Stormrunner1730

Thanks for posting this here (although I'll definitely be following the Discord)! My hype is steadily increasing haha.

That sounds good! I'll use the Discord then. That makes sense. There are a few panels my friends and I want to go to, but it would be really cool to meet some people from the community!

Okay, so I have a few questions in regards to meeting up. Are people from the site/community planning on meeting up at any particular time (I also don't want to be awkwardly presumptive/intrude on any plans that have been made)? And are people planning on going to any of the panels together (I have a few that I'm definitely looking at- besides all three Saturday Sanderson track ones)? Would it also be better to talk about this on the Discord? Sorry for the many questions haha.

I'm not sure if people have done many in-person meetups before, but I was wondering if people living in Chicago would want to meetup sometime. It would be great to meet more Sanderson fans in person!

Yeah I'll be there all three days! I'm excited for the panels and official content, but am looking forward to meeting people from the community in an informal context even more. I've been listening to fan podcasts (Shardcast, The Legendarium and Inking Out Loud in particular) for years (as well as recording my own with my friend), so I'm super excited to meet people from the community in-person.

Okay! That sounds pretty cool. And ohh that makes sense as far as pivot charts go.

That sounds really cool! Excuses to use new dice are always fun haha. I would definitely want to meetup with people from the site if possible.

No problem! How does the ebook let you pull word counts for POVs? Or is that not the right question? Haha. And that's cool! Did you generate the graphs and charts in Excel as well?

For anyone going the Jordancon 2021, are people planning to do some sort of smaller social gathering there? Maybe to discuss more Brandon/cosmere stuff? I've never gone before and wasn't sure if people from the site got together or anything (I'll also be going with two friends who I record fantasy/sci-fi book podcasts with). Obviously, this year will be different, but I was wondering what people typical do as far as socializing goes.

I really liked the episode and kind of wanted to be part of that discussion live haha. This was probably one of my favorite episodes you've done- because of the different perspectives/challenges to some of the unintentional consequences of Brandon's plotting. I particularly liked your discussion of how we (as readers) react to different characters (and different types of evil). Grey made some great points about righteous anger not really being a thing in Brandon's books. I hadn't really looked at anger in Stormlight from the perspective of "Kaladin gets superpower powers because he falls in line. Even though he was totally right to be pissed at Roshone, Amaram, etc." (I'm paraphrasing you guys, but I hope you understand what I mean haha). I also totally agree that the Kaladin v. Amaram fight in OB wasn't nearly as satisfying as it could have been (which is honestly kind of okay since the rest of the book's climax is so incredible haha). I think it was Eric saying this, but I agree that it could have been a more personal confrontation and another milestone for Kaladin's character. It could have been a reckoning for Amaram's hypocrisy, but was instead Kaladin vs. an incomplete Unmade crystal monster haha. However, I think this goes to something you guys were talking about a few episodes ago- Brandon could probably write slightly "better" books, but then he probably wouldn't be able to write everything he wants to write (cosmere and not-cosmere-wise). For the record, I'm team This post has been reported for attempting to skirt the rules Moash haha. I hope he doesn't get a redemption arc (I think it's likely that he'll end up in a place where we'll pity him, but not sympathize with him by the end of book 5- like you guys said). However, I think the conversation you had about who is "allowed" to be redeemed is important. Said redemption must also involve the character doing the work (ala Zuko or Endeavor from My Hero Academia- that one is more complicated though haha). If done correctly, a Moash redemption arc could possibly work, but I don't think the story has been setup for that. Anyways, great episode and I'm looking forward to the next one!

@Ramona TehradinI like this alot overall. I generally agree that it's odd that people find actions like the Blackthorn's more acceptable (in light of his redemption) than how Kaladin deals with his depression. I personally really liked that Kaladin's arc in this book was not about him swooping in and saving the day (although he does do that at several points haha). However, I can see how people could be frustrated with how Kaladin deals with his depression (particularly if their own personal experience would lead them to react this way). People having different opinions about characters (not named Moash haha) makes the series more interesting to me. I think it's a testament to Brandon's writing that he can have characters as different as Kaladin and Shallan, but have people equally excited about them for different reasons.

