls Talenel is actually Talenel. Why don't most people think it is? The Coppermind isn't helping me much. If you could just link to something that explains it more clearly, that would be a big help!

Thanks, and sorry for the (probably) repetitive question.

[The One Who Connects he/him]

Just now, Brightness Enna said:

I know I should know this, but after a bit of searching, I could not find a clear argument. I mean, people reference it all the time but I can't seem to find an original theory or something.

I thought the dude everybody calls Talenel is actually Talenel. Why don't most people think it is? The Coppermind isn't helping me much. If you could just link to something that explains it more clearly, that would be a big help!

Thanks, and sorry for the (probably) repetitive question.

Basically, Brandon has always referred to him in some manner of "the man who calls himself Taln" and the community is divided on the truth of the matter.

I think he really is, some people think he isn't, others think that he was, etc.. ask six people, you'll probably get four different answers

[Pagerunner he/him]

Because Brandon is being such a little stinker on the matter.

This is something you cannot pick up from the book. There are no hints that Taln isn't Taln in the text. That's why some of us think that Brandon is just trolling us, a signing-only red herring to keep us on our toes.

[Brightness Enna she/her]

@The One Who Connects @Pagerunner Thanks, that (mostly) clears it up  I can see why I had trouble finding a straight answer.

[Herald he/him]

Recently Brandon talked about it in Facebook here. There are some interesting tidbits there and to summarize he says "This character may or may not be a Herald - but the text is going to make the answer clear, and I'm not trying to trick you"