Book 2 speculation *Spoilers*

[Mistborn Surgebinder]

To add something based off another thread (most baseless parshendi theory ever), since there are a few of us who think the parshendi at the end looking or dalinar is galivar: what if szeth DOES kill dalinar, and then dalinar gets a book, but as a parshendi? Because, and maybe this had been said, but what if rather than simply uniting alethkar (sp??), dalinar is meant to unite all the people of roshar, including the parshendi?

[happyman he/him]

I personally think the fight will result in Kaladin SOMEHOW gaining control of Szeth's oathstone(most likely with the help of Syl) and then commanding him to stop his attack. Then I think Dalinar and his people will interrogate Szeth thus finding out about the crazy kings plan. Since both Dalinar and Kaladin have showed immense honor throughout SA1 I think they will use their temporary power over him to release him from his oath as truthless, then give him the option to fight alongside them, which I think he will reluctantly accept. Upon having Szeth on their side it becomes only a matter of time before its revealed that both Szeth and Kaladin have special powers(which most likely is revealed in the fight itself) and then results in Szeth training Kaladin on how to better control his new found powers. Atleast I hope this happens because i feel really bad for Szeth since he seems like a genuinely good person caught in horrible circumstances, and i highly doubt Sanderson would consider killing off any main characters just 2/10 of the way in. The only thing for certain is that a meeting between them is inevitable..i just hope neither Dalinar, Adolin, Kaladin, or Szeth die as a result.

Word of Brandon says that Szeth will have a focus book. Also, it won't be one of the next two. I think we can safely assume that Szeth will survive a bit longer.

[CrazyRioter she/her]

I don't know if any of the other bridgemen will get Windrunner abilities specifically, but I wouldn't be shocked if a few of them are going to end up developing some kind of abilities.

[Cheese Ninja he/him]

...

Finally, Szeth has to perform the public assassination. Szeth seems skilled enough to best Kaladin, but Kaladin may have certain advantages:

1. He may be able to use stormlight more efficiently (particularly if he has learned the third Windrunner oath)(this assumes that Szeth is getting his Windrunner powers from the Honorblade he carries and not the "Nahel Bond").
   
2. Szeth is in his mid-thirties and will have been slowed from his physical prime.
   
3. The other bridgemen may have developed some Windrunner abilities and may thus help.
   
4. The assorted developing Radiants may absorb all the available Stormlight and leave him stranded.
   
5. Dalinar, Adolin, Renarin, Elhokar, Jasnah, Shallan could all help.
   

...

We know from interviews that Szeth and Dalinar will eventually have their own books and that Szeth is not getting his windrunner abilities from surgebinding. Hence, Szeth will not succeed in killing Dalinar and he will be transformed into a true Radiant eventually.

I also think that Szeth is getting abilities from his sword, but I don't think it's an Honorblade. I'm pretty sure that those were just the Herald's blades we saw in the Prelude, I suppose Szeth could have ended up with one, but I prefer to think that they're still hidden away somewhere. Szeth isn't really out of his physical prime, and he has a lot more experience using Stormlight and the Lashings than Kaladin does. Kaladin is definitely the one best suited towards fighting him, I'd prefer a one on one fight towards everyone ganging up on Szeth. I'd also like to see Szeth joining another Order later on in the series. Some of the bridgemen do have a lot more backstory that make them good candidates for becoming bigger players. (ex: Moash wants to kill someone, Sigzil was Hoid's apprentice, Rock learned how to use a bow for some reason despite not being a warrior or hunter for his people, Teft's family half-worshipped the Knights Radiant)

[Knightmare]

Possible theory for the fight between Szeth/Kaladin + Adolin.

I don't think that Kaladin and Adolin will be able to attack Szeth simultaneously due to the way Shardbearers (Adolin) fight, their swords are too dangerous to use when they're anywhere near their own troops. I've got the feeling that Adolin will get hotheaded and rush in to fight Szeth only to be rebuffed and be rescued by Kaladin/Former Bridgemen. I think that Kaladin will start to lose despite coming very close then after being temporarily incapacitated by Szeth he will have another heart-to-heart with Syl and possibly say the third ideal of the KR. He will then attack with renewed vigor and will find a way to shatter Szeth's shardblade and either join up with Kaladin or escape and return to Taravangian.

I doubt any of this will actually happen but I find it an interesting theory.

P.S. Why does hardly anyone care about the bridgemen, they were awesome and I want to find out more about them in Bk 2

[CrazyRioter she/her]

wrong thread for that dude.

[Kelek he/him]

It was meant to be a speculation put into ketek. I think that the ketek style will be brought back to reveal more in-world mysteries similar to the way Navani's notes that gave us a look into fabrials. I know that there is a thread for the creation of keteks, but thought it would go here for what I intended. I deleted the post.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Kelek

[prehistoricman]

I don't know if any of the other bridgemen will get Windrunner abilities specifically, but I wouldn't be shocked if a few of them are going to end up developing some kind of abilities.

