Timewaster's Guide Archive
Local Authors => Brandon Sanderson => Topic started by: jjb on July 09, 2010, 02:47:43 AM
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Three new chapters were put up at Tor.com today, so if you haven't yet, check them out now at http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/07/the-way-of-kings-chapters-4-5-and-6
They don't have the text available(only audio), and I was a bit disappointed because I prefer reading to listening. Since I am a visual learner, that way I will have the character's names more ingrained in my brain and I can go at my own pace. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the chapters were read, though. So kudos to Kate Reading and Michael Kramer.
Honestly, I'm not really that interested in Shallan's character right now. I know once the story progresses she'll probably get into some trouble and her character will become interesting, but she's not there yet for me. That whole "I'm going to steal her stone" thing at the end of her storyline so far probably was supposed to be a big plot twist that makes your mind go "Wow!" or "Oh no!" or some strong emotion, but I just thought "Ok. Good for her. She might get interesting soon"
I really got invested in Kaladin's character in these chapters, though. Especially when he became a bridge carrier. At that point the story started to get really interesting for me.
Anyway, I know I haven't done any speculating or much discussion of new character development, but that's what this thread is for, so... Discuss!
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Bridge Crews FTW!
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I haven't listened to these chapters yet but I remember people mentioning "bridge crews" months ago. What the hell could be so interesting about a bridge crew?
That was a rhetorical question of course, I'll have to find out for myself ;)
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I haven't listened to these chapters yet but I remember people mentioning "bridge crews" months ago. What the hell could be so interesting about a bridge crew?
That was a rhetorical question of course, I'll have to find out for myself ;)
Nothing. You pick up a bridge, run, put it down, pick up a bridge, run, put it down, repeat, repeat, repeat.
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I haven't listened to these chapters yet but I remember people mentioning "bridge crews" months ago. What the hell could be so interesting about a bridge crew?
That was a rhetorical question of course, I'll have to find out for myself ;)
Nothing. You pick up a bridge, run, put it down, pick up a bridge, run, put it down, repeat, repeat, repeat.
Simple, really. Anyone could. Arrows shot at you while you're carrying the bridge? No big deal!
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I haven't listened to these chapters yet but I remember people mentioning "bridge crews" months ago. What the hell could be so interesting about a bridge crew?
That was a rhetorical question of course, I'll have to find out for myself ;)
Nothing. You pick up a bridge, run, put it down, pick up a bridge, run, put it down, repeat, repeat, repeat.
Hahahahahahaaaa... ;D
The Shattered Plains are a fun place.
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omg... ;D i love this! i'm gonna be hearing the Slavers voice like that every time i read it.
wow... bridge 4, the only thing i've heard that sounds worse than running through the Trenches of WW1, Bravo mr. Sanderson, bravo :o
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Just how much of the book are they going to put up on the internet ahead of time?
I remember you actually had to wait until the book was released to be able to read any of it. :D
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Just how much of the book are they going to put up on the internet ahead of time?
I remember you actually had to wait until the book was released to be able to read any of it. :D
Well, it's less than 2 months to go until the book is released. I imagine we'll get another batch of chapters early next month. But, even with all that it'll probably only be about 10% of the whole book, at most.
Every chapter so far, I'm dying to know what happens next. You think I'm not going to buy the book ASAP? 8)
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No, didn’t say that. Wasn’t trying to criticize how it is now in seeing advance chapters online. Happy for those who take advantage of it. I guess I just come from the old school where you didn’t see advance anything, except maybe what you saw in ads or what the author/publisher would tell you.
I like when I open to “Chapter 1” or “Prologue” it is completely fresh to me. But that is just my own personal preference. :)
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These chapters are great. I'm already invested in Kalladan's (sp?) character. Shallan is interesting too, I just haven't gotten into her part of the story yet. I'm really much more interested in what makes that one woman a heretic than I am about Shallan's financial troubles.
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I agree, jjb, Shallan isn't clicking for me, I just don't feel any ties to her yet, but I love Kaladin. His character is totally enthralling and I can't wait to see what happens next:)
This might be totally ridiculous, but is anyone else under the impression that Kaladin might be Hoid?
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From her very first chapter I was totally in love with Shallan. She is pretty much amazing.
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I don't see why so many of you aren't interested in Shallan. Maybe I'm just interested in scientists, and Shallan struck me that way. Then again, I get more excited about what might happen rather than what's actually happening, so maybe I'm atypical :P
I think the reason we get the "reveal" about her wanting to steal the soulcaster is just one of those "make sure you haven't missed it" things. If I wrote something like that, I'd be expecting experienced readers to get it before I had to tell them outright. When we heard that Shallan's family was in financial difficulty, that was enough for me to rule her original plan down to dangerous profit or theft anyway.
