Arcanist

This is great news, however it's looking like 1 "main" Cosmere book every 2 years.  Or you can figure that the rate at which mainline Cosmere books are coming out, is slowing down.  With how many there are left I'm not sure if they will all get finished...

This thought is in my mind as well. The list of the planned books/series is growing every year. This makes the waiting for the conclusion of the Cosmere-cycle (Dragonsteel? 3th Mistborn trilogy?) longer and longer. I hope that he can manage to finish all of his series. To forge writing plans for 30(?) years is a definitely brave and risky decision (in a pure economic point of view).

Journey before destination, my friend. We've got three main cosmere books within the next two years or so, which is already pretty great. We're years away from needing to worry if all the series will get finished. I'd prefer Brandon coming up with too many stories to ever write them all to him running out of ideas. Just think about all the stories we've yet to hear. It's gonna be great!

If we have these options, I agree with you. I don't think that Brandon will running out of ideas. If he writes a book, he will get new ideas for future books. Than by wrinting these future books he will get ideas for books after future books. This man is one of the most creative being on Earth concerning worldbuilding and magic.

New infos guys:
http://brandonsanderson.com/state-of-the-sanderson-december-2014/

Yes there is:
http://brandonsanderson.com/state-of-the-sanderson-december-2014/

Is there any official (Q&A, interview) information that Surgebinder "Mistborns"  do exist or do not (people who gain access to 3 or more or all surges) ?
 

Concerning "minor" projects:

- Progress bar, webpage: Shadows of Self, Calamity, Stormlight

- Twitter: Shadows of Self, Calamity, Stormlight

- Brand new interview: no hints to the books above but due to Brandon Rithmatist 2 comes after Firefight

I'm a lidl bit confused...

Concerning dominant projects:

I understand that Brandon need to refresh himself with another worlds as well, but I have never thought that he will be working on three(!) projects beside Stormlight. The positive side: even with more minor projects Brandon is much more faster than GRRM

Some news concerning future books:

 

Now, I get to relax and actually do my job for a few weeks until Salt Lake Comic Con. For those wondering, I’m feeling more and more that I should finish Shadows of Self (the sequel to The Alloy of Law) before digging further into Stormlight 3. There are still some things I want to think about for Stormlight 3, and Mistborn has been neglected lately. I’m planning to work on that, along with Calamity (last of The Reckoners) before launching into the third Stormlight book starting in the spring.

Source: http://brandonsanderson.com/tour-report-europe-and-canada/

What do you think? Disappointed? Glad?

First of all: I havent found the appropriate topic and doesnt want to create a new one so I post it here:

As I tried to load the newest "Around the Cosmere June 16th" article my antivirus alarmed me about a Malware (URL:Mal2) found here: "hxxp://alnera.eu/1E3DC484.js?cp=www.17thshard.com" 

I hope that its just a script which is qualified by my program as a malware but I wanted to inform you. 

There *is* going to be a time jump between the front and back fives, plenty of time for juicy backstory.

Brandon mentioned that there will be only a short gap between the two arcs. Assuming that the POV-characters mentioned above will have flashbacks, adn Taravangian is quiet old, the gap may be only a few years long.

Oh, I was looking forward for a Navani and/or Adolin book as well. But you are right with the "same ground as Dalinar".

When does he mentioned the Lift book and skipped the one with Navani? I somehow missed that interview/Q&A

First of all, thanks for the answers

that's just cause we're using hard magic instead of soft magic. IF you want hard magic, i.e. magic the reader can understand, you have to have a limited number of effects. as a result, the "wizard" cannot just stay back and cast spells, he has to rely on a combo of his powers + physical abilities, and here you have mistborns, windrunners, etc. Or, you need a 14-book epic to get the readers used enough at how the magic works.

 

I partly agree partly disagree with you. I like your idea "limited powers are easier to understand" but I dont think that the only way would be superpower-abilities. Its one way.

