Now that you’ve had a chance to read the one-two punch of The Way of Kings and Towers of Midnight (And perhaps been KO-ed by the announcement of another Mistborn series book for next year.) you are sure to be full of questions regarding all things Sanderson. So we’re throwing out an open call for those questions!
Comment below with your questions for Brandon in the next three days and we’ll collect them and send them on to Sanderson. He’ll answer as many as possible, but if you can, try and avoid anything that’s been answered by him here, on his Twitter, site, on Dragonmount, or any of the other fine Wheel of Time portals out there.
Hello Brandon
On your Writing Excuses podcast you mentioned a love of maps, especially maps that thematically work with the world of the book (such as the maps in your Way of Kings)
Given that. what is your all-time favorite fantasy novel map?
Question for Brandon : is the fact that “the way of kings” and rest of the books in the series are going to focus each one on a different character connected in any way to the fact that both tgs and tom focused each one on a pair of characters?
Carlinya Sedai died in ToM. So what did Min’s vision of her from TFoH mean?
Who is the First Selector of the Blue Ajah? (and if that gets RAFO’d) Have we seen her on screen or her name mentioned?
The second time Perrin needed to be there for Rand, did that occur on dragonmount in T’A’R?
Can Moiraine’s loss of Power be Healed?
Can a person be reborn more than once in the same Age?
Dear Mr. Sanderson,
I know it’s premature to discuss this, but I am entertaining fond hopes that after you finish A Memory of Light, you will publish a WoT companion, which will include things like:
– All the notes and details and backstory which never got put into the novels.
– Deleted chapters, or longer draft versions of scenes which had to be edited down.
– An account of the writing process as you experienced it, with perhaps an outline of the books showing how much of each part was yours and how much RJs, and the difficult decisions you had to make at each point.
– Alternative chapters or scenes which were discarded.
– Answers to any issues which are still disputed by fandom after the last book.
As I said, I know this is premature, but I was hoping you could at least tell us if
1) Is this something you, personally, would be willing to do?
2) Is there any chance of it actually happening?
Thanks for your time,
Jonathan Levy
About the swirling colors the ta’veren experience.
Would Perrin be able to see what Mat is doing in the Tower of Gengi? If I was Perrin I’d be following every move Mat makes.
And hypothetically if Rand thinks about Mat at some moment during and after his journey in the Finn World Rand should be able to see Mat and Moraine or if before they rescue her Mat and co. in the Finn World. Is that right? I find this connection between the ta’veren so fascinating.
And how much time has past since Mat met Verin and the trio left for the Tower of Gengi? 30 days?
And how many days before Rand’s epiphany on Dragonmount did Mat and Verin met?
Thanks!
Thank you for agreeing to finish WoT. I also enjoyed The Way of Kings.
Was the symbol of the Ghostbloods the same symbol that you used to move between different scenes in TWoK’s chapters
(the 3 diamonds in a triangle pattern)?
In ToM’s glossary, it is noted that Mesaana is destroyed (as opposed to Asmodean and Aran’gar who are noted to have been killed). If the Aes Sedai were to execute Mesaana, would the Dark One be able to put Mesaana’s soul in another body? Or since her mind was destroyed, is Mesaana’s soul permanently damaged?
AndrewB
With your penchant for developing very different types of world and types of magic as you go from series to series are you ever tempted to allow other writers to expand your universes in the way George RR Martin does with the Wild Cards series? Open but controlled?
Who killed Asmodean?
Sorry. Old habit.
More seriously, I have an older question that I’ve been meaning to ask for a while.
When the books say that the Blue Ajah through themselves into Causes, does this mean the Ajah as a whole picks a Cause, or the individual members pick their own causes?
Hey Brandon,
I have a query about the future of WoT books and by extension your own series, which are fantastic. Are you aware of and are there any plans in the future to adapt WoT to film or television? Would you be involved in this process at all? And is this something you would be open to doing with your own work sometime in the future?
Thanks a lot for being a great story teller and so interactive with your fans.
Best,
Matt
What is your process for pre-writing work? (Worldbuilding etc). When you write something and “get stuck” or it doesn’t turn out quite as you envisioned, how do you know whether to take it and add something different to make it better, or just move to another project and let the “stuck” project be? (I was thinking of how “Mistborn” was a combination of two projects that didn’t turn out quite as you thought, but combined they increased in awesomeness).
In “Way of Kings”, the epigrams indicate that the year is 1174 (or thereabouts). In the Prelude, the date is indicated as 3000 years ago. What mechanism is used to delineate the epochs? Obviously in the Prelude they wouldn’t refer to their date as -2174. In other words, what are the B.C./A.D./BCE equivalents for that series?
Thanks :)
In plotting an epic like TWOK, to what extent do you outline the whole story? How does that compare with the outline and notes provided by Robert Jordan for the remaining volumes of TWOT?
Hi Brandon.
I saw an interview of you talking about Way of Kings before it came out/Before I read it. In the interview you mentioned the 10 kights and each book will focus/ be about 1 of the knights.
After reading book 1 I can honestly say, I have no idea which Kight was supposed to be in book 1. Is this by design? or did I miss the point?
THx!
Big fan here…
What’s the general time line on Stormlight Archive releases? Do you plan any major gaps in the series, or will books 2-10 likely be your main projects for the next few years?
Are any secondary WoK characters likely to become more major in the next book?
Any chance of a hint at the red veiled Aiel? Even the tiniest of reference anywhere else?
Hey Brandon,
Loved Towers of Midnight, but I did have a question.. ToM spoiler for those that haven’t read!
Concerning Aviendha’s ‘future vision,’ at one point it appears she is viewing her daughter about 20 years after TG. No mention is made as to what happened to Elayne or Aviendha (why would there be), but it is hinted they are no longer around. As they should each live to at least 300, was this intentional? It seemed odd that Aviendha was so worried about what her daughter was doing, and no question as to where the hell she and her first-sister are.
Brandon,
Back in, I think, Lord of Chaos, Nynaeve and Elayne tried to need walk in T’A’R and ended up in the White Tower, looking for something to unite the Aes Sedai with Rand. Now that they have access to the Tower, will they remember and try to find out what the thing was they were looking for?
Mr Sanderson,
Not that it makes a huge difference now, but was the method of hiding the Green Man’s place (so that only those who need it can find it, and the greater need will move it to their location sooner) anything akin to using Need to find something in T’A’R? And if so, was the Eye of the World sitting in the world of dreams until called?
Thanks!
Right then- Yay Brandon:) Huge fan of yours( well okay, I’ve lost a couple of pounds so I am not as huge as I was) love what you are doing and the direction WoT is going.
Couple of things- I am really liking the way the momentum is picking up with these last books. Threads and story arcs that have been spanning books are being summed up in a chapter, and in some cases, a page or two. Are we attributing that pace to your writing style or is this what RJ had in mind to get us all to Tarmon Gai’don? Get stuff done so we can get to the big battle?
