ConfusedCow

@Mestiv perhaps you're right. As you say there are things I can't see.

The leaders of this site seem like great people. Honestly, I like this site and it is well run and I bet it takes a lot of work. I don't get though why there's such an effort to discourage a heated debate about Brandon's Politics? I'm thinking about NattyBo's post on silence. Yeah, some people might be upset but isn't talking about politics with people we disagee with a good thing? More importantly and the point of my post is that Brandon's politics are a key part of his books. Racism, social structures, oppression, these are themes Brandon brings up again and again. Books like his are meant to cast a contrast and raise questions about our own society. Understanding his personal views about racism effect the experience of reading his books. His art cannot be held apart and seperated from him as individual. If the point of this site is to discuss Brandon's works we have to discuss his politics. The same way one could not take a course on Shakespeare without discussing, his religion(I'm convinced he was Catholic), or his views on women, or indeed his views on race. I wish moderators would let people argue, maybe ask people to elevate their discussion instead of abandon it.

Did Brandon make an hour glass shape in the air with his hand when he said "things like this"?

Responding to Solant's point, I did reread the bits with Ialai in WOR. You make a good point they are very close, honest with each, intimate in the way the touch each other. I do think, however, this is the kind of intimacy you get after a long companionship not fiery passion. Also to state the obvious it is possible to be interested/love more than one person at a time. The wife always knows about the mistress. So, yeah Nellac I do think Navani should worry about her old friend.

Still wishing we had some more Brandon Sanderson books to read instead of watching the horrific collapse of our country. Though this week I'd settle for a statement about racism and injustice. I agree with NattyBo's post about silence. I do think, however, that Brandon communicates best in his books. This week I reread the way of kings chapter Justice, one of my favorite moments. Navani walks up to Sadeas paints the ketek Justice on the ground, says a prayer, and lights it on fire. Maybe don't actually do that. However, you choose to seek justice, be safe, be strong, and stand united. Also, check out my other Blackmail Theories, Hoid's Holiday and Lift's Gifts. Blackmail Theory: Seducing Sadeas Sadeas is treacherous, conniving, power hungry and ruthless in the best way. He is also surprisingly loyal. He is loyal to Gavilar all through the unification war. He is loyal to Elhokar for six years on the shattered plains. Sadeas and Gavilar took a lot of risks, fought duels, waged war. Gavilar got shards, lands, a kingdom and a crown. What did Sadeas get? Does anyone think his goal was to have a good king for Alethkar? My theory is that he wasn't loyal to Gavilar. He was loyal to Navani. By loyal of course I mean getting all up in her sleave. Turn on your Shaggy sound tracks now. "Dalinar Kholin is mine, and I am his. (Navani) YOU HAVE BROKEN OATHS BEFORE. (Stormfather) (OB 58)" I've got nothing but love for Navani, but you've got to admit she has a thing for powerful men and she goes for what she wants. She 'practically seduces' Dalinar. She doesn't care about tradition and she never loved Gavilar. She and Gavilar were very different people. Gavilar didn't share his secrets or his plans involving the Sons of Honor with her. As Gavilar lay dying he didn't spare a thought or a word for her. Gavilar loved his kingdom. He saw Navani as part of that, a jewel on his crown. Sadeas by contrast wasn't always a red-faced, aging, lump of evil dough. The red-faced thing is likely the result of excess drinking. When he was younger, Sadeas was powerful, a skilled swordsman, well dressed, intelligent, and more interested in Navani than Gavilar was. We get some glimpses into Sadeas's mind. We see that he doesn't really love Ialai. Their marriage is based on a shared cunning ruthlessness and a love of power. Sadeas and Ialai literally scratch each others backs. Sadeas covets things, gemhearts, shards, ryshadium, kingdoms. He doubtless coveted Gavilar's finest jewel. Navani and Sadeas must have been around each other on campaigns and at court. All of this is to say, there was plenty of opportunity and motive here. Let us imagine that Sadeas and Navani did have an affair. Navani keeps stringing Sadeas along, the occassional late night tryst. Sadeas hating Gavilar but staying by his side so he can be close to Navani. Then Gavilar dies and Sadeas comes to the shattered plains. Sadeas can at last marry her and have what he wants, but she's in mourning and he's married so he waits some more. Perhaps she leads him on a bit to keep him loyal to her son. Then Navani chooses to follow her heart and be with the man who has always loved her, always seen her for herself. She choses Dalinar, a stupid, brutish, Kholin, again. It almost makes you feel bad for Sadeas. It explains his mysterious loyalty and his terrible hatred for Dalinar. Alright, I know this theory has run on a bit. It does sound a bit more G.R.R.M. than Sanderson, but Sanderson does try to push himself into new things. I have some more evidence if people need convincing, but I'll just add one more speculation. What if Jasnah is Sadeas's daughter? Both are well dressed, black haired, cunning, ruthless, and power hungry. What if Jasnah's childhood lunacy is her knowing the truth about her parents? Did Adolin kill Jasnah's father? Does Jasnah have a blood right to the throne? How upset is Dalinar going to be when Ialai tells everyone? The most important words a man can say, "I will remember that my wife is always right."

