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Mordiceius posted:Currently, I'm just getting through Hero of Ages and then my next thought was to move on to Elantris. From there, I was thinking of just tackling his stuff in published order, so I'd likely end up bouncing around a bunch. Dunno if this is the best way to handle things though. Just figured it would allow me to discover things as many here did. Because all these books and the Cosmere are starting to remind me of this - Release order works pretty well imho. Except that you would begin with his weakest book (Elantris), instead of one of his best works (the first Mistborn trilogy). So the way you are doing it is just right. I'd do Elantris and Warbreaker, and then the main works are Stormlight Archives and Mistborn Era 2. The short stories (Emperor's Soul, Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell, Sixth of the Dust) can be read in any order. If you got a bit of fatigue with the big books and overarching storylines, they can be a nice breather. Also note that many people consider Emperor's Soul his single best work. Mistborn 2 and Stormlight alternate in publication, but you can just binge one series or the other, they don't spoil each other. Mistborn and Stormlight short stories are another matter. Follow publication order to not be spoilt. The Eleventh Metal and Allomancer Jack are I think safe to read after Final Empire, but just finish Hero of Ages to be sure. Secret History on the other hand must not be read before the 6th Mistborn book, Bands of Mourning. The Stormlight Archive books (Edgedancer, Dawnshard) again should be read in publication order with the main series. Edgedancer is Stormlight 2.5, so to be read between SA2 (Words of Radiance) and SA3 (Oathbringer), while Dawnshard is Stormlight 3.5, to be read between SA3 and SA4 (Rhythm of War). tl;dr: Following publication order is best to be on the safe side. If you want to binge Stormlight Archive, treat the short stories as part of the main series when following release order.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 09:28 |
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# ? Jun 1, 2024 05:17 |
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Sanderson has become too powerful for an editor to stop, and it's not great.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 09:52 |
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I'm worried about that too. He needs someone to reign him in to make the books flow better and cut out the deadwood.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 10:08 |
aparmenideanmonad posted:WoR Didnt he recently post that this is not true?
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 10:13 |
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mossyfisk posted:Sanderson has become too powerful for an editor to stop, and it's not great. I don’t think I agree with that one. With RoW there were more structural and conceptual problems rather than issues on the editing side. The story felt a bit smaller and constrained to the tower so it lost some of the larger scale of the previous books. That being said I liked it well enough and I think it will hold up better reading 4 and 5 back to back. Sanderson doesn’t seem like someone that wants a yes person as his editor. Time will tell I guess.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 10:49 |
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I think RoW suffers a bit from the Robert Jordan syndrome. When you binge it in the future to then immediately go into book 5, it will probably work pretty well. As a self-contained book, it suffers a bit.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 10:53 |
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Pocky In My Pocket posted:Didnt he recently post that this is not true?
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 12:47 |
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From RoW undertext: "Midius once told me … told me we could use Investiture … to enhance our minds, our memories, so we wouldn’t forget so much." Guess that explains why Hoid hasn't gone insane/senile like the others. But it has a terrible weakness as we found out. I do wonder then, if it's possible to actually make a memory backup / copy so you could protect your memories from manipulation, would sealing such a backup in aluminum work to protect it?