Other thing that niggles at me are the Ajahs. I know that the White Tower gets thrown under the bus because they seem to be squabbling rather than getting things done, but why is there no Ajah devoted to the Dragon or the Last Battle? Knowledge is great, diplomacy is great, healing and logic are great, but TG is this big elephant in the room that everyone knows is coming. Everyone knows the Dragon is coming. Why isn’t there and Ajah devoted to this? The Reds don’t count- unless that is what they were supposed to be doing as opposed to the disaster they are now…
Edit- the Greens don’t count either. From what I have read, all anyone needs is a bunch of wet paper bags handy to confound any efforts the “Battle Ajah” may muster.
Errrr… thanks for the response:)
Woof™.
Would it be effective/efficient to make Awakened machines? That is to say, could one make a crossbow or catapult that fires itself, or a wooden cog that perpetually turns?
And, if this isn’t a RAFO, is Roshar a flat plane? a lot of what the characters say about the opposing ends of the world suggest they’re not the same place.
Robert Jordan’s wish was that the final book be one volume. However, I think pretty much everyone agrees that your decision to split the book into three parts was the right one. That being said the way the books have book split up in terms of view points are more due to literary considerations instead of chronological order. For example Perrin’s time line in ToM catches up to the end of TGS.
So my question, with these two facts in mind. Is there any way that there can be an ebook version of the final three books, recut/reedited so that all the time lines match up? So a single Ebook that would encompass TGS, ToM, and aMoL eddited as if it was always planned on being one book more or less?
What is the difference between a strong angreal and a weak sa’angreal? Is there a Power limit and if it’s weaker it is called angreal, and if it is stronger it’s a sa’angreal? Or is there a difference in principle?
When the wolves watched Rand on Dragonmount from TAR, did the Heros of the Horn watch, too?
How do you feel about the lack of prominent gay characters within the epic fantasy as a genre and do you ever include (or will ever include) gay or lesbian characters in your own work?
You’ve mentioned before that all your books so far are in chronological order (Elantris, Mistborn 1, 2, 3, Warbreaker, Stormlight Archive 1). Alloy of Law takes place about 200 years after Mistborn 3. (Right?) Does this put it chronologically before or after Warbreaker? (Ask a specific enough question, maybe get a vague answer.)
Also, are the people looking for Hoid in WoK Interlude 1 using magic to disguise themselves?
Will we see any male channellers from among the aiel in AMoL? And why haven’t any chosen to go to the black tower? If they could break from their societies and clans to form the siswai’aman why not go to the black tower?
Where was Logain in ToM?
Has the Shadow captured any male channelers from the Aiel that went into the Blight to die? And are these the red veiled Aiel?
How unique are individual Breaths? Would collecting 100 Breaths from criminals and scumbags affect your personality in any way? Or collecting 100 Breaths from generous, charitable people?
In Vahr’s case, did collecting Breath from other rebel-minded people strengthen his determination and resolve?
Since Moridin is Taim…yeah so not everyone believes it yet, but anyway, who is second in command at the Black Tower?
What exactly is a lionfish? It’s been driving me nuts.
Did Tylin arrange for Olver to be out of the Tarasin palace when Elayne and Nynaeve left, so that Mat wouldn’t leave with them?
Is Demandred’s base of power somewhere between the Spine of the World and the Aryth Ocean, or has he been working outside of our view all this time? (Aside from stirring up the Dragonsworn, I mean.)
When did you develop your idea to have multiple series playing out on different planets? How many separate stories do you plan to tell in said universe, and will your Dragonsteel books be the last?
– How many moons are there on Roshar
– How many female Heralds are there
– Is there any special significance to the “crazy” man who asks Szeth “have you seen me?”
– Have any Heralds made an appearance since the prelude?
– Is Stone Shamanism just a belief or is there actual power/abilities to it? Is there actual compulsion (for lack of a better term) on Szeth’s oathstone? or is it just his honour that binds him?
Hey Brandon,
Did Jordans notes say if Verin was one of the Black Sisters attending the darkfriend meeting in the prologue of “The Great Hunt”? Her being able to identify Rand a couple of chapters later makes this quite likely in my mind.
So, Brandon, I have a number of questions. Most of them about the Metallic Arts, but just bear with me.
1. What does aluminum do in Feruchemy?
2. What does malatium do in Hemalurgy?
3. What would an atium-electrum alloy do in Allomancy?
4. What happens when you burn a Hemalurgic spike?
5. Can you both Feruchemically charge and Hemalurgically invest in the same piece of metal?
6. What would happen if you burned the metal in question 5?
7. What happens when you break a Hemalurgic spike or metalmind? What happens to that power?
Now for the non-Mistborn questions.
8. What’s the next non-sequel book you’re wanting to write or rewrite?
9. You’ve said you lifted the Shattered Plains from Dragonsteel, what would Kaladin have been doing if not running bridges and what will happen to Dragonsteel without the Plains?
Nine questions, a lot, yes, but feel free to RAFO some of them if necessary.
Hello Mr. Sanderson,
We’ve just read Towers of Midnight, the penultimate third of the last book of the series, and there’s a lot of new stuff, from the dreamspikes to the red-veiled Aiel to Avienda’s vision in Rhuidean. Plus, we still don’t know who Demandred is, what the Dark One’s plans are, or any number of other major plot questions.
You’ve commented in the past that you were extremely impressed by Mr. Jordan’s abilities at foreshadowing. As a reader, when you found out all the answers that will be in A Memory of Light, did you feel like all of these last-minute reveals were set up well enough, or did you feel like there were some “deus ex machina” discoveries in order to wrap up the storyline?
I’m rereading TWoK, and I think of questions every three pages or so, but, since it would be madness to list them all, I’ll just include two questions about the map.
1) Based on their similarity, was the name of King Gavilar Kholin’s Royal High Cartographer, Isasik Shulin, meant to be a shout-out to the actual artist, or was that simply a coincidence?
2) There is obviously a signifigance to palindromes in Roshar, so how significant is it/will it be that since the Silver Kingdom Epoch there are only two countries that have kept their palindromic names?
Thanks!
A Mistborn question:
Did the Lord Ruler know about cadmium and bendalloy? And did he use it?
In Warbreaker, is Clod the Lifeless body of Arsteel? I like this idea because Arsteel would have had some breaths within him when he died, as this is how Vashir defeated him and Denth, and this could help explain why he seems to be a little more self-aware than most Lifeless. Could you respond to this idea?
Alternative question: In the Alcatraz series Alcatraz is very worried about letting down so many people. Is this semi-autobiographical and perhaps speak to your fears of letting down the WoT fans? (maybe it’s subconscious!)
WOT Question:
With out getting a RAFO, what can you say, about what is going to happen with the black tower?
Can you really end WOT with one book left???
Are we ever going to see a beat down between Szeth and Kaladin in the next book (or a later book) or were you just teasing us?
I absolutely love the Mistborn series, but my first thought after turning the last page was “Wait, what happened to Marsh?”
Looking back, I couldn’t find any mention of him after Elend died. Could you clear that up?
Alcatraz questions:
Why does Bastille say they’re speaking Melerandian in book 1 and Nalhallan from book 2 on?
Also, when is Book 5 coming out?? I want to know how Bastille comes back to life.
If we ever get it, will we see the dinosaurs (or at least the peteruhdacctil) again?
Quick WoT question: what would happen if a Tinker or someone with no Aiel blood went into the columns? Would they see random AoL visions or would they just be glass columns for him or her?