If you simply want to have some kind of hard magic, think on some magic systems of role-playing games, such as Earthdawn. You can have a complex theory of magic, even clear defined rules AND you can have spells and traditional wizards as well. You have rules and limitations and they can be applied in case of hundreds of spells you not even know. So the reader can understand the basics in one book (no need for a 14-epic series , he does not need to know all the spells.

But you are right, a world with limited magical abilities is in some way easier to understand.

Soft magic looking like hard magic is still hard in my book, just not as something like Allomancy.

I think the point is: how the readery realize magic. In Perdido Street Station by Miéville an entire society is based on magic some way. There is a kind of magical industrial revolution with wizards using theumaturgic engines etc. So the magic has rules unless the wizards could not have used it for building complex devices. But the reader does not know the rules, everything is mystical.
So its hard magic in-world, but soft magic as literary tool. 

Whats more: I think if Brandon had chosen to explain Surgebinding/Soulcasting in WoK it would be a typical hard magic stuff. However we still not understand it, and thatswhy it has a kind of soft magic feeling - a lot of things are mystical.

When the writer uses magic as just another tool used by the characters, it's harder.
When the magic is the driving force behind the plot, it's softer.

For me hard magic is a tool or a kind of science. Hard magic is positivism - you can understand the world, you can understand magic. And a tool for the author concerning solving conflicts

Soft magic is atmosphere, a tool for the author to create a world full of mystical wonder. And current -even dangerous - experimenting with spells you cannot understand

Superabilities = Magic. Except one is used in sci-fi and another in fantasy. If you think about it, there's no difference at all. I believe it all just comes down to explanation of how it works and why. If its explained with spiritual stuff or not explained at all then its magic, if it all started with scientifically mutated spider biting main hero then its an ability. As OP stated, there are some similarities in the way they affect story and Sanderson's Laws of Magic actually work same way in superhero stories. You simply can't have main character with magic/ability without those limitations. Without limitations there would be no challenge. It's obvious why a book/comics like that wouldn't work.

I disagree. Partly. Traditional magic is not ability-like, is more or less based on spells. Superabilities are...well abilities you can use at will, that dont require specific knowledge only training.

I think you can have magic that "ts explained with spiritual stuff" and is ability-like in the same time. Think on Soulcasting. In WoR as Shallan/Jasnah is experimenting in Shadesmar, I had the feeling I am in a world of platonic ideas where all terms are glassbeads. Stick, a ship, etc. Surgebinding is more or less ability like for me, however, Brandon created a mystical background with spren and Shadesmar.

Tolkien's magic though is very...wild, mystical, untamed. Like that you find in myths and legends, it's really the sign of the era he was writing in and his background that led to it too. Magic's not use that solve that many problems, in fact, it usually creates more problems than it solves and most of the time, people without magic are fighting against evil that has a bit too much of it... I would call this recent movement towards a harder, more scientific magic system the hardening of magic in general. The OP is right in that regard. It's not necessarily bad or good, but it's probably somewhat linked to how science influences our society in general. We expect more scientific fantasy as the result of a society that seems to have less mystery (in a way), it's just...well, it fits with historical trends...*shrugs*

Hm..interesting idea. Im not a sociologist to understand literary trends as consequences of sociological trends...but as far as I know fantasy became popular as a kind of escapism-tool. To go away from reality, where things are somehow more simple (more black and white), and where is more "magic" than in our world.
 

Are there any Surgebinders who can use all of the ten surges (like mistborns in case of Allomancy)?

A while back Brandon was toying with the idea of having one or two characters have a second set of flashback (Kaladin was one of them). As far as I know he hasn't officially scrapped this idea.

I like the version: one POV-character - one book better.

And to the question which character will get an own book:

http://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=612#7

I think the characters on this list can likely have an own book....except we already have 2 new faces on the list: Eshonai and Renarin

Hi folks.

