IronMistborn

Jimi Hendrix died on the same day as Black Sabbath’s Paranoid album was released. September 18, 1970. Pearl Aday, the daughter of singer Meatloaf (known for songs like “I’d Do Anything For Love” and “Paradise By the Dashboard Light”) is married to Scott Ian, guitarist* of the thrash metal band Anthrax. Brandon Sanderson was college roommates with Jeopardy champion-turned-host Ken Jennings. The first recorded autopsy in human history was performed on Julius Caesar. Yes, that Caesar. Mr. Human Pincushion himself. They were able to figure out which was the actually fatal blow. speaking of Caesar, his last words aren’t known, but historians agree it probably wasn’t the sad and poetic “Et tu, Brute?” like Shakespeare suggested. It was probably something much more vindictive, with one theory being along the lines of “I’ll see you in Hell!”

Still holding out for the Adolin/Shallan(s) polycule lmao

Storms, who wouldn’t I want to work with? I’d love to hang out with Navani and the scholars. So much cool stuff to research. I think that’s where I’d be most of the time. Lift is a fellow Edgedancer with ADHD, we’d share snacks. Kaladin, so I could give him the hug he so desperately needs. Adolin, because if there was a Golden Retriever Shard of Adsonalsium, he’d be its Vessel. Wit, for obvious reasons. Taravangian, because maybe a “tragic” “accident” happens. Oh no. My bad.

So I’ll admit that I’m not super well versed in the Cosmere (still have WB, Mistborn era 2, and the SPs to go), so I don’t know what I could do. (Interesting topic and replies though!) But I do know this: If my target turns out to be Taln, I’m just gonna do a backflip into the Honor Chasm, because that is the last fight in the entire Cosmere I’m going to pick lmao.

“I don’t know what they’re supposed to be, but I oddly like them. Look, here’s one with the Bridge 4 design!” WWRTO death metal

“The most important step a person can take is always the next one.” That is genuinely my favorite life quote. I use it so much that even my non-Cosmere-enjoyer girlfriend loves it, and she quoted it to a mutual friend of ours who’s currently struggling with a lot of mental health stuff. ——— “Szeth-son-son Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore white on the day he was to kill a king.” Because come on, that’s a hell of a way to start your story! I love it so much, I’ve programmed a shortcut into my phone to autofill that whenever I type “Stormszeth” lmao. ——— “For the first time in over four thousand years, the Bearer of Agonies fought back.” Do I really need to say why? Taln is the storming GOAT. The Rosharan equivalent of the Doomslayer. (Okay, now I’m imagining Taln just going ape on Braize for 4500 years…) —— “My father thinks I’m a better man than he is. Unfortunately for you…he’s wrong.” Again, self-explanatory. (Headcanon: Upon finding out that Adolin finally merked Sadeas, Hoid gives him gifts, the best fashion outfits from across the Cosmere.) —— “Regardless, please keep your children’s rhymes and songs to yourself. The adults are trying to save the world.” Ishar to Kaladin. Kaladin’s like “Well, this worked with Nale, let’s try it with him.” And then Ishar just completely shuts him down lmao. Like trying to quote Bluey to an ancient being (who also wrote Bluey).

Accidentally reading huge spoilers, then gaslighting yourself into thinking you didn’t actually read it. As in, go full Shallan and lie to yourself lmao. …I also now use Shallan as a verb, meaning to lie to one’s self about things they don’t want to think about. For example, my Sunday D&D character Shallaned himself into pretending he didn’t sell his soul purely for more power to a Fiend. However, he recently met a wizard in a tower who knows a lot about him and everyone else in his party, and now he’ll will have to face that part of his past…and its consequences. I am also Shallaning myself into thinking that Brandon will totally give us the next Stormlight book sooner than the six years out it’s currently planned. (Hey, it’s more likely than us getting Winds of Winter or Elder Scrolls VI lmao) I spent half of WOK thinking Kaladin was blond lmao.

