Author Topic: Magic of the Stormlight Archives  (Read 13438 times)

Fireborn

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Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« on: July 10, 2010, 08:29:55 AM »
I remember reading somewhere (don't ask me where, I can't remember) that Brandon said the exact number of magic systems in the Stormlight Archives would be 31.  Is this number accurate?  Cuz I have a theory based around that I think makes a lot of sense.

You may also use this topic the magic of series in general, which is why the topic is named what it is.
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Miyabi

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2010, 09:25:33 AM »

I remember him saying something about 10, but that may have been just major magic systems.

You should post your theory though, some of us love to discuss these things.
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Fireborn

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2010, 09:50:27 AM »
He said that the exact number depended on how you counted it, so I'm not sure.

I think there are five shards on Roshar.  Why do I think this?  Well, we know that each magic system is connected to a shard: Allomancy to Preservation, Hemalurgy to Ruin, and Awakening to Endowment (presumably).  We also know that that the influences of different shards can mix and create new magic systems, Feruchemy as the balance between Preservation and Ruin.  So, if you find every possible combination between different shards on a world, you can get the number of magic systems: one shard, one system; two shards, three systems.  Not just combinations between two shards, but any number of shards present: thus, three shards, 7 systems; four shards, 15 systems; five shards...31 systems.  I came up with this theory after seeing the number, but you can't ignore the pure and simple "aha!" factor to it.
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Ari54

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2010, 10:40:56 AM »
I've read him count the systems as 16 before, with some of those not being seen until later Stormlight Archive books.

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2010, 02:36:53 PM »
16 magics would make sense.
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Rezo

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #5 on: July 10, 2010, 05:52:45 PM »
I am dying to see, how Sanderson managed to think all of them out.

Fireborn

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #6 on: July 10, 2010, 07:38:43 PM »
Well, the magics can obviously be interrelated, like the magic in Mistborn is all focused around metals and it looks like at least a few of the systems in SA are based around Stormlight.
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Rezo

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2010, 10:52:02 PM »
I'm actually very curious about these systems. I wonder if Brandon would use some rune-based magic systems...

Obsessiforge

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2010, 12:11:41 AM »
I read on some website...

http://us.macmillan.com/thewayofkings

Yeah, that one...

that there are these weapons/armors that are sort of a big deal.

Quote
"It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them."

Yes, thank you, Mr. Website.

My thought is that the ten magic systems will be related to those ten shard-nouns.

Miyabi

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2010, 05:15:50 AM »
I'm actually very curious about these systems. I wonder if Brandon would use some rune-based magic systems...

The Dor was kind of like that.
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Chaos

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2010, 05:43:36 AM »
Quote
that there are these weapons/armors that are sort of a big deal.

Um, yeah, they are awesome.
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Shivertongue

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2010, 08:48:12 AM »
I read on some website...that there are these weapons/armors that are sort of a big deal.


The Shardblades/Shard-armour-whatsits? How do you figure?

I mean, admittedly, I haven't read the sample chapters yet, but I have a feeling that the Blades and armour won't have that much of an impact on the story. MAYBE a few mentions here and there, in passing, but I doubt they'll tie into any of the book's plotlines.
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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2010, 09:19:42 AM »
At least, not in a way you might expect.

They're still pretty awesome. :D

Miyabi

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2010, 09:29:53 AM »
I read on some website...that there are these weapons/armors that are sort of a big deal.


The Shardblades/Shard-armour-whatsits? How do you figure?

I mean, admittedly, I haven't read the sample chapters yet, but I have a feeling that the Blades and armour won't have that much of an impact on the story. MAYBE a few mentions here and there, in passing, but I doubt they'll tie into any of the book's plotlines.


What you said = the same as saying "I'm sure that Jesus guy doesn't mean much in the Bible, you may see him a few times, but no big deal."
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Fireborn

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Re: Magic of the Stormlight Archives
« Reply #14 on: July 12, 2010, 02:59:41 AM »
I read on some website...that there are these weapons/armors that are sort of a big deal.


The Shardblades/Shard-armour-whatsits? How do you figure?

I mean, admittedly, I haven't read the sample chapters yet, but I have a feeling that the Blades and armour won't have that much of an impact on the story. MAYBE a few mentions here and there, in passing, but I doubt they'll tie into any of the book's plotlines.
If you read the prologue you'll realize that what you just said is a complete miss.
When to live is to die, and to die is to live, does either really matter?