Having been liberal in your tests of providing digital access to some of your works (Warbreaker, which I just followed your preferred path and ordered the Kindle book!), I would be interested in hearing your viewpoint on a topic. I find myself stuck at times with digital media, not being able to shift between various mediums. For example, I would like to listen to the Audiobook version of a book, but often prefer to go back to reading the same title. What are your thoughts on offering access to multiple versions of a title for a single price? Is this something you would consider? What are the drawbacks or concerns you (or your publishers) see in offering this type of package? Some packages I would be interested in would be:
* Audiobook version with Hardcover
* Electronic Text version with Printed book
* Electronic Text version with Audiobook
Thank you!
Jason McSorley
Dear Brandon,
We all know your favorite fantasy work but what is your favorite scifi story?
Hey Brandon, it’s Eric from 17th Shard, so get ready for some wacky questions that will most likely be RAFO’d.
Did Ruin know that Preservation had chosen Vin? Sazed’s epigraphs seem to imply that he didn’t, and that there were other, special things.
Can anyone take a Shard’s power, or does it require a special makeup in a person?
Here’s a quote. “Why, the Astalsi were rather advanced–they mixed religion with science quite profoundly. They thought that different colors were indications of different kinds of fortune, and they were quite detailed in their descriptions of light and color. Why, it’s from them that we get some of our best ideas as to what things might have looked like before the Ascension. They had a scale of colors, and use it to describe the sky of the deepest blue and various plants in their shades of green.” Do the pre-Ascension religions correspond to religions from other Shardworlds, as this one seems somewhat like Nalthis?
About what population did Luthadel have at the beginning of MB1?
Are members of the Seventeenth Shard only from Sel, or do they have members from additional worlds as well?
How many Shardworlds have we not seen in published works? There’s Yolen, and whatever planet The Silence Divine is on… [continue]
Was the Reod caused by Odium? I could’ve sworn that you said eons ago, before Mistborn came out, that the Reod wasn’t a magical event, and was a natural earthquake, but my memory may fail me…
How long has it been since the events in Elantris and the events of the Way of Kings? Also, how long before Elantris did Odium arrive in Sel?
Could you expound at all about the Steel Ministry’s governing structure? We’re kind of shooting in the dark for RPing there. How are other Dominance’s structured?
What exactly did the Lord Ruler do with Hemalurgy do pull off his most dramatic effects? Is the Lord Ruler was a brass savant from all his Soothing?
There’s a theory rolling around that the atium we see in the books is really an atium-electrum alloy. Is the atium in fact pure atium, or instead some sort of atium derivative?
Space travel with cadmium and bendalloy. Possible?
My only question is: are more Feruchemical abilities revealed in next year’s new Mistborn book? We have (more or less) the full set of Allomancy, but there’re a lot of gaps in the other two systems.
WoT is a historical allegory with religious/spiritual backing. Particularly Christian influenced. Given that the storyline started with the seeming introduction of free will (the opening of the bore) will there be allusion or referencing of free will any time before the bore is fixed/closed/replaced/TG/etc…?
In WOK Jasnah calls Shallan an idiot for going to Shadesmar with only a dim sphere, but never explains why. So my question is why?
A general question on fantasy novels.
Why are hierarchies such a persistent feature of fantasy works? Not simple social hierarchies, but nearly evolutionary one, with some characters/races being significantly more advanced/gifted.
In Sci Fi, narrative ‘magic’ takes the form of advanced technology, and characters are more or less equal.
The difference seems to make fantasy more aristocratic (any ‘common’ heroes are ultimately ennobled); sci-fi democratic.
Is hierarchy and an aspiration to nobility really that deeply embedded in fantasy?
Mild ToM spoilers
First off, great job! Now, let’s see, how to virtually grovel. I grovel like a chocoholic in desperate need of chocolate! Would you be willing to be please write all scenes from Min’s first meeting with Rand onward from Rand’s POV (the ones he is in, of course). Well, Nyneave can have her POV and Iturdle, but aside from that, all Rand POVs. Please? It was sad to have only one 3-page Rand POV. He was in more in COT, even though he technically had more screen time here, because POVs are extremely powerful.
Can we see all the scenes in AMoL that Rand is in from his POV? And can we backtrack a little and see his adventures in that valley in the Mountains of Mists?
I can talk more eloquently about POVs, if you would like.
Mr. Sanderson,
After reading your short story “Firstborn” I was wondering if you’d ever consider going back to that universe and doing some more sci fi?
My question Goes all the way back to the battle of Falme…
Why does Rands sword melt after he stabbed Ishmael? Especially considering the sword is a power wrought weapon?
And why doesn’t Callandor melt after the fight in Tear?
I’ve got two questions for you, Brandon:
1) What are some books you’ve read that, in your opinion, do a good job of blending sci-fi and fantasy in one story? Something in the vein of Final Fantasy, I mean, in which science is as prevalent as magic and fantasy.
2) I know you’re a magic player – do you play with only the latest cards or do you prefer casual play with cards from all sets?
Thanks a lot for your time!
Because every other question I had is already being asked:
“If you could choose to posses one magic system in real life from any of the books you have written (including WoT and any we as fans haven’t yet read) which would it be?”
Brandon, loved ToM. Three quick questions:
SPOILER for those who haven’t read ToM.
1.) In Avi’s vision of the possible future. One of her descendents thinks about the other three lines having been killed off. Is this referring only to Avi’s lines by her four children, or rather some combination of lines from ALL of Rand’s children?
2.) Totally hypothetically: What would happen if one were to destroy a Binding Rod? Would the oaths hold, would those bound to it be released, or would something dire happen to them?
3.) Architectural curiosity: Do you envision the White Tower as having many chimneys on the roof? There are presumably a LOT of fireplaces in there, but I’ve never noticed any specific descriptions about smoke billowing from the top of the tower. Some trick of Ogiere engineering?
Knowing that Robert Jordan had a wealth of real world combat experience to draw on, can you share with us the sort of research you have been doing or are planning to do to prepare to write what (most of us assume) will be an epic battle on a grand scale (Tarmon Gai’don)?
Thanks – just wanted to follow-up on the discussion we were having at JordanCon I and see how your strategy for writing this may have evolved in the interim (to the extent you can share it without giving anything away).
I personally found Warbreaker quite entertaining and enjoyed the fact that the twist at the end caught me completely by surprise. I However, I recommended the book to someone else, and while he enjoyed it as well, he wasn’t as big a fan of the twist. To paraphrase what he said: “a really good twist is one where you don’t see it coming, but when it’s revealed you go “ohhhhhhhh of course it was X, I should have known,” and there wasn’t nearly enough foreshadowing for that to happen with this twist.” I have read a fair amount of fantasy and so look fairly closely for twists, and I know many other readers of this genre examine books for twists at least as carefully and often far more carefully than I do. Do you think the fact that avid fantasy readers look so closely for twists has caused fantasy authors to hide their twists so deeply that nobody except the most suspicious reader will be able to find them? Also, do you think this could detract from the reading experience by making the reveal less of an “ohhhhhhh of course!” moment?
Where was Dobraine during Towers of Midnight? Where was Alivia?
