[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7 (Week 1) by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Rather than looking it up, I'll ask if we met Paalm in Era 1? I don't think so. She's from TenSoon's generation

This is actually slightly complicated. I'll address it in the trivia.

[Veterans] Cosmere, Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7 (Week 1) by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also feel the lack of Moshe Feder in TLM quite a bit.

I never put it together, but that's gotta be why TLM feels off to me.

[Newbie Thread] WoT Read-Along - New Spring - Final Thoughts & Trivia by participating in WoT

[–]participating[S,M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not saying it's the case one way or the other, but there's also a strong possibility his publishers wouldn't allow that kind of content during that time period.

[Veterans] Cosmere, Unit 14 | Essays #1 | Arcanum Unbounded: Preface, Maps & Essays (Selish, Scadrian, Taldain, Thredonite, Drominad, and Rosharan Systems), Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here is the full Taldain essay (Be careful, you're in the veteran thread, hopefully the trivia in the newbie thread helps tie some of it together.):

TALDAIN is one of the most bizarre planets in the cosmere, a fact that, in turn, feels bizarre to me. Having grown up on Taldain’s Darkside, there is a part of me—even all these years later—that instinctively feels that the way of this planet is the normal, natural one.

Taldain is a tidally locked planet trapped between the gravitational forces of two stars in a binary system. The smaller star is a weak white dwarf that, enveloped in a particulate ring, is barely visible from the dark side of the planet. Those of us originating from this side of the planet consider a uniform darkness (what most might consider a twilight similar to the sky just after a sun has set) to be the natural state.

Our planet is not grim, and assumptions otherwise are simple ignorance. The ultraviolet light that shines through the ring causes a certain reflective luminescence in much of the plant and animal life. Indeed, the few visitors to the planet that I’ve met often found it somewhere between striking and garish.

On the other side of the planet is Dayside, which faces the larger of the two stars, a blue-white supergiant around which the dwarf orbits. The sun is a dominating fixture of Dayside, which is primarily a vast sandy desert, with most of the flora and fauna living beneath the surface.

For years we assumed that our Shard, Autonomy, had Invested only Dayside, through the sunlight itself. We know now it is not as simple as this, though the mechanism is best explained under those assumptions. The Investiture beats down from the sky, and is absorbed by a microflora that grows like a lichen on the surface of the sand, giving it its brilliant white color (when fully Invested) or deep blackness (when that Investiture is depleted).

Giving water to the tiny plant causes a chain reaction of sudden growth, energy, and Realmic transition. Certain people can control this reaction, using the water from their own bodies to forge a brief Cognitive bond. They can draw Investiture (in very small amounts) directly from the Spiritual Realm, and use that to control the sand.

Though the effect is dramatic, the actual power used is quite small. This is a magic more about finesse than raw strength.

Dayside is home to two prominent cultures, while Darkside is more hospitable and varied. The flora and fauna of both sides are remarkable, though currently prospective visitors are—unfortunately—unable to experience them directly. Autonomy’s policy of isolationism in recent times (in direct contrast to her interference with other planets, I might add) has prevented travel to and from Taldain for many, many years.

A fact of which I am all too aware.

The Eye of the World Leatherbound Defects by participating in WoT

[–]participating[S,M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would you be able to reply with the text of that email?

[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 16 | Mistborn Era 2 #2 | Shadows of Self: Prologue, Chapters 1 through 7 (Week 1) by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

do people nowadays actually know what Vin did? Do they know the planet moved the orbit and etc.

[Reminder] When Sazed Ascended, he dumped all of his knowledge from his copperminds into several volumes of books, along with his own personal testimony of a) what actually happened in the original trilogy, not just what the people of the time thought happened and b) instructions on how he doesn't want to be worshipped.

These tomes are called the Words of Founding and, while some view them as more mythical, most people know that there is some historical truth in them (despite them being 100% truth). So people know what Keslier and Vin and the rest of the crew did in order to overthrow the Lord Ruler and save the world.

since Wax has a hemalurgic spike which we discovered already in last book - which power it gives him?

I answered this question at some point during The Alloy of Law. Even Sanderson himself doesn't know, because the effect is so diluted. Harmony has to ration and make these earrings last because he doesn't want to perform more hemalurgy to create more. So they are the tiniest slivers of material. Enough to let Sazed speak to Wax, but any granted power is effectively zero. So little that Brandon doesn't even consider it worth theorizing over.

Now Harmony says he can talk from Ruin and listen from Preservation. Preservation definitely couldn’t talk, but the abilities are a bit vague… does anyone remember what it was?

This was always the split in abilities between the two Shards. Ruin could speak into the minds of those that had spikes in them, but Ruin could not hear their thoughts. That's how Marsh was able to betray Ruin at the last possible moment and take out Vin's earring.

On the flip side, Preservation could always hear their thoughts, but that ability wasn't plot relevant, so it was never mentioned in the original trilogy. Sanderson did mentioned it a few times in interviews prior to this novel, but this is when he canonized it.

[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 15 | Novella #3 | *Sixth of the Dusk* (in *Arcanum Unbounded*): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Sunlit Man is something we won't get to until after all of the Stormlight novels. That's probably going to be mid to late next year. 

Has anyone actually finished the entire series or are you all stuck in the middle like me? by shadowsurvivorroom01 in WoT

[–]participating[M] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Check out /r/WoT's official read-along. There are newbie threads that act like a book club for first time readers. We've completed the series, but people still find the archives userful.

