Dawnbearer

It's been a very long time...I sorely miss the Cosmere. I've been kept busy, and I haven't even had time to read. In the past it's been my escape, and I seldom have a chance to even pick up a good book for a few moments anymore. I've had to pause my progress on Hero of Ages, and I really miss reading in general, but especially Sanderson. But that's all good and fine, I'm prioritizing, and I hope to find more time to read this summer. So, partially because I want to remain active on the Shard, but also genuinely to ask a question I'm posting this. Once I finally finish Hero of Ages, I'm planning to read Warbreaker before I continue on to Words of Radiance. I can figure out a decent order, however I'd like some advice on where to fit in Shadows for Silence--I know it's a short read, so maybe that'd be good for when I am still busy. I know Threnody is a less significant shardworld, so I was wondering if anyone had input on where to fit it in with my (slow) Cosmere reading. Thanks for keeping the Shard alive, I'm looking forward to Binge Reading again when I get the chance and hopefully I can keep up with the Cosmere better next year, since I've actually only gotten to a couple books as of yet.

In hindsight, I realize that the concept of Stormlight probably isn't all that different from, per say, Atium. They both are pure forms of Investiture fueled by the magic system of a Shard (or two Shards), one as a gas and one as a solid. Yes, I'm truly satisfied with the conclusion that Investiture--and the forms it takes--is a unique type of concept/aspect of the universe unlike matter or energy. Very cool I'll probably be keeping this in mind as I continue to explore more Shard's magic systems.

I really really appreciate this post, thank you for the input! I feel like this makes the most sense. Investiture may be non-baryonic matter or some sort of non-traditional energy, but it is most likely a third group of entity. And any liquid form, as you have said, would not be condensed Stormlight gas, but more accurately Investiture simply in the form of liquid. I may be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that group 8B and 18 are not the same--18 = 8A, 8 = 8B ...It's an odd system. Here; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 1A 2A 3B 4B 5B 6B 7B 8B 8B 8B 1B 2B 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A 8A The Transition Metals are all in B groups. I don't know why it's made that way. Thank you for your contribution, I enjoyed geeking out with you on this! Yeah, okay. This is the last thing I don't have a solid answer for. I think maybe the reason condensation appears on shardblades is correlated to frost forming on clothing. Any ideas, sharders?

I sort of doubt it's possible...I am yet to read Warbreaker, but there seems to be some sort of tie between Endowment and Honor. From the few things I've heard, the magic systems are similar. Shardblades--as far as I know--are part of Honor's magic system. But I really can't say much, I don't know how flexible Shard's magic systems are, and I'm still reasonably new to the Cosmere, so I'm no expert. But I think the forging of Shardblades--just as the Snapping of a Misting--probably can only happen under the proper magic systems.

Yes, I remember a specific line. I'll look it up... Aha. The Way of Kings, Prologue, page 24 - Szeth-son-son-Vallano, "Holding his breath, he clung to the Stormlight. He could still feel it leaking out. Stormlight could be held for only a short time, a few minutes at most. It leaked away, the human body too porous a container. He had heard that the Voidbringers could hold it in perfectly. But, then, did they even exist? His punishment declared that they didn't. His honor demanded that they did." Yeah, so to be fair I really doubt it decays, but I do like the way you all think. I really don't know what to say about the placement on the Periodic Table. It honestly seems more probable that it is some sort of molecule. Unless there is an element that doesn't exist in the Cosmere, and is replaced by Stormlight. Probably not an organic element. Maybe something in group 18? Those are mostly unreactive gasses, right? Maybe neon or something. I don't know. I doubt Investiture is in the electromagnetic spectrum, because waves of Investiture just doesn't sound right. It's more of an essence. Or it could be a particle...some sort of mutant electron that only holds significance in the Cosmere. But no, I doubt that. I'll bet Investiture is either beyond baryonic consideration or simply...magic. This is a 'magic system' after all.

Yes, this makes sense. However, this does not explain why Surgebinding causes frost to form, especially since the compression of Stormight is reduced when it leaves the body. Then again, when used, is it released? Or is it consumed somehow? Surely when a Lashing is performed Light is infused into an object, but even then does the object slowly release it or is it used up by the object? So I really don't know if we should be asking why frost forms when mass amounts of Stormlight are released or when they are consumed. Further even, does the Stormlight stick with the Investiture when used, or do they go their separate ways? I happily accept that Stormlight is a physical, chemical, baryonic element or compond. But I still think the specific qualities of it (such as; element or molecule? Are solids and liquids present at all in Roshar (s and l of Stormlight, not Investiture alone)? Could Stormlight become a superfluid?) are very broad, but perhaps worth more consideration. If there is something that I don't understand, it's how gemstones can be infused with a gas. The glow probably does radiate from all Investiture (except for solids...but if all solid investiture is a transition or God metal, maybe glow is essentially substituted by sheen. That makes sense fictionally, but not logically or scientifically. I don't know, someone ask Preservation), so then do things simply glow at the presence of Investiture, or do things infused with Investiture glow? If it's the former, then maybe the Stormlight particles remain in the air, with the Investiture as energy stored in the gemstone like electricity in a Lithium battery. Then, when the 'Stormlight' is inhaled, the Investiture meets the Stormlight, becoming the Stormlight we all know and love, to meet the needs of the Physical Realm. This would make sense, as you can't just store matter within other matter...or I guess maybe you could in the Cosmere. (Hmm, Light fills the empty space between gemstone molecules...? Sounds reasonable for Sci-fi. This would argue for the fact that things hosting Investiture for the sake of a magic system simply radiate light.) Also why do cut gemstones in turn hold Light for longer? I don't think Stormlight decays or is radiocative, but I suppose it could make sense as most elements with large atomic numbers are radioactive, and Stormlight would have to have an atomic number greater than 118, as all those have already been discovered (unless it is not an element, but rather a compound). So it could be, but Light runs out because the body is far too porous, and no gemstone could be perfect. So I say Light is either lost or used, never really decaying. Of course I could always be wrong. Another interesting thing about this is that gemstones seem to be the only baryonic matter that cannot be soulcast. Why is this true? Is it also true for Stormlight? I would think so. Then again, if Stormlight--as I've theorized--is present without Investiture, like it might be in gemstones, it may be borderline useless as even a soulcast material with no Investiture. Wow, this topic is a lot more broad than I anticipated. My guess is Stormlight is an element (or maybe compound) that hosts Investiture as part of Honor's magic system. Either it can be present without Investiture or it is a very flexible (not physically, rather behaviourally) particle that can weave between the molecules of a gemstone OR can be present Spiritually/Cognitively in the Physical realm. I think that's all I have for now...gah, thought overload.

