Argent

Don't slap my greed aside! But really, I think Brandon knows how to manage his time better than we do. In the beginning he might overextend himself, but he'll quickly figure out how much promotional work he can do. And, from my clearly objective point of view, better Chicago than some other city :-P

Which would make it an "evil" Fabrial? A Fabrial that mimics a Voidbringer's... void? abilities?

Right, right. I should've elaborated. The reason I am not so sure they were too rare is because Kaladin, for example, was doing some basic Surgebinding for a while without anyone noticing. So has Jasnah. It's possible that some small fraction of the population has been using rudimentary Surgebinding, but because of how rare and unspectacular those displays were, nobody noticed. We are all pretty sure Dalinar did something Surgebindy-y when he stopped the chasmfiend from Soulcasting Elhokar into a strain on the ground - nobody seemed to mention Surgebinding there. And those are displays over a limited set of (mostly lighteyes) characters from, what, two nations? Who knows what has been going on behind the curtains?

Do we know that Surgebinders have been rare?

I know I (briefly) met up with a few Sharders during Brandon's Steelheart tour in Chicago, and during one of the events he suggested that it might be possible to get him to come more often if we went and talked to our local con(vention) organizers and fanatically torture reasonably convince them to invite him. And I don't know about you, folks, but my life could use a little more Brandon in it. Or a lot more Brandon in it. You know, up to the point where the law enforcement has to intervene... So. Ahem. A quick Google search careful and in-depth research led me to those two relevant Cons: CapriCon (Feb 6 - 9, 2014 in Westin Chicago North Shore, Wheeling, IL) What looks like a veteran in the con world, CapriCon will celebrate its 34th birthday in 2014. Chi-Fi (Mar 27 - 30, 2014 in Westin Chicago River North, Chicago Downtown, IL) Unlike CapriCon, Chi-Fi is the new kid in town. In fact, I think it will run for the first time in 2014. Jim Butcher has already agreed to be a guest of honor, so it looks like the organizers might be able to afford Brandon as well - Jim is not exactly a new and unknown author, after all. Is anyone familiar with the extortion process behind getting con organizers to invite an author? Both of them do science fiction & fantasy, and both of them have authors coming. With at least four months to spare, we should be able to figure something out, right?

Very well.

Sliver instead of Splinter? I feel kind of bad for constantly correcting people's terminology... Which is odd, I never feel bad about correcting their grammar =\

I feel this might actually get an answer. Only I'd ask whether all spren, not just the ones that form a Nahel bond, have Investiture from both Shards. Alternatively, it'd be interesting to know whether there are spren with Investiture from Odium...

I still don't understand the rationale behind asking whether Surgebinders have gemhearts. Surgebinders are human, somebody would've noticed if people here and there throughout the ages end up having a giant gemstone for heart... Sixth of Dusk will be out when it's out is probably what you'll get. I haven't listened to Writing Excuses in a while (I am a couple of seasons behind...), but I understand it's up to Howard and... Dan? Mary?

Oh, they are probably one and the same. But I want Brandon to just say that's the case instead of dodging the question every time.

I would argue that a well designed magic system does contribute to better storytelling, partially because it eliminates much of the deus ex machina, but also because (invoking Sanderson's Laws) a "scientific" magic system forces the characters to work within the exact confines of the system's abilities and limitations, which ultimately leads to more creative, interesting, and alive characters.

I agree, I wasn't remembering the quote correctly. Happens to me a lot recently... Not that my implication that Cultivation might have champions of her own is necessarily wrong, I just have no evidence for it

The Ten Fools. It's not 100% confirmed, but Brandon calls them counterparts to the Heralds, but separated by an additional degree.* Regarding Nohadon, he might be a Sliver, but I see no evidence for it. I doubt he could've changed the way Surgebinding works, because the Lord Ruler (a verified Sliver) couldn't either. The oaths are interesting, and I'd be curious to find out how he figured them out - because I think he didn't invent, but rather discovered them. With or without help. * Which makes sense to me - we have three major magic systems, one of Honor (Surgebinding), one of Cultivation (Old Magic?), and one of Odium (Voidbinding). Honor and Odium have always felt diametrically opposite to me, which would leave Cultivation in the "middle," providing that extra degree of separation between the two male Shards' chosen warriors.

