Timewaster's Guide Archive

Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 06:51:53 AM

Title: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 06:51:53 AM
Ok, before you continue reading know that I AM glad that EUOL is getting more attention and becoming a more popular author, BUT:

I am sad with the Sanderson forums being over-run with WoT topics.  These are the reasons, numbered by importance to me.

1. (There's a tie for first.) The people.  I miss all of the old chatters.  I know at least some of them are still around, they have just all gone in hiding (some have stopped showing up) due to the lack of other topics and the large amount of WoT topics.)  I just miss their company.

1. I miss all the theory threads. (Yes, I realize I could write them, I'm just too lazy ATM and I don't feel they would get discussed too thoroughly.)

2. The lack of the WoT threads actually being theory threads.  This new group is a totally different species of forum goers.  They just talk about what HAS happened and other things that relate to WoT (i.e. games) and none of it is argumentative debate.

3. Waiting.  I know that eventually everything will get back to the way that it was, but I hate waiting for it. :/

Now that I am done ranting I think I might find some time to write up a Theory Thread the next Alcatraz book. . . I may have to skim through the other again, or reread them first though.

Anyway.  Thoughts?
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: CthulhuKefka on February 23, 2009, 07:46:29 AM
Well, it is inevitable that more people will be flocking here. However, perhaps at some point some sort of sub-forum can be made for WoT? Just throwing the idea out there.  :)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 07:59:54 AM
My thought is that it PROBABLY won't get big enough for that.  Everyone will talk about it until a few months after it comes out, then it will die.

BUT, that is just my prediction.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: little wilson on February 23, 2009, 08:01:05 AM
I'm sad that I joined late, so I missed all the theory talk. I totally would've participated in that....And I can't really say a whole lot about WoT, since I only got to the 5th book (I really need to finish them...). I've mostly been avoiding the WoT threads, to keep myself from getting too spoiled. And since this forum has been over-run with WoT threads, that leaves me mostly to looking at the other forums, which is sad 'cause I initially came here because of EUOL.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 08:03:53 AM
I should probably read those books.  I just haven't gone out and bought them yet.

Why?  Because I'm always broke.  ha ha.  For instance, this last paycheck I bought the Elantris books in Japanese.  Speaking of which they should be here tomorrow and I will take wonderful pictures of the art pages that are supposed to be in them and post them on here for you all to see and be jealous of.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: little wilson on February 23, 2009, 08:08:21 AM
And I will definitely be jealous...

My dad owns all the WoT books, so it really would be easy for me to go re-start them. I mean, all it would take is for me to go downstairs and grab the first couple....Of course, I just took Eye of the World AND The Fires of Heaven from my room (FoH from the first time that I started and stopped about 3 years ago, and EotW from the time when I attempted to re-start them about a year ago) and put them downstairs, and I'm not to eager to bring either one back up quite yet. I don't like going into the spider-infested basement. It's cold and creepy....but I digress.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shard on February 23, 2009, 12:19:25 PM
The aMoL thread is a debate thread about theories. Currently were talking about the Eye of the World and what the heck it was/is. The Wot Help thread is watching JoeC read the WoT Series. I haven't seen any other WoT threads.

I would participate in the BS theory threads but I don't want to be spoiled for the third Mistborn book so I've been careful about it. We Woters ARE a theory debating type. I would tell you more but that's a spoiler, it's just that SO much as happened in that series.

There's also a Harry Potter thread here as well, there's also Game of Stones and the EA games threads but those aren't story related threads.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Rrikor on February 23, 2009, 04:35:15 PM
I think part of the problem with the theory posts is that the last book of mistborn is now out so that lowers your options for theory posts.  They will pick up when Brandon starts writing a new series and we have more to theorize on.  I have not read the Alcatraz book so can not theorize on that.   There are only a few threads on WoT at the moment though.  There are just not a lot of new threads being posted so everyone is following them.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: douglas on February 23, 2009, 04:42:46 PM
There's not much to theorize about for Brandon's own works right now, and Wheel of Time theorizing has been done to death elsewhere for quite some time, to the point of a rather extensive and detailed FAQ being put together.  Just about every even halfway plausible theory about anything remotely significant in the series is listed and analyzed in depth there to the point where there's really not much left to talk about that isn't just repeating things.  The WoTFAQ (just google it) has not been updated for Knife of Dreams, but that one book only adds so much to speculate about.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 04:46:03 PM
I think part of the problem with the theory posts is that the last book of mistborn is now out so that lowers your options for theory posts.  They will pick up when Brandon starts writing a new series and we have more to theorize on.  I have not read the Alcatraz book so can not theorize on that.   There are only a few threads on WoT at the moment though.  There are just not a lot of new threads being posted so everyone is following them.
But there is the second Warbreaker book, the third Alcatraz book, and the second Mistborn trilogy.  So, there is plenty to discuss.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: SarahG on February 23, 2009, 07:10:03 PM
Miyabi, I miss the old theorizers too - it was fun being part of a community where everyone knew Chaos and Andrew liked writing long detailed posts, and everyone also knew that you hate facial hair and I hate Spook's dialect.  It made me want to keep coming back to see what my friends were talking about, and what cryptic Ookla post was making everybody tear out their hair.  It made me want to participate, to think of worthwhile ideas to contribute.