Less of a question and more of a request: Can we please get to see Areina mourning for Nicola in AMOL? Even just one sentence mentioning her reaction? And while we’re on the subject, what the heck was up with so casually killing Nicola off like that?
Wow, a chance to ask Sanderson WoT questions! The temptation to ask too much and get no answers is great, so I’ll try to keep it short. Thanks for giving hardcore fans this chance :-))
Will there ever be an explanation for the contradictory orders from Shayol Ghul to kill Rand, then protect him, then kill him, and finally back to protecting him again? Even accounting for competing orders from different Forsaken, it still seems that directly contradictory orders have come all the way from the DO. And will it ever be explained why the shadow would want the Dragon to survive? (My theory is that he is the only one who could ever fully break open the DO’s prison, then his survival would make sense).
Channeling involves making different weaves with the OP, and there are many examples of the DO warping the pattern in the Pit of Doom. Is the malleable geometry of space in the Pit of Doom one of the reasons why unauthorized channelling would be so ill advised?
It is repeatedly stated that anything short of death can be healed. Is this just a catechism, or could injuries such as loosing a limb (or eye) be healed in the Age of Legends? (If so, it would stand to reason that Semirhag would have almost certainly been capable of such a healing, though nobody in their right mind would submit to her).
Now that everything is coming to a finale, will we finally get some understanding of the Rand/Moridin connection?
Would balefire be able to destroy Matts amulet? In ToM it was implied that it might not, but it was never stated outright.
Thanks again for answering fan questions, I suspect you’re going to get mobbed.
Greetings Brandon,
Your work is always outstanding. I have two questions, one behind the scenes, and one about your work.
I’ve recently started trolling the New York Times best sellers list. Obviously making the list alone is an accomplishment, but then I started wondering what people consider a success. For example. WoK entered the list at number 7. Which I think is great, then stayed on the list for some number of weeks. TofM hit the stands and is still in the top 10 (number seven) after four weeks (congrats by the way.) You spoke at a signing in San Diego (thanks for that) and said that the size of WoK made it a pretty big risk and I worried that some may say that it wasn’t successful enough (to which I argue that as foolish), but I wondered if you’d be willing to speak on what sort of expectations you and TOR had for WoK and TofM and if they were met, or if you even gauge success on something like that. Basically, when I argue with my friends about what a great writer you are and constantly fluster them with your current rankings on the NYT, do I have a leg to stand on?
As for my second question, I’m a huge Mistborn fan. My brother and I fell in love with all of your characters, and were slightly saddened when we learned M:AofL was 300 years later. I have no doubt that I’ll love the book, because I love all your books, but I wonder, how hard was it for you to let those characters go and move on? (I hate to pull a Mat Cauthon on you but) and was there any special reason you chose this period as opposed to (I don’t know what you’d call it) a more timely (in relation to the original trilogy) sequel?
Always looking forward to your next book (I probably should stop reading them so quickly).
V/R
Matthew Leistikow
Dear Mr. Sanderson,
I enjoyed your Mistborn books a lot and I also have Way of Kings on my pile of books to read. I just finished ToM and loved it just as much as TGS. I have one question concerning the glass pillars in Rhuidean in ToM and it would be real great if you had an answer for it:
Did the glass pillars change from showing the history of the Aiel to showing a (or the?) future of the Aiel because of Aviendha doing something to them or would the change also have occurred if any other Wise One apprentice had entered the columns at this point in time?
Thank you very much your answer.
P.S. A lot of people here in Germany would be really happy if you could one day come over to us for a book signing.
Holger Marx
Does the sand storytelling Hoid use in Warbreaker have anything to do with your future possible trilogy “Whitesand” written about in a recent blog?
What moment does the cover of “The Way of Kings” depict. I’ve search and searched, maybe I’ve missed it, but I can’t figure it out.
Secondly, you mentioned that The Way of Kings Prime was different to the current Way of Kings in that Kaladin (then called Merrin) made a decision, and in the new one, he made the opposite choice. What was this decision he had to make?
Also, thank you so much for such wonderful books. I’ve introduced you to a couple of friends of mine and every one has loved the books, Mistborn especially.
Brandon – where the heck are Telann and Merlille (who departed from Camelyn in KoD) and have they been doing anything important?
Ok, first, Love your writing. Second I have seen some others post more than 1 question so I hope you dont mind if I do the same.
1) Writing multiple series books at a time, how do you clear your mind to switch from one series to another? Like not thinking of Rands powers while trying to write Kaladins development.
2) Any chance that WoT AMoL could be published in a leather covered wooden Tomb like the books of old? That would be so cool.
3) In WoK, are Shallan and Jasnah going to become the female Radiants that we witnessed in Dalinars visions?
4) Are you planning on letting other writers expand on your worlds or use your magic systems? There cant be too many left out there that you havent used yet.
Mr. Sanderson,
Love all your books.
I had intended to refrain from a WoT question that would obviously be RAFO’ed, but I simply cannot resist: Can a 13×13 turning be reversed or healed somehow?
And a more substantive question: do you have any hobbies or diversions, unrelated to your work, that keeps the creative juices flowing and assits in your writing? For example, I’ve discovered that reading fantasy litarature helps imrove the quality of my non-fiction writing.
You have mentioned that you do not think the two prequels – Tam’s story finding Rand and how Moiraine and Lan came to the Two Rivers just in time – should be written. Considering that Mr. Jordan was going to write them because they added additional depth to the story, can they at least be published in the same manner that Strike on Shayol Ghul was published? Or did Mr. Jordan not leave behind enough notes to “accurately” publish the prequels in any format?
We are all fans of all of Brandon’s stuff in our house, but we are particularly taken with Alcatraz. And I’m very alarmed by the publisher descripton that Shattered Lens is the “fourth and final book.” Because the story isn’t over yet! End of comas? Altar of encyclopedias? Attica?? Please, PLEASE reassure us that there is indeed another book coming out. Because otherwise we might have to picket Scholastic’s offices or something!
Thanks for this fabulous opportunity!
WoT questions:
If the *Finn enjoy human emotions, why do they risk their lives to kill those who enter their domain, rather than capture them and enjoy them slowly?
And if only one in thousand escapes the Tower of Genji, does it mean that several tens of thousands of men had to enter and perish to furnish Mat with his dozens of memory donors?
Finally, does the price have to balance the gifts even if the Eelfinn are fairly sure that a petitioner won’t escape them and that they’d be able to take everything back?
WoK questions:
How come that the people can make amazing fabrials, but use such primitive weapons? The Shards and Soulcasters (replicators? ;) ) hint that Stormlight Archive is a science fantasy in disguise, but surely humans being humans they’d make something gun-like before the devices that relieve pain or the like.
Are the Dawnshards different from normal Shards? Or is the last Herald dead and his sword for grabs now?
How comes that the Shin territory wasn’t long since overrun by people who hold warriors in higher esteem? After all, only dregs among the Shin would chose such a low-status occupation… For that matter what prevents a revolution from within?
Oh, and I am very happy that there is going to be another Mistborn book and one where magic meets technology, to boot!
Thank you in advance for taking the time! I just have a few questions in honor of my favorite Aes Sedai :)
In TEOTW, Moiraine said there were no dreamwalkers in the White Tower for a thousand years. Did she forget about or not know of Corianin Nedeal?