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 14:14 |
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His Divine Shadow posted:From RoW undertext: He might have copperminds and the breaths are a misdirection.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:01 |
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RC Cola posted:He might have copperminds and the breaths are a misdirection. That was my read on that scene.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:04 |
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RC Cola posted:He might have copperminds and the breaths are a misdirection. Can Hoid use copperminds? I thought he just cheated his way to allomancy and not feruchemy.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:30 |
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Hoid could have two feruchemical powers from spikes fairly easily without Harmony getting a hold of him per se. Does he seem like a stickler for redundancy? Sure, but memories in copper minds can be altered, which he probably knows.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:35 |
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Brandon has confirmed that he uses feruchemy, but the only specific is that it is how he manages to always be in the right place
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:37 |
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Ethiser posted:Can Hoid use copperminds? I thought he just cheated his way to allomancy and not feruchemy. Bands of Mourning also introduced the concept of unkeyed metalminds that anyone can use, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility for him to have those as well. Maybe what he was doing in Terris in Well of Ascension.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:37 |
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I'm about midway through RoW so I'm not clicking on any spoilers, but I'm finding it less of a slog than Oathbringer. I think because there are less flashback chapters, unless those increase in the back half.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:41 |
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mewse posted:I'm about midway through RoW so I'm not clicking on any spoilers, but I'm finding it less of a slog than Oathbringer. I think because there are less flashback chapters, unless those increase in the back half. They do not increase. Also I think Oathbringer flashbacks were one of my favorite parts of Oathbringer. I'm a sucker for flashbacks.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:43 |
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I'm not sure it was just the flashback chapters, I also remember oathbringer feeling like it rambled and handling major events in a weird almost offscreen way. RoW has imminent threats and feels tighter plot-wise.
mewse fucked around with this message at 17:16 on Dec 1, 2020 |
# ? Dec 1, 2020 16:50 |
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I'm a bit further along, started Part 4 yesterday. Just just just finished chapter 77 which was extremely but on the whole I'm not loving the flashbacks in this book, especially compared to Oathbringer's, and Part 3 felt like it went on a bit long. Part 1 was obviously chalk full of imminent threats, but 2 did not and (part 3 since it sounds like that's where you are? no details but just my general take) Part 3 started like it could be exciting but then you realize, "oh, no, the tower is gone and this whole part is gonna be pretty slow" and Kaladin not being able to use his powers was just a drag Part 4 - Excited to see where things go with Shallan/Pattern/Mraize, as well as all of this crazy Light development with Navani and Raboniel. I really have no predictions, but eager to finish this last third of the book. Sab669 fucked around with this message at 17:09 on Dec 1, 2020 |
# ? Dec 1, 2020 17:06 |
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Torrannor posted:Reading order Yeah, I just am planning on going off release order once I finish Hero of Ages. I went to the wikipedia bibliography listing for Sanderson and just made the full list of Cosmere works - pre:Title Year Series Notes Elantris 2005 Elantris — The Hope of Elantris 2006 Elantris Short story The Final Empire 2006 Mistborn Original Mistborn trilogy #1 The Well of Ascension 2007 Mistborn Original Mistborn trilogy #2 The Hero of Ages 2008 Mistborn Original Mistborn trilogy #3 Warbreaker 2009 Warbreaker — The Way of Kings 2010 The Stormlight Archive Stormlight Archive #1 The Alloy of Law 2011 Mistborn Wax and Wayne series #1 The Emperor's Soul 2012 Elantris Novella The Eleventh Metal 2012 Mistborn Short story, originally published with Crafty Games' Mistborn RPG Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell 2013 Threnody Novella, originally published in Dangerous Women Words of Radiance 2014 The Stormlight Archive Stormlight Archive #2 Sixth of the Dusk 2014 First of the Sun Novella, originally published in Shadows Beneath Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania 2014 Mistborn Short story, originally published with Crafty Games' Mistborn RPG Shadows of Self 2015 Mistborn Wax and Wayne series #2 The Bands of Mourning 2016 Mistborn Wax and Wayne series #3 Secret History 2016 Mistborn Novella Edgedancer 2016 The Stormlight Archive Novella Oathbringer 2017 The Stormlight Archive Stormlight Archive #3 Dawnshard 2020 The Stormlight Archive Novella Rhythm of War 2020 The Stormlight Archive Stormlight Archive #4
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 19:20 |
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RC Cola posted:He might have copperminds and the breaths are a misdirection. Regarding the end of RoW, My guess is that the mention someone made about perfect pitch being lost will come into play — Odium will assume Hoid can’t produce the Rhythm of War tone any more, and then Hoid will deux ex flute his way to victory, since you don’t need perfect pitch if you have an instrument.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 19:29 |
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Goreld posted:Regarding the end of RoW, I would hate that so it's probably true. Am I the only one who doesn't like Hoid at all? Besides when he plays therapist?