Personally, I just can't think of much I'm interested in theorizing about for Warbreaker or Alcatraz.  There just don't seem to be as many dangling mysteries in those worlds - at least, not ones I care about.  Feel free to start some topics and try to change my mind, though.  :-)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 08:04:11 PM
OMG it's SARAH!

-glompageness-

Ok. . . now that I got that out of my system.

I think I'll do a quick reread of Warbreaker and start a theory thread for that one.  Maybe get some theories going.  I don't think Alcatraz theories would last long.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Czanos on February 23, 2009, 08:41:29 PM
I think the theorizing for Warbreaker might start up when Brandon starts posting Annotations for it. At the moment, we know there are loose ends in the book, but we don't have any idea which direction they're going in.

And I wouldn't worry too much, miyabi. I'm sure most if not all the old posters and theorizing will come back with Way of Kings, and with the possible second Mistborn trilogy. It'd be good to have a few theories about Warbreaker though.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Rrikor on February 23, 2009, 08:42:33 PM
I only read warbreaker the one time but it had such a finalized ending it was easy to take as a single novel and not a series.  There is just so much open for what he can do now so it will be interesting.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 08:43:09 PM
Yeah.  I can't wait for that series to start coming out!  Ten books and ten magic systems. . . wow!  That will definitely be one that will have a lot of theory threads.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: little wilson on February 23, 2009, 09:06:20 PM
Whoa, wait a sec. Ten magic systems? I knew there was 1o books, but....I hadn't heard the magic system thing...Wow. That's insane.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 09:08:02 PM
Yeah, it will be intense.  I'm interested to see what EUOL comes up with.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: SarahG on February 23, 2009, 10:05:00 PM
As I understand it, it's not like each magic system is a whole, complex system - it's more like powers or something.  Like the power to control the wind.  I don't really know though - it's all rumor at this point except for those in the inner circle.

Miyabi - yes, I'm around.  I lurk more than I post, these days.  I've been wondering, though, why you switched from green to purple font?  I might think you didn't want to be associated with Utopia, but he's long gone now.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 23, 2009, 10:32:39 PM
*shrugs* I dunno.

I just decided that I wanted purple now.  Green and Purple are my favorite colors and purple wasn't getting enough attention.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Dangerbutton on February 24, 2009, 01:03:05 AM
Really, once HoA came out and all my questions were answered, I just didnt have much else to say. I still need to read the WoT series, so until then I can't say much. This is actually the first time I've posted in a while. Once more of Brandon's books come out, we'll get some more crazy theorizin goin, I'm sure.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Andrew the Great on February 24, 2009, 05:45:02 AM
In answer to you miyabi, my inactivity is due to several factors.

1) Lack of interest. There's only occasionally a topic on these boards that interests me these days. I post when I see something I find interesting, but I do most of my WOT theorizing on Dragonmount, and I really wasn't particularly interested in theorizing in anything else Brandon had written. If we start getting some interesting talk going about warbreaker, I'll happily start coming back more frequently, to post all my lengthy ideas.

2) Lack of Time - I'm going in to finals week, and I've  been pretty slammed for time with all the homework. So that's part of it as well.

3) Lack of Remembering to get on when I do have time - Kind of like # 1, since 1 prevents this, but is still is a problem.

4) (Occasionally) Inability to use computer - I have a large family, and people like to do things on the computer. Usually I can hop on my laptop, but occasionally my mom will decide I'm spending too much time on the computer and ban me from my laptop.

5) New Outlets for randomness - most of my posting that isn't theory-centered tends to be placed in the 'random' category. Last year when I joined, I only had one class at school where people would even act remotely random. Now, 4 out of my 5 classes have people who make random jokes and tell random stories for most of the class period, with teachers who let us talk. Hence, I don't feel the need to post randomly here as much since I'm randomly talking all day. That's probably one of the more confusing paragraphs I've ever written.