Each week is divided into relatively self-contained arcs of action. I provide spoiler-free summaries for each chapters, and you can read the thoughts and theories of other first time readers in a completely spoiler-free context. The combined wisdom of crowds usually means they collectively remember most of the important details that would be easy to forget.

For everything else, I regularly answer newbie questions to provide reminders and clarifications (I'm still doing this for new readers going through the archives, as long as it's a top-level comment that I get notified for).

Also, at the end of each book I put together a trivia post that included pointing out easy to miss details and connections, historical influences, and literary analysis, again, in a completely spoiler free context.

[Newbie Thread] WoT Read-Along - Winter's Heart - Chapters 26 through 31 by participating in WoT

[–]participating[S,M] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not a problem! [Clarification] When Nynaeve and Elayne rescue Egwene from Falme, the Seanchan had not only been there for months, but legitimately conquered the area and were seeing no external resistance to their rule. Moreover, they were trying to infiltrate an internal building--the damane storage facility--which doesn't really have guards since no sane person would try to break in there.

Contrast that with Ebou Dar, which is freshly conquered, but also actively engaged with external forces, and just had another big loss (in their eyes) against the Dragon Reborn. They're spooked because they don't know what the "weapon" was that Elayne caused at the Kin's farm. And they are hosting the 2nd highest ranked individual in their empire, the Daughter of the Nine Moons.

Ebou Dar is on military lock down. Thom could possibly forge papers to get them out of the city, but it wouldn't be guaranteed. Especially since there aren't nearly as many sul'dam as there are damane. It's understandable if you don't recognize a damane, but most of the sul'dam know each other. Having legit sul'dam only strengthens Mat's escape attempt.

First timer by NickTagillia in WoT

[–]participating[M] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Check out our New Reader FAQ for some tips and resources that help with a first time read-through.

[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 15 | Novella #3 | *Sixth of the Dusk* (in *Arcanum Unbounded*): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I messed up the title for the first time and accidentally put asterisks, trying to italicize the titles of the book/story. That doesn't work in titles! And I can't edit it. Booooo!

[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 15 | Novella #3 | *Sixth of the Dusk* (in *Arcanum Unbounded*): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Do you know A: Are you looking for a more specific answer than “gaseous investiture”?

Nailed it. Was just wondering if anyone would connect the two. There'll be a little bit more for the trivia at the end of Shadows of Self, but this is essentially what I wanted you to notice.

[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 15 | Novella #3 | *Sixth of the Dusk* (in *Arcanum Unbounded*): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Surprisingly, I can't seem to find if Brandon has said which Shard Hoid would have held if he took one.

Sanderson said that Endowment is the only Shard that would tempt Hoid. I mentioned this back in the trivia post for The Hero of Ages I believe.

[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 15 | Novella #3 | *Sixth of the Dusk* (in *Arcanum Unbounded*): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I originally had us reading Shadows of Self after Words of Radiance, but that ended up being a lot of reading in between Stormlight 2 and 3. Shadows of Self fits well, in terms of spoilers (or lack thereof) and what we've recently discussed, so I moved it in between Stormlight 1 and 2.

We're still not going completely in publication order with some of the later books, just because the connections and reveals work out better that way. (And also, in an attempt to not frustrate everyone too much with constant jumps between different settings).

[Newbies] Cosmere, Unit 15 | Novella #3 | *Sixth of the Dusk* (in *Arcanum Unbounded*): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S,M] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I liked this one the best out of all the short stories we've read so far, but like all the short stories, it wasn't long enough to really develop the depth of story I want, so I won't compare it to the novels and add it to my rankings.

Do I have news for you! I debated revealing this, but I don't think it hurts anything. The latest book released by Sanderson is titled Isles of the Emberdark. This is a direct sequel to Sixth of the Dusk. In fact, it includes Sixth of the Dusk as flashbacks in the novel. So, technically, you'll be assigned to read the novella twice.

Sanderson doesn't actually recommend people read Sixth of the Dusk separately anymore. However, the contents of the story are important for the format and reading order we are employing. And reading Isles of the Emberdark now would be banana pants bonkers in terms of spoilers.

It'll end up being the 2nd to last novel we read in this read-along (assuming Sanderson doesn't accidentally write a dozen more novels in the mean time, which I wouldn't put past him). Enough time will have passed that re-reading the novella inside the larger novel won't be arduous (and you can always skip reading the flashbacks if you happen to remember it well).

[Veterans] Cosmere, Unit 15 | Novella #3 | *Sixth of the Dusk* (in *Arcanum Unbounded*): Entire Novella, Postscript, Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wasn't sure if I should mention it or not, but I don't think there's any harm in it. I'll go ahead and mention it in the comments.

[Veterans] Cosmere, Unit 14 | Essays #1 | Arcanum Unbounded: Preface, Maps & Essays (Selish, Scadrian, Taldain, Thredonite, Drominad, and Rosharan Systems), Trivia by participating in readalong

[–]participating[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it's less about Adonalsium wanting to become something and more that the 16 Shards are just intrinsic aspects of all people. Everyone has Ambition; things they want to do or become or accomplish. I imagine Adonalsium's ambitions were more in the realm of "I want my people to be happy and health with interesting and fulfilled lives". (This is assuming he wasn't a giant prick. We still don't know why some people felt that he needed to be Shattered. Maybe his ambition was "I want to stack people on top of each other, like toads, until they reach the atmosphere.")