Stormlight is a pristine, glowing, mist-like, mysterious source of essentially God-given energy. Image by ShardShaper Maybe it is just energy. Or is it matter? Is common Stormlight gaseous? If so, what are its melting and boiling points? Maybe the frost that occurs when large amounts of Stormlight are used has to do with chemical properties--maybe it deposes onto clothing as it is released from the body. The frost doesn't have to be ice. Or perhaps Stormlight is not an element but a compound containing hydrogen and oxygen, which when used for Surgebinding reacts, somehow eliminating heat energy and producing water (H20) as a byproduct which is then frozen? Well what if those on Roshar don't breathe oxygen...but rather the low-concentration, less compressed Stormlight in the air? This would explain why one doesn't necessarily need to breathe when infused. Of course Stormlight could well be energy--this would better explain why gemstones (and other things, of course, but especially gemstones) can be infused by it. Maybe it is an odd sort of energy that consumes heat when doing work rather than releasing it like most energy. Then again I wouldn't be surprised if gaseous, liquid, solid, or even plasma states of Stormlight were all involved in Roshar's magic system (plasma especially would be somewhat understandable). Besides, it is curious to me that condensation appears on a recently summoned shardblade and that frost forms as Stormlight is surged. Yet it doesn't even have to be baryonic matter (the familiar matter of the Universe - neutrons, protons, electrons). While Scandrial's magic system--among others--indicates that baryonic matter is probably present in the Cosmere, there is no stopping the idea of unimagined and unobserved-in-real-world matter exists in such a fictional universe. Which--come to think of it--is probably the exact nature of Stormlight. Not familiar energy, not typical matter, but something entirely different. I really don't know. I think it's worth some thought, and it would be a curious topic when it comes to converting investiture, soulcasting, lashings, etc. Maybe I'll have an update on this. Liquid Stormlight, at least, would be rather intriguing. I also think the theory that Rosharians breathe Stormlight is noteworthy, or at least interesting. But I suppose it's most plausible that Stormlight is just something else entirely created by Honor to conduct and host Investiture. Regardless, the idea of Stormlight as an element or compound is pretty cool. Sorry about the word vomit

Thank you both for the advice. I look forward to delving further into the Cosmere. I've since finished TWoK, and quickly decided to postpone the other books on my reading list and move right on to The Hero of Ages. And yes, thank you, I'll slip Warbreaker in there before I continue with the SA. By the way, what are "WoBs"? 'Words of Brandon', maybe?

Hi all! I heard a couple tiny whispers about Brandon Sanderson about a year back, and quickly decided that Mistborn would probably be the type of book I love to read. So I gave it a shot. Boom. I got hooked so fast. True, I've always loved reading, but this book...was epic (for lack of a better word ). So, I finished The Final Empire. Then I kept going, and read The Well of Ascension. I wanted to give The Way of Kings a go, so I started partway through the summer this year. Unfortunately, school happened...so now roughly three months later I still have give or take 100 pages. But don't worry I'll finish it... Yeah, I'll finish all of them. I mean it when I say I want to read the entire Cosmere--in addition to standalone series. However there are issues with this; school keeps me busy, the local libraries don't have anywhere near all the books I hope to read, and my current books-to-read list is a mile high, even without Sanderson's work. But I'll get around to it all. That is, if I can keep up with this novel machine. I really feel that Sanderson's books don't get enough recognition. Brilliant story, tangible characters, convincing emotion, insanely original and awesome magic systems, and impressively wise philosophy and teachings. And he rolls them out at a rapid pace. Regardless...I discovered this website when I was geeking out, I think. I dug a little too far into the wiki (multiple times), but fortunately struck nothing devastating. Eventually I realized the Coppermind (which is the most brilliant fandom wiki center name ever, by the way) was only a section of the 17th shard. And now I am here. What took me so long? So far, I've read books 1 & 2 of the first Mistborn trilogy, The Rithmatist, volumes 1 & 2 of White Sand (I quickly realized graphic novels are not really my thing, though), and am nearly finished with The Way of Kings. So yup. I have a long way to go. But I do know a bit more about the Cosmere than the average reader, seeing as I plummet down rabbit holes on the wiki. But I really don't mind, it just makes me all that more excited to read on--if greater excitement is even possible. I find it difficult to care that at this point I am beyond obsessed.