In TGH, Moiraine was pondering her conversation with Vandene, thinking that something the Green sister said had tugged at her mind, an answer, or a hint to an answer, for a question she had not asked. Can you say anything about this?
In TFOH, Kadere told Lanfear that Rand founded a school in Cairhien in a house with no survivors. That was at Barthanes Damodred’s manor. Did he not realize that Moiraine Damodred was his kin? (or that there is at least one other survivor, Caraline Damodred?)
Does Moiraine know of or suspect Thom’s role in the death of at least 2 rulers of Cairhien, Galldrian and Taringail?
Brandon – one other question – will we ever learn the story behind Morgase’s mysterious statement in EOTW that she was acquainted in her youth with the speech of the Two Rivers?
I has always been convinced it came from Tam – dashing senior officer for Illian Companions who spent enough time in Camelyn to meet and marry his wife, who was from that City and may have been friendly with Trakands (Morgase was not Queen then). Further, I thought we’d see an Morgase-Tam romantic connection (i.e., why not have Two Rivers spouses for each of the Trakands). Any light to shed on these points?
Rob
Hi Brandon. Thanks for keeping the Wheel turning! Here is my question. In the Towers of Midnight Glossary under Graendal, you wrote:
Very clever. Very Aes Sedai. “responsible for” does not necessarily mean she killed Asmodean directly. She could have ordered him killed and still be “responsible.” Can you tell us that Graendal actually killed Asmodean herself? Pretty please? Thanks.
Hi Brandon — big fan, thanks for completing WoT — why is the Ogier Book of Translation called that? What does it translate from/to?
Also, could we get a description of the different Ages?
Finally, when Nynaeve Healed madness in ToM, she didn’t use any Healing weaves. What did she use?
Thanks again!
Hi Brandon ::waves:: me again:)
What do you call the mouse shadow in the second moon?
Heh- I kid, I kid;)
Ummmm…. as far as things go, I see a shift with Moiraine and Siuan. When I read New Spring, both Mo and Siuan were among the highest as far as power levels go… Elaida was too but let’s not talk about her. Egwene has made several references in regards to how the Aiel hierarchy works and that Sorilea can barely channel a lick but everyone listens to her. Are we going to see this shift in the Tower? Where respect is based on wisdom instead of power? Or – without RAFOing me- is there a possibility for healing Mo and Siuan back to their former levels?
Woof™.
Oh, I thought of another one! During the plateau assault when Dalinar has the Thrill replaced with revulsion for the first time, he hears voices. “Once these things meant protecting.” (That was paraphrased.) “Life before Death.” He wonders where the voices come from but doesn’t dwell on it. On the same page, he notices some “Windspren”. Coincidence?
Well what can I say? Gotta be me. I put this on one of Leigh’s reread posts but I want to pose these questions to you- Brandon-and hopefully you will not RAFO me. I think I pondered this on another thread but can the wolves fight the darkhounds in the Dream? And will they stand a better chance? Do Darkhounds appear in the Wolf Dream? It bothers me that soo many wolves have to die to take down one darkhound and that darkhounds are supposed to be the twisted souls of wolves. There has to be a way to deal with them… beyond Rand weaving a massive stream of balefire and ending them all in one fell swoop.
Edit- and since this is a current theme in the books, what exactly are darkhounds and can they be killed with weapons? We saw some killing and reforming and stuff, like the T1000s – so what is real? That or are they just large rabid drooling dogs?
Sorry- being who I am I have a vested interest in these things.
Woof™.
Hi Brandon,
I wanted to thank you for creating, and also maintaining, such great works. I’ve enjoyed reading and re-reading both your works and WoT (of course).
My questions are regarding the 3 Aes Sedai (and 1 former Aes Sedai) who no longer operate at their maximum channeling potential (and in Healing stilled/gentled/severed channelers in general):
Can Siuan and Leane be restored to their previous levels? Would it require being severed and then having Damer (or another Ashaman) Heal them? Or can they be restored without being severed?
Is there a difference (at the metaphysical/psychic/magical/whatever level of connection between the channeler and the Source) between the Finn’s draining of a channeler’s ability to use the source and being severed? Can this be Healed? Basically, can Moiraine be returned back to her original power level? If Moiraine were severed at her current (as of end of ToM) power level and then Healed by an Ashaman, would she be restored to her original level?
Can a channeler who is “burned out” be Healed? Is there any chance that Setalle Anan can be restored to her former power level? Is there a time limit on how long between a channeler’s being severed (or burned out), and the ability for them to be Healed?
If an Ashaman and Aes Sedai link, would they be able to Heal both severed men and women working together, or can only saidar exclusively restore full use of saidin, and vice/versa? If the linking of Ashaman and Aes Sedai and the combining of saidar/saidin does work, is it possible for a severed channeler to be “restored” to beyond their original power level by the use of saidar & saidin together?
Oh, and just for sh*ts and giggles: Is it possible that a ter’angreal can be created that allows men to link without needing women? Wouldn’t it be funny if that ter’angreal had to be created by the use of saidar? Obviously that last one is highly subjective :)
I see that some folks have asked similar questions. Great minds, and all that. Sorry (kind of) for the bombardment. I got a little question happy. Even if you can answer a few, I would greatly appreciate it.
Brandon, Thank you again for continuing Mr. Jordan’s story. His and your work have given me hours/days/weeks/months/years of enjoyment!
Hi Brandon,
I just recently read The Way of Kings and thoroughly enjoyed it, however there were some minor problems with my eBook version. I believe errors in typos are well documented (and they really didn’t hinder my reading experience) but in my version, which I read on my laptop using NOOKstudy all of the illustrations were cut off about 1/3 of the way down. I remember reading reviews saying how wonderful it was having those spread throughout the novel and I was wondering if there was a website where all of those pictures (particularly the map at the front of the novel) are located so that I can see them?
I really enjoyed Towers of Midnight, but I am kind of confused by the ending. It says that Lan sent Nynaeve a final feeling of love. Does that mean that he dies?
I also have a question about the Black Tower. With M’Hael keeping people there, does this mean that he is a Darkfriend, jealous of the Dragon, or worse?
Thank you.
Hello!
I just wanted to throw in my thanks for finishing The Wheel of Time series, and doing it so well! And giving us The Way of Kings too (and a post-thanks for a (post-modern) Mistborn)! Do you sleep ever? Are you secretly the Batman of fantasy novelists, WoTing by day and Stormlighting by night?
And, it’s a small thing, but thanks for adding some mention of food in Way of Kings. I always wished RJ had described food more. Food is important!
All my best,
Marie
1. Why did the female access key melt at the end of Winter’s Heart, but not the male one? Would it have made any difference if a stronger channeler than Nynaeve (such as Alivia) had been using the female sa’angreal, or would it have melted regardless?
2. How strong are Alivia and Sharina in comparison to Lanfear (pre-Tower of Ghenjei)? Was Lanfear really as strong as a woman could possibly be, as she claimed?
3. Is the weave that’s placed on Accepted before the Aes Sedai test a variant of Compulsion? If yes, was that why Nynaeve was able to break the rules inside the ter’angreal?