I began reading fantasy long time ago and was always interested in magic systems. In the last few years however I often felt that the magic-users (and I dont use sorcerer/wizard intentionally) of some series have rather special abilities instead of „traditional” magic. In some aspects they are like superheroes in the comics. I dont say its a new trend (perhaps it is) in epic fantasy, but I have some examples. Therefore I developed the following theory: 

Magic-users are in some fantasy novels like superheroes/villains because:
 

- They have a limited number of powers

In comics most of the heroes have a limited number of powers. You can list 4-5 abilities, usually not more. And they are bound together by a common "aspect". Magneto manipulates the electromagnetic spectrum/magnetism, and Peter Parker can do what spiders can do.
You can find the same trend in case of some magic-users. Allomancers have also a limited number of abilities based on metals, even in case of mistborns - one per metal. The drafters by Brent Weeks manipulate in his Lightbringer series light/colors and the rainlords of Glenda Larke water .

The trick is, the writers try to use the few abilities of their characters in a creative way (Sandersons third law)

Can you say the same about Elric of Melniboné or Gandalf or Elminster? I dont think so. Their magic consists of several very different spells without any common aspect. Their power is more versatile...unpredictable.

And here comes premiss No. 2.

- Their powers are predictable

As a descendant of the first premiss, the magic-users powers are predictable. The readers know more-or-less, what the characters can do with their powers, can make a list with their abilities and therefore the writers can use the magic to solve conflicts (Hard magic based on Sandersons first law).

What about the magic of the wizards of Earthsea by LeGuin? Or of Peter S Beagle or of Patricia McKillip? Well, their powers are not predictable bacause the writers base on the unpredictability of magic, on the mystical atmosphere and the readers have no clue what the wizards can do. (yeah its soft magic).

- Their power bases on their talents/genetics not (only) on learning.

In case of most superheroes the abilities are in the blood. Several superheroes (mutants by marvel) born with that, and another are changed by an accident (think on Spider Man).
Allomancers by Brandon have the power in their blood as well (bases on genetics), even the folks in Elantris needs to have a transformation in their life to use the symbol-magic of the planet. The same is true for the drafters of Brent Weeks, the powder-mages of McClennan. Rainlords of Larke etc.
And how can they use the power? They learn magic from a master (Kelsier) or in a school  (the Chromeria). But first comes the power and only after that the school which is often only needed to learn how to use the instinctive power safe (instead of learn the power from the beginning). Think on Xavier's School for gifted youngsters.
 

The traditional wizard have also talents: they are very talented in magic, but without the education, the secret formulas, cantrips, symbols they can do in many cases nothing. I think, there are a lot of fantasy worlds (worlds of Moorcock or jack Vance) where you can learn magic if you have an appropriate master. You wont be the most talented archwizard but you can learn some tricks. Most "modern" magic systems however bases their system on talents/genetic and even with the most talented master of the world you cant learn a single spell if you are not a magic-user by birth - you are genetically incapable to use magic. 

However even "classic" fantasy uses both types of magic users. Most common example: DnD. Sorcerers use instinctive magic and wizards academic magic.
 

- They have abilities rather than spells

As a consequence of the third premiss, the magic-users of some authors have magical abilities instead of spells. They activate the magic with their mind, use them at-will and need only to practice instead of academic learning. They use magic as a tool, are not researchers themselfes and dont have to master any secret language or understand complex obscure theories.

Ok, most authors dont want to have Superman around, so they develop some limitations - their heroes need to have some resources: metal (Sanderson), (storm)light (Sanderson, Weeks), gunpowder (McClennan), shadows, something...And here comes a difference: this resource-based-ability-setting is different from the typical comic-hero-setting.

Traditional wizards however need more than practice. They need books, secret formulas in ancient languages, symbols, the true names of things (think on Le Guin, Pat Rothfuss, Jack Vance) or even magical components or magic rod etc. And the magic is often activated by movements, by spoken spells not only by thoughts.
 

