DjangoJe

I dont get on here often but i spotted something in the words of brandon that i think was maybe missed, or perhaps just isnt as significant as I think. Alternatively, maybe it has already been noticed and no ones updated the coppermind article yet. 

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B-more_freshout

I think [Brandon] would benefit a lot from finding some kind of way in-universe to convey when we can be certain that the character is dead. Something like what we see of Vin and Elend in Secret History after they die. I think that he was trying to prove how definite their death was.. I don't know how he could realistically or smoothly accomplish this, but I think that until we see some proof beyond what is normally expected to see for a death, we can't be 100% sure that anyone is dead.

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, I've been thinking about this. Spoilers below.

The issue is, resurrection is a major theme of the cosmere. The very first line of the first chapter of the first cosmere book starts with someone dying. The story is about his return to life.

The death of Adonalsium, and the questions surrounding the persistence of his power, is THE single pervasive theme of the works. And so, I've returned to this theme multiple times--from Sazed's more metaphorical rebirth in Mistborn Three to Syl's more literal one in Words of Radiance.

At the same time, the more this theme continues, the more it undermines the reader's ability to believe someone is really dead--and therefore their tension at worrying over the safety of characters. So we need a better "Dead is dead" indication, otherwise every death will turn into Sirius Black, with readers being skeptical for years to come.

So, let's just say it's something I'm aware of. Josh, of the 17th Shard, was the first one to raise the issue with me years ago. We need a balance between narrative drama and cosmere themes of rebirth.

dce42

I figured nightblood was your answer to dead is dead.

Brandon Sanderson

He's certainly AN answer. But there are way more ways to kill someone in the cosmere--I just need to be more clear on how that works, giving the right indications to readers.

source

What I'm talking about is the part where Brandon seemingly confirms that Adonalsium was a person and in fact, a man. 

"The death of Adonalsium, and the questions surrounding the persistence of his power..."

Maybe not a human, but it definitely seems to confirm that Adonalsium was a male gendered entity. 

Its behind the tennis building at the Smith feild house. We just hit #17. The line check in is here

Just got off the phone with the bookstore. The line has been moved to the Smith feild house. I'm going right now to check it out