Guinevere

This is so weird! I posted this exact same topic at the exact same time!

Reading Alloy of Law, I noticed the glyphs at the beginning of each chapter correspond with the first 16 metals listed in the Ars Arcanum. I only thought it was interesting when I got to 17 and there were two glyphs: the one for the 16th metal paired with the one for the 1st metal. I also noticed that there were glyphs on the broadsheet indicating which edition it was. This got me thinking that the glyphs may actually form a base-16 number system. However, three symbols didn't add up: two within the edition number, and the glyph for the epilogue. This could be explained by the fact that neither atium or lerasium are part of the AoL AA, and that entirely new alloys are created from combining these two metals with the other sixteen; meaning there could potentially be 50 symbols for all the different alloys (ie 16 base metals; 16 atium alloys; 16 lerasium alloys; 2 God metals). Does anyone know more about the glyphs that could enlighten me? P.S. My really really mean husband stole and hid all my Brandon Sanderson books so I can't properly theorize until I'm done writing my NaNoWriMo novel. ...because he's mean.

The last two from the top list (about the Ars Arcanum) were from my questions. I started a discussion about it here. Come over and join us... you know you want to!

I think I may be in a little over my head in responding to this, but I can't help but wonder. The easiest thing I could think of to weaken a person's bond within the three realms, specifically on Nalthis, is to use a Drab, who already has a part of their Investiture stolen from them. However, if you are trying to steal their Breath, wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

Thanks for explaining the acronyms. I think I read on one the older forums that Galladon is the only Elantrian we see in the interlude, which I assume means that the other two are from different Shardworlds. I think the Thinker is probably our best guess from the members of the 17th Shard that we've met, but even still, I'm not convinced. I don't think Nazh is from Sel, either. I think he is from Scadrial during the time of Alloy of Law, and he is just giving information to the author of the Ars Arcanum. Perhaps it is not Hoid, but that being said, do we even have any other leads as to who could have written them? Not that that is conclusive evidence or anything, but based on the information we have (which is scarce), that's my best guess at the moment.

Okay, a couple things: First, does WoB mean Wheel of Brandon? If so, that's seriously hilarious. Second, what is a DIG? I don't necessarily get all of the acronyms. Third, I was a little ambiguous with the word "frustrating." Brandon wasn't frustrated; I meant that I was frustrated because of my poor wording that he was able to manipulate by giving a vague answer. Sorry about the confusion. On to the theory: I'm fine with the theory that the Ars Arcanum are a compilation of information giving to one main author by several sources, one of whom is Nazh, but I think you are taking the style too seriously. Especially for his earlier books (like Elantris and Mistborn), Brandon didn't necessarily have all the resources or information to make the Ars Arcanum as telling of the cosmere as he does in the later books. Though once we do get to later books, most especially, Way of Kings and Alloy of Law, the Ars Arcanum are much more conversational, and cosmere-encompassing. It may have more to do with earthly/publishing constraints more than anything else. Now that we know it is the same person, I'm interesting in figuring out who that is. I think we can safely assume that the author is traveling to each world gathering as much information on each magic system as they can. Brandon has narrowed it down to two options: 1. Hoid- He is the only known world-hopper who would have this sort of scholarly inclination. Maybe the wording is a little odd to indicate him, but I personally think he's the best candidate. 2. Members of the 17th Shard- (I agree, Chaos is a good bet, haha) The thing is, we know SO little about the 17th Shard right now. I think the only known (named) member is Galladon, but I have a really hard time believing he cares much about the magic systems. The Thinker (people think it is Raoden, but I think Brandon dispelled that...?) is another possibility. The only issue I have is that the members of the 17th Shard we've met are on a mission to find Hoid. I really don't think they are gallivanting around writing about fabrials. That being said, there are probably many members that we have met that haven't been associated with the 17th Shard yet. For example, Vasher could potentially be a member. In fact any of the living scholars from Nalthis could be potential candidates as the Ars Arcanum author. It could be Axies the Collector, or it could even be some person we haven't met yet (one of the problems of knowing the cosmere stretches into books we haven't even heard of yet...). It's hard to separate who is involved with the cosmere and could potentially world-hop, and who is limited to their planet. One of these days, Brandon and I will sit down and he will tell me all of his secrets. Sigh.