I'm of the opinion that one already has radiant abilities: Sigzil. We know that he is a Worldsinger. He treats his job as a Worldsinger similarly to the Terris Keepers (he acts more like a vault of knowledge than a storyteller), and the Keepers all had Feruchemical abilities. Furthermore, he states that the Worldsingers received their orders from the Heralds themselves. He just screams "I'm a Radiant" to me.

[dj26792 he/him]

some one else mentioned that possibility somewhere too, the worldsingers as radiants, it does seem pretty good, but Sigzil was trained by Hoid, who isnt a Radiant, so unless there is something we dont know and someone else taught him to surgebind he can't know how to surgebind and yet is still a full worldsinger. Other than that I kind of like the idea, it would be cool.

Although it does raise some questions, like why didnt he notice Kaladin drawing in stormlight and help teach him how to do it/use it, if he was secretly a member of an order of scholarly radiants they would have to understand all the powers of all the radiants extremely well.

Also, which order would they be? the only traits that seem to fit are pious/guiding and learned/giving and neither seems expecially relevant to Sigzil.

[CrazyRioter she/her]

I have a pet theory that Hoid founded both the Worldsingers and the ancient Terris Worldbringers. But that's just my pet theory. It's also off topic for this thread.

[dj26792 he/him]

but you should start a thread where it wouldnt be off topic, cause thats a really interesting idea, it seems to fit the sort of person I've always viewed Hoid as without really having anything to go off, although I've never really considered it before.

[ProfessorMLyon he/him]

I'm looking forward to learning more about Teft personally. Just what is his family's relationship with the Knights Radiants?

Also, I forsee fireworks when Shallan and Kaladin finally meet up. I look forward to much laughter in reading their dialogue.

[Arcanist Lupus he/him]

I'm looking forward to learning more about Teft personally. Just what is his family's relationship with the Knights Radiants?

Also, I forsee fireworks when Shallan and Kaladin finally meet up. I look forward to much laughter in reading their dialogue.

From them, or from us? I doubt their first meeting will be very positive. Remember, Shallan's a lighteyes, and Kaladin has a grudge against all lighteyes (and particularly bad experiences in dealing with young, attractive, female lighteyes).

[CrazyRioter she/her]

I expect their first meeting to be "explosive". Hopefully they will only attempt to verbally slaughter each other.

[Meandering Monotreme]

From them, or from us? I doubt their first meeting will be very positive. Remember, Shallan's a lighteyes, and Kaladin has a grudge against all lighteyes (and particularly bad experiences in dealing with young, attractive, female lighteyes).

We actually have no idea how he will react to a young, attractive, female lighteyes. We don't know whether he associates his pain with Laral or not. My guess? Shallan will turn out to look a lot like Laral and will distract Kaladin. Other than that I have no idea.

[Yados]

You know, I really hope that Kaladin and Shallan don't get together. For one, we've seen the young attractive male/female leads get together in basically all the Sharldworld books.

I mean, does Shallan really need to wind up with someone? She's already had a romantic subplot and she has a whole lot of her own stuff going on. Generally, the female Shardworld characters seem to have more romantic subplots than the male ones. Jasnah was a nice buck of that trend. Shallan would also be one.

Also it would get in the way if the only ship I have in the Stormlight Archive so far: Kaladin and Adolin.

Yes, yes. Never going to happen.

BUT

two young awesome warriors with different demeanors from different stations in life now working together to protect the new high prince of war? Both of whom have been markedly uninterested in the opposite sex? Adolin with his stream of barely noticed girlfriends? Kaladin with his nigh asexuality? Kaladin falling for a brightlord AND a shard bearer?

Yeah, I ship that.

Plus, it would have a huge leg up on other gay characters because they would be awesome characters who we've already been brought to care about who happen to be gay rather than gay gay gay characters, relevant for their gay. I like Gil from The Steel Remaims, but he's pretty guilty of that. Granted that gay people in fantasy are pretty rare.

But wouldn't the Cosmere be the place for it? There are good shards (who want to help people) and bad shards (who want to kill everyone) but most sex and gender politics see to just be worked out by culture. Meaning you could have a story with homosexuality which flew in the face of culture, but which wouldn't have divine ramifications. The gods (shards) were once people, and they may have cultural values, but they primarily seem concerned with the principal of intent rather social norms. A gay Kaladin could serve Honor and the ideals of the radiants just as well as a straight one. More than just that, the radiants as they operated in Dalinar's flashback already fly in the face of Alethi gender roles (female knights).

Obviously just my own personal opinion.

