Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: GrayWesterner on May 11, 2009, 11:06:02 PM
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Hi All,
I have developed a theory from reading the HoA thread that I wanted to pose. Many have discussed the idea of the shards and how the literary worlds of Mr. Sanderson are in the same universe. I pose that they are not in the same universe at all and in actuality, by utilizing quantum theory, occur in multiple/alternate universes/realities.
Quantum theory posits that any time a decision is made (turn left instead of right) that a new reality is formed and there are infinite realities. I believe that this is the case in Sandersonia (a bad name I know that ecompasses Mr. Sanderson's literary works, at least the ones connected by the Shards of Adonalsium).
Examples that may support my theory are the uses of Atium, in how it makes a user aware of many/all possible actions from someone and Malatium and how it makes the user aware of alternate reality versions of someone else, one could say glimpsing alternate realities. These God metals seem to breach the realities. I pose that some of the characters may even just possibly be different versions of the same people on different worlds, but that may be a stretch. What do you think?
I also wonder if the same Shard may be present on different worlds at the same time? Are the shards we have seen only present on one world/one reality at a time?
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I suppose it's possible. However, because all of Brandon's alpha readers and friends on the forums seem to think the novels are all in the same universe, I'm more inclined to go with that.
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The shards though seem to be a relatively new revelation to many of them though as well, even to Ookla. I don't think that by any means has Mr. Sanderson revealed too much to even his close friends on this idea as he wants to surprise all of them when the time comes or as the larger story unfolds.
This reflects on HOID as well and his ability to 'jump' around. He wouldn't need to jump so much as 'slide' between possibilities.
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I also think that as he has mentioned he wants to take the Mistborn universe into space that it hints at more science fiction in his fantasy. I don't believe that he limits himself to the one genre at this point. His sci-fi works may even tie into the whole when all is said and done.
As I think on this I am reminded of Stephen King and his literary tie-ins. What is Mr. Sandersons Dark Tower?
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EUOL has said they're all in the same universe and that's why we won't see one in Alcatraz, because it's in a different Universe.
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I don't remember seeing that statement in particular, was it on these forums or elsewhere? Just hate to eliminate it entirely if unsure.
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I don't remember exactly where it was said, but he did say it.
EDI: I will look for it.
EDIT EDIT: I couldn't find anything, but I know it was said. ha ha.
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It has been talked about that way for so long that I wasn't sure if we don't just assume that is the case. Although if you find it that will prove your case as well. I will continue to ponder alternate realities in the meantime until you dash my hopes. ;-)
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Well what do you know...
(this is Brandon Sanderson from the HoA thread)
Quote from: Qarlin on October 17, 2008, 09:37:26 PM So are all these epic novels in the same universe? Elantris, Mistborn, Dragonsteel, all that?
I'm afraid that question is best left to the rest of you, for now, to discuss.
He may have told other people things at signings, but this is all he says on the forum.
Edit: spelling
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I don't remember exactly where it was said, but he did say it.
EDI: I will look for it.
EDIT EDIT: I couldn't find anything, but I know it was said. ha ha.
Miyabi check the Al thread. I said it there. I was chatting with him after class one day and I asked if Al and Scribbler were shard worlds (or a similar question) and he said that they were alt histories or plays off our own world so they weren't shard worlds.
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I hope that this isn't the case. It would mean the the Gods are making different decisions at different times too with the different types of magic systems.
We already have the alternate worlds in WoT as well with the portal stones. Granted they don't get used much but the theory is laid out.
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Space is big and the shards seem pretty mobile. Why postulate universes when we've barely explored the elbow room available in the universe that we already know and which Brandon's cosmology seems to be largely based on?
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Well, I went there since it is easier to understand rather than a bunch of planets in one universe quite honestly and it ties in nicely with the way the god metals work, Atium and Malatium. Those metals show possibilities, alternate choices, alternate realities. It is easier for HOID to be someone who can slice a hole between realities and step through or quite possibly be someone who exists in all realities at the same time. To me at least, only time will tell I guess unless someone can disprove my theory.
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Why is it easier to understand than a bunch of planets in one universe?
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Readers are, of course, welcome to form all the opinions they'd like. However, having heard it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak, I can say that last time I talked to him about it, they were all different worlds in the same universe.
