Quiver

I'm gonna go back and read the world building and get back to you... but about this: Who say's the cult has to be evil? Yeah, it's kind of a given as short-hand in popular culture, and only reinforced by the numerous real-world examples... but that could be a reason to try and do something different with it. After all, the idea of religion is kind of important in the Mistborn books, which detail the way a cult turns into an offical religion... and I'm fairly certain that there are points in history when the major religions of modern times (Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Shintoism, Hinduism and so forth) would be labelled as cults by the people around them... so... why not try something using that? You mention the idea that super-cults are viewed as harmless loons, or dangerous nuts. Either way, it's not exactly a flattering image... so what if there was a character was sincere about it, has genuine faith in a particular super as a divine being/prophet/champion/etc; not faith in the extreme, zealot trying to convert everyone to the truth, but in the way of a modern religion; they have something they believe in that gives them comfort, and they want it to be recognized and given the legitimacy that other churches do.

So, I went to a midnight showing. First of all- wow that was a bad idea. I am exhausted today; I've only ever seen the Avengers and the Return of the King at midnight shows; I need to get back into practice for the Hobbit. Anyway... it was an... interesting movie. A good one- don't get me wrong- but more... interesting than anything else. Anyway- on the whole, I prefer Inception, but this was a good movie.

I need to check that out, I think; I love those classic fairy tales. And I especially love mentioning them to people who are only familiar with the Disney versions. ... Er... right, to remain on topic... If you want other books besides Brandon, maybe you should check out the things he recommends? I don't know how far you got in Wheel of Time, but I thought the third book was a big improvement on the previous ones (even if I haven't started to read the rest of the series yet).

Huh. That is a surprisingly meta, Morrisonian take on Hoid. As far as him being Felt, however... I think that the character is certainly a worldhopper. Felt seems like too unusual a name to repeat for no reason... but I don't think he's Hoid.

WARBREA- Oh, you already read it? Well, I'm out of ideas. But yeah, if you haven't yet, finish the Mistborn trilogy, then... everyone is recommending Elantris. I can't, but that's because I haven't actually read it myself, for the reason Voidus said; Elantris was Brandon's first novel, and he's improved since then. It might be all in my head, but for some reason, I just can't get into that book because of it... it isn't bad, but after his later ones, it feels... less good.

Cookies are like hemalurgically charged spikes, because the longer they spend outside of something, the more power they lose until they become stale.

I... remember seeing My Little Pony when I was a kid. Sort of. I think? Honestly, it seems to be one of those tv shows which never catches on in the UK; I remember seeing G1 Transformers growing up, and a channel a few years ago kept showing re-runs, but I've never seen the old MLP shows get the same treatment. (Of course, before FiM, I didn't care anyway, and if I watched them now, it would be out of some sort of a desire to say "I did it", and to mine those shows for fan fic canon. But I digress.) I have to say, I do like the way that this conversation has sort of turned towards gender representation and stuff; after all, "Brony" sounds like a masculine term for fans of the show. That sort of brigns up all kinds of issues in itself, like whether or not men should be labelled differently from female fans, if female fans can be bronies (since I've seen the term pegasister applied to them) and so on. I need o get my thoughts in order, I think, but the point is... I love this show. (And I am so very, very tempted to buy a Doctor Whooves shirt because of it.) Given that M is the usual code-name for the leader of MI6, I suddenly have a mental image of James Bond doing the above to Judi Dench. Best mental image ever.

Welcome! ...Though, as the guy who runs into threads and tells new readers they need to read Warbreaker, because it's my favorite Cosmere novel forums foremost Warbreaker enthusiast, I encourage you to also read Warbreaker one of these days. Besides being my favorite Cosmere book -and, in my opinion, one of the best of them- it also has some important details and relevance to other stuff. Oh, and I think I also have to mention ponies. Because ponies.

Well, I hit a new rank, so here's a new member title and picture to go with Equestria's acceptance into the Enefel. ... I'm kind of ashamed by that joke, but not enough to change my picture or title. Though Shining Armor has got one mean throwing arm.

Avatar, in every match up, fairly decisively. Oh fine, I'll concede; depending on at what point this match ups occur could affect the outcome. For instance, if the Aang Kelsier is fighting is from Book One, meaning all he has is Airbending and maybe Waterbending (but virtually nothing with regards Avatar state) Kelsier... might stand a chance. Maybe. The big advantage Mistborn characters have over the Avatar's is a willingness to kill, though that might only really be an Aang-centric weakness. Korra has never exactly demonstrated a bloodlust comparable to Kelsier, but if she went up against Ozai, I doubt she would have spent a few episodes trying to find a different way. (For the record, I find Korra a much more interesting character than Aang, I just don't think she shares the air nomad/Batman philosophy of "No killing"). If the Avatars have full mastery of the elements and access to the Avatar state? They win. Full control over the Avatar State, alá Season Two Korra, and (presumably) Pre-Korra Aang turns this into a blood bath, only limited by the fact that the Avatars (probably) won't be going for the kill, and might ty just energybending the allomancy out of the mistborns. After all... however good the mistborns are- with the exception of Vin- they are working on fairly limited resources. The Avatar has infinite resources, in the form of the surrounding elements (or even just creating it, alá Firebending). Unless the mistborns get very lucky and get the drop on the Avatars, I find it kind of difficult to imagine a scenario where they win.