@Kingsdaughter613Hmm. I'm really sorry about your experiences. I think that this is a case where different people can deal with stuff differently? Obviously, not all instances of depression are the same. So I think it's totally possible to have some people really relate to how Kaladin is written in this book and for other people to really not like it (and understandably so). I think Brandon made a strong creative choice to really go in-depth with Kaladin's feelings and depressive thoughts. That was really powerful for me, because I was able to see one of my favorite characters experience those thoughts and overcome them. I personally don't see this as Kaladin "wallowing" in the pain, but rather really going to a dark place to come out stronger on the other side. However, I can totally see how those POVs would be really tough to read and be more unhelpful if they could be triggering, etc. So it makes sense to me that seeing Kaladin deal with the same thoughts over and over would be draining for you (given what you said about your suicidal thoughts and how you try to push through those weeks). Basically I think it's possible to both see Kaladin's struggle as relatable and inspiring, but also frustrating from a dfferent point of view (i.e. we're both "correct" haha). I hope I didn't misconstrue or misrepresent what you were trying to say! I also think it's important to have discussions like this about different points of view on these deeper and more personal issues (even if we don't agree with people on a given topic).

This is awesome! What tools/programs did you use for this?

I think I heard somewhere that it was the Wit/Hoid epilogue? He's definitely mentioned being excited about this particular epilogue before (but I'm not sure if it's the same the big Stormlight/cosmere scene that he's also talked about. Probably that scene or the Odium switch?

I'm sure this has already been posted about, but I really appreciated Kaladin's arc in this book. I think it was important for him to have a more introspective/internal conflict (even though he still does alot of fighting haha). It's great how his depression doesn't just "go away," because that's not how it works (at least in my experience). I haven't dealt with PTSD, but I've dealt with (at least what I've viewed as) more situational depression, and I think the depiction of that part of Kaladin's mental health was spot on. I've been where Kaladin was (in the scene where he breaks down in his room) and that was depicted pretty realistically to my experience (so I appreciated that authenticity alot). I also loved how Adolin and Syl collaborate/conspire to take Kaladin out to the bar so that he's with friends. I adore the subsequent bar scene and really appreciate that Brandon included this scene to show that even this seemingly small gesture by Adolin helps Kaladin get out of his head for a few hours and relax. Syl and Adolin know that Kaladin needs to be with people and to not feel alone, and think that's super important and really sweet.

Okay, long post incoming- I just need to get my thoughts out haha. Spoilers for all of RoW, and light spoilers for the rest of the cosmere.

I think Nale and the Skybreakers who follow him are supporting the Pashendi/Listeners/Singers. They'll listen to Odium's instruction insofar as it aligns with the Singers as the "law of the land," but I wouldn't say that Nale is Team Odium. I think whether or not other Skybreakers follow in Szeth's footsteps remains to be seen. I'd think that at least a few more will not directly follow Nale, but I don't think we have enough info right now to determine that.

Say what you will about the movie, but "What Are You Going To Do When You're Not Saving The World" by Hans Zimmer (From the Man of Steel soundtrack) is one of the most epic tracks ever. I associate it with the first time Kaladin "flies" (read- falls. Remember, "the enemy's gate is down" haha).

It's definitely Brandon's best work language-wise. While I favor Mistborn and Stormlight because of their scope and characters, Emperor's Soul is a great story.

Yeah I should re-word the original post haha. So my main thing is that Sanderson is saying something big and important about humanity and life. His life philosophy (paraphrased, there is a WOB somewhere, but I don't have it on-hand) is that people are good. I think his ultimate message with Stormlight will be that following the Oaths/sticking to your personal moral code/fully-actualizing yourself as a person leads to some sort of catharsis moment. I absolutely agree that there will be tragedy by the end of the series (probably either in the form of Roshar being destroyed, but Odium losing, etc). I'm not quite sure how I feel about Nalthis as the human refuge because Brandon has said that he wants the series to be (relatively) self contained. But I think some sort of mass human refugee migration is very possible. Anyways, I don't think Brandon will have the protagonists of his Magnum Opus as examples of how not-to-act as a person (unless you count Moash/Vyre as a protagonist haha). The Radiants are people that we strive to be and exemplify the best that humanity is capable of (while obvioulsy all being super flawed people haha). At this point, I'm back to rambling (haha), but basically I think Brandon will want the series to end in a hopeful light (ala Mistborn era 1, but different) and give us (the audience) a reason to strive to be Radiants in our own lives. Now, he could just subvert everything I just said haha. He could be using certain parts of the Radiants as warnings about sticking to a dogma, being inflexible, etc (depending highly on the Order haha). However, i still think that ultimately the series will have a looking-hopefully-to-the-future ending (even though it will certainly be very bitter-sweet).

Oooh that would make sense. @Barbarian AL, what you said also makes sense. I'm sure the ending will not be cookie-cutter (that would be boring and very un-Sanderson-like). It would be interesting int Team Radiant lost (per Hoid's WoR story). I'm just trying to parce out the larger point about humanity that Sanderson will try to make with the ending.