Also, personally I prefer the term "Brandonverse," but that's strictly unofficial. :)
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Well, face to face definitely trumps any theorizing I might pose then :-) Ookla, it seems easier for me since I can accept or at least am open to the idea of alternate universes now in our own reality. So that many worlds occuring with variations of themselves that tie to each other is not a huge stretch by any means (in my mind :-) Now, accepting that life has formed on so many planets in the same universe that are similar (say with humans and magic) is more of a stretch for me since in our own reality the search for extraterrestrial life and planets that can sustain them has, to date and publicly known at least, been futile. So that it why it is easier for me to accept the multiple reality concept. That being said, if the reason for so many worlds like this existing was in fact due to the personalities behind the shards creating a universe and placing all these worlds in it for a reason and tying into an overlying theme, I can accept that too. :-) Does that explain my thoughts any better?
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Well, we know who created the life on Scadrial. So draw your own opinions from that. :)
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Well, face to face definitely trumps any theorizing I might pose then :-) Ookla, it seems easier for me since I can accept or at least am open to the idea of alternate universes now in our own reality. So that many worlds occuring with variations of themselves that tie to each other is not a huge stretch by any means (in my mind :-) Now, accepting that life has formed on so many planets in the same universe that are similar (say with humans and magic) is more of a stretch for me since in our own reality the search for extraterrestrial life and planets that can sustain them has, to date and publicly known at least, been futile. So that it why it is easier for me to accept the multiple reality concept. That being said, if the reason for so many worlds like this existing was in fact due to the personalities behind the shards creating a universe and placing all these worlds in it for a reason and tying into an overlying theme, I can accept that too. :-) Does that explain my thoughts any better?
I think you have a rather inflated view of just how much of the universe we've actually explored. The only places we can actually outlaw the existence by saying "we've been there and its dead" are strictly in our own solar system. The rest is just speculation about where life can survive. At least some of the extra-solar planets they have found are, in principle, possible carriers for life. The easiest ones to find tend to the extreme, which is probably why they got so much attention, but this is purely selection bias, not an random sampling of potential habitats. And on a cosmic scale, we haven't even *started* looking.
Trust me. In our current universe as it stands, we've got all *kinds* of room for just about every variation physically possible. Extra dimensions? Who needs 'em?
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I also believe that humans in general have a rather limited view on where life can and cannot survive. For a long time we believed nothing could live at the bottom of the ocean due to the pressure. Just because a planet does not have oxygen or other compounds needed for carbon based lifeforms, does not mean that life can not exist on it. We tend to search for planets that can support human life. They think they have found some but with the number of light years we have to look across you can not take a close up of the planet. Earth is small and close to the earth when it comes to planets so it is hard to locate other earth like planets.
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Oh, believe me, I am open to the possibilities of what may be out there in the great unexplored and adaptability is far underrated. I agree with you guys, just said that based on popular thought, shows like sliders and Fringe (WHICH ROCKS!) it is an easier jump for me to see multiple realities as opposed to multiple worlds in one universe based upon random creation and not a purposeful creation. Ookla pointed out again that Scadriel was indeed a purposeful creation so the Brandonverse is indeed unique in its nature. Who was that redhead? Was he evil before he embraced that shard, was he someone before the shard, was he always the shard?
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Why is it easier to understand than a bunch of planets in one universe?
Another reason is that it would require physics to operate differently in different regions of space. With current theories, fundamental laws are part of the definition for the universe and changing one of them, generates a new universe.
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I believe that the Ati (the red head, coming from Atium) has always been the cognitive force (intellect) behind the spiritual and physical aspects of Ruin. I believe that he has always been the intellect since the Shattering of Andolasium, when the shards where spread out throughout the universe.
But who knows? It might all be multiple universes. We'll probably have to wait till Way of Kings to find out more.
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Oh, believe me, I am open to the possibilities of what may be out there in the great unexplored and adaptability is far underrated. I agree with you guys, just said that based on popular thought, shows like sliders and Fringe (WHICH ROCKS!) it is an easier jump for me to see multiple realities as opposed to multiple worlds in one universe based upon random creation and not a purposeful creation. Ookla pointed out again that Scadriel was indeed a purposeful creation so the Brandonverse is indeed unique in its nature. Who was that redhead? Was he evil before he embraced that shard, was he someone before the shard, was he always the shard?
Well, sure. In a random universe, having all humans would be rather odd. It seems extremely likely to me, though, that the worlds visited so far have *all* been designed.
Why is it easier to understand than a bunch of planets in one universe?
Another reason is that it would require physics to operate differently in different regions of space. With current theories, fundamental laws are part of the definition for the universe and changing one of them, generates a new universe.
I think that the laws of physics are the same everywhere. It's just that the different varieties of people interact with them differently. The people on Scandriel could take power from metal because metal was the power source for the shards that created them; they inherited (via creation) a very small fraction of the shards power and nature. I suspect that this applies in the other worlds as well: the shards' powers are available, in small and limited ways, to their creations. This manifests different depending on the shard. But no actual laws of physics are different.