I haven't listened to these chapters yet but I remember people mentioning "bridge crews" months ago. What the hell could be so interesting about a bridge crew?
That was a rhetorical question of course, I'll have to find out for myself ;)
Nothing. You pick up a bridge, run, put it down, pick up a bridge, run, put it down, repeat, repeat, repeat.
Simple, really. Anyone could. Arrows shot at you while you're carrying the bridge? No big deal!
I'm so waiting for someone to start using magic on the bridge crews now, just to make things interesting. :P
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I don't think Kaladin is Hoid. However, the oldish man with the leathery face that tells him to count his breath- I think he is Hoid.
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one thing struck me, her Dad's a Soulcaster right? a hidden one in that no one else knew about it, and they find that Bracelet thingy on his body. But it doesn't work, so my main question is, Why???
First Idea: Its outta Juice. if the Bracelet thingy runs off of Stormlight, perhaps its been drained, and the Kids don't Know you have to recharge it?
Second idea: Its "soul-bound" to a specific user. not sure if i like this idea, but it has merits, that Soulcasters are Born, not Made, and perhaps, Shallen could be one?
Third Idea: Its got a Passcode. press up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A.
thoughts? idea's? llama's? ;D
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one thing struck me, her Dad's a Soulcaster right? a hidden one in that no one else knew about it, and they find that Bracelet thingy on his body. But it doesn't work, so my main question is, Why???
First Idea: Its outta Juice. if the Bracelet thingy runs off of Stormlight, perhaps its been drained, and the Kids don't Know you have to recharge it?
Second idea: Its "soul-bound" to a specific user. not sure if i like this idea, but it has merits, that Soulcasters are Born, not Made, and perhaps, Shallen could be one
I haven't re-listened to the audio but I thought it was reasonably clear that you need juiced-up jewels to power the thing. I'd have to re-listen to check but I think Shallan will be attempting to steal the jewels not the Soulcaster itself.
PS I'm interested in Shallan too. I like that she put herself in this situation. In some ways she's trapped by her financial issues, but she's still got her freedom for now. So it's interesting to see what she decides to do - it's not like she's depending on the advice of others.
PPS After seeing the Soulcaster being used, who else thought - "how long until Shallan gets to use it?" ;D
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I'm surprised that not so many people seem to realize how small a fraction of this book 6 chapters is. Has the total chapter count not been made public knowledge?
Trust me folks, you are sooo early in the story.
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Yeah, Peter has said multiple times how many chapters/interludes there are.
For those who don't know:
Chapters 75
Interludes 9
Prelude
Prologue
Epilogue
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Only 350,000 words to go! ;)
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Yeah, Peter has said multiple times how many chapters/interludes there are.
For those who don't know:
Chapters 75
Interludes 9
Prelude
Prologue
Epilogue
So I am guessing there is some sort of reason to seperate or distinguish the Interludes from Chapters, like major plot changes? Same with Prelude compared to a Prologue? Sorry, I am used to just seeing a Prologue and Epilogue in a book.
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There is a distinct separation yes. Somewhere there is recording of EUOL reading chapter 3 I think and Interlude 5.
Here it is. (http://www.stormblessed.com/2010/07/06/video-way-of-kings-reading-jordancon-2010/)
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I must confess that as it has been with quite a few others, I have found Shallan not particularly exciting, she seems interesting, but I just didn't connect with her, interesting but not someone I can not relate to really, I'm hoping that as I read more of her I will begin to relate to her better, Kaladin on the other hand I really liked instantly, he seems like an incarnation of my favourite type of hero, the nobody who has trained to be super tough and cares about people, completely unrealistic, but awesome, of course the archetype can be made more realistic by adding imperfections, such as Kaladin's rising apathy in his improsinment, anyway, enough rambling...
I'm really looking forward to reading more of Kaladin, particularly hoping to have him fighting again, and preferably leading some group somewhere to do something :p
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I honestly like Shallan's story and her character arc (at least as much of it as you get to see in Book 1).
Of course, I'm biased... but I'm trying to think if I like her more because of stuff that happens later. I think I liked her the moment I saw that she wasn't just a innocent, spoiled noble trying to get around, but rather a clever girl who's attempting to pull off a high-stakes scam without a net.
Of course I like Kaladin more, but his story is an easy one to like.
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I honestly want to get a viewpoint from the windspren, Sylphrena, is it?
Bridge crews=hell on Roshar. *shudder*
The one thing that I don't like about the beginnings of Brandon's books is that we get so little information on the magic. Then again, he saves that for later on purpose, but it still bugs me.
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My favorite character is Szeth, then Jasnah, then Adolin, then Shallan, then Dalinar, then Kaladin. xD
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My favorite character is Szeth, then Jasnah, then Adolin, then Shallan, then Dalinar, then Kaladin. xD
You're crazy, Kaladin is awesome.