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 19:51 |
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RC Cola posted:He might have copperminds and the breaths are a misdirection. If so, I wonder if you can protect a coppermind from external interference by wrapping it in aluminum? Would be kinda funny if you could protect your memories by wrapping it in foil.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 20:12 |
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His Divine Shadow posted:If so, I wonder if you can protect a coppermind from external interference by wrapping it in aluminum? Would be kinda funny if you could protect your memories by wrapping it in foil. I kinda thought that Copperminds are safe because “anything not set in metal cannot be trusted.” I took that to mean copperminds are safe as well, but I could be wrong
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 20:31 |
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mewse posted:I'm about midway through RoW so I'm not clicking on any spoilers, but I'm finding it less of a slog than Oathbringer. I think because there are less flashback chapters, unless those increase in the back half. They do and they're never as good (or relevant) as OB's flashbacks were. I think RoW is the first book where I hated the flashbacks from start to finish. I think I'd have taken more Shallan chapters than any RoW flashbacks (other than the prologue). Mordiceius posted:Yeah, I just am planning on going off release order once I finish Hero of Ages. I went to the wikipedia bibliography listing for Sanderson and just made the full list of Cosmere works - I'd suggest you hit series together when you get to them. IE: When you read Alloy of Law you should read Shadows of Self and Bands of Mourning afterwards before moving on to other stuff because you'll have a harder time picking back up on the story if half a dozen other things are fresher in your mind. Maybe save Stormlight for last since it's 4 big books and two novellas so far.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 20:36 |
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I really hate The Citizen. Not in a book ruining way but in a “he’s a good antagonist” sort of way. He makes me so angry every time he speaks.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 20:40 |
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RC Cola posted:I kinda thought that Copperminds are safe because “anything not set in metal cannot be trusted.” I took that to mean copperminds are safe as well, but I could be wrong It's an important plot point in Mistborn that Ruin can modify Coppermind memories. It's how Ruin is able to trick both Sazed and the scholars of the earlier age: changing their memories of the wording of prophecies. Harmony would be much less likely to mess with people's Coppermind memories. Of course people like Hoid and Thaidakar wouldn't want Harmony to be aware of all their memories either.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 21:01 |
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Mordiceius posted:Once I finish Hero of Ages, I'll go through Elantris an then on to Warbreaker. I'm sure that all of the novella/short stories do not have audio books so when I get to those, I'll probably just continue down the list to the next audiobook while reading the novellas/short stories as I have time. All of the novellas and short stories (except for Dawnshard) are available as an audiobook in Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 22:06 |
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His Divine Shadow posted:If so, I wonder if you can protect a coppermind from external interference by wrapping it in aluminum? Would be kinda funny if you could protect your memories by wrapping it in foil. re: copperminds I suspect this wouldn't work on a shard, or another powerful entity. Aluminum offers protection in the physical realm in 3 dimensions, but i don't think it would prevent interaction from the cognitive realm (or even directly through the spiritual somehow).
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 22:08 |
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RC Cola posted:Am I the only one who doesn't like Hoid at all? Besides when he plays therapist?
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 22:36 |
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RoW: The last Eshonai flashback was a tearjerker. One of several that made me put my kindle down and take a break. Brandon's getting better at those. Really all the Eshonai flashbacks reinforced how much better a character she was than Venli, but now she's back with the listener survivors I'm hoping she'll grow out of the rut she's spent the last two books in.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 23:03 |
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Space Butler posted:RoW: The last Eshonai flashback was a tearjerker. One of several that made me put my kindle down and take a break. Brandon's getting better at those. Oh god yes, that flashback was beatiful. And sad. And also made me happy for Eshonai. I didn't care for the Venli flashbacks, but Eshonai was great. Too bad we're stuck with her sister.
