Khyrindor

@stonedshaman General Cosmere spoilers (since this is in the Stormlight subforum):

I vastly enjoyed the Prose version and was confused about the graphic novel. I'm still going to get them for the sake of knowing what's canon, but in my heart, the Prose version will but what's true. I would have much preferred Brandon just published a revised version of the book, but I'll admit that it works well enough as the graphic novel. I'd highly recommend reading the Prose version, as long as you're okay with there being differences (mostly names, missing scenes, and gender swaps). As for Cosmere information, there isn't too much, maybe as much as Elantris or the first Mistborn book. There are a few tidbits that should be interesting, but my favourite part of it was being able to be inside Khriss's mind, as later on she becomes a major worldhopper.

As all Surges are considered forces of nature, what we see here is (I'm 99% sure) Dalinar's Resonance.

Was about to say that, but didn't want to double post. I will add that it could be possible in groups as long as a Bondsmith is present to set it in motion.

Ahkay so my Hoid guess is off. My next guesses are something Jasnah says about her cousins, or something Adolin thinks of "His brother" not by name.

Most likely something Hoid says to Renarin early on. That's my guess. Yes, Argent, I hear you laughing at us...

Love it XD I'll look for that in my reread.

You'll have to be more specific than that In the Palaneum around the same time? Different library?

I can look again when I'm home, but I know which one Nalan is. I meant that (IIRC) we see him described as Makabaki, and every Makabaki has the full lips and broad nose features along with the dark skin, which Nalan's "stone looking" statue doesn't. And I'm not just being picky about his Herald picture. None of them seem to have the features as described (at least that I've seen). Taln is described as Alethi, yet his statue lacks the epicanthic fold. Either way, I agree we can't really say for certain based on the evidence. I'm just saying we shouldn't take the representations of the Heralds as truth in what they look like. @Steeldancer Again, out of curiosity, where's Pailiah? The only ones I know about are Ash, Taln, Nale, Kalak (if he's Nale's companion in Jasnah's prologue), and Jezrien (if he's the drunk man at the beggar's feast).

I see where you're thinking, and there's nothing to disprove it, but every single ardent we've seen has the "customary" shaved head & beard. And as it's probably one of the first times we see ardents on page, the purpose may be Brandon letting a new reader know what they look like and that they're around. I think we'd have more evidence that Ishar is Tezim than a random ardent. I will say that I find the Herald pictures of Ishar is much more convincing, though many other chapters around there have the same ones as well, so I'm not sure we should glean that much off of them. EDIT: I should also say that I'm not sure we should take the artistic representations of the Heralds as a fact at what they look like. Nalan's picture looks like an average white guy, even though he's described as dark-skinned. There's also no sight of the pale birthmark on his cheek.

Out of curiosity, who do you suspect as Ishar? I'm doing a Stormlight Archive reread currently and I'd like to look out for such things (still in WoK). Otherwise, I think I support the idea that Tezim is Ishar. The parallels make a lot of sense. Only kicker is Mraize's quote about the local species. Could be something we haven't seen yet too.

This is how I've started to think about it as well; thank you for putting it into words. Some additions: Commands are also mentioned (granted, by Vasher) on how to deal with using a Shardblade correctly. And on the importance of metal everywhere, there's the fact (I dare to say fact now because of that WoB from GenCon) that Metal can be used Hemalurgically to steal anything and the fact that aluminum is Investiture-cancelling everywhere we've seen. I'm only as sure as you are about Roshar's focus, but the idea that seons are basically spren and the bonds can be seen anywhere is one of the things that got me thinking the same thing as you.

This. This is the constant state we Sharders live in. Eagerly looking to every interview, every book, every snippet of text from our overlord, which will bring both answers and questions. I'll be happy with whatever we get tomorrow I just direly hope we get a resolution with what's happening in Hearthstone.

I don't think there's anything to say that he has to be a massive blade. I certainly expect it to be larger than average in more intricate than even the Honorblades, but spren seem to be able to change their size at will, and as the Stormfather technically counts as one and follows the same rules, I think it's possible. He certainly has the option to do so, he just doesn't want to risk Dalinar breaking his oaths, and thus, killing him. Edit: @Calderis , I've seen that WoB, but in WoR I believe the Stormfather says "I will not let my body to be bound in such a way as to kill me.", which can only be interpreted as a choice. It could be a choice that all the megaspren make, because of how important they are, but I still think it's a choice.

