Tamzin Ashevai

I'm not much of a theorist, Hathsin, but I do enjoy reading through the theories that members have contemplated.  I admit that I'm more a lurker than conversationalist but I'm trying to change that.  Welcome!

Maybe this is a good place for me to start ... again.  I've been absent for some time for various reasons but am back because I remain excited for Words of Radiance.  My name here is verbally exact:  TAMzin asheVAI.  That's me and ... well, while I'm still interested in "contributing" to the site, I've searched the Coppermind Wiki and found that there's so much more there than to which I might've been able to add!  Seriously?  Can I contribute more?  Maybe ... given that I've a few "lists" up my sleeve, so to speak.  Sincerely, I hope so!

You do realize there are kind of a lot of women on 17th Shard, right? For example, we have two administrators who are female, and three other staff are female, who are online regularly. I've always been pretty pleased with the amount of girls on the site. I think there are a lot more than you think. They just don't make a big deal about it. (Because why does it matter? Everyone is here because they like Brandon's works.)

Well, my mom really likes Brandon's works... I don't think there's anything about his books that make it inherently hard to market towards women. Brandon has won multiple Romantic Times awards for his books, after all...

I hope you don't mind that I edited out the poll; I did not feel that it really helped the gender discussion here.

I have to admit that I did not realize that there are a lot of women on 17th Shard. I wasn't aware that two administrators are female, nor that three staff are female. They don't need to make a big deal about it, I agree. And, yes, we all like Brandon's works. However, I'd like to know that I have 'sisters' here! I haven't heard a response from any of them beyond that of E.Hyde and borborygmus just recently in this thread. I haven't seen the posts of 'the other half' in any of the threads I've visited elsewhere on-site. (Sometimes I just read and don't post.) Nevertheless, I don't really care about the poll, Chaos; I just want to get to know other women here who are Brandon Sanderson fans. Unfortunately, this isn't obvious given each member's chosen avatar. This isn't to say that I don't want to get to know the men; I want to know everyone and to develop a relationship of mutual appreciation for the works of Brandon Sanderson. However, I want to know that I'm sharing dialog with women as well as with men. That hasn't been apparent until this thread. I thank you for your reply and for those of E.Hyde and borborygmus. I'm hopeful we all can continue on and move forward from here.

I'm happy for you, Zas678/ZackS, that you're doing something for yourself and for that in which you wholeheartedly believe. While you and I may not know one another here, I'm confident that you'll be missed within 17th Shard. I hope your years away will be productive ones in just the ways in which you want them to be. Good health and safety on your journey and good fortune on your quest.

I would like to announce that I have not the academic stresses that several of you have expressed but that I have a physical affliction that is taxing my positive outlook. Even so, I remain positive that I will overcome it (once the right medication has been applied to it).

If only I had the theorizing gene! Alas, I've only the gene that processes information given. You're very good, Qazxvy!

Thank you! It is indeed a great thing for me (and I hope for the site too). I hardly even notice the eye spikes anymore. What this means is that I've joined 17th Shard staff in role as moderator for the Brandon Sanderson boards.(minus the WoT section) I do my best to keep the discussion on track, provide any input that I have, keep people as informed as possible as they theorize. (to keep erroneous beliefs from popping up) I also keep an eye on member behavior over there, although that's rarely an issue. In addition to that I keep the Ultimate List of questions up to date (something I need to do right now, incidentally) and write Featured Theories columns with Chaos and Zas.

I realize that some of the titles on the site aren't self-explanatory, so here's a list of where various staff members moderate (pulled from the About section)

Administrators manage all areas of the site and provide the leadership for the rest of the staff. In their other section, they are often hold other lesser titles that show where they tend to work.

Global moderators manage all areas of the forums. We have one global mod, Eerongal.

Ardents focus in the Book Discussion boards, as well as General Theories. Our ardent is Windrunner.

Obligators moderate the Role-Playing boards--including the Mistborn RPG--and the fan fiction area. We have one obligator, Kuri Shardweaver.

Radiants moderate the community areas on the site, such as General Discussion. We have no radiants at this time.

Returned moderate the galleries and do random artwork. Our two Returned are E. Hyde and MerryBerry.

Soulcasters are our coding backups. Our two Soulcasters are Ryan and Moru.

Worldbringers are wiki administrators and moderate the Coppermind forums. Our one Worldbringer is Joe_ST.

Worldsingers are the news guys, bringing you the most up to date information about site and Brandon events.

Hope this helps!

I'd like to serve in the position of Radiant, if I might offer myself here. I've moderated specific areas on other forums and General Discussion seems a natural fit for me. I know I'm still low in post count, but I'm one of few women amongst many men on-site who are serious fans of Brandon Sanderson's work. If considered for the position, I can promise more active participation. If honored with the position, I can guarantee it. Thanks for your response guys!

From what I read from Amazon, it shipped today! From what I refuse to read in this forum (because I don't want to know), thanks guys for not mentioning it! I love you for that!

I think I might be one woman who is a fan of Brandon Sanderson. I'm having a hard time recruiting others to my position. What the heck do I do now? I love this author and I know other fans of high fantasy will just love his systems of magic and ... OMG! Everything! But ... (and that's the key word).

The shannara series was one of my first introductions into epic fantasy, and still holds a special place in my heart to this day. Brooks admits that the first book bears some strong similarities to LOTR, but I really enjoy them. As you read through the series connections between books and times start to be connected, and you see some of the consequences from several hundred years ago. Not as pronounced as some books, but it is still a great read. And you are correct, as you progress in the series it does get much better, though Wishsong is still one of my favorites.

