zandi

Do we know if there is any land in the Northern hemisphere? (excuse my ignorance if this has been discussed).

true. very true. But so much more fun to propose/discuss crazy theories! *laughing* Seriously - could be an Aimian...Axies the Herald? No not Axies. But maybe an Aimian really could work. Excellent points. I like this as well. Anything Hoid says should be looked at carefully. *sigh* looks like I'm going to have to reread sooner rather than later. Anyway -Maybe an Aimian/ or just Taln himself reassembled is the answer as said- seems to fit a lot of key things. The question would be if an Aimian- was he a willing or unwilling accomplice and if unwilling how he was brainwashed into believing his false identity? And (to me) most importantly, if it isn't Taln (though, yes, it could really be Taln) - who did it? and how? Honestly I hope it is not Taln because it is a fun twist and I love how it ties into the Hoid quotes.

Why is it implausible? They were/are? human and currently are passing as people in the populace. You are right about distance making soulstamping less effective - I had forgotten about that. Perhaps the fake Taln was stamped on maipon and brought to roshar? no? I totally agree that this is unlikely however- but perhaps as you said another magic is creating a similar effect. which one though and done by who? Ah ok. right. So still - who would want to thwart it and bring back odium prematurely? or is there another intention? maybe smoking out odium supporters? voidbringers? Would a fake Taln fool the relevant forces to start a desolation? (doesn't seem likely?) Odium himself? The possibility of a fake Taln seems possible however it might have been achieved but I don't see how it would really fool anyone, except perhaps the Alethi, under scrutiny. Unless that fake so *became* Taln that they believed it themselves. Like that STNG episode with a fake klingon Kayless.... I digress. To really fool anyone/everyone (including other heralds), the level of skill required to make such a fake would be pretty high indeed, I think. OK so putting my Darkness suspicions aside - perhaps it is the fake Taln who is the Odium agent. If he is fake - why? How? Who would have the ability to do this? Who does it benefit? Seems to benefit - Odium perhaps? If he fakes it that Taln finally broke - he can somehow thwart the agreement against him and come back even though he should not be able to? Regardless - if he is fake - he doesn't seem to think so, though he is confused. And this is the best kind of fake, which again points to high skill on the part of whoever created the fake. If he is a fake. Arrrgh.

Actually I think this makes sense - It occurred to me as well anyway, so maybe that means it doesn't really make sense especially because: Q. Is Shai on Roshar? A. Hehehe, good question! Q. Has she already popped up? A. She has not already popped up. Q. So she’s not a Radiant. Or is she? A. You have not seen her on screen yet, other than in her story. I

Here it is - philadelphia signing:

THEORY: It is someone who has been soulforged to think they are Taln - so they have a regular shard blade and have an accent. Why? To start the desolation....? To bring odium back prematurely and make him violate the agreement? ok probably 0% chance...but something like this? maybe? edit just saw this from EnaMai: Oooh I like it . Or maybe Shai Forged Taln onto another body. Also - I saw on one of the signing threads (forgot which) that someone asked if Shai was on Roshar....

Just saw this wob: so am leaning more to the agree on this part @Argent - good point. I forget sometimes that the motivation IS the thing, not the thing itself. Is it possible for Odium to influence though without someone emoting? Just curious. Also - Not all who hate are influenced buy Odium (i don't think) for example K hates light eyes. So perhaps the reverse is true? Not all who don't hate are safe from O influence? Just thinking out loud - bear with me...

I agree with this part: I think it might be Darkness Not sure about Taln. I think he's confused because the heralds have never (in this case just him) endured the torture for so long. Plus Wit may have swiped his blade. That may make him more confused or less able to recover from his PTSD. However- you make some good points soo I will reserve judgement until we know more

not that i remember- that's why i would like a picture

The night watcher a catalogue of spren

The Sun Sword series by Michelle West. Such a shame - great start, interesting political plots, epic in scale....worst editing or lack of editing that I have ever seen. Typos abound, awful convoluted sentences, pronouns that lack reference, cardboard characters...etc. It made me sad. It is possible that this has been corrected in subsequent editions since I attempted to read it ages ago - at least I hope so - but I was too disappointed to ever go back. The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. Blech. Started out ok with Wizard's First Rule and went downhill fast. A cliche wrapped in a stereotype hidden in formulaic prose. Another one that made me sad because of the lost potential. Still better than the Michelle West series - at least it had a minimum of editing!

This is an interesting possibility. Do you think this will be a recurring thing that a mc will hold a shard? I am not sure. Though could be... *sits on fence*

here I thought he was referring to the suffering of the heralds between desolations. but the theme of blindness is an interesting one especially since it seems important to Hoid. If he is referring to himself as 1 of the 2 blind men I worry that everything that has happened in the cosmere has been this attempt of one to prove to the other that beauty can be experienced through existence and that the other to find it or recover from his blindness....

Certainly possible. I was thinking more of the spiritual realm here since we haven't heard a whole lot about that aspect. But you are right it is described in a similar way as windspren. If it is literally Kaladin's story that would make sense. I am still thinking it is a metaphor though. Perhaps it is both.

