Ward

I had thought that too, but upon review...

In the Epilogue to The Way of Kings I noticed that Wit refers to "Talenel's" (ugh. Brandon you cagey weasel) Blade as a Shardblade instead of an Honorblade. "And then a bright, silvery blade rammed between the massive doors, slicing upward, cutting the bar that held them closed. A Shardblade." Wouldn't Wit know that this was no mere Shardblade? Wouldn't he know it was an Honorblade?

There were a lot of Sander-hints these chapters about the swirling patterns being significant somehow

A ton of human civil pattern is based on regulation of sexual relationships. Society is one big mating dance. If you were asexual, slowly becoming more aware, would you not find this fascinating? I give Brandon props for keeping it PG-13, but still lightly exploring an idea that naturally crops up due to his worldbuilding

Wild unsubstantiated theory: Dalinar "The Blackthorn" is Odium's champion. Think about chapter 3. Think of the poetry of having new Dalinar shudder at the figure in chapter 1. Think about the Sleepless foreshadowing on the back of WoK. "One of them will destroy us."

I have never been so glad to live in the Pacific Time Zone. New chapters at 9:01pm every Monday baby!

I nearly lost my mind last night when Tor *only* released the Prologue. (I was expecting 3 chapters). I was so geared up, and I had already read most of the prologue with a teaser release a while back. I'll just read it again several times. Ain't NO heralds slipping past me this time.

I'm not up on the grand library of theories, but I just thought of this one, so forgive me if it's old and tired. BRAIZE = YOLEN. Mankind (native to Yolen) were kicked out of the Tranquiline Halls where Damnation now is. Yolen was (presumably) the residence of Adonalsium, or at least proximate enough for the 16 to get at it, and they were definitely from Yolen. And the classic WOB regarding "Has Hoid ever been to Braize?" "(Mad giggling) RAFO! The biggest RAFO!"

I'm actually glad about this. I've occasionally wished for the discipline to not binge-read. Make it last longer, not lose sleep, catch more fine details, etc. Parts 2-5 will still be binge-read because I can't help it.

You wish your emoji keyboard had spren. "I scored the most awesome goal at soccer today <gloryspren>"

Just throwing it out there. A talented developer-type Sharder really ought to make some emoticons representing the spren classified thus far. I never use emojis, but I would use the h*ck out of Spren-mojis.

I can't ever say enough good things about Emperor's Soul. It's a tight, award-winning story, and the best primer on the fundamentals of magic in the Cosmere.

That has to be the best feeling in the world.

Just when I thought I couldn't love Brandon any more...

Ha, I was just reading TWOK last night and Jasnah was raising all kind of eyebrows at Shallan

I just started reading the Stormlight Archive to my wife. We've just made it to the Shattered Plains, and I had to clarify the known differences between Parshmen and Parshendi. Summarized for her current knowledge, Parshmen are a low-intelligence slave class, and the Parshendi look like them, kinda, but are a developed, intelligent society. Parshendi translates to "Parshmen who can think." Kaladin was surprised at their presence in the camps, then shrugged it off. Wife: "They're totally gonna be the Ood." Me: "Huh?" Wife: "All docile until they get their minds taken over and turn on their masters." I then went to the Internet and found this gem: "The Ood were originally a hive mind led by the Ood Brain, using their hindbrain to "sing" with each other. The colour of an Ood's eyes changed with the level of telepathic activity, normally glowing bright-red but turning to white when not connected to a hive mind. Humans, who only knew the Ood in their telepathy-disabled form, misinterpreted the presence of red eyes as a disease, known as "red-eye". (TV: Planet of the Ood) Under the control of House, one Ood's eyes glowed green. (TV: The Doctor's Wife)" Wow. She is really good. I repeat. We are on chapter 8 of WoK.

...you start yelling "RAFO!" at people.

I completely missed this in WW era. Can you provide a quote? See this is what I'm confused about. What determines what phase the Shard's "body" takes? If I understand correctly, All the physical manifestations, be they mist, pool, or bead, make up the total of the Shard's body. Why is Ruin's power diminished just because he doesn't know where his body is? How is this done? Thank you for the reference to "The Black Lake," I completely missed that. It makes sense that this is below Hathsin, but why/how is Atium produced in those geodes? What returns to the source? What is left after the atium is burned? Why does only the liquid pool at the perpendicularity? Why would pure Investiture coalesce there too? I meant what's the connection between the Shard's physical body (whether it be mist, pool, or bead) and the mind controlling the power? How was Ruin's cognitive self trapped while his physical self roamed free? I didn't mean "see" the metal, I already knew he couldn't do that, I more meant why didn't he just know or feel where his body was? I don't have to see my hand to know where it is. And to clarify my last question. Regarding all the answers to the above, what have we seen in WW era that shows that Harmony has the same powers/limitations?

I've read Mistborn era 1 twice, as well as the rest of the Cosmere, and have visited Coppermind.net, numerous times. But I can't quite get a grasp on how exactly the shard magic on Scadrial works. Regarding the physical form of the Shards: Solid=metal, liquid=shardpool, gas=mist? But... Where is Ruin's mist? How come there are only two beads of Lerasium and lots more of Atium? Where is Atium's liquid? What is the phase change process? Once burned, how does it recycle? If the solid/liquid/gas are the physical aspects of the shards, why are the cognitive aspects of the vessels so detached? Or are they? Why can Ati not sense his own body through metal? Once Harmony is in charge, how do all those aspects transfer to him consistently?

I love me some Cosmere, but I'm still murky on the mechanics of everything that happened in Mistborn era 1. I would love to believe that it's a true RAFO and some stuff that went down will receive further clarification. For example I'm still very shaky on the gaseous, liquid, and physical forms of the shards, and how they relate to the actual vessels (Ati and Leras). I felt like it's the most hand-waving Brandon has ever done, which is still pretty good.

I third publication order, especially since your friend is already hooked. In general though, if you're trying to hook someone new, I'd recommend leading out with Emperor's Soul. It's short and a perfect look at what Brandon has to offer. Then I'd supply Mistborn era 1. Then publication order.

Welcome! It looks like you're pretty caught up in the Cosmere. Now for a real treat start diving into the interviews Brandon has given, where he answers questions involving the Cosmere's inner workings. If a question touches a spoiler, Brandon says, "RAFO!" (Read And Find Out) http://www.theoryland.com/listintv.php

When you're reading someone else, and there's an obvious worldbuilding exploitable loophole, but it never gets explained or used.

You see a thick, worn paperback on a table, and you get irrationally excited thinking it might be a Sanderson book, but no, it's a dictionary

Ooo oo! Sanderson's Laws are a good one. How he designs his magic systems. http://coppermind.net/wiki/Sanderson's_Laws_of_Magic