Still trying to get Brandon to send out book 4 early. I loved the response to my previous post Blackmail Theory: Lift's Gifts. Brandon send me book 4 or I'll just keep reading your books and talking about how much I like them. ... Do it. Blackmail Theory #2: Hoid's Holiday "Tell me what you know, Wit. (Jasnah) I once spent the better part of a year inside of a large stomach, being digested." (WOR Epilogue, 1094). Also there was a good find of a reference to Hoid in Edgedancer from Skaa, that has him winking at Lift and then jumping into a Marabethian Greatshell's mouth. So what was Hoid doing on holiday in a greatshell's stomach? Why did he chill out there for the better part of a year? Has he been eaten by more than one nightmarish crab creature? Hoid has the skills to hide without being digested, nor is he simply crazy no matter how he may sometimes act. I suggest that he is doing what he often does, searching for rare and powerful magical artifacts. In this case perfect gemstones. The greatshells must feed on all the things littering the floor of the reshi sea, lesser greatshells, the rotting carcases of the tai na, each other. The stomach of each must be littered with thousands of undigestable gemhearts, grisely trophies of past meals. Why bother? Hoid doesn't want wealth and he can pickpocket Shallan whenever he feels like it. He wants a perfect gemstone, so he can he capture an unmade (Sja-Anat?) and add to his ever growing collection of magical artifacts. Hoid gave Jasnah a valuable piece of information, while making it look like he was giving Jasnah a bit of useless nonsense, knowing that Jasnah would dismiss it because he's a clever boy. Brandon gave us a valuable piece of information, while making it look like he was giving us a bit of useless nonsense, knowing that we would dismiss it because he's a sadist of questionable parentage.

This is a fun theory. I don't really buy it though. You're explaining the same thing twice, first he doesn't break because he's a double agent, then he doesn't break because he's in love. There's a corollary of occam's razor here. Maybe he doesn't break after Aharietiam because he's still Odium's agent, and Odium is letting humanity/Knight's Radiant destroy themselves? Still don't really buy it...

I want Brandon to release book 4 early since we're all stuck in various kinds of purgatory. Brandon unsurprisingly did not simply mail me draft #4. So I've decided to release all my best theories about the stormlight archive until he releases the book or sends me a t-shirt or something. It's not a great plan. Blackmail Theory #1: Lift's Gifts So Lift is everyone's favorite character. In a world filled with weird powers she stands out, not just a surgebinder but gifted by the nightwatcher to exist partly in the cognitive realm. Wyndle asks "But why? ... Why did she give you this incredible talent?" (WOR 708) We get one hint. The Stormfather meets Lift in a vision and rumbles "That woman! This is a creation specifically meant to defy my will!" and then adds "That child is tainted by the Nightwatcher" (OB 470). At first glance, I thought the Stormfather just hated eavesdropping but maybe... Lift can heal spren, perhaps with the help of someone prepared to reswear the oaths and bond the spren. I imagine her grafting Maya's soul onto Adolins. People have tried and failed to heal broken spren before. Lift is something new, she can touch them in both the cognitive and physical realms. The Stormfather has lost faith in humans. He doesn't wish for Spren and humans to bond again because he thinks humans will betray and kill them. Lift by healing the dead spren can mend the terrible hurt of the Recreance. Perhaps she can even help the mysterious sibling. The Nightwatcher chose Lift for this gift because she has the soul of an edgedancer and sent her to raise an army of radiants to stand against Odium.

Signing books is pretty obviously not essential. Writing books on the other hand... Covid is serious. I know people are getting tired of being locked up. I have twin three year olds. I tear up when I drive by the play ground. We all need to take this as seriously as we can, lives depend on it.

A thoughtful and kind response.

The first half of the book, a novella, even a statement to the fans would mean a lot.

I'm asking Brandon to find a way to release book 4 or an early version of it on the internet in the next few weeks. A lot of us are heading into very hard times right now. We need a distraction, something better than Tiger King. But we need more than that. We need to know how to care like Kaladin does. We need to know how to put ourselves back together piece by piece like Shallan. We need Dalinar's leadership even in the face of terrible odds, his hope, his courage. We even need Jasnah's detachment. I know I'm asking Brandon to compromise his work and vision, to rush the process and produce an imperfect product. I'm asking him to give up money. We need this now. This is a time for heroes and Brandon you are ours. Life before death. - Clark

1. same length 2. Just once ... draws finger across throat 3. All prayers would work instantly and perfectly... according to the rules found in appendix vii of the bibles arcanum. 4. No, who would dare mess with the word of Brandon 5. and then queen

Good point about the blacksmith-type, cohesion or possibly tension ?