(Rime of the Ancient Mariner)^^^ ATLA Better Call Saul

Melechesh - Secrets of Sumerian Sphynxology. Melechesh is probably a top 5 band (along with Black Sabbath (RIP Ozzy!), Judas Priest, Vader, and my all time favorite band—Iron Maiden) for me and I rarely see people talk about it even in the metal communities. It’s some mixture of black, thrash, and oriental metal, and is themed around ancient Sumer. It absolutely sounds otherworldly. The guitars and vocals sound like some ancient dark rituals. It’s dope.

Most of these aren’t the typical musical numbers in that a character breaks out in song, but consarn it, I can’t unthink of these themes for scenes/characters Way of Kings: WOR: OB: Mistborn Era 1 and SH:

“Szeth-son-son Vallano, Truthless of Shinovar, wore a Def Leppard “Rock of Ages” shirt on the day he was to kill a king.”

A Link to the Past on the Switch VC thing. As much as I love the open air Zeldas (ADHD galore lmao), I had forgotten how much I miss the classic Zelda dungeons and items and such. (I had also forgotten how much I hate those storming Wallmasters…)

Stoneward, maybe? Nick Valentine (Fallout 4)

Black Sabbath, especially if you’re a metalhead.

I keep wondering who Hoid is in other non-Cosmere media. ATLA: The singing nomad (Secret Tunnel!) Fallout 4: Deacon Real life: Diogenes Scrubs: Janitor, maybe. Game of Thrones: Syrio Forel? oh, also, I found a bag of marbles (I thought I lost those lmao), and they’re obviously a Stormlight reference. Dun, unfortunately.

Whether in your personal life, real world situations, or even other media, have you made any connections to our favorite Cosmere works? If you can make a solid connection in your mind to something Cosmere (think mind mapping, if you’re familiar with that), tell us! Especially if a particular scene or character spoke particularly loudly and personally to you—we love that stuff, don’t we? Here’s some of my own examples. Elend Venture and Confidence. I first read Well of Ascension in 2020, and really enjoyed Elend’s story and arc. A few months after I read it, I found myself going through something similar (minus the deadly threats, fortunately). I was growing at work, with a coworker who sort of took me under his wing and helped me grow. I was horribly insecure at the time, but he raised me up in everything from better learning how to think things through, to understanding our field (cyber security) a bit better, and even drafting well written and professional emails and communications (as well as running meetings with other teammates). Just like Twindyll was doing for Elend. And I grew massively in my confidence, just like Elend did. It’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for this book, even with its detractors, because it did speak to me on a personal level. It’s also why Elend is one of my favorite characters in the Cosmere. Mistborn and Cyber Security So I work in cyber security, and as I was reading WOA, I noticed something. Raboniel and Nicodemus Archleone (Dresden Files) (Major spoilers for both Rhythm of War and Skin Game of the Dresden Files.) Moash and Texas Roadhouse (with the CrowdStrike outage as a guest star) …okay, this one’s goofier, but I’m going to share it anyway lmao. Spoilers up through ROW. Iron Maiden and Stormlight Archive. I mentioned this in my introduction post, but my biggest obsession outside of the Cosmere is the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. I have and will ALWAYS see the Stormfather as the Eddie the Head depicted on their 2000 Brave New World album, see picture below. (Fantastic album too!) so, that’s me. But I want to hear from y’all! All the parallels and personal moments and random silly links you’ve made in your head.

Anyway, for me other favorites. “The most important step a person can take is always the next one” is genuinely my favorite quote from anything. (Stormlight spoilers (no WAT)) (Mistborn spoilery quote below) And non-spoilery quotes. “Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” ”There’s always another secret.” “Oh, storms. She smiled anyway.” …I could go on and on, but, yeah, there’s a lot of amazing quotes. These are just a small part of my favorites. edit: Oh, forgot one! From Well of Ascension.

I think that’s up to us to make our own lives. “Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.” -Uncle Iroh. I do not think there’s one magical answer to the meaning of life. I think that’s up to us to make it individually. I am blessed to work in a field I love (cyber security) with great coworkers, so that’s a good life for me. But there’s a lot to live for. For me? It’s all the small things that make me happy and my world brighter. -Heavy metal, mosh pits, headbanging. -Goofing off with friends -Cuddling cute puppies -The Cosmere, of course! …and so on. I also genuinely believe we should find meaning in helping others. (And this is why I keep getting Edgedancer on the Radiant quiz lmao). This world storming sucks sometimes, and nobody can or should face it alone. Look for people to help. Maybe someone needs a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to their struggles over a beer or dinner. Even something as simple as taking a stranger’s cart after they’ve finished unloading their cart into their car. so. That’s what the meaning of life is to me. Find the joyous things in your life (provided they don’t harm others, of course), and look for people to help.