Side note, if you like meat, don't read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. I haven't been able to comfortably eat meat for the last several days due to my own reading of it for US History. I can force it down, but it's not near as much fun. That sentence is also probably not very good grammar. hmmm.

Anyway, yes. WAY OF KINGS. That's what I'm most excited for. When they start coming out, it will be time for some serious theorizing. But I would also settle for the Second Mistborn Trilogy, Warbreaker, or even Dragonsteel (assuming we ever see more of it...). I'm also assuming that we'll get some sort of information about any of these. The problem is that we just don't have enough information about any of the new series coming out to really theorize on them.

As for comments on Way of Kings, when I talked to Brandon at a signing a while back, he said Ten Books, Ten Magic Systems. That's where that came from. He also may have told that to someone else, but me as well. He also did mention the fact that not all of the magic systems would be fully-developed systems like allomancy and feruchemy, but that some of them would be. Hence, I'm excited.

Other random side notes, anyone new who hasn't yet read the notes for Way of Kings on Amazon, go there. Now. Their hilarious. Then write your own. I'll even give you a link. The Way of Kings on Amazon.  (http://www.amazon.com/Way-Kings-Brandon-Sanderson/dp/B000WH4TIA) There.

But I'm now rambling, and this post is sufficiently long to satisfy my long-windedness. So I will now cease and desist.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 24, 2009, 06:19:40 AM
ha ha.

I love the reviews.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on February 24, 2009, 07:54:13 AM
Brandon told me the same thing, except it was more like this: "There are ten heralds and ten magic systems, and ten really cool endings [big reveals/resolutions], so it has to be ten books."

The first version of Way of Kings had in it an Awakener character named Vasher. I assume the second version of the series will have neither Awakeners nor Vashers.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: little wilson on February 24, 2009, 08:09:42 AM
The first version of Way of Kings had in it an Awakener character named Vasher. I assume the second version of the series will have neither Awakeners nor Vashers.

Well, we would hope so....
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Rrikor on February 24, 2009, 04:20:09 PM
It will be interesting to see how the magic systems will work.  Having 10 magic systems sounds like alot if you propogate them through all the books. I found that having the 3 magic systems in Mistborn, while interesting, made it difficult to give them all the depth I would have liked.  We heard alot about allomancy, and feruchemy was covered enought to get the jist of it.  But I wish we could have gotton more detail about hemurlgy (I know I spelt that wrong but I don't have my books with me :()
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: happyman on February 24, 2009, 06:46:28 PM
It will be interesting to see how the magic systems will work.  Having 10 magic systems sounds like alot if you propogate them through all the books. I found that having the 3 magic systems in Mistborn, while interesting, made it difficult to give them all the depth I would have liked.  We heard alot about allomancy, and feruchemy was covered enought to get the jist of it.  But I wish we could have gotton more detail about hemurlgy (I know I spelt that wrong but I don't have my books with me :()

Brandon actually addressed this.  Most of the abilities in Hemalurgy are the same as the other two systems.  Hemalurgy is at its core the ability to steal other abilities.  Thus detailed descriptions of Allomancy and Feruchemy carry over to Hemalurgy with little modification.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 24, 2009, 07:10:36 PM
Now what would be cool would be a Hemalurgist made from Savants and from Feruchemists that focus on each ability!  That would be tight!
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Andrew the Great on February 25, 2009, 04:35:32 AM
It will be interesting to see how the magic systems will work.  Having 10 magic systems sounds like alot if you propogate them through all the books. I found that having the 3 magic systems in Mistborn, while interesting, made it difficult to give them all the depth I would have liked.  We heard alot about allomancy, and feruchemy was covered enought to get the jist of it.  But I wish we could have gotton more detail about hemurlgy (I know I spelt that wrong but I don't have my books with me :()

You also have to consider, though, that Way of Kings will be 10 books long, not 3. 10 Books, and supposedly each falling into at least the category 'rather long.' It goes like this:

Short - Fewer than 150,000 words
Medium - Between 150,001 words and 250,000 words
Rather Long - 250,001 to 400,000 Words
Long-ish - 400,001 to 500,000 Words
Long - 500,001 words or more
Monstrous - more than 600,000 words (ie A Memory of Light, or at least I hope.)