- They are often phisically strong/fast

A stereotypical wizard is weak and intelligent, a very stereotipical fighter is strong and/or fast and/or intelligent. But the roles are clear and although magic controls reality in a lot of ways, it usually dont make the wizard stronger. Well Elric is made nearly invincible by the sword Stormbringer but this is rather the exemption.

There are some authors however (and these are truly the minority even nowadays) whose heroes are strong/fast and in addition they can do a lot of funny things with their powers without bad, black swords. Szeth, Kaladin or the mistborns of Sanderson, the powder mages of McClennan, the wetboy of Brent Weeks are typical examples. On the contrary of Elric these magic-users are one of their kind, users of a magic system not bearer of unique artifacts.

A middle-field is Cain by Jon Sprunk: he is a trained assassin and magic is only an auxiliary tool. So he is a magic user and a blademaster as well.

This trend described above has its merits. I can remember reading Spider man as a teenager and it "felt" good to be strong, to move between skyscrapers on a web. These magic systems I mentioned bases on the same experience: its cool being strong and can be sympathetic for readers who prefer fighters and for those who prefer magicians.

However, I dont say that this theory of mine would be perfect. Even in case of authors I mentioned you can find direct the opposite. The people of Elantris have magical abilities but without the symbols they cant cast spells, so they are more „classical” wizards than a misting for example. The one thing I wanted was to show you a trend in modern epic fantasy.

I would be glad if you would agree or disagree me. Please discuss with me and in case of agreeing feel free to bring your own examples. 

Thank you.
(P.S. Sorry for the language-mistakes, I am not a native speaker)

In the same article, he has said that the next SA books will come at a frequency of every 18 months, or 24 at most. I am also quite sure that he's promised one big (SA sized) and one small (Alloy of Law sized) each year in the years hence.

 

EDIT: Misquoted the number of months.

Yes, however he has more "open" series now: SA, Reckoners, Mistborn Adventures, Ritmatist (and those long awaited pieces such as Elantris 2). So I personally think that we will get 1 or even 2 smaller books and one SA.

No, he said the Stormlight books would be every 18 to 24 months. However, I personally think that Stormlight 3 will come out in fall 2016. After that I expect every 24 months. We need to get the production time longer (between when Brandon finishes the book and it gets published) so we aren't running around like crazy.

Yes..this was expectable but very sad in the same time

Biggest This post has been reported for attempting to skirt the rules: More of them during HoA such as
- Sazed as a new "god", metals as the bodies of preservation and Ruin, Coloss as former human beings, the creation of the Final Empire/new world by the Lord Ruler (moving the planet, creating ash-eating bacteria).

And as a bonus: as Marsh tried to kill Sazed in WoA
 

As for me I would date Shallan (regarding POV characters)

Guys: Perhaps we should find a girl who is upset because of Adonins behaviour and waiting a man who is truly interested in her

As far as my excitement priority list (ignoring Stormlight sequels). My top four are all set in the new worlds for a reason. 

TOP 4

1. Silence Divine

2. Liar of Partinel

3. White Sand

4. Skyward

 

THE REST

5. Elantris 2

6. Nightblood

7. Shadows of Self

8. Steelheart 1-3

9. Rithmatist sequels. 

As for me I prefer Cosmere-books at most. Non-Cosmere stuff is interesting too in some way, but The Rithmatist didn't convince me. It was rather an fine "side-deviation" (as Brandon mentioned earlier), a good adventure novel, not more.

My priority list:

- 1.Stormlight sequels

- 2. Second/third Mistborn trilogy (faaar away but I'm interested )

- 3.Diverse Wax/Wayne stuff

- 4. Elantris 2

- 5. Nightblood (Warbreaker 2)

- 6. Rithmatist 2

New series: I know nothing about White Sand, Liar of Partinel, Skyward etc, therefore its a bit hard to place them in the list. Sometimes I wish new novels/new worlds more than any Stormlight-sequel, because new worlds hide a lot of new fun, are exciting, etc. But on the other hand, I wish that the series we already know should continue and should end earlier. So I place "New Cosmere novels" after the second Mistborn trilogy on place Nr 3., and "New Non-Cosmere novels" (even Steelheart) after Nightblood.