Thank you!
You obviously have a large chunk of the Stormlight Archive planned out, at least in broad strokes. As you are writing the first few volumes, how do you work with an editor on a story when so much of the relevant information is still in your head? How do you explain what is foreshadowing material in future books, what clues will make sense eventually, and how does your editor know when you need to do more explanation in the current book?
Hello.
First, I would like to add my compliments to those already here. Great job in taking on the mantle of the Wheel of Time. I have only read Elantris and Warbreaker, but as soon as I clear a few books out of my library to appease the wife, I will be getting more of your books.
I have a question regarding two sul’dam, or rather what I believe are the same sul’dam. In Winter’s Heart, Chapter 14, we are introduced to one of Tuon’s sul’dam named Ianelle, who holds the leash of Lidya. Later, in The Gathering Storm, Chapter 19, we are intoduced to another of Tuon’s sul’dam, named Lanelle. Are these the same woman, or is it just that their names are one letter off just like a pair of damane named Dali and Dani?
Again, thanks for all that you have done and all that you will do!
Just one question…
In ToM, if the Dreamspike was planted sometime before Oddities (Chapter 28), how does Tam get whisked away during the events of A Terrible Feeling (Chapter 29)?
Hello again.
Something just occured to me. Apologies if it has been discussed or answered elsewhere. It deals with Nynaeve, Lan, Elayne, Birgitte and Rand but Nynaeve is what got me thinking about it. Lan, Birgitte and Rand have been bonded before Nynaeve and Elayne swore on the Oath Road. Will their swearing cause any problems with their Warders (or Min, Aviendha and/or Alanna through Elayne and Rand) or does the Oath Rod just affect the person that swears?
Thanks!
P.S. Light, what a tangle!
Round two from 17th Shard. Mercifully, just two this time, but of course they are multi-pronged, because who needs to simplify things? ;)
Are there any methods of detecting someone using Feruchemy? If there are, what are they? Can bronze pick out a corresponding “Feruchemical pulse”?
How did Preservation switch out cadmium and bendalloy, replacing them with atium and malatium? Couldn’t Ruin replace them back? Why didn’t the Lord Ruler notice Preservation’s trick when he held the power at the Well?
Is Aona’s Shard named Harmony?
Hello Mr Sanderson,
I have a question about Towers of Midnight. Perrin and Elayne reached an agreement for the status of Two Rivers by making it the Dragon Reborn’s seat in Andor. Does that mean that Rand’s children will inherit the title of High Lord of Two Rivers or is this a special title reserved only for the Dragon Reborn as a special case? If the former, was this whole suggestion all of this a plan by Morgase to get Two Rivers under more direct control of the Trakand family since she knew that Elayne is pregnant and Rand is the father?
Another question about ToM. What was the status of the Caemlyn Waygate before the Trollocs attacked in the Epilogue? In Lord of Chaos Rand noted that he had it under guard, then in Knife of Dreams he told Loial he had it sealed and taken care of. Was it still under guard when Rand left Caemlyn and Elayne took over? Was Elayne told about the Waygate and the need to have it guarded or did Rand think it’s sealed now and that’s unnecessary?
Brandon,
I want to thank you for maybe the millionth time for finishing The Wheel of Time. You likely won’t remember, but I was the Tower Guard with the paralis net at the Cincinatti signing. I was very glad to be able to meet both you and Ms. Harriet, and help make your night at least a little more comfortable.
I hadn’t read the Way of Kings at the time, so I couldn’t comment on it, but I will tell you now that I loved it. Even if it did hurt my wrists to hold it up. :D It was a very interesting experience to start a new epic fantasy series, it took me almost three weeks to read the book, since I was learning so many new names and places and cultures and the like, and it made me realize that I haven’t -started- a new series in many years.
1. Although I know that each Aes Sedai individualizes her shawl, it stands to reason that the shawl she is given upon raising is very generic, since there’s no chance to see what she might perfer for colors/embroidery while spending her years in uniform. Is this correct? If so, would it also be safe to assume that the shawl would be unembroidered, aside from the Flame, with the fabric in the color of the Ajah she chooses, as well as the fringe? (Also, I doubt all the other six Ajahs would customize a shawl just to stand there with it and leave!)
2. How do the Seafolk earn their salt names? Do men among them even have more than a first name? Where are their children?
3. Are -all- the Amayar really dead, or did one or two (or that whole Seanchan controlled island of Cantorin, maybe) manage to not kill themselves? What -was- Alviarin up to on Tremalking; did she have anything to do with the mass suicide, or was she just a witness?
4. For the love of the Light, can we please have one small scene in Shara? Please? The bloody place has been mentioned in every flaming book. :P
5. Why the choice of “Bloody Ashes” as an epithet? Until The Gathering Storm, it’s always been “Blood and Ashes” or “Blood and Bloody Ashes”, but in tGS, Mat (and Ituralde, but he’s fairly new, so I just chalked it up as a Domani colloquialism) starts saying it ALL THE TIME.
6. In tWoK…you describe the light-eyed women’s dresses as “buttoning up the sides, cupping around the neck with a stiff collar”. Do you actually mean the sides of her body? I’m imagining something like a cheongsam with buttons. (and sleeves, and a full skirt, of course)
7. I asked this at the signing and it was RAFO’d (because you had to look it up). I haven’t seen an answer yet, so I’ll ask again: Did Lanfear (as Lanfear, or as Mierin Eronaile) write Mirrors of the Wheel? And a followup: Did Mierin’s knowledge of tel’aran’rhiod play a part in the creation of the bore? Was tel’aran’rhiod physically utilized in its creation?
Seven is my lucky number, so since I could go on with tiny questions that no one cares about but me all day, I’m sure, I’ll choose to stop there. I apologize for not asking most of these at the signing, I’ll admit to being slightly overwhelmed by the rushing about at the last minute the book store put us through. :D
Thank you again so very much!
~Rosie.
(another 17th Shard acolyte)
Warbreaker
– Can Returned have children? If so, who was the first Returned to do so?
Elantris
– How long ago (before Elantris 1) was Elantris built?
– When Dilaf is instructing the monks in how to kill the Elantrians, he mentions purification rights that need to be spoken. Do the rites have to do with the Dor? Or are they purely religious/ritualistic?
– Was Wyrn’s drive to topple Elantris purely a typical, conquest-related motivation? Or did it arise after Fjordell gained access to the Dor?
– I know it’s a RAFO, but how the eff did Wyrn see into the future? That seems above even a Shardholder’s abilities! I bet that sucker’s tapping into the Shadesmar. But i digress..
– Regarding Dilaf’s flashback: Did the ‘spell’ that messed his wife up go wrong because of human error? Or was it because Dilaf was, in some way, inadvertently interfering?
– If a Dhakor (Dilaf) could erase a symbol written by an Elantrian (Raoden), could an Elantrian erase/heal a Dhakor bone-symbol?
– Is Jesker and/or the Mysteries simply another religion? Or do they have DulaDor (as opposed to AonDor, FjorDor, and ChayDor, as I refer to them in my head)?
– (probably another RAFO) the “expensive, burning rocks from the south:” are they parallel to Atium/Larasium/TearsoE?