But anyway, my point is that the books should each be plenty long, and so there should be plenty of time to expose you to different magic systems.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Chaos on February 25, 2009, 04:51:09 AM
Quote from: SarahG
Miyabi, I miss the old theorizers too - it was fun being part of a community where everyone knew Chaos and Andrew liked writing long detailed posts, and everyone also knew that you hate facial hair and I hate Spook's dialect.  It made me want to keep coming back to see what my friends were talking about, and what cryptic Ookla post was making everybody tear out their hair.

Grah, that Ookla :P

I can write lengthy posts. I just have to be highly motivated, you know?

Way of Kings, with its massive scale, should be great for epic-sized posts. Maybe some of my epic-sized theories would even be right. Hahaha...
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 25, 2009, 08:24:54 AM
Quote from: SarahG
Miyabi, I miss the old theorizers too - it was fun being part of a community where everyone knew Chaos and Andrew liked writing long detailed posts, and everyone also knew that you hate facial hair and I hate Spook's dialect.  It made me want to keep coming back to see what my friends were talking about, and what cryptic Ookla post was making everybody tear out their hair.

Grah, that Ookla :P

I can write lengthy posts. I just have to be highly motivated, you know?

Way of Kings, with its massive scale, should be great for epic-sized posts. Maybe some of my epic-sized theories would even be right. Hahaha...

Ha ha.

How many of the ridiculous theories ended up being right?  I didn't happen to be around when there would have been an official counting of the postings of the rightness.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on February 25, 2009, 09:46:40 AM
People were so blown away by the book and busy speculating about the future that the official counting fell by the wayside.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Reaves on February 25, 2009, 01:17:03 PM
I think there were actually quite a few that were almost right. A lot of our theories involving Rashek's motives, Sazed, some of what the Hero of Ages actually was, some of the prophecies...we had some good thoughts in there.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 25, 2009, 04:28:46 PM
Yes we did.  Ha ha.  I remember some being pretty close to right just from memory.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Andrew the Great on February 26, 2009, 03:39:29 AM
I know we were very wrong on some, but most we were at least close, and there were several that we were VERY close. I'm with Chaos, Way of Kings should be EXCELLENT for epic posts.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 26, 2009, 04:39:31 AM
Me = needs to write more of those.  I only had a few that were decent length for HoA.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Bastille on February 28, 2009, 02:23:10 PM
Ok, before you continue reading know that I AM glad that EUOL is getting more attention and becoming a more popular author, BUT:

I am sad with the Sanderson forums being over-run with WoT topics.  These are the reasons, numbered by importance to me.

1. (There's a tie for first.) The people.  I miss all of the old chatters.  I know at least some of them are still around, they have just all gone in hiding (some have stopped showing up) due to the lack of other topics and the large amount of WoT topics.)  I just miss their company.

1. I miss all the theory threads. (Yes, I realize I could write them, I'm just too lazy ATM and I don't feel they would get discussed too thoroughly.)

2. The lack of the WoT threads actually being theory threads.  This new group is a totally different species of forum goers.  They just talk about what HAS happened and other things that relate to WoT (i.e. games) and none of it is argumentative debate.

3. Waiting.  I know that eventually everything will get back to the way that it was, but I hate waiting for it. :/

Now that I am done ranting I think I might find some time to write up a Theory Thread the next Alcatraz book. . . I may have to skim through the other again, or reread them first though.

Anyway.  Thoughts?

I agree with you 100%. WoT is getting to much attention and is completely taking over this forum. I would LOVE for you to do something for Alcatraz because there really good books but I know if I put one it will just wither away. Brandon Sanderson has written more than WoT.

Bastille
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on February 28, 2009, 08:00:35 PM
Ok, before you continue reading know that I AM glad that EUOL is getting more attention and becoming a more popular author, BUT:

I am sad with the Sanderson forums being over-run with WoT topics.  These are the reasons, numbered by importance to me.

1. (There's a tie for first.) The people.  I miss all of the old chatters.  I know at least some of them are still around, they have just all gone in hiding (some have stopped showing up) due to the lack of other topics and the large amount of WoT topics.)  I just miss their company.

1. I miss all the theory threads. (Yes, I realize I could write them, I'm just too lazy ATM and I don't feel they would get discussed too thoroughly.)

2. The lack of the WoT threads actually being theory threads.  This new group is a totally different species of forum goers.  They just talk about what HAS happened and other things that relate to WoT (i.e. games) and none of it is argumentative debate.

3. Waiting.  I know that eventually everything will get back to the way that it was, but I hate waiting for it. :/

Now that I am done ranting I think I might find some time to write up a Theory Thread the next Alcatraz book. . . I may have to skim through the other again, or reread them first though.