Well, damnation. Unless Rubix wants to violate international policy and have the 17th Shard declare war on an a neutral nation, I guess we have to let the spambots run rampant. Alternatively: declare war, use it as a springboard to conquer other nations, and achieve the dream of world domination!

Eh, I don't think it's a big deal. After all, the way media is distributed nowadays has changed. There might not be any Saturday morning cartoons, but that's because they're on the stations website or something; that's whats happening Korra at the moment. (-Which makes me curious as to how they are going to air seasons three and four of Korra in the UK, but that's a different story). Heck, the only time I even bother to watch a show "live" these days is in the case of season finales.

Is cancelling incredible superhero shows and replacing them with inferior- if not downright insulting- substitutes a thing now? Because all the above talk about Teen Titans GO made me re-evaluate some recent superhero tv and suddenly get really sad that this might actually, genuinely be a thing. Spectacular Spider-man, a show which succeeded in mixing up the continuities of spider-man to such great success that I'm prepared to cite it as being 90% responsible for the increased role of Gwen Stacy in the Amazing Spider-Man series? Canceled. Replaced with Ultimate Spider-Man. Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, which had a kick-chull theme song in it's first season, and whose second season expanded the marvel universe while adapting stories in ways which were often superior to their original source material? Canceled. Replaced with Avengers Assemble, which has some of the worst animation I've ever seen (and I saw the old 60's and 90's shows), equally bad voice acting, and a dull look designed to sucker people in by being like the Avengers film. Young Justice, another well done DC superhero show which didn't just feature kid characters but whose entire story arc was about growing up, finding your identity and making your own way in the world? Canceled. And replaced with Teen Titans Storming Go. Hell, going back even further- Wolverine and the X-Men. I didn't watch that show at the time, because I expected it to be the Wolverine show, guest starring the X-Men... and I was kind of right. But it was also an awesome show, which actually took the concept of reversing Cyke and Wolverin's attitudes and did something interesting with it! And then teased us with the Age of Apocalypse, one of my favourite comic book storylines ever, and- Cancelled. Oh, and there's also a new Hulk show. Which... I can't even bring myself to comment on.

A well reasoned response as to why someone would enjoy Brandon's novels and the world of pastel ponies? Curse you Twilight Sparkle! Oh fine. I admit; I play up the brony persona a tad, because I think the disconnect between stuff is funny. Back when I had my Oliver Queen avatar picture, I kept trying to work references to Arrow, Batman and the DC Universe as a whole into posts. Transferring that over to ponies is in much the same line, but... I find it kind of funnier. I mean, a social group for cartoon horses? Memes and references to them all the time? It's ridiculous! ...Which isn't to say I just play the Brony!Quiver character up for comedy, because I genuinely do enjoy the show. As a piece of shameless advertising, check my (signatured, soon-to-be-continued) analysis thread on the show; Friendship is Magic is a smart show, particularly given it's roots as a toy franchise and... well, as my little pony. I've always described myself as starting for the show, but staying for the fandom, because there is stuff about the brony fandom which is amazing. Not only have they produced a quantity of original work which borders on the absurd, there are a number of charity's which brony's have founded or actively contribute to. ...Though yes, there are a lot of unsavory elements to the fandom as well, with fans who are as obnoxious about the subject material as I pretend to be, or who promote misogynist or misandrist viewpoints. Every fandom attracts some people with that sort of view point (case in point, Hunger Games fans), though the size of the Brony community, how active it is, and the disconnect between the fans and the kiddy show makes the negative side a lot more obvious, and harder to ignore. Anyway, Twilight mentioned the virtues of the show (even if she glossed over Rarity by refusing to acknowledge her as Best Pony), so I don't want to repeat that... but as for why I talk about it a lot on 17th Shard? Firstly, because I think it's a show with an important message, and artistic worth. Second, because it strikes a cord with me. Like Twilight said, part of that is the characters, but it's more than that; the show really ignites a creative spark with it's viewers. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I've probably had more ideas for stories since watching the show than I did before- and yes, more than a few of them are a case of me wanting to write pony fan fiction. Thirdly; I talk about it, and try to bring awareness of it because I didn't know about it. I didn't start watching the show until the break between seasons 3 and 4, and even then it was only in response to certain stories I heard about it. Like this one. And it really prompted me to re-evaluate judgement I make about stuff and to give the show a chance. And finally... I talk about it here because you guys are some of the smartest people I know. Take a quick look over the forums, and the amount of theories and discussion you've done is amazing- and even better? It's respectful and even-headed. This is a show I like, and I want to talk about it on a forum I like. (Though as always, if I go too far, or bug people with it... tell me. I don't want to upset anyone.)