– Ashe says to Sarene “your god” (emphasis added). Do seons have a religion/god?
Mistborn
– Were mistcloaks inspired by the funeral shrouds in Elantris?
– You’ve said that, at the end of the trilogy, Kelsier had become a Sliver (http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/264132-q-a-with-brandon-sanderson?page=2). When did this happen and how? Did Sazed just go “here ya go, buddy; here’s a bit of my power for ya,” or was it something more subtle/universal?
Brandon,
I finally could wait to no longer and literally dove into ToM and absolutely loved it. I am so happy that you not only took on the challenge to completing the WoT saga, but that you are also doing an amazing job of it (thanks btw for letting a certain character laugh again!) I don’t know how you are going to wind so many storylines with just one novel, but I am sure the final book will be worth the wait.
That being said my question is that, as a fan, has writing these diminished your enjoyment of the series at all, now that not only do you know how it all goes down, but you are also responsible for bringing it to light for the rest of the fans. Do you see yourself someday going back to the series and enjoying it from start to finish or do you think you would reach your own work and then lose that thrill of being immersed in a really good story?
Brandon,
Now that Saidin’s been cleansed, have the ways been restored? If they haven’t, will the erosion stop? Will they eventually heal?
Brandon,
Thanks for the awesome work both in your originals and in completing Robert Jordan’s legacy.
I’m holding out on Way of Kings until book 2 is closer, because apparently it is highly addictive and I am already hooked to Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire. I can’t let you Aes Sedai tie any more strings to me.
Anyway, you probably knew you were going to be mobbed with questions when this started, so I’m going to fire away. Thanks for taking time to indulge us. :)
1) Did / Will the Dark One bring Aginor / Osan’gar back a second time? He’s a double-failure, but at the same time, they are running a little short on Chosen, and he’s the guy devious enough to come up with the Bizarro Aiel…
2) Knife of Dreams, Ch22: “As [Logain] spoke, it seemed to Harine that the space turned chill and the light dimmed.” Should we be worried, and is this a similar after-effect to Rand and Taim’s use of the True Power? Or was Harine in shock from having just learned about the Amayar mass suicide?
3) Was Byar a Darkfriend, Compelled by Graendal, or both? And since when?
Perrin mentioned him wanting to kill him back in TEotW, but back then he couldn’t have been compelled by Graendal, and if he was a Darkfriend he should have been under orders to capture Perrin alive, not kill him – not to mention that if he wanted Perrin dead, he should have killed him regardless of making it look like a botched escape attempt…
My impression was that he was simply a zealot back then, and was Compelled sometime during his time in Arad Doman. It would fit with Graendal’s dislike of using Darkfriends.
4) Hypothetically, could the Pattern take an Aes Sedai bound to the Dark One by Oath and tie her to the Horn (if she wasn’t already)? Or would the Dark One’s hold on her be absolute? I take it that since Brigitte died (at least) once inside the Tower of Ghenjei, people who die in that realm can still be taken by the Pattern and tied to the Horn (if they weren’t already), right?
To clarify, I’m not asking if Verin and Jain were or have become Heroes of the Horn, I’m just asking if the Pattern could take them, considering the particular circunstances of their deaths.
5) According to Moiraine, the Eelfinn drained Lanfear too fast and killed her. Later, a man came looking for Lanfear and left. Even though Moiraine entertains the notion that the Eelfinn could have lied to her, at this point, I assume there’s no subterfuge here and I will take this at face value.
Was the man searching for Lanfear Moridin? And if so, why? If Lanfear was dead, then the Dark One would know, even if he didn’t ressurect her right away.
6) I finish with a request: that Pevara (and I suppose/hope Androl) awesomeness you mentioned you wanted to fit into AMoL? Please, please make it so. :)
By now you probably noticed how well received the Androl POVs were, and even though there are a lot of storylines to finish, and there are a lot of characters that need the spotlight, I was one of those who greatly enjoyed Jordan’s ventures into the lives of minor characters in his later novels.
I loved how relatively helpless Aes Sedai in a fractured Tower banded together to uncover the Black Ajah, and while I was disappointed that their efforts were fruitless due to Verin’s awesomeness and Egwene’s use of it, I loved Egwene’s interactions with them and how they sided with her. “What are we voting on?” “Something important.” “Oh, then I guess I’ll stand.” Ha!
Anyway, Perava and Tarna (*sniff*) were my hope for the Red Ajah. I’d love to see Perava’s personal war with the Shadow play out and to see a Red triumph (or be gruesomely murdered by Taim, whatever the story calls for) against the Shadow with Asha’man by her side.
Light, I wrote a bloody testament. Blood and bloody ashes.
Sorry!
Oh, and Merry Christmas!
A question (and apologies if anyone has already brought this
up). I was feeling somehow off about Mat’s letter to Elayne with the weird spelling and all that. And then I remembered that he already has, in the past, written a note to Nynaeve and Elayne (in ACoS, at his first meeting with Tylin), so I went and hunted it down. I quote:
…he composed what he wanted to write in his head before bending over the paper with an arm curled around it. His hand was awkward and square. He had no love of writing.
“I followed a Darkfriend to the palace Jaichim Carridin is renting. She tried to kill me once, and maybe Rand as well. She was greeted like an old friend of the house.”
(Some thoughts on what to write next)
“Be sensible. If you have to go traipsing around, let me send a few men along to keep you from having your heads split open. Anyway, isn’t it about time I took you back to Egwene? There’s nothing here but heat and flies, and we can find plenty of those in Caemlyn.”
So, no hint of spelling errors, grammatical bloopers, or scratched out words. Only bad handwriting. So why did he write a letter full of whoppers (enough to make Thom ‘laff’, mind you!) 6 books later?
~lakesidey
What is your opinion on fan fiction, more specifically of your work?
Can Mistings burn the Atium alloy of their metal?
Are Odium and Rayse the same thing? Because we (17th Shard) have been assuming so and I’m not so sure.
Did Elantrians start appearing before or after Rayse’s visit to Sel?
Who would win in a fight, a Jedi or a Mistborn?
Here’s something I’ve been wondering:
It seems like in most, if not all, of your books, religion and the religious affiliation of the characters is an important part of the plot. This seemed odd (but cool!) to me since it’s different from how a lot of other mainstream fantasy treats religion. For example, series like “Wheel of Time” and “Lord of the Rings” take spiritual matters as a given. The whole concept of religion is largely mysterious and unexplored in Lord of the Rings, and in Wheel of Time, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t believe in the Dark One or even the Wheel of Time itself.
But in your books, there’s a lot more mention of religion, different beliefs, and even religious conflict that is a part of the plot. So, why did you decide to go in this different direction, or was it a conscious decision at all?
Thanks!
Dory
Hi Brandon
A few quick questions –
1. Do you think your religious views affect your writing? b) Are there any subjects you refuse to broach in your books as you feel they would clash with your religious/moral viewpoint.
2. RJ was insistant (it seemed) that ‘Randland’ was its own world that would carry on after the books had finished and therefore there would be lots of plots and resolutions ‘left hanging’. This is a great idea in principle but I (like I imagine thousands of other fans) want to know what happens to most characters (not just the main ones) – ie how things are left at the end of the series…How do you plan to resolve this paradox?