Anyway.  Thoughts?

I agree with you 100%. WoT is getting to much attention and is completely taking over this forum. I would LOVE for you to do something for Alcatraz because there really good books but I know if I put one it will just wither away. Brandon Sanderson has written more than WoT.

Bastille
It wouldn't wither away.

You should go for it. ;)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Bastille on March 01, 2009, 06:28:14 PM
Really? Do you think it will work?

Bastille
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 02, 2009, 03:46:30 AM
Yes.  I do. ha ha.   ;)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Bastille on March 02, 2009, 12:53:17 PM
There you go!! Thanks so much for posting!!!

Bastille
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: LauraOrganaSolo on March 05, 2009, 01:16:59 AM
I should probably read those books.  I just haven't gone out and bought them yet.

Why?  Because I'm always broke.  ha ha.  For instance, this last paycheck I bought the Elantris books in Japanese.  Speaking of which they should be here tomorrow and I will take wonderful pictures of the art pages that are supposed to be in them and post them on here for you all to see and be jealous of.
Please forgive me for probably being CAPTAIN OBVIOUS here but... have you checked used book stores or do you live near a library? The WoT books are so popular I've never seen a used book store that didn't have more WoT books in various editions than they knew what to do with, so you can usually get them very cheaply. Or free, from the library.

Several years ago before my husband (who owns all the WoT books) and I moved in together, he insisted I read the series so I borrowed most of the WoT series from the library and listened to two of them in audio form during my commutes to college.

P.S. ZOMG Myv icon. :D
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 05, 2009, 04:36:48 AM
Now see I have a problem. . .. I can't borrow or buy used books. . . it's just. . . there's something wrong about it that makes me twitch.

Guess it could be my OCD acting up. *shrugs*

Yes, Myv is awesome-sauce
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Rrikor on March 05, 2009, 03:39:17 PM
That sounds like me with my books.   The only books I will buy used are textbooks. The highlighting in them helps.  Other then that it is always brand new.  I also will only buy the hardcover if I have a choice.  That is mainly because I am abusive to my books with the many times I read them and the paperbacks don't seem to stand up to it very well.

P.S.  Thanks for the color changing idea miyabi.  I can now find my posts when scrolling though.  
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 05, 2009, 06:13:25 PM
ha ha.

I like hardback books as well, but for sitting on my shelf.  I like reading from paperbacks.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: deathgate on March 08, 2009, 07:26:34 PM
I agree with you 100%. WoT is getting to much attention and is completely taking over this forum.

I'm sorry some of you feel that way but I discovered the greatness of BS because of his being picked to write AMOL. If BS picks up a lot of other new fans the same way his next books should be much more popular and you should get a lot of new views and speculation on them. If you are mainly agitated about losing the coziness of being one of the few to know about BS then I feel for you but those days may be over (not at my local B&N, however , where they have one copy of Elantris and BS is still an unknown).
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 11, 2009, 05:34:40 PM
It's not that I mind the new people.  I just don't like the complete take over by WoT stuff.  ha ha.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on March 20, 2009, 03:07:57 AM
Must say valid complaints...though i must disagree with the opinion as i believe WoT is a more enjoyable read than even LoTR... and had not BS been selected to write it i would probably never gotten the pleasure to read his most enjoyable work... and while i find WoT as the best series ever in the genre (and what other genre is worth reading outside of Sci-fi/ Fantasy) I think there is no debate over who is more original and that is definately BS and i hope to see him become as reknowned as Robert Heinlen ect. I find BS to be the most promising author of the current era.. thanks for your books and keep them coming!!!
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Rrikor on March 23, 2009, 03:48:42 PM
I look at it this way.  In one year time the WoT series will be finished and the WoT talk will slowly subside after the initial review cycle.  After that you will have acquired a lot of active posters on the site and will have a larger group of people to discuss future BS books.  So while the pains of having us WoT junkies may bother some people in the short term.  It will attract more BS postings in the long run after the release of the last WoT book.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on March 23, 2009, 07:24:13 PM
That applies to me...Wow.... :-*
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: ryos on March 24, 2009, 12:16:52 AM
Here's where I show my colors. Yes, I am, in fact, a nerd.

Right now, I count 3 (unstickied) WoT posts on the first page (out of 14). That's around 21%, or 1/5. Brandon has 6.5 published novels (the .5 is for Warbreaker, of which drafts are available but the final version has yet to be published). By the time AMoL comes out, that number will have risen to 8 (due to Warbreaker/Alcatraz 3). I think.