Increasingly, the series is repetative and unimaginative. In nearly eight novels, I've not encountered nearly the ingenuity that Tolkein devised, nor the intrigue that I've encountered in other fantasy/science fiction novels of late.

Okay, on my to-read list remain the following:

The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (which I'm about to begin and have stated as much).

The Prince of Nothing series by R. Scott Bakker.

The Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson.

The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan

As if this isn't enough! Seriously! I've got so much to read!

I believe Pullman was trying to highlight religion's own absurdity, rather than attacking religion directly. He identifies as an agnostic atheist, so he's open to the idea of a deity aslong as it can be proven.

He uses the Church in Lyra's world as a manifestation of the constraints and dangers of dogmatism and the use of religion to oppress, without actually attacking Christianity itself. You could call it outrageous, but I like to refer to it as creatively informed

Even Christians applaud his work and I do very much like his take on religion as a whole. Despite the character flaws in later books I enjoyed the concept and view of the universe Pullman gave us.

You might be right in your assessment, Lyrebon, and I'm wide open to it. Even so, religion, in my mind, is an absurdity and I'm an atheist.

So many great recommendations! This is exactly why I love forums like this!

I'm about to re-read this before I launch myself into the WoT series. I'm a late-comer to this series and regret that I wasn't even aware of it less than three years ago. Why? Because I'm a predominantly solitary person and I don't have much contact with people (despite that - or because - I was a performer for over a decade). Suffice it to say that people who perform on-stage don't often have significant relationships with their fans in the crowd. There isn't arrogance within this statement; there's self-preservation. I was a member of a popular band for many years that toured the U.S. and Canada. I was lucky in that I could be approached by anyone from within my audience, hugged, complimented, and released. Sometimes the attention was shocking; when the attention was focused elsewhere, I was grateful. Fame is a double-edged sword. (It's also an unpredictable benefactor/antagonist.)

I can't confine myself within the parameters of the challenge because I've only read R.J.'s New Spring and will be re-reading it in a matter of days. I've challenged myself to read the entire R.J. WoT series this coming year and the sooner I start, the better. I feel completely awkward in that I'm one alone amongst few I know who haven't read R.J.! This totally sucks because I want to establish myself as someone who knows what she's talking about! I can't do that until I read the books.

I would like to announce that there is a career in Fine Art Modeling. Just what is Fine Art Modeling, you say? Well, a Fine Art Model poses (predominantly nude) for artists and students of art in gestures (i.e.: poses from 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length); in short poses (i.e.: poses from 5 to 10 minutes in length); and in longer poses (i.e.: poses from 20 minutes and beyond in length). A Fine Art Model has to remain perfectly still while in a pose. However, after every 20 minutes, a model is afforded a 5 minute break. So, within a 3-hour, class-time period, a model will likely pose 6-7 times in 20-min. segments with 5-min. breaks in between.

Okay, since I contracted a staph infection the next day (with which I'm still dealing), my birthday doesn't matter. Can we please celebrate another birthday here?

I neither like nor dislike the cover art. I purchased the novella as an ebook, read it, and wasn't much impressed. I've already stated elsewhere that I wanted more information regarding Stephen's aspects. Enough said here. No tough love.

Since I'm not a gamer, I came to Inifinity Blade as a fan of Brandon's writing. I enjoyed the story and saw in it "shades" of what I'd already read in The Way of Kings previously (with regard to the sword particularly) and wondered if the two themes might have some connection. This is the first time I've posited this curiosity so I haven't asked the obvious. In other words, is there any remote connection with Infinity Blade and The Stormlight Archive aside from loose reference to specific swords?

Honestly, I don't know if Brandon has current plans for more "episodes." But he did write it in large part in order to sell television rights, and Lionsgate optioned it. Whether they go through with their option is still up in the air. I think it would make a great TV series. I could easily picture it on the USA network, for instance.

Now, that sound really interesting! I enjoyed the novella, but not nearly as much as Brandon's novels. There just wasn't enough substance. I wanted to know more about Stephen's hallucinations (i.e.: aspects). I mean, some characters (i.e.: J.C., Tobias, Ivy, Armando, Kalyani, etc.) were somewhat well explored. But, just who is Audrey, really? I want to know more!

Very interesting concept indeed and totally Brandonesque! I'd actually like to see more about alternative abilities in fiction (largely considered disabilities in our present day reality) and in the Cosmere, whether caused by infliction or inherited genetic trait. I think it's a valid concept to explore and embrace because I imagine (though I've no data to support this notion) that there might well be many alternatively-abled people out there who are fantasy/science fiction fans who are readers of Brandon Sanderson. Just as Spook could "see" without sight, what if a character could "feel" without touch, for example (i.e.: a paraplegic who wasn't able to reach out, or some such other example). I don't know. I just think it's a great concept and one that just might embrace a group of people all too often marginalized by society.

I'm curious to know just how this changes as Jordan fans then become Sanderson fans and vice versa. Any data?

I pre-ordered it from Amazon and still won't receive it until after Nov. 1st! Plugs her ears. I don't want to hear anything about it! Closes her eyes. I don't want to read anything about it!

I think the site needs a suggestion box that isn't connected to specific issues. What I mean by this is that there are site concerns, questions, etc., about which members are concerned yet, about which they're limited in their pursuit of knowledge concerning said issues ... perhaps because of perceived restrictions. I think that a chosen individual (by whom I'm in no position to determine), should be appointed for such a role.) Does anyone else have an opinion or a suggestion? (Please note that I'm also willing to fade away; dependent upon the ultimate decision.)

Can I belatedly Happy Birthday myself? (It was 9/4/12).