Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 (edited) Ahoy, Thought I'd make my first foray into Cosmere forums with an actual topic as well as a general greeting. My interest below will concern at least the Stormlight Archive up to the end of Oathbringer, so spoiler warning? Spoiler I'm very interested in real world mythology and theology parallels in the Branderson's work. I've been musing about the names of the Unmade, starting with Nergaoul and Moelach (book not on hand so hoping the spelling is vaguely correct) both names having close parallels in either Mesopotamian or Semitic religions. Moelach is awfully close phonetically to the Canaanite Moloch, though his role doesn't quite match whatever is going on with those death rattles. Nergaoul brings me to Nergal, god of war and plague in Sumer. This seems very likely to be a deliberate parallel, as the Thrill drives and helps men at war, and this Unmade moves, plague-like, from region to region. The dead horse imagery also makes me think a little of the horsemen of the apocalypse - combining War and Pestilence, though I don't think Branderson is doing anything quite so tired as re-representing the horsemen. Anyway, what do you think? Any other Unmade with clear inspiration or parallels in mythology? Edited July 26, 2018 by Osric Fingerbone Spoiler control 6
StrikerEZ he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 @Osric Fingerbone Hey, welcome to the Shard! Have a free upvote and a spiked delicious cookie! Spoiler DISCLAIMER: Side effects include, but are not limited to, hearing voices, gaining supernatural powers, having the sudden urge to kill everyone, and completely losing control over your mind and body. The Dark Alley™ claims no liability for any damage done to/by the eater of this cookie. I will point out that OB spoilers are NOT allowed in this part of the forum: If you want to talk about the Unmade, you can go to either the Oathbringer Spoilers Board (underneath the Stormlight Archive one) or the Cosmere Theories board. Either way, you need to put [OB] in the title of your topic.
Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Author Posted July 26, 2018 Thanks for the cookie (it's Ruined my diet) and the advice. I've made an edit to hide spoilery stuff, and will remove all topic content here once I've popped it up in the appropriate forum area. How do the +Word thingies by our names work here? 1
StrikerEZ he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 5 minutes ago, Osric Fingerbone said: Thanks for the cookie (it's Ruined my diet) and the advice. I've made an edit to hide spoilery stuff, and will remove all topic content here once I've popped it up in the appropriate forum area. Hey, once you do, tag me (just type @ and my name next to it, like this: @StrikerEZ As you're typing, a little drop down menu should appear with name suggestions and you just click on mine) and I'll come talk with you about it! 7 minutes ago, Osric Fingerbone said: How do the +Word thingies by our names work here? That's your reputation level. Depending on how many upvotes you have, you get a different rep level. All of the levels are things from Brandon's books.
Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Author Posted July 26, 2018 Aight, thanks, and I'll remember to tag you.
StrikerEZ he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 8 minutes ago, Osric Fingerbone said: Aight, thanks, and I'll remember to tag you. You're welcome! Just curious, how much of the Cosmere have you read? Have you read any non-Cosmere books? Which book/series is your favorite?
+ElephantEarwax he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 Welcome new victim friend . How goes it.
Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Author Posted July 26, 2018 I've read all of Mistborn thus far including Secret History, all SA this far including Edgedancer, Warbreaker, and everything non-Elantris based that appears in Arcanum Unbounded. I have read The Rithmatist but that's it for Branderson's nonCosmere stuff. I thought nothing could top Mistborn Era 1 and then I read WoK and WoR and realised that I was done for. I write fantasy myself, and sometimes even sell a few copies, so i treat Sanderson as my chosen challenge, aspiration, and unwitting teacher - I fanboy at his craft as well as... everything else.
Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Author Posted July 26, 2018 4 minutes ago, ElephantEarwax said: Welcome new victim friend . How goes it. Thanks! And well, though I should be sleeping. Standard really.
StrikerEZ he/him Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 (edited) 13 hours ago, Osric Fingerbone said: I've read all of Mistborn thus far including Secret History, all SA this far including Edgedancer, Warbreaker, and everything non-Elantris based that appears in Arcanum Unbounded. I have read The Rithmatist but that's it for Branderson's nonCosmere stuff. You should really read Elantris, it's pretty good! Also, Emperor's Soul, a short story that takes place on Sel, the same planet as Elantris, is really good too. You should try reading The Reckoners. It's a superhero story, but the people with superpowers are actually all evil and the main character is a guy trying to kill one. 13 hours ago, Osric Fingerbone said: I thought nothing could top Mistborn Era 1 and then I read WoK and WoR and realised that I was done for. I write fantasy myself, and sometimes even sell a few copies, so i treat Sanderson as my chosen challenge, aspiration, and unwitting teacher - I fanboy at his craft as well as... everything else. Yeah, Stormlight is pretty insane, though I really love Mistborn Era 1 because of how well everything is foreshadowed and the plot and characters are so good. Brandon's also an inspiration for me to write as well. Have you read Oathbringer? EDIT: @Osric Fingerbone It appears a mod moved your post to the right board anyway. Edited July 26, 2018 by StrikerEZ 1
Rainier Posted July 27, 2018 Posted July 27, 2018 Any chance Osric Fingerbone has something to do with Osric, Tiste Liosan and Champion of High House Light, and The Bonehunters?
Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 28, 2018 Author Posted July 28, 2018 On 26/07/2018 at 4:38 AM, StrikerEZ said: EDIT: @Osric Fingerbone It appears a mod moved your post to the right board anyway. Excellent. Heat has been crazy here the last day or so, too hot to safely run my PC, so that saves me a task. I'll never forget the characters of Mistborn era 1, and that series was the first to elevate Branderson to Shard level for me, a great among other authors. But it was SA that made me join his devotary, so to speak. That understanding of mental illness and trauma, of spiritual strength and compassion to accept and grow despite it all - I said the words, and I still do. My wife and I want Bridge Four shoulder tattoos.
Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 28, 2018 Author Posted July 28, 2018 4 hours ago, Rainier said: Any chance Osric Fingerbone has something to do with Osric, Tiste Liosan and Champion of High House Light, and The Bonehunters? No chance at all, sorry; Osric is my own creation. What book are the characters you mention from?
Rainier Posted July 30, 2018 Posted July 30, 2018 On 7/27/2018 at 7:15 PM, Osric Fingerbone said: No chance at all, sorry; Osric is my own creation. What book are the characters you mention from? That's from Malazan Book of the Fallen. Osric is essentially a demi-god, and the Bonehunters are an army of the Malazan empire.
Osric Fingerbone he/him Posted July 30, 2018 Author Posted July 30, 2018 My Osric would appreciate the comparison!
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