So, the book's "fair share" would be 1/8, or 12.5%. That means it's getting 8.5% more attention than it would if all of Brandon's books were equally popular topics of discussion.

If, however, you look at "Announced but Unpublished" books, AMoL is definitely getting more than its fair share of attention. There are three of those, but the other two have one (Alcatraz) and zero (warbreaker, though it has a sticky) threads on the first page. However, I think it deserves a 3:1 attention ratio; I mean, come on, it's the Wheel of Time.  :P

So cheer that panda up - WoT has not taken over at all! :)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Wolfstar on March 24, 2009, 12:28:43 AM
I may have come here because of WoT, but as I said in a previous post, I've actually become more excited about continuing my readings of Mr. Sanderson's works than the idea of AMoL (not that I love WoT any less than I did before).  Anyways, I plan on catching up on the worlds of EUOL, then I'd love to find some great theory discussions to jump in on with all of you!
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on March 24, 2009, 04:33:25 PM
Wow  Ryos you are a man/woman after my own heart...

And wolfstar i concur... and while WoT is the best fantasy i have ever read I am happy to see Mr. Sandersons out of the box thinking and he is fast becoming my favorite author in the genere (its a three way tie currently with Roger Zelazany, he wrote Amber and is a 6 time Hugo award winner, Robert Heinlein, come on everyone knows him, and our dear Brandon Sanderson, who is the only one still alive I think).
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: SarahG on March 24, 2009, 05:37:26 PM
Thanks for the analysis, ryos, you made me smile because I like to do the same kind of thing.

So here's another way of looking at it.

Counting all threads on the first page, including stickies, here is the breakdown I see:


So it seems to me, at this point, that discussion is pretty evenly divided between Wheel of Time and Mistborn, which was Miyabi's original complaint.

That is, unless we start counting pages of posts within each topic, in which case we have 79 for Mistborn and 71 for Wheel of Time.

I'm not even going to try to count the number of posts in each category in the last 3 months, though I feel that too would be an illuminating analysis.   ;)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 25, 2009, 02:26:44 AM
Yeah, but when I originally posted this topic nearly the entire first page was WoT related topics and it had been that way for some time.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Cosmic_AC on March 25, 2009, 07:45:23 AM
Some of the non-WoT topics currently on the front page were started primarily in response to this topic, too.  e.g. Bastille's "Let's get giggly about Alcatraz!!" topic.

Oh, sorry.  I'm being a meanie again.  :(
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: VegasDev on March 25, 2009, 08:07:45 AM
Cheer up Miyabi, I'm back now.

I'd basically severed all contact so I could bury myself in work, struggling through the grieving process. Just be happy you missed out on the bargaining stage; I had to dust off the old schoolgirl outfit but don't really feel comfortable discussing anything beyond that. Ok, PM me for details.

Anyway, after MB3 I had a full plate, accepting a programmer position with a different company and getting the old crew together to publish some iPhone apps. I have a few other projects that I am currently working on :hush hush: but decided my presence needed to be felt on a renewed basis since things were starting to get out of hand with 7 administrative or general topics taking over the board.

I also kind of glossed over the first stage of the grief process, so look forward in the coming days for some new threads discussing what might happen when MB3 comes out. You stay classy Miyabi.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 25, 2009, 08:09:18 AM
Hey now, I'm rather enjoying that topic. Welcome back Vegas! :D  You should PM me details. >>'
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: VegasDev on March 25, 2009, 08:18:45 AM
You should PM me details. >>'

Oh man, if you had asked just a moment sooner. Brandon Sanderson has just purchased rights to it for his next book or 2009 Christmas card; he didn't specify.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 25, 2009, 08:40:01 AM
0.O Urhm, OK then. ha ha.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: SarahG on March 25, 2009, 04:47:13 PM
Welcome back, Vegas.  You make me laugh.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Wolfstar on March 26, 2009, 05:27:38 AM
Ack, now I really, really see what you mean.  A faint hint of rumors on WoT and the front page explodes with a new crowd of people vigorously rehashing the same thought over and over about what it might mean.

Although, I guess calling it a 'faint hint of rumors' isn't quite accurate, seeing as Mr. Sanderson felt the need to approach it in his blog.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Rrikor on March 26, 2009, 04:49:57 PM
Wait a second.  With the rumor there is only one additional topic and that can be expected.  I actually expected more. The other two topics where already there.  The AMOL thread has been ongoing for some time with daily posts.  The splitting memory of light is just off topic as they are discussing the reproduction of fades.  Now next week when TOR releases information you may see the explosion of threads. 

