The Invested Beard Posted October 6, 2017 Posted October 6, 2017 As we've been learning more and more about Roshar and it's ancient history (still frustratingly very little), I've been really getting the feeling I've seen this type of story before. The first thing I thought of on reflection was the Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman. If you've not read the series stop reading now because I'm going to spoil a major plot point. If you have read it or never plan to read it, read on. Still with me? Good. One of the biggest worldbuilding elements of the Coldfire Trilogy is that advanced humans colonize an alien planet (sci-fi) but through the extreme perils of the environment are reduced over generations to a 16th/17th century level of technology mixed with the natural magic that occurs on the planet (Fantasy). The books are very much focused on the effects of the alien humans on the native life on the planet and the ramifications of integration. The Stormlight Archive to me really seems like BS tackling these same themes with a different overarching backdrop and history (Adonalsium and pre-shattering Cosmere). If you've read Coldfire, what do you think? Not really a theory, just an observation to spark some discussion.
frozndevl Posted October 6, 2017 Posted October 6, 2017 I enjoyed that series and I can see the parallels but I think it is a little different. The native species in the CF trilogy wasn't very advanced, as far as I could tell, whereas the Parshendi and maybe the Aimians had well developed societies. Though there was the other alien race, the one that combined with humans and turned into quasi demonic beings. That was a fun twist. I loved that series. I think a key difference is that in all likelihood the invading species on Roshar were already fantasy based.
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