Last night at the release party, I asked Brandon if someone from the 17th Shard or Hoid wrote the Ars Arcanum for Alloy of Law. He frustratingly replied, "Yes." But then he told me that all of the Ars Arcanum have been written by the same person, and that I should pay attention to the note written on the map of Elendel, which says: "My friend, annotated with locations as per your instructions. -Nazh" If anyone recognizes the name Nazh, please let me know where to find it. My personal theory is Nazh is just supplying information for the author of the Ars Arcanum (whoever they are), but it does give up a clue that they are interested in these particular locations, which may be noteworthy. Please feel free to jump in with theories about the writer. I've heard that it couldn't be Hoid (so it must be a 17th Shard member) but I don't know if I'm ready to rule him out yet. Let me know what you think.

Unfortunately for the author of this post, I have some new information about the Ars Arcanum from Brandon himself. I'll probably start a new thread so we can discuss.

Haha! Absolutely I did. I could practically hear Michael Caine's voice coming out of my screen. Oh, Alfred...I mean, Tillaume. And it doesn't really help that Christian Bale could play Waxillium in a heartbeat. It's a sad state of affairs when I have to ascribe Hollywood faces to characters because I don't have the imagination anymore to form my own.

Okay, so I'm signed up.... now what? haha. I don't actually know anyone on it.

Invite? Me? Please? Are the invites really necessary? Because they ask if you want to be kept updated and ask for your email address and everything. Or is that just a "Oh, look. *snicker* She actually thinks she's going to be put on the imaginary waiting list. How cute!"???

Darn! Though, I wouldn't blame you in the least bit. For the origin story of Hoid!? I would be right there, killing and bribing along with you, all moral and ethical thought thrown to the wayside. Sometimes I daydream about storming Brandon's house and forcing him to tell me everything he knows... though probably don't tell him that or they won't let me into the next signing.

I know I'm super late to the game, but it doesn't seem like anyone has considered that they might not be using AonDor. Isn't it just as likely, if they are working for a source higher up on the Adonalsium food chain (for lack of a better analogy), that any disguises they wear or magic they use has been lent to them by the person they are working for?

Any way to get it without shelling out 50 bucks? I just called and they said you can only check out books if you are a student or you become a "Friend of the Library"...which basically means I can get it if I fork out tuition or $50 a year. Hmmm...

Hello there! I found my way to 17th Shard through Time-Waster's Guide, where I post sporadically about things until I'm corrected by people who know way way way more about the Cosmere than I do. Though, now that I think about it, that is rather shameful since I've been a fan of Brandon since the beginning (like the beginning beginning) when he was doing signings at the Waldenbooks in Provo Towne Centre and 20 people showed up for a short Q&A. Crazy. Anyway! Ever since then, he's been my hands-down favorite author. I just reread TWoK and it blew me away again. And since I can't get enough, I'll probably start in on Mistborn next. Seriously, if anyone else on here is a huge Hoid fanatic, we will find plenty in common; I cannot get enough of that crazy, cryptic world-hopper. A little more about me: No, my name is not actually Guinevere (unfortunately) but my real name is derived from it and probably a fourth of the female population on here has it...so you can most likely guess what it is, but please call me Guinevere. I just graduated from college with an English degree. You wouldn't believe the amount of job offers I get a day; I swear, I have to fend them off with a stick! Bloodsucking editors. I'm LDS, married, and live in Utah (surprise surprise), but I do my best not to be a walking stereotype. If it helps, I'm also a crazy, liberal, feminist. My favorite characters in the Cosmere (besides Hoid, or course) are probably Vin and Elend as a couple. I love their dynamic and their romance. I can't think of anything else. If you want to respond to anything I've said, please do. I'm always up for a conversation about Adonalsium and the Shardworlds. Oh, also, if you know of any way I could get my hands on a copy of Dragonsteel or Liar of Partinel, I would love you forever.