I was confused about that as well...

Agreed. On that note, am I the only one who expects to see the Stormfather manifest as a Shardblade at some point during this book or even later down the line? In a moment of desperation, when everything hinges on Dalinar living, the Stormfather might change his mind about that, and bet it all on winning, instead of living to fight another day. It would make quite the scene.

I think we both agree it's unlikely things will go there, but I could see it. If that's the case, Dalinar has to be especially careful with his new Oaths. I also think it would take a lot to get rid of the Stormfather, and there's more to it than simply destroying him. I suppose it's also possible that the system would correct itself with time to be able to produce Stormlight again, but I can't think of a specific reason how.

Fair enough. However, there has to have been Stormlight before the Last Desolation, which is before the Rider of Storms and the Stormfather merged. I agree it would change (perhaps), but I still think it would be able to fuel fabrials and Surgebinding. @Calderis Are you suggesting that since the Stormfather is now the one 'producing' the Stormlight (where he wasn't historically), killing him would effectively remove Stormlight?

WoB says there was Stormlight before Honor Invested in the storms IIRC, so this may not be as debilitating as you think.

If they took a page out of Marvel's playbook, you can pack a lot of little easter eggs in there. Have a Hoid scene, mention in world by characters that it's part of a bigger universe. And a post-credits scene could help a lot in the right circumstance. On the topic of movie adaptations, I generally accept that nothing can be perfect, and as it's a different medium, some things would have to be different. I'm on board with a Mistborn adaptation, and if all goes well, a Cosmere cinematic universe would be amazing. This idea I had is an offshoot of that, acknowledging that a lot of the time, adaptations don't work out, and fans don't support it 100%. With a movie set in the Cosmere that isn't an adaptation, that eliminates the obvious problems and just leaves the feasibility of taking something like that on. I feel like if Brandon did that, he'd have someone (perhaps someone new) in Team Sanderson spearhead most of the project so Brandon can keep to what he's good at (writing really fast), and then he can check in and make sure there's no problems or contradictions in the grand scope of things.

So, apologies if anyone else has mentioned this before, but it just occurred to me and I wanted to see what you all thought about it. What if there were movies set in the Cosmere, that weren't book adaptations? Say, for instance, Brandon has an idea for a new story but doesn't have time to write it in completion, so does a rough screenplay and hands it over to professionals to adapt. Then, he works as a producer to make it part of the Cosmere canon. Personally, I don't know how likely it would be in the long run, especially now that movie adaptations are (hopefully) being considered seriously. But, I think it would be a great way to introduce the Cosmere to the big screen, which might then make it more likely for the adaptations to be better funded (if the initial movie went well). Admittedly, I don't know as much as many of you do when it comes to the movie industry, so I'll give you the floor to shoot it down or mull it over to your heart's content. Is Brandon's name big enough that the movie would be well-received? Would you like a movie set in the Cosmere without having a book on which to judge it? What would you potentially like to see?

Whoops, ignore this.

I'm thinking that there is a new sibling for Kaladin, but the sibling isn't Mara. Mara could be a relative or someone new, perhaps. Don't know about female or male yet, honestly, but Hesina helps Lirin quite a bit as is, so I'm sure he at least would make exceptions to Vorinism when it came to saving a life. On the sibling bit, Kaladin would 100% treat the child like he/she was Tien incarnate. He'd have a very very tough time leaving his family as his promise to Dalinar says he has to go to Kholinar and the Oathgate. Here's to hoping they all join him and go together; they'd be safer in Urithiru.

It's probably just the usual "sequel exhibition" that we should expect. I blame those pesky readers who read books out of order. As well as people who haven't read WoR since its release. The beta readers say this one's even better than WoR, so I'm inclined to not worry at all. Cheers.

Other factors could include the lower gravity and higher oxygen content, as well as measurements being different on Roshar. Edit: WHOOOOP 1000th UPVOTE! Thanks guys!