If each type of fused has access to one surge and there are only nine types of fused, then the fused don't have access to all ten surges. (There might be some end around... Yelig-nar) Which surge? What are the implications? How can the knights radiant use that? Definately not - gravitation, illumination, abrasion Probably not - progression (saw fused regrow), transportation (saw fused in shadesmar), division (saw an extra toasty aimian in a flashback, plus I don't see odium missing out on this one) Possibly - transformation, adhesion, cohesion, tension. My guess here is cohesion or transformation. Possibly they use transformation when they change forms, but cant use it in the conventional soulcasting way. Possibly cohesion is used to create thunderclasts, making them a strange non-fused type of fused. Thoughts, ideas, any way to rule a surge out or in?

Good point, forgot that. Hmmm ...

Does Pattern have a secret from Shallan? Cryptics have a reputation for lies and manipulation. They are known to watch carefully, to scheme and to plot. The only other known cryptic inserted him/herself near a person of power and then drove them towards paranoia and madness. Perhaps this is a deliberate tactic of cryptics to make their potential knight radiants easier to manipulate or deceive. I think the cryptics wanted to infiltrate the ghostbloods. They started cultivating a spy in a family known to be allied with the ghostbloods. Shallan happily drawing with her family wasn't helpful. So they exposed her powers. Perhaps they manipulated her mother or the skybreaker acoloyte into attacking her. Then Pattern manifests 'to save' Shallan. Shallan is isolated, driven to learn spying and killing, to usurp her father's role with the ghostbloods. Perhaps Pattern even deliberately breaks the soulcaster and plants the idea for Shallan to go to Jasnah so the cyptics can spy on her too. Pattern murdered Shallan's mother and in way her father too. There is reasonable evidence for this theory. Jasnah thinks the cryptics are capable of manipulating Shallan of bringing Shallan and her together. We are told again and again to be wary of cryptics. They like lies. Shallan in her heart seems to know this truth too. She hates Pattern for killing her parents, but like all her other secrets of her past she doesn't seem capable of looking at it straight on. Pattern has always encouraged and been excited by Shallan's infiltration of the Ghostbloods. Pattern's mission seems to be going well. Shallan is at the heart of important secrets and because of her youth and innocence everyone seems to trust her. Pattern is also certain that Shallan will one day kill him, he calls it a pattern. I'd call it a guilty conscience. Perhaps this is Shallan's final truth about herself. She is not to blame for her mother's death, free, able to love and be herself again. Maybe she will redeem Pattern, he will change and see what horrible things he did and she'll forgive him. Maybe she'll break her vows and give Pattern the death he's been waiting for. I'd love to hear any evidence or thoughts, for or against

I appreciate Patrick Star's points, exspecially about foreshadowing, but I don't buy the unmade are heralds theory. There are no hints anywhere that people can become spren or vice versa. The heralds were never made, so how can they be unmade. It doesn't mesh well with the history. The heralds lead mankind against twisted versions of themselves? Or maybe there were no unmade until after Ahertiam? Does killing Jezrien kill one of the unmade, or free the unmade or make it stronger? It doesn't sync up with me. My theory which I'll call the Theory of Original Spren, might not be foreshadowed but is very consistent. 1) Spren are created and transformed by human cognition impressing itself on investiture as explained to Shallan by Jasnah in WoK. The unmade are powerful spren (though far nastier) as explained by smart Tarvangian. 2) Humanity has fallen from their noble ideals and must reclaim them to be saved (stop the unmade). Odium works by turning people against each other and twisting and breaking peoples' virtues.

Perhaps the unmade were normal powerful spren from honor and cultivation but when hatred corrupted humanities noble ideals it changed the spren ... unmade them into forces of evil. For example, perhaps some humans fight courageously and bravely for honorable things and create a courage spren. Sadly, driven by hatred these humans, perhaps generations of humans, begin fighting for selfish reasons, eventually fighting just because they like it. That idea of courage becomes twisted into bloodlust and ferocity. The spren of courage is killed and twisted and deformed and becomes Nergaoul. Nergaoul - Courage (twisted to mad bloodlust) Ashertmarn - Celebration (twisted to perverse gluttony) Re-Shephir - Empathy and Compassion (twisted to sick fascination and obsession) Sja-anat - Teaching and Loving Knowledge (twisted to loving secrets and manipulation) Yelig-nar - Respect for a leader (twisted to fear of a tyrant) Moelach - Respect for the dead (twisted to callous occult use) Ba-ado-Mishram - Transformation? (twisted to enslavement) Cheomorish - Love of nature? (twisted to destruction and abuse of nature) Dai-Gornathis - Love of fish? (twisted to disgust of seafood) Perhaps if humans as a group can be noble enough the unmade could be remade, the evil minions of odium not merely contained or captured in gemstones but redeamed and turned against him.