So this is more just me rambling than any theory. This might be kind of obvious/stated before, but the Radiants ultimately have to win because of their Oaths. They have to win because they've been persevering through their personal issues and upholding their Oaths. Odium will have to lose for opposite reasons. For example, Sanderson will ultimately not have Moash/Vyre be successful since he took the "easy way out". Sanderson will want an ending that ultimately sheds a positive light on being the person you say you are (walking the walk), and pushing through your own issues to achieve this. Again, this probably seems obvious to alot of people, but does it make sense?

Can you explain where you're drawing this conclusion from? As I understand things, she doesn't create Veil until well after arriving in the Shattered Plains, as a disguise for infiltrating the Ghostbloods. Veil doesn't even take on more human characteristics (independent of Shallan's normal ones) until several chapters into Oathbringer. Secondly, regarding your statement about WoR, there is no, as I see it, textual evidence to support your statement that she believes she has multiple personalities in that book. With regards to believing herself to have multiple personalities, I'm not sure how much you know about DID but generally speaking, the host personality in this case is unaware of the other personalities. They may be aware that they exist, but they do not usually share memories or thoughts the way Shallan does with her personas. I'll re-phrase this. Shallan seemed to think of the personalities as separate from herself (whenever she would refer to how "Veil" or "Radiant" would react in a certain situation. I admittedly don't really know much of anything about DID, so I can't really speak to that (I apologize for any assumptions). So in that way, what I said was incorrect. I'm quoting this a second time because I want to address it specifically. In the battle of Thaylen Field, it is important to note that both Veil and Radiant are still Shallan. Oathbringer is an identity crisis for Shallan as she tries to balance who she wants to be with who she thinks she should be and who she believes she really is. What Veil and Radiant are, is they're really magically augmented masks--they have no life of their own and are wholly dependent on Shallan for their existence. What you're seeing at the battle on Thaylen field is a lightweaving projection of those two personas coupled, with Shallan's physical body--this is kind of akin to what Hoid did during his conversation with Shallan prior to this. However, if you go back to the Battle scene, you'll discover that Shallan is all three at once, not all three independently, which is what would occur if these were multiple personalities. Finally, there is a Word of Brandon on the subject: This is a strong indication that they are not separate identities, but are, in fact, all Shallan. I can go into more detail as to why, though for that I would first point you to my comments in the Adolin-Shallan-Kaladin thread and elsewhere on the shard, since I've talked about this a lot. If you still would like to see further analysis, I have an analysis thread that, as I reread the entire Stormlight trilogy thus far, I will be updating for a better understanding of the character. I totally see your point about both her arc in Oathbringer and that WOB. I completely agree about Shallan's arc in Oathrbinger being about her wrestling with different ideas of herself. In regard to the alignments (I had initially said I thought Shallan was Chaotic Good), I was more thinking that these three personas could have Shallan acting differently in different situations, which could be kind of sporadic (i.e. Shallan out at a bar with Adolin is different than Veil at a bar gathering information). Does that make sense? Or am I talking myself into circles with that now? Haha

Yeah, that was bad phrasing. I more meant that his moral code is a little more flexible (you could totally argue against this). But Kaladin didn't feel like he knew whether to protect his Singer friends or City Watch friends. And I guess now that I'm actually typing this out, I'm more seeing your point haha. But it's an interesting dilemma.

I like both of these alot (especially the Szeth and Nale viewpoint here). However, with Nightblood, I feel like its Intent of "destroying evil" has to give it some sort of Chaotic bent, as it's entirely dependent on what it wants in the moment. Yeah I see this with Nale, as his perspective is what changed in OB, rather than how he approaches morality. Oooh i really like this. I'm not sure I agree with it, but I think this is the central question of Kaladin's arc in WoR. I guess I'll agree with this statement since alot of other Windrunners so far have a similar "personal code" thing. I personally see Kaladin as too conflicted to be Lawful good (he froze up when he couldn't decide which part of his moral "protection" code to follow in the Kholinar palace battle, among other reason obviously haha). I totally agree with Lift, and was trying to figure out how I'd place her. I see this argument with Szeth (i.e. Taravangian compared Dalinar). I agree with your Shallan statement to an extent. Through much of WoR and OB, Shallan believes she has multiple personalities (or at least sees her personas as independent of herself until the Thaylen Field battle moment), and so I think she can function as Chaotic Good depending on when in her story arc she is. I'll also add Taravangian as Chaotic Neutral in WoK and most of OB. However, at the end of OB I'd say he's Neutral Evil, since he's prescribing himself partially to Odium's agenda.