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# ? Dec 1, 2020 23:36 |
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RC Cola posted:I would hate that so it's probably true. I like the role Hoid plays interacting with most of the other characters, he complements them pretty well. Not so much though in his actual role as a player in this game.
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 00:31 |
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Torrannor posted:Oh god yes, that flashback was beatiful. And sad. And also made me happy for Eshonai. I didn't care for the Venli flashbacks, but Eshonai was great. Too bad we're stuck with her sister.
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 01:12 |
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Infinite Karma posted:I'm not sure if this really need to be spoiled since it's unrelated to any new books but re:EshonaiIt still strikes me as incredibly weird that Eshonai died in an anticlimactic way, and partly offscreen, with all of the multifaceted parts of her character, and then Venli immediately replaced her narrative role, even to the point of bonding the same spren as Eshonai and still being the only Singer character we're familiar with AND the only one who gets a POV. Venli didn't have a history with the reader, was essentially introduced at the same time that Eshonai left, and hasn't been a foil for how we'd expect Eshonai to act, since we didn't have any Eshonai POV until later. Why not just keep Eshonai and have her do Venli's character arc? That was the plan. However When he had Eshonai fall into the chasm during the ultra mega highstorm, Brandon's editor said that Eshonai needed to stay dead. It would feel unbelievable to have her survive that. Something like that
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 01:27 |
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RC Cola posted:That was the plan. However When he had Eshonai fall into the chasm during the ultra mega highstorm, Brandon's editor said that Eshonai needed to stay dead. It would feel unbelievable to have her survive that. All that needed to happen for no one to question her surviving was for her to say the first oath while she was falling.
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 01:38 |
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RC Cola posted:That was the plan. However When he had Eshonai fall into the chasm during the ultra mega highstorm, Brandon's editor said that Eshonai needed to stay dead. It would feel unbelievable to have her survive that. edit: ^^^ exactly.
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 01:41 |
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Putting this out there - Gunship is the official band of Mistborn. Particularly their songs “Dark All Day” and “The Gates of Disorder.”
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 02:03 |
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RC Cola posted:That was the plan. However When he had Eshonai fall into the chasm during the ultra mega highstorm, Brandon's editor said that Eshonai needed to stay dead. It would feel unbelievable to have her survive that. Feels like an overcorrect. WoR was almost universally loved but one of the few common criticisms was it ending with Jasnah and Szeth both cheating death, making death feel inconsequential. In response they tried to balance the scales by unexpectedly killing off Eshonai and bizarrely rewriting parts of the Kaladin/Szeth fight to make Kaladin not stab Szeth (instead Szeth just falls into the storm and Kaladin steals the Honorblade without confirming that he's dead).
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 02:06 |
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Subvisual Haze posted:Feels like an overcorrect. WoR was almost universally loved but one of the few common criticisms was it ending with Jasnah and Szeth both cheating death, making death feel inconsequential. In response they tried to balance the scales by unexpectedly killing off Eshonai and bizarrely rewriting parts of the Kaladin/Szeth fight to make Kaladin not stab Szeth (instead Szeth just falls into the storm and Kaladin steals the Honorblade without confirming that he's dead). Huh? At the end of WOR Szeth dies when Kaladin stabs him and burns out his eyes. The honorblade only dropped *because* he was dead and it was unbonded. Nale found him shortly after and brought him back to life with a fabrial before his shard-cut soul dissipated or whatever.
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 03:31 |
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# ? Jun 1, 2024 05:17 |
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RC Cola posted:That was the plan. However When he had Eshonai fall into the chasm during the ultra mega highstorm, Brandon's editor said that Eshonai needed to stay dead. It would feel unbelievable to have her survive that. I think the explanation was that Eshonai felt redundant as another redeemed soldier, and he had too many of those lol
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# ? Dec 2, 2020 03:33 |