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I never said he wasn't, I just like all those people more.
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Question is, how long till Kaladin learns his magic.
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Question is, how long till Kaladin learns his magic.
Kaladin has magic?
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I'm not an alpha reader, nor do I have one of the ARC copies that were given away, so I've only read the first 6 chapters like everyone else, but, there was the wind swirling around him in the battle, which implied something, also, a Brandon main character without any abilities? Plus, I read a comment from someone who had read an arc that suggested something...
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Awe, you caught me. I was hoping to throw you off the trail. xD
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I'm not an alpha reader, nor do I have one of the ARC copies that were given away, so I've only read the first 6 chapters like everyone else, but, there was the wind swirling around him in the battle, which implied something, also, a Brandon main character without any abilities? Plus, I read a comment from someone who had read an arc that suggested something...
It's not entirely out of the question. I once read a book where the main premise was that everyone in the world used magic except the main character. Wish I could remember the title though.
I'd also like a viewpoint from the heretic, I'm sure she's a very interesting character.
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And actually come to think of it, in Scribbler, Joel can't use magic.
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And Sarene is the main character of Elantris, also without magical abilities.
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This discussion (of Kaladin and magic) is difficult to have without spoilers. I would only point out that just because magical things happen around Kaladin isn't necessarily indicative of any magic that is inherently his.
Really, this is a conversation that should be tabled until after August.
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It's not entirely out of the question. I once read a book where the main premise was that everyone in the world used magic except the main character. Wish I could remember the title though.
You might be thinking of Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera", a six book series where everyone in the world controls one or more elemental spirits, except for the main character who begins the series with no powers at all.
Good books, but I like his "Dresden Files" much better.
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It's not entirely out of the question. I once read a book where the main premise was that everyone in the world used magic except the main character. Wish I could remember the title though.
You might be thinking of Jim Butcher's "Codex Alera", a six book series where everyone in the world controls one or more elemental spirits, except for the main character who begins the series with no powers at all.
Good books, but I like his "Dresden Files" much better.
No, that wasn't it. The magic was more general, and the whole point was that the main character never got any powers. He was just a normal kid living in a world full of sorcerers.
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I just finished listening to chapters 4-6. I am glad to see that the magic system that was introduced here was not introduced in a battle. It shows more use of this magic system and how it relates to the real world and not just the endless battle that seems to be going on.
For some reason, at the end of chapter 6, I expected Kaladin to no longer be in the bridge crew. Maybe take up a sword after someone got killed or something like that and prove his worth, maybe show off his "magic". It may still happen, who knows? Well other then the advanced readers.
Shallon seems to be progressing well. I think alot of people may not be interested in her as much because her parts are not action oriented like Kalidins are. As a character she is progressing and we are getting more of her background out of it. In her current situation she seems totally in over her head. It will be interesting to see how she handles it.
Now for Kalidin's magic. As of this far in, not being an advanced reader, I am not sure if it is his magic or is the spirit that is always with him.
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Remember that Kaladin is a slave, and moreover he's a branded slave, with a mark on his forehead that means "dangerous". Most people will see him as little better than a mad dog that needs to be kept on a leash. Nobody is going to give him a weapon, much less let him keep one he picks up.
Plus, him being a slave wouldn't have much impact if it was over two chapters after it began.
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Granted. Just reading the chapter it seamed like it was heading that way. With him begging for a spear to join the army.
I honestly think that at some point he is going to be a member of the army. How is he going to accomplish that. The only way I see is by taking part in the battle after dropping the bridge at its final location. It would be anti-climatic if that happened the first time he was on bridge detail though.
As I see it currently he has two options (because he can't stay a slave forever). The first is to escape. As it states he has done this before and been recaptured, with his brand I do not find this likely. The other is to pay off his debt. Being a member of the bridge crew, and the amount of time it would take to accomplish, the only way I see this as possible is if his status rises. The guy in charge of him hates him so I think he will either be left behind at a battle and be picked up by the other company, or he will somehow prove himself in battle.
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I guess we'll see. It could just end up being a case of not being able to take the army out of the man, so to speak. I'd be fine with seeing Kaladin stay a slave for quite a while, given that a hard struggle would make the pay off that much sweeter. :)
Will be interesting to see if we get any payoff on whether his Spren friend is significant. :)
This discussion (of Kaladin and magic) is difficult to have without spoilers. I would only point out that just because magical things happen around Kaladin isn't necessarily indicative of any magic that is inherently his.
Really, this is a conversation that should be tabled until after August.
I agree, but then again, I'm more interested in the sorts of questions we ask than what the answers are until I can actually read the book. For now it's much more interesting to discuss what they characters are like in chapters 1-6, while I can still hang around. Looks like I won't have as long a hiatus as I did for Warbreaker, too, given that we're expecting to get WoK around September in New Zealand.