Unless I missed something and the admin went and killed a bunch of threads I don't see any influx of WoT chatter.  It would be like saying you are getting a bunch of MB chatter whenever 1 new thread is started.   
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 26, 2009, 06:33:13 PM
Ok.

WoT topics:

Page one:
1 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5592.0)
2 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6578.0)
3 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6205.0)
4 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6359.0)
5 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6206.0)
6 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5821.0)

Page two:
1 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6389.0)
2 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6468.0)
3 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6540.0)
4 (http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=6521.0)

After that there are only a couple each page.  I remember though when basically all of them were on the first page.

That was the original influx I was talking about.  I don't see that many new topics for this.  I am not looking forward to the week after JordanCon. ha ha.  That'll be crazy.  I assume they will double or triple.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shard on March 26, 2009, 07:22:28 PM
I think Miyabi you should be glad since Brandon is getting more attention due to WoT, a few Wot threads is a small price to ask in exchange for that. Just as soon as I get my hands on HoA I'll be able to actually post in more non-wot threads here. ;-)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on March 26, 2009, 07:30:09 PM
I think Miyabi you should be glad since Brandon is getting more attention due to WoT, a few Wot threads is a small price to ask in exchange for that. Just as soon as I get my hands on HoA I'll be able to actually post in more non-wot threads here. ;-)
I have said multiple times within this thread that I am glad that Brandon will be getting more attention.  When the topic was originally made I was simply frustrated with the lack of topics about Brandon's books.  I am glad that the Brandon topics will probably be even more talked in after WoT comes out and such.  ;]  I also started reading WoT, so I will probably end up being active in those topics soon enough anyway. ha ha.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shard on March 26, 2009, 07:39:27 PM
So then we can all be happy here I think, Brandon is a good writer and I trust him with WoT. So I have no problem getting into his other books when I have more time and money to do so. :)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Wolfstar on March 26, 2009, 10:01:26 PM
Wait a second.  With the rumor there is only one additional topic and that can be expected.  I actually expected more. The other two topics where already there.  The AMOL thread has been ongoing for some time with daily posts.  The splitting memory of light is just off topic as they are discussing the reproduction of fades.  Now next week when TOR releases information you may see the explosion of threads. 

Unless I missed something and the admin went and killed a bunch of threads I don't see any influx of WoT chatter.  It would be like saying you are getting a bunch of MB chatter whenever 1 new thread is started.   

No, it wasn't that a bunch of new threads had been started, it was that a bunch of old ones suddenly got bumps.  WoT really did take over the front page yesterday.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 01, 2009, 03:11:27 PM
I read the Warbreaker spoiler on his website (ver 6.2) but of course it's not done.  I'd never read his work before and as one of many WoT types that are actively conspiring to hi-jack the channel, I felt it necessary to get to know his work.  Anyway I enjoyed what I saw of Warbreaker, however I'm a bit of a word junky.  I seldom buy a novel that is less than 350K words and generally avoid books that are magic system or new discovery driven instead of character driven. 

That's made it hard for me to get interested in Mistborne, because my perception is that it is more about the magic than the characters.  Maybe I'm wrong. I'd be happy to hear other perspectives as long as they are a bit more than, "no you're wrong" or "of course it's got characters, books have those."
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: douglas on April 01, 2009, 03:39:34 PM
That's made it hard for me to get interested in Mistborne, because my perception is that it is more about the magic than the characters.  Maybe I'm wrong. I'd be happy to hear other perspectives as long as they are a bit more than, "no you're wrong" or "of course it's got characters, books have those."
The magic system is important, yes, but it is far from the main focus of the series.  There are a fair number of "main character learning the magic system" scenes, but no more than necessary and there's a LOT more character interaction and plot.

