Spark

I read that WoB a while back and my first thought was "well.. what if killing him was helping him?" I don't know. I've had that feeling ever since I first read WoK, I guess. Corruption (of Honor, of power, emotions, etc) is such a large, underlying theme. And I can't quite put my finger on it, but it seems too easy to put that all on Odium. We already know through the various wordings of Oaths, through Dalinar's visions and other things, that Honor, Righteousness etc are pretty much simply a question of perception and interpretations. I vaguely remember a WoB on Ruin's (and somewhat Cultivation's) theme being "things must pass". I can at least imagine how that could in some way rather align with Odium's intent and collide with that of Honor, especially if Honor/Tanavast took things to an extreme or somewhat went off the deep end.

So this is kind of random, but I thought the more Cosmere and WoB savvy among you might be able to help me. Do we have any WoB on the possibility that Cultivation betrayed Honor? Betrayal is too harsh a word for what I mean, but I can't come up with a better one. Let me put it this way: Is there a possibility that Honor went.. off track, sort of, at least when seen in the light of Cultivation's intent? And is there a possibility that Cultivation was implicit in his death?

Perfect, thank you. This is really helpful.

Is there by any chance a list/chart floating around on who's part of which organization/movement and what they stand for? It's kinda hard to keep track already and it won't exactly get any easier.

Syl and Pattern. Period. Doesn't have to be a romance, but I'm looking forward to seeing those two interact with each other.

I have a question I'm sure you guys can help me with. So we can assume that the Stormfather was bonded before the Recreance, and obviously wasn't affected (much) by what happened, unlike the other bonded spren. Does that mean he can't "die" (or kinda die, since wie assume that spren don't really die either) because he's a cognitive shadow? Or wasn't he betrayed? Edit: I just realize.. he can't have been a cognitive shadow before Honors shattering, can he. So he probably wasn't at the time of the Recreance.

I still believe this refers to Kal facing Moash and protecting Elo. In case it doesn't and is indeed foreshadowing something, I can't really see Kaladin's hatred of Amaram playing out like that again. I don't think Brandon would let that drag on for so long. I do believe Kal will hit another low, but it would be sort of anticlimactic if Amaram were the cause yet again.

Griff, see that's why it's called personal taste. I don't agree either, but then there are tons of people who find Rothfuss boring or hate the prose of other series' mentioned here. Sometimes it's difficult to pin point what exactly elevates a certain story for a person.

That made me suspicious. I was expecting her to be caught in disguise by Palo or Sebarial any second. Any other Highprince would have had her under surveillance, if only to get information to use against the Kholins. Could Palo be the masked woman? I don't think Sebarial is a Worldhopper - at least not from another world, unless he killed an actual Highprince and lightwove himself his face. Unless, of course, someone can come up with a good explanation as to how he ended up as a member of an aristocratic house.

BS, Rothfuss, GRRM. Not in that order, but they're definitely at the top of the list. I also immensley enjoyed N.K. Jemisin - The Inheritance Trilogy.

Slightly off topic.. but when I saw the topic, I first read "Avengerspen". Anyways, I'll go with Porridge's and Aldurnamiyan.. (wow, now that's a name) comments. I don't think there's a difference in perception. What I would like to know, though, is, what exactly "new" means to Syl, considering how old she could potentially be.

I'd like that. Story wise it would make a lot of sense. But considering there will be a publication gap up to 5 years, that would be a pretty harsh move on Brandon's part.

We don't. They do. ; ) There's gonna be a break after book five, with a bit of a time jump. Ten years, if I remember correctly.

Lopen. I got one of those "Bridge 4!" signatures by Brandon.. I'm thinking about writing him: "Ummmmm.. no."

I never believed for a second that Jasnah was really dead. Her death would've felt too cheap for such an interesting character. So when she came back it was more of a "it was about time" reaction. That being said, it's entirely possible that I only thought this way because I read/heard the scene pre book release. Szeth on the other hand.. I couldn't have cared less about him towards the end of the book. I loved him during the first one, but the whole "I believe whatever anyone tells me" thing got old really fast. It wasn't even the resurrection itself that annoyed me. I guess I'm one of a few, but the whole flying around like superman (times 2) and chasing each other didn't really get to me. The fact that this was topped of with a resurrection, which essentially meant "oh, alright.. so it sort of was for nothing after all", just didn't sit right with me. It's alright, though, as long as Brandon knows how to not let Szeth feel like a drag in the next book. Plus, I was pacified by Adolin killing off Sadeas. Now that came out of the blue for me. And I loved it.

Hm. I guess I could live with Kaladin dying at some point during the series, but halfway through? I'd be upset. I remember starting WoK and thinking: Oh, so Cem is the main protag.. oh, never mind. I don't know, it's just personal taste, but I like it to have one character in whose story I'm more invested than in others'. I think I would feel sort of cheated if he only made it half way through. As for the champions, Kaladin vs Adolin seems, at least at this point, the most obvious pairing. If only because the emotional stakes are higher when former friends are pitched against each other. As for Szeth.. that would be a let-down. Although I'm curious what Brandon comes up with during the next few books to make him more of an interesting character again.

And now she's slightly worse. Still praying, though.

If that isn't a step up, then I don't know. And now excuse me, I have to pray to my storm. Edit: Feel free to join my oppressed minority anytime.

Well, now I feel objectified. Way to go, internet.

It wouldn't surprise me if at some point during those past weeks BS had a moment along the lines of: "What the... Seriously? I've spent years thinking all this stuff up, I write thousands of pages and THIS is what they celebrate? The stupid stick?"

It's what I actually love about the books. You can't really earnestly spin a story about any sort of society without addressing or at least acknowledging racism as an issue. If you do, it won't go deep enough. And the fact that - as others have mentioned - it plays on two levels in SA - against another species and within the same species - makes it just more interesting. It shouldn't creep you out. The fact that you have the Alethi/Parshmen situation presented the way you describe does not mean it's condoned. It simply is. We're 2 books into the series and we've been given a glimpse into a fictional society and it's way of reasoning. And it will be all the more interesting to see said society maybe have to confront their own false reasoning.

Nah, HydrogenAlpha. He's just one of those really misunderstood types. Actually, I'm sure he was mobbed in tree school for being so stiff, so he's just overcompensating. Now, as a grownup, he's proud of not bending according to others' whims - or bend at all, actually.

No wonder this didn't make it into the book. I mean who'd have cared for Kaladin anymore? Oh the suspense! And who cares about Shallan's troubled past anymore when they've read this. I have to admit, I teared up a bit there at the end.

Lightsong.. now that you say it... Hm. I don't think he's a worldhopper, although that would be something else. A worldhopper so plainly out in the open instead of sort of staying in the shadows (Hoid aside). He and Palo have a very distinct attitude. They seem less concerned with social expectations and cultural standards. Is it weird that it makes me suspicious that they DON'T seem to have an agenda?

Well.. since we're already on that, if you guys have a look/listen at the DC signing, Brandon uses a very specific wording when talking about Gavilar's "black stone": Just saying.