Suppose I can join the little party we have here - https://www.goodreads.com/ArgentSun

I am here just to say I like your avatar and signature banner. Kind of makes me want to go back to the days when I used to spent hours making myself a matching combination of avatar/banner for each forum I registered for...

It was... alright. I saw the strip because Brandon linked it, so I started off with a positive attitude anyway. But I enjoyed the strip Penny Arcade did Pat Rothfuss' Kvothe more...

Aw, man. I was hoping for less competition for Shallan. I expected some, but you guys are hounds! If I were a little older than my modest 23 years, I might settle for Jasnah (I like them smartypants, for my own level of intellectual capabilities is also rather elevated) too, but at this point the age different would murder me...

Hooboy, tough one. My gut feeling is to go with AonDor. It's the first Brandon magic system I learned about, so it kind of has a special place in my heart - but its almost scholarly aspect appeals to me very much. Plus, drawing glowing lines of pure power in the air is awesome, and you know it. I guess I also like it because, similarly to Awakening (which would probably be my second choice), it's very very versatile - not that the others are not, but there aren't very many things you can do with Steelpushing, for example... Obviously I would need to know all of the Stormlight surges before I can dismiss them, but I think most of them will end up suffering from those... limitations... the different Allomantic or Feruchemical metals suffer from. Soulcasting is obviously more versatile than, say, burning gold, but's still no AonDor.

Wish I had a story like that to share... Instead, starting with my next reread of Brandon's works, I am going to make it a point to quote stuff to people, on- and offline, and appear all wise and knowing.

Having listened to Graphic Audio, I can no longer make myself listen to regular audiobooks... But Warbreaker did take a little getting used to. Irish accent (think it was Irish?) was not at all what I had imagined, though it's not illogical.

I am inclined to join you. Although at this point I am willing to settle down for a "Baxil's mistress works for Shallash" type of compromise.

Oh, come on, confirm that Cultivation and Nightwatcher are related already! On a side note, do we know whether there are any Slivers in the Way of Kings? I'd be curious to find out.

You are right, this doesn't sound like someone who has offered himself. Regarding the Oathpact, we don't know what humanity - or Honor, or the Heralds - gained from the deal. We know the Heralds were bound by the Oathpact, so they must have either existed prior to it, or were created as a part of the deal. It is possible that a part of the Oathpact was a clause that allowed Honor to choose champions, to focus his power into them. I wonder whether Odium managed to get his hands on Cultivation and used Tanavast's love for her to bargain for something he wanted on Roshar...

I pre-ordered one of the signed and personalized copies from Brandon, no shiny stuff for me... Did anyone upload the images somewhere at least?

For a moment there, when reading "There is a chance we might end the cycle of Desolations," it felt like the Heralds chose not to return to Damnation so they can work against Odium between Desolations. And to avoid torture, of course, but the way he says it, it makes it sound like... like this chance for them to end the cycle of Desolations is the result of them staying out of Damnation with the Oathpact still holding up (because Taln got boned). I am having trouble formulating exactly what I mean, so let me rewrite those two lines of a dialogue in a hypothetical alternative - but more clear for my idea - way: The only thing that bothers me (a little) is the abandonment of the Honorblades. But I think it's possible, even plausible, that those Honorblades were what bound the Heralds to the Oathpact. So they leave the blades, remain in the Physical Realm of Roshar, avoid Damnation and torture, and work towards not just making sure humanity survives the next Desolation, but also making sure the next Desolation - if it has to come and pass - is the last one. Which also ties with the knowledge Kaladin has, that this next Desolation will be the last one, the Everstorm; not because it will be the most powerful of them all, but because humanity will be the weakest*. * I don't put too much stock in this last argument. It just ties nicely with the rest.