Iredomi

I think I should have just kept reading rather than making this post from in my feelings. I do think sovereignty can look a lost less grim than forcing the humans off roshar but yeah it's going to be complicated. Proceeding with trust that Sanderson has earnt but with some doubts in him nailing it totally. Though a friend reminded me that it's best he writes a lot from the alethi perspective because it provides more space to critique that power structure.

(spoilers for Oathbringer) So... I'm making this post having not read Rhythm of War or Dawnshard, and maybe my concerns will be assuaged by reading those books (don't mind spoilers for any of the books btw). Was anyone else just like very suddenly on the Singers/Listeners side with the reveal that humans on Roshar are essentially invaders? And also feel a bit gross about Odium being nominally on the Singers side too... But also understand the desperation, and power of his manipulation. (I think hatred of your oppressors is absolutely legitimate and historically a powerful fuel for justice movements.) I just don't see a justifiable outcome to these books at this point except for Singer sovereignty over their land returned (and no, Nightblood just because no one can own land it doesn't mean that no one can have sovereignty over it, I've seen this argument from racists too often for it to sit well with me). I'm just very very concerned about a white author dealing with this in any way that doesn't fall into gross both-sides-ism especially when one side was colonised and enslaved by the other! Interested to hear other people's thoughts on this. Just want to note I am speaking from my own perspective as an Indigenous person so topics like colonization really hit close to home.

Especially balancing the large canon it's always going to involve consideration. But I do wish his recharge books were just short things he didn't have to deal with publishing. But contracts be contracts and people do like his ya books.

So I just finished Oathbringer after a three year break from reading any fantasy and it was fantastic! I was wondering what would be best to read before Rhythm of War, the Cosmere I haven't read yet are, White Sand Graphic Novels, Dawnshard & Bands of Mourning. Would it be best to read these before getting into Rhythm of War?

This is kind of a response to concerns about Brandon not writing enough, other writers being involved in the Cosmere and him becoming a household name. And the whole idea of being against YA. Firstly I truly think it was a mistake that he told us his plan broadly, I get and love his transparency in most things; authors that turn writing into this mystical thing annoy me. But yeah he should have just not told us his plans cos now we have frankly a huge checklist of Cosmere stuff that may or may not happen. His series working in isolation is actually something I'm super thankful now. We might not get many of the stories he's planned and I think we should be fine with that. Other people writing in the Cosmere makes me go no no no no at first but it could work. I'm worried that his books will either overshadow or be overshadowed by other authors in his own world... Still not sure either way on that. At this moment in time I probably wouldn't read them. Does Brandon need more money? Does he need more people reading him than already are? The idea of adaptations for his work leaves me cold especially a Cosmere cinematic universe. Mcu is one of the worst things to happen to film and the death of the middle budget film is really bad for creative expression in that field. I don't want something like that happening with Brandon's work which are self contained and satisfying stories that have the flexibility afforded to them by being literature rather than relying on actors availability and all that. Mcu can't ever be the best version of itself because it has to compromise too much and uses that as a crutch "next time we'll tell a story with stakes and tension and repercussions I swear". Of course à Cosmere cu probably wouldn't have to be like that but I think it's kind of a waste of time and money when the books are there. Maybe too cynical about that. His YA books are unreadable because he thinks YA is about condescending to the reader when in fact ALL and I mean all of his work could be sold YA. So when he writes YA he just ends up talking down to the reader. Steelheart for example is super bad for this and is one of the worst books I've ever read. I agree with the point about him writing the ya books and not publishing them I don't think we would lose anything from that. This got a lot spicier than I meant it to. And this is all my probably wrongheaded opinion obviously. Another very tangential thing but fits the thread topic: people not including the shorter stories in their Cosmere ranked YouTube videos just prove to me they don't care or appreciate some of Sanderson's best written works.

I haven't read it and will probably wait until more volumes are out but how do people feel about the whole it not going to be a prose novel now we have this?

If we're going to fancast for stormlight I think having any white actor playing anyone other than Szeth is a big no no.

Cult of Luna are freaking awesome!

that's a great album I've been listening the World is a beautiful place and i am no longer afraid to die's new album Harmlessness

I bought an ebook of elantris that was supposed to be the updated version but alas was not... sigh.

Sixth of the Dusk if you haven't because that is nice and short and pretty interesting. But Well of Ascension for next proper one I would say.

I've decided to approach Sanderson's Cosmere works as a thought experiment on religion, how they form, how they shape world views, what assumptions are made and the power relationship involved. Will start with how real world beliefs (so Platonic ideals etc.) form the foundation for how the reality of the Cosmere works/is constructed. Then go on to see how in-world religions relate to real world religions and what Sanderson's works have to say about them. I am aware this line of investigation is quite broad at the moment. But it is something I see as having real potential.