For what it's worth, you've come to the right place, though you should maybe ask those questions in a different topic. While the cosmere connections are meant as easter eggs, they are also kind of spoilery for new readers.

Considering the finale airs in the UK tonight (and presumably sometime soon for America and other countries), I figured a topic bump might be... appropriate/acceptable. (It's also why I didn't just edit the above post, since that wouldn't bump it.) So... finale! Anyone excited?

Interesting points Moogle- but unlike our views on Amaram, I'm inclined to disagree. Now, as for why I disagree? That I can't quite explain- I need to do a Words re-read, but I loaned my copy to a friend (he read Way of Kings, but our local library doesn't have WoR yet). The only thing I do have to say is a reply/rebuttal/whatever to your Mistborn part

Elantris. My old foe. Funnily enough, I do use the coppermind, but it's usually only to double-check stuff from the books I've already read... meaning the entire Sel-portion of the site has been untouched by me. My inabaility to finish Elantris is really starting to impede my ability to do things... Ah well. Thanks Joe!

Have to agree with this. Now, granted, he didn't get as many interludes in WoR as he did in WoK, and presumbly he's been busier than ever following Taravangian's orders... But I found the Szeth of Words of Radiance almost a completely different character than he was in Way of Kings, and I'm not sure how to feel about that. I feel like I've missed a lot of the stuff that's pushed him right over the edge, turning him from a guy serving out his penance reluctantly, to someone who shrugs and just decides to throw another body on the pile, cause what the hell, right?

So don't get me wrong: what I'm about to say is by no means a deal breaker. But what is Enefel? I was looking at the rep list, saw that it was the next one I could get and... Well, I'll be frank. I'm not quite sure what American Football has to do with the cosmere. Explanations please. (For the record, Midnight Essence? That is ]i]so[/i] going to change my picture to Luna in one form or another.)

Maybe the black stones are similar to the God Beyond theory that get's mentioned now and again; a recurring motif on all of the cosmere worlds, hinting at something bigger. ...Though I disagree with the idea that they could all be pieces of Odium's power. I haven't read Elantris (a travesty, I know), but if black-stone pendants are given out at weddings, I'd imagine that's just a cultural thing. Now, why black stones would seem to be regarded by Scadrian and Sel cultures as being somehow lucky despite no overt ties between the two? No idea. But Shai and Wayne were the first characters (as far as I know) who both mentioned the God Beyond...

You know, considering how important intent is, that sounds like it could lend itself to an interesting double-think kind of situation for Awakeners to justify that black/white discrepancy. (And I would have thought that "White" would see itself as a color, but that makes me think; are cognitive principles standards throughout the cosmere? Do all colors, everywhere, see themselves as that thing? Or could White see itself as a color on Nalthis (which has lots of colors and uses white cloth) and not have a cognitive aspect on a different planet?)

George R R Martin says hello That being said, I agree. Eshonai has survived the fall, I'm convinced of that. As for what happens afterwards...? Well, I'm in the camp who believe she'll become a Radiant. There was a comet-like spren circling around her after all... that being said, I hope that she doesn't shake off the influence of Stormform until her own novel, simply because the idea fascinates me. During the interludes, Eshonai mentions that she can hear herself screaming inside her mind, meaning there is a part of her which knows what she is doing and is outraged against it. That raises all kinds of neat questions about how the voidbringers work; the Parshendi don't seem to be acting like puppets. Eshonai still has... well, not the personality she exhibited before, but she has a personality. She is a distinct individual from Venli, or the other Parshendi- they haven't been joined in a mass, unthinking hive mind of Odium-worshippers. I'd love to see the conflict between the Eshonai's get played out; it's kind of like an especially disturbing body heist story, particularly if- as I suspect- the Radiantl!Eshonai becomes stronger as the comet spren tries bonding with her; there's been speculation since Way of Kings about whether or not Dalinar will live until his flashback book. What if that was used as the hook for it? An entire novel of Radiant!Eshonai fighting back against Stormform!Eshonai, then, during the climax, Stormform!Eshonai has Dalinar at her mercy...

I maintain my position that, if Warbreaker ever is filmed, someone who always plays the hero in movies needs to be cast as Denth, and someone who always plays the villain needs to be cast as Vasher. It's why I said I'd prefer to see Nathan Fillion as the former, and Adam Baldwin as the latter; it plays against types, and would make the reveal that Denth is a villain at least a bit more surprising. ...That being said though, there's also Ravenchilde's comments. In general, I think Brandon's books are fairly race-blind; there isn't really any description that suggests... well, anything as far as race is concerned. The jungle/tropical setting of Warbreaker is pretty distinct from the rolling english countrysides of the Hobbit, and casting should reflect that fact. (Of course, no matter who they choose, they won't match the pictures I have in my head already- Lord of the Rings did because I saw it before reading the books, and the early Harry Potter films looked just like the eleven year old me thought they would, but in general? The best they can do is "kind of" like it.)