But: I would be glad if I could read a novel that ties all of the Shard-plotlines together, and here I do not mean the past (Shattering of Adonasium), only the happening in the actual timeline.

My problem with the cover is: it is the second book in the series which has characters on the cover who are not the main POV characters.
Way of Kings: Kaladins book, Dalinar cover
WoR: Shallans book, Kaladin cover.

And Kaladin seems to just posing which is very "cool" but  its a bit funny for me in a fighting scene.

Am I the only one who misses the second Mistborn trilogy from the list? Due to the previous plan it should be published after Stormlight 5. Yes, It is still faaar away, but the list deals also with books that are definitely future projects (Liar of the Partinel, White Sand, etc)

 

I know, i know.... Still, I would like to see WoR as a 1650 page book... One can dream, right?

Perhaps I'm the only fan of Brandon who thinks that his books should be shorter.

By reading his big epic novels I often felt that the dialogues (or monologues) are too long, that some scenes should have been cut, etc.

In case of The Alloy of Law or The Emperor's Soul I didn't have the same feeling. They were wonderful written "compact" works.

Do not misunderstand me: all of Brandons novels are great but I think a "major epic" in 600-pages is (or have the potential to be) a better book than a "major epic" in 1200 pages.

As for me: quantity allows us, readers to have fun longer, but quality means: what is essential for the work, what should be written and what shouln't.

Dear Brandon,

First of all: I love your books and the original magic systems.. Your worldbuilding is something I prefer in my campaigns as a Dungeon Master: complex, which turns the traditional themes of the genre upside down.

And the questions:

1.A few years ago you posted a long post about your future plans on your website:

Do you plan a post like this again or could you perhaps describe the current version of your plans right here?

2. According to the Second law of Sanderson your characters have flaws, weaknesses. What is the reason, that in a lot of them (Vin, Elend, Kaladin, Dalinar, Spook, etc) the most significant weakness is the lack of self-confidence?

3. And related to this last question: most of your heroes are true traditional "heroes", because they want to be useful for the family/society/other, and they often lack selfish, "dirtier" motivations. Will we sometimes see characters, who are not villains but are rather egocentric?

4. Do you plan a magic system which enables the character to manipulate the four elements with their will? I mean not so bounded, like Allomancy with Pushing or Pulling but shaping/summoning the elements according to the wishes of the person. I ask this, because in the whole fantasy genre I rarely find something like this (except: Arc Magica RPG), so I had to develop it myself at home . But from the authors I know you are the person who has the creativity to do this without doubt.

5. Are the intelligent sprens like Syl the “seons of Roshar”?

6. As Dalinar gave his Shardblade to Highprince Sadeas, was his motivation only to free the Brigdemen as “Thank you” for the help? Or did he already plan to build a team from soldiers who are loyal only to him?

7. When will be see the whole Cosmere-concept (Shards, the plans of Hoid) at the level of the books? In the third Mistborn trilogy or earlier? In which books do you plan to finish the “hidden story” which connects all your earlier books?

8. A bit RAFO but: Is Szeth bounded to the Oathstone (master) with magic/force or just with his honour? As I can remember, in the end of WoK he nearly killed Taravangian.

At last, I want to say thank you for your work, for your wonderful books.

Balázs, a Hungarian fan of yours

Hi!

In my opinion, the Oathstone is just a stone, only the word and honor of Szeth binds him. I prefer the theory about losing the Surgebinding-abilities so that the honor (or Honor ) is required for his magic to work.

Something different:

In TWoK page 29 Szeth is thinking about Shardplates:

Szeth didn't own a set of Plate himself, and didn't care to. His Lashings interfered with the gemstones that powered Shardplate, and he had to choose one or the other.

My question is: if it's truth, why can be Surgebinding (Lashings) the magic of the Knight Radiants (in this case of the Windrunners)? Their plates should have interfered with their magic....