Edited December 10, 2011 by Yados

[CrazyRioter she/her]

Brandon's religion means he's highly unlikely to have two of his main characters in a gay relationship. Besides I don't see any signs in story that either of them has any interest in men, as for Kaladin's lack of romance, we've hardly seen him interact with any girls at all, save Laral and that kind of got torpedoed, he did seem attracted to her though.

now Brandon has said that Drehy is gay, and I can totally see Drehy getting an unrequited crush on Kaladin, I doubt it'll be a major part of the plot though.

[Chicken]

You know, I really hope that Kaladin and Shallan don't get together. For one, we've seen the young attractive male/female leads get together in basically all the Sharldworld books.

I fully agree with this. The male and female leads getting together is so commoner than dirt I'm surprised Sanderson held onto that for this long. SPOILER FOR VARIOUS BOOKS!!!He did one reversal of expectations with Denth and finally Wax and Marasi didn't get together so I think he's getting out of that habit.

Also it would get in the way if the only ship I have in the Stormlight Archive so far: Kaladin and Adolin.

But not this. I could list all sorts of reasons why not but the most relevant one is that it would've blocked MY ship's route, were I a person who normally ships stuff.

[CrazyRioter she/her]

I ship either Shallan/Kaladin or Shallan/Renarin. Either works!

[Yados]

Brandon's religion means he's highly unlikely to have two of his main characters in a gay relationship. Besides I don't see any signs in story that either of them has any interest in men, as for Kaladin's lack of romance, we've hardly seen him interact with any girls at all, save Laral and that kind of got torpedoed, he did seem attracted to her though.

now Brandon has said that Drehy is gay, and I can totally see Drehy getting an unrequited crush on Kaladin, I doubt it'll be a major part of the plot though.

I'm well aware it's unlikely/not going to happen for very obvious reasons. However, I maintain that it would be refreshing.

That said, I'd heard that Brandon was going to write a gay character and, to be honest, unless he developes in a huge way over the course of series, Drehy is a major disappointment. Especially when Axies the Collector is standing right there.

[Arcanist Lupus he/him]

I'm well aware it's unlikely/not going to happen for very obvious reasons. However, I maintain that it would be refreshing.

That said, I'd heard that Brandon was going to write a gay character and, to be honest, unless he developes in a huge way over the course of series, Drehy is a major disappointment. Especially when Axies the Collector is standing right there.

Have you read the Valdemar series(es) by Mercedes Lackey? Specifically, the Last Herald Mage trilogy?

More on topic, I ship Shallan and Renarin.

(and when did "ship" become a verb, anyways?)

Edited December 10, 2011 by Sir Read-a-Lot

[Asha'man Logain]

Have you read the Valdemar series(es) by Mercedes Lackey? Specifically, the Last Herald Mage trilogy?

More on topic, I ship Shallan and Renarin.

(and when did "ship" become a verb, anyways?)

I agree. Most main characters in most Valdemar books (and there are a lot) are gay, many many side characters as well. Also the nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling, is filled with gay people and elves, and gay elves. lol. Other than contemporary fiction trying to make political statements, most fiction has straight characters, because most people are straight.

Both series are pretty good IMHO.

[CrazyRioter she/her]

I wouldn't say most main characters in Valdemar are gay, but a fair number are.

[Yados]

I've read the first third of the first book but stopped for one reason or another. It didn't grip me. But I did find the premise most refreshing. I may try it again one day.

My girlfriend has been raving about the use of gender and sexuality in N.K. Jemisin's Inheritence Trilogy for the last moth.

I'm not saying its not out there.

Edit: I feel I should point out that I didn't say I shipped k/a because of a perceived lack of gay pairings in heroic fantasy, but because I specifically enjoy the idea of *that* one.

We can talk about fantasy books with gay characters all we want, and perhaps I brought that about with my use of the word "refreshing", but that wasn't the point of my post. It's also off topic.

Thus, to get this wholly on-topic, I speculate that in book two, Kaladin and Adolin will not have any sexual tension, but that I will still think it would be cute if they did. Furthermore, the character traits which led me to think it would work will probably lead to a friendship/respect/rivalry that will only fan the flames.

Edited December 10, 2011 by Yados

[happyman he/him]

I think it's worth pointing out that Kaladin refers back to memories from his time as a slave that seems to include a woman who was special to him. From this and other interactions with women, I'd say he's probably interested only in women. It's a perfectly reasonable default assumption.

As for main characters getting married---I'd like to point out that the only Sanderson book I've read that really played that straight was Elantris. In Mistborn, Elend became a main character largely because he was in a relationship with Vin. That he was idealistic and open-minded probably wasn't an accident; Vin would never have been interested in any other type. Warbreaker had an arranged marriage that turned out OK, but Susebron was never a viewpoint character. As for Way of Kings---there are too many options and too much social confusion for it to be simple. And, as noted, Alloy of Law took that trope and ground it into fine dust.