My all time favorite song is Painkiller by Judas Priest. The ultimate heavy metal song. The absolute DEFINITION of heavy metal. In addition to unreal drumming, pounding bass, ripping and shredding guitar riffs, and the otherworldly vocals of the Metal God himself, Rob Halford, it also has great lyrics. Humanity is seemingly doomed, and their only hope is the Painkiller—an immensely powerful being riding the badass bike we see on the album cover (both are named Painkiller). He! Is! The Painkiller! This! Is! The Painkiller! I could post the entire lyrics, honestly, but this one verse describes the man and bike— Faster than a laser bullet! Louder than an atom bomb! Chromium plated boiling metal! Brighter than a thousand suns! It’s simple, yet oh so effective. If I could turn any song into a movie…

That is sick! I love it.

Thanks! and oh man, I don’t know! I wanna say Cryptics, just because they’re…well, cryptic. I love things that are just weird and alien. maybe Cultivationspren because, and I forgot to mention this, I took the Radiant quiz four times and got Edgedancer every single time lmao Those guys are rusting terrifying, I love them. And yes, you could slap them right on a death metal album cover and they’d be right at home. \m/

Hello there! so my pull into the Cosmere began with alcohol, actually. I was at this outdoor sort of mall place, where there were two important factors: A bar, and a Barnes and Noble (I feel y’all will appreciate this combination lmao). Now, I’m not a huge drinker, but I do drink casually, and I had a couple drinks before wandering into Barnes and Noble and was just vibing—whereupon Way of Kings caught me eye. Grabbed it. I confess, this was back in 2018, and I only just finished books 2-4 this year (finishing ROW a couple weeks ago). WOR sat half read on my shelf for a whiiiiiile. This is a daunting series! But, like a fine wine (my new favorite analogy for leaving books unread!), it did speak to me, and I finally finished up WOR back in March. I stayed up way past my bedtime finishing that one—but hey. Life before death. Strength before weakness. Sanderlanche before sleep. And now I’m irreversibly obsessed with the Cosmere. Yay! I read Mistborn era 1 a while back, loved it. Elantris, actually enjoyed it. Secret History, nice. Still gotta read everything else! Currently doubling up on Warbreaker and WAT. I love all the cross references. We all become that “Leo pointing” meme and I love it and when I spot a reference to another Cosmere book! I also love when you go back to reread earlier books in the series (Stormlight especially), and your brain just storming melts because you have new perspectives and answers! also, quick shoutout to Rhythm of War for forcing me, after 33 years on this earth, to remember how to spell rhythm lmao. Anyone else? my other hobbies: heavy metal! My favorite bands are Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and Vader. Also been getting into Sodom lately. Love me some thrash metal! Man, you could power a Mistborn for a month with some good thrash/death metal. (My username of IronMistborn comes from Iron Maiden (my favorite band, and biggest obsession outside the Cosmere—I even love the Blaze era!) and of course, Mistborn, my first actual significant foray into the Cosmere.) Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and ATLA are pretty much tied for my all time favorite shows. (Also, I’m convinced that Hoid is the singing nomad (“SECRET TUNNEL!”) in ATLA lmao) And, right alongside Iron Maiden and the Cosmere, we have my other big obsession: Classic Simpsons. I can quote along with most of the golden era, and probably know the immortal monorail episode by heart at this point. I’m also a fan of the Dresden Files series! favorite movies: Goodfellas, Gladiator (zero interest in the sequel), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (“That’s all it is, Miles. A leap of faith.” WAS my all time favorite quote until I got to “The most important step a person can take is always the next one” in OB, but I love both), LOTR (they’re one movie, so haha, you can’t make me pick!), Shawshank Redemption. okay, that’s enough rambling about me. I look forward to embiggening my Cosmere obsession with this perfectly cromulent forum.