3. You stated the outriggers may be one step too far. I think I speak for many fans is stating that if anyone is up to the task it is you. Did RJ leave enough notes for the 2 prequels that he did not get to write, so that someone such as yourself could maybe pen them?
4. Do Moridin, Cyndane and Moghedian have new ‘alter-ego’ characters that we have seen but would not have realised who they are?
5. As a one-off and for asking awesome questions would it possible to be named in the book as someone who dies horrifically on the battlefield in the last battle? (you don’t ask…..you don’t get!)
6. When are you comin to the UK????????
Hey again, Brandon.
Something I’ve been wondering. Almost all of the high-level channellers that we’ve met seem to have some type of Talent:
Rand – TeotW, TGH, TDR hint at him being a Dreamer, untrained.
Egwene – Dreamer.
Elayne – ter’angreal maker.
Nynaeve – Super Healing & Super Delving (she can detect/heal Madness!).
Aviendha – ter’angreal reader.
Logain & Siuan – see ta’veren.
Elaida – Foretelling.
Does Alivia – currently identified as the strongest non-Forsaken female channeller- have a Talent, and if so, what it is it? If the details of her Talent are RAFO’d, could you at least verify whether or not she has one?
Does Cadsuane have a Talent? Does/did Moiraine? Same follow-ups as above.
Did RJ leave notes on specific characters who have Talents (like Androl, for instance), or were you given creative license in any future Talents we may be exposed to in AMoL?
Thanks again, Brandon. I know that as a group we’re bombarding you with questions. Even if you’re able to answer 1/10th of them, that would be great.
Why can’t I read this on my Nook? It is driving me crazy to have to carry it to work on the train. It isn’t like Barnes & Noble is some small bookseller.
Hey Brandon,
How did Rand appear in the dreamworld while he was on Dragonmount and about to destroy the world and B. did Perrin being there in the dream help Rand come to his revelation on dragonmount.
You sure have a lot on your plate! How do you keep them all straight, all these different storylines? And, can we expect a book in the Stormlight Archive each year?
Whenever I’ve seen my name in the media, it’s usually that of a bad guy? Could you include me as a good guy, even a minor one, in one of your books?
If Hoid makes an appearance in all of your works, then are we going to see him in your response to this post? Just wondering….
1. Will the rest of the series continue to be just as Alethi-centered as the first book? Between Dalinar, Jasnah, and possibly Adolin getting flashback books, that’s almost 1/3rd of your flashback characters being Alethi nobles–even more if you decide to give Elhokar or Navani or Sadeas a book (although I must admit, a Sadeas POV would be pretty cool).
2. Relatedly, how much of the map will we actually get to “visit”? “The Shallow Crypts” and “Icewater” and “Mourn’s Vault” are all on the map and sound fascinating… but will they only be on the map?
3. A linguistic nitpick: How is the “lh” in “Valhav” pronounced? I ask because there were a handful of Silver Kingdoms whose names weren’t perfect palindromes in spelling, but were in pronunciation. So, even though “Alethela” isn’t spelled the same backwards and forwards, it is a palindrome in the sense that “th” really represents a single sound. Does Valhav work this way too?
Any answers would be great; Thanks for doing this!
Why did Egwene use a weave of Earth, Spirit, and Air when Healing Gawyn in TOM? Was she thinking her Healing weave would be stronger if she use her exceptional strength in Earth? Or it is a new healing weave she learned (maybe from Yellow Ajah experimenting post Nynaeve’s Healing of stilling)? Or is this a mistake?
Is there a Talent for Balefire? Or is it a weave that is outside the realm of Talents (assuming such a thing exists)?
Is Egwene one of the rare individuals strong in all Five Powers? Are Rand and Nynaeve also strong in all Five Powers?
Are the WOT main character channelers at their full strength potential by ToM?
Could Morgase, with her tiny ability in the One Power, link? How about Sorilea?
A few more:
Does RJ in his notes have many more Talents described then are represented in the books? Could you share one or two with us?
In RJ’s Tor Q&A, it was mentioned high levels of ability in Healing were much more rare than high levels in most other Talents during the Age of Legends. Does the same still hold true? What are some of the most common Talents to have high levels of ability in? What are the rarest?
How many levels are on the “male strength in the Power list”?
How do Mesaana and Moghedien compare in One Power strength?
How do Moghedien and Egwene compare in One Power strength?
Does the BBOBA/the Guide list the Forsaken in their order of Strength in the Power?
Had Siuan seen Ta’veren pre-Rand/Mat/Perrin to know she had the Talent? Do you have any ideas who this might be? Or does the White Tower have some other test to find this out?
What an opportunity!
Dear Mr. Sanderson, who will be The Lord of the Evening ?
And since you won’t be answering that, does the name Mazrim Taim have a meaning/translation ? Thank you very very much.
Brandon, where / to what / to whom exactly is Alanna headed ? Threefold choice what to answer :) Greetings from Brussels.
Hi, Brandon. When were you sure that your “way” being an author was the right one and you didn’t have any doubts anymore ? At what age was it, was it a certain day or event or a process where you can’t put your finger on a distinct time ? Do you think you would have come to where you are without “the internet” ? Thanks and many good inspirations for your future work.
Well, I’d love to know if the red-veiled, pointy-teethed beings in WoT all have brown eyes, not just the ones we saw in ToM but all which exist ?
Perrin had a dream of different men in fine clothes wearing Mat’s face. The Aiel Dreamwalkers once had another dream – they said that the key to finding the Bowl of the Winds was to find the “one who is no longer”.
Mat was heavily involved in the Bowl’s finding, Elayne & Nynaeve met Setalle and the Kin because of him. Mat also fought off the gholam. So are both dreams talking about Mat in the same way, him being “one
who isno longer”?Thank you for your work in continuing WoT :)
Um, just a few questions:
We obviously haven’t seen the last of Slayer, but he’s very obviously not a channeller and out of the two I’d say only Isam could’ve really been considered a DF. Will we ever learn what is the true nature of his existence and the Shadow’s hold over him?
Were there any notes on the differences between Stilling/Gentling and burning out? Apart from the obvious in meaning of course. I believe the general consensus (based on the differences between Siuan and Setalle’s attempted use of the a’dam) is that the latter is not healable. But the so-called ‘Stilling’ of the sisters at Dumai’s Wells seems more of a ‘burn out’-like accident from Rand’s hasty breaking of the shield rather than a deliberate surgical severing that was done to Siuan and Logain.
Lastly, did RJ really intend to off Nicola that way (or at all) or were you just doing the rest of us readers a favour? (lol) >_>
1) Is Egwene stronger than Moghedien in the Dreamworld?
2) Can Rand Dreamwalk, now that he has LTT’s memories?
3) Has Egwene been researching about the Seals in the time period of ToM?
4) Is what the Finns did to Moiraine reversible?
5) Dreamwalkers can create scenarios to drag people into. Can they make one with a volcano and drop a Dreamspike in it to destroy it, or will natural nightmares be needed?
Hi folks, thanks for the questions! We’re closing this thread up now and forwarding it on to Brandon, who will answer as many as he can, schedule permitting. We hope to have the answers for you next week.