Find a library copy and start reading.  Be aware that much of the learning-the-magic-system stuff is concentrated near the beginning, but once you get past the explanation of the basics it should be very much to your liking, and there's plenty of character focused stuff even mixed in with those scenes.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on April 01, 2009, 05:24:58 PM
That's made it hard for me to get interested in Mistborne, because my perception is that it is more about the magic than the characters.  Maybe I'm wrong. I'd be happy to hear other perspectives as long as they are a bit more than, "no you're wrong" or "of course it's got characters, books have those."
In my opinion, and note: it's biased because Brandon is my favorite author, the Mistborn books are probably some of the best when it comes to balancing characters and magic.  The magic system and the discovery of it becomes part of the character, but the characters also become themselves as well.  If that made any sense at all.  Give it a read, you'll never know unless you do.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Patriotic Kaz on April 01, 2009, 05:32:09 PM
i concur it is a great series and i only read it to get a feel for who was finishing WoT but he is fast becoming one of my favorite authors...
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: yakumo fujii on April 11, 2009, 05:38:16 PM
Ok, before you continue reading know that I AM glad that EUOL is getting more attention and becoming a more popular author, BUT:

2. The lack of the WoT threads actually being theory threads.  This new group is a totally different species of forum goers.  They just talk about what HAS happened and other things that relate to WoT (i.e. games) and none of it is argumentative debate.


Us WoT people have debated theory on what will happen in the next book since Knife of Dreams was released in '05. Even with a series of Biblical scope like WoT that's enough time to debate every plot thread a dozen times. We're all debated out. Once the prologue gets released online as it always does you'll see an explosion of theory threads.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 11, 2009, 06:46:02 PM
Besides if we start theorizing it will step on Miyabi's and the big C's read-throughs.

It's pretty impossible to defend a theory without citing the previous books. :P
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shard on April 11, 2009, 08:11:46 PM
Exactly we don't want to spoil those that are in the middle of reading this series.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on April 12, 2009, 02:51:46 AM
Just so long as all the spoils are marked it'll all be just fine. ha ha.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shard on April 12, 2009, 03:19:42 AM
I guess we could have One word title threads *heh* Still I wouldn't want to bury Brandon's other threads. When you've read more of WoT miyabi  you should check out Dragonmount just to see how much we theorize. :)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on April 12, 2009, 03:27:11 AM
Oh I will.  I am just interrupting WoT at the moment so I can read Dragonsteel and get caught up in school.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shaggy on April 19, 2009, 11:41:01 PM
Is Dragonsteel published??
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 20, 2009, 12:15:55 AM
It's a bound copy of his undergrad dissertation/thesis.  Miyabi got it on interlibrary loan from the BYU library.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shaggy on April 20, 2009, 12:23:00 AM
AHh darn it. I've been told it's really good. Have you read it?
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 20, 2009, 12:35:56 AM
No, No No, not I. :)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on April 20, 2009, 03:02:44 AM
It is very good, but also very rough.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 20, 2009, 03:05:30 AM
can you elaborate? Rough in what ways?
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on April 20, 2009, 03:09:51 AM
As in it is nowhere near publication level.  It still has lots of random grammar issues, as well as small chunks that just . . . need complete revision to make sense without rereading it.  It just could use editing, but it wasn't meant to be published anyway. 
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shaggy on April 20, 2009, 03:12:48 AM
Well, yea but wasn't it, like, his thesis or something??  ::)
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 20, 2009, 03:15:48 AM
Only undergrad honors. :) Nowhere near the same academic rigor as a graduate project.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shaggy on April 20, 2009, 03:20:01 AM
OK. I just would've thought we would have edited it more if he was handing it in for school. *shrug*
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 20, 2009, 03:21:13 AM
Heh.  Especially since he teaches now? ahem!
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shaggy on April 20, 2009, 03:21:43 AM
Lol I wonder if he's reading this.…  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Miyabi on April 20, 2009, 03:27:52 AM
Probably not, he hasn't been on since November and is very busy.  I assume that after he gets all of AMoL written and has some time to spend with his family, he might start coming back around.  He also might appear for a couple weeks after Warbreaker comes out.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Renoard on April 20, 2009, 05:02:02 AM
He pays Ookla to read the forum for him now. :PPPPP
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Wolfstar on April 20, 2009, 06:51:36 AM
That would be an interesting and possibly frustrating job, haha.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Peter Ahlstrom on April 20, 2009, 07:01:32 AM
I will ask him if and when he wants to come back. I'll also ask him if he will pay me for my time reading the forum.

Anyway, I will be sure to let him know about any thread he actually does need to know about, like when Dan Dos Santos popped in.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shaggy on April 21, 2009, 01:22:13 AM
Quote
Anyway, I will be sure to let him know about any thread he actually does need to know about, like when Dan Dos Santos popped in.
Who dat?  ???
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: firstRainbowRose on April 21, 2009, 02:28:55 AM
He's the guy that did the cover for Warbreaker.
Title: Re: Hum Drum Sad Pandaness
Post by: Shaggy on April 21, 2009, 02:45:52 AM
Oh, cool!