Yeah it is much less subtle and pretty obvious- but the SA will be 10 books - so my thinking was that a lot could happen between now and then in the story that by the end - this particular way of ending - might seem very unlikely - having the effect of making it more subtle! I know - I'm not making sense... I don't think Fleet is Kaladin. Rather - who ever opposes Odium. I was looking at it in a more metaphorical way. yep - I know the question asked about the epigraphs - but it said "something similar" (emphasis mine). The answer was that "There are [similar things] but they are hidden in different places [might not be in epigraph type locations]. At least that was how I interpreted it. Not as straightforward an answer maybe as it first appears. This doesn't mean it IS Hoid's story - but I think it could mean that it is something other than an epigraph. I'm sure others will find other possibilities. I agree - at least I don't think it is directly about Kaladin - so it could definitely have to do with Honor and the shards. I think perhaps the story is more subtle than it first appears. I think it is a metaphor - so this is a good possibility - kudos! Oh Moogle - if we ever 100% agree I fear for the universe. I don't think you (or Fleet rather) loses by dying. It seems rather by self sacrificing - whoever Fleet represents, wins. "It flew upon the day’s last song, to win the race and claim the dawn." To me this says that by losing Fleet saved everyone and won. A tragic way to win but still a win. And yet- we do agree!- you say "It would fit thematically so well. Better to die having lived well than live having lived poorly is what he's been going for with Dalinar and Kaladin all along." Yep- that's what I was saying too! Or at least trying to when I said it fits within the larger framework. Maybe I didn't spell it out clearly enough - but yes that is what I was going for . This was how I was interpreting Hoid's story exactly I agree- it is about what has happened. I think it is also about what will happen. I think Hoid was trying to say that history often repeats itself. I actually think this is one of the many larger themes. I think that this story will end up being more subtle than it at first appears- so likely it won't be what...kinda like the way Brandon sometimes answers questions Definitely possible! I think it is about whoever is left fighting against Odium. The ending is so far from now that I think it will be surprising and yet fit perfectly with this story! In a twisty sort of way. "Wit repeats the fact that different characters will find different meaning. " Kinda like all of us

What if someone else besides Kaladin is "Fleet"?

From the Houston signing thread. This got me thinking... If I'm at all in any way right - and you don't want to think about how it all ends. DON'T READ FURTHER! Of course - I'm probably not right though! Theory: I propose this last chapter mentioned in the WoB quote above is (at least partially) the story that Wit and Kaladin concoct while Kaladin is in prison in WoR. (sorry?). I realize that it may be connected to the epigraphs also(and/or) but consider how Hoid and Kaladin's story fits within the larger framework: Words of Radiance p. 730 and Words of Radiance p. 730, 731 and most convincing for me: Words of Radiance p. 731 I think this has to do with beating the everstorm through strength of will, belief and perseverance, and self-sacrifice. Or maybe Wit is just talking about other cosmere stories we have seen (or will see ). Chances are excellent that I am 100% wrong and I freely admit that and actually wouldn't mind a bit if that turns out to be the case. This just seemed kinda like it might fit as an ending... Thoughts? Disagreements? Other ideas? *hides*

Shennnnnn!!!! (or Rlain) Awesome idea - up vote! Why did I not think of that???? I love it! I'd almost rather see that than Dalinar. Flipping a coing to figure out which is more likely....

This occurred to me as well that someone could theoretically become a Super Herald - I really hope this is not how it works. I think probably that if you get surges from an honor blade getting another does not double your abilities. There is WoB in the Houston signing that someone who has a shard blade and and honor blade might get some compounded power, but not2x which makes me think (hope) that it might be similar for 2 honor blades... link here at#7 http://www.17thshard.com/forum/topic/6743-brandons-answers-in-houston-311-signing/

totally agree

I just like him with a blade Other than that -In case he needs to defend himself? In a battle - he might not have a choice and his surge binding abilities might not be enough/optimal at a critical moment. I agree- but he might not have a choice in the matter if someone comes at him with a shard/honor blade.

That's definitely a possibility. There is still chance it could belong to a different herald (small I know). I suppose it is possible that somehow they will discover which Herald it belongs to (assuming it is Jezrien) and run into that Herald (Jezrien) and return it and then that Herald will regain their former glory...or lose it to someone on the dark side. But I still like the idea that it will go to someone (Dalinar) who can't have a shard blade through no fault of their own.

For sic fi: I really enjoyed Anathem by Neal Stephenson and The Culture series by Iain Banks. I think Cyteen by CJ Cherryh, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, and The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach are some less well-known but really good sci-fi books. They made me think anyway, about a lot of things! Definitely not light reading. And under the more-challenging (for me) but excellent is Gene Wolfe's the Book of the Long Sun. As for fantasy...well hard to beat The Stormlight Archive of course! I'll agree also with KKC by Rothfuss and Watership Down. Recently I've added to my list of fantasy favorites: Little, Big by John Crowley and anything by Guy Gavriel Kay.

(If this has been discussed please post a link for me). What exactly is going on here? It seems like if one is not bound to a spren, soulcasting exacts a toll on the user. Is the fabrial (or spren inside) feeding on their life force? Feeding on personal storm light investiture (in as much as people on roshar have innate investiture)? Something else? Could this physical change eventually kill the ardent or will it transform them into something else completely? Because the spren in a soul caster is, according to the are arcanum, an unwilling slave- could the spren be enacting this change intentionally? Or is it just necessary to fuel the soul casting desired by the ardent using the fabrial?

That's an interesting interpretation as well. Hmmm. I like how it provides added weight for them to see the spren as betraying them and they may view humans as co-betrayers with the spren. It adds a jealousy component. It also gives them more reason to want to accept the stormspren. Perhaps the storm form of Odium provides a more Nahel-bond like symbiosis and that makes it more attractive or satisfying- they miss that level of bonding. Will have to think on it more.