Timewaster's Guide Archive

Elantris was suggested to me on Amazon after it had received some award, I forget what it was.  The book had rave reviews, and it was a standalone fantasy book, which was all but unheard of for me in all the years I'd been reading fantasy.  I waited a bit until it was out in paperback, just cause I've become cautious buying hardcovers for authors new to me.  Anyway I read Elantris back in 2006, and I've been a huge Sanderson fan ever since. 

Well there was no hint of him using a fabrial anywhere that I can recall.  He inhaled the stormlight in the same way that Kaladin did later on, so he seemed to be using it the same way. 

Ok so I scrolled through the first several pages of the board and couldn't exactly fine any hot topics regarding this subject.  Obviously we get a bit of an insight as to what exactly the Shin culture values, creation over destruction (or so they say) but does anyone have any idea what a Truthless is?  At all?  I mean Szeth is an interesting character no doubt, the guy has mastery over a magic system that seems to have been out of use since the time of the Knights Radiant, and he's a Shardbearer.  And yet to the Shin he seems to be lower than pond scum.  Has Brandon given any answers at all as to what Truthless is?

According to Brandon in interviews each of the orders incorporated two systems of magic that they used.  I'm not sure if each order had exclusive rights to whatever systems they used or if there was any overlapping.  Szeth can Surgebind (right?) and I just sort of assumed that's what Kaladin was doing.  Or maybe Kaladin was using a different system that has abilities that are similar but has differences as well.  And so would Szeth and Kaladin end up in the same order?  And we could assume that they'd both have the ability to use a second system of magic as well. 

Yeah there's a scary thought, it's so hard to get invested into a major book series like Stormlight Archive so early in it's development, the first book just barely being released.  I usually like to wait for book series like this until there's at least a few books to read so I don't have to wait so long for the next one.  But as I've bought every book Brandon's ever written, except for the WoT book, I couldn't very well say no to reading WoK.  Now we just have to pray for Brandon's good health and prosperity so that he can continue to gift us with this wonderful series for years to come.  And hopefully we can get the next installement sooner rather than later.  Did I read right somewhere that we won't get the next book for another couple of years?      

I just finished the book tonight, I had put off buying it because I'm a little short on funds right now and it's in hardcover, but boy am I glad I bit the bullet and bought it.  This story was amazing, in a way I haven't felt about a fantasy book in a long time.  It was just so...EPIC.  My favorite character was Kaladin by a long shot, though Dalinar grew on me more and more as time went on, they were just such good guys.  Honorable men in a dishonorable time so to speak. 

Shallan wasn't as interesting to me until later on in the narrative, but by the end I was chomping at the bit for more of what's going to happen with her, but it looks like I'll have to wait on that one.  Of course any scene with Szeth had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, he's just so tragic, scary, even a little awesome. 

I have to say, as a grown man, there's very very few books that can bring tears to my eyes, but there were a few scenes near the end that had me get a bit teary eyed, or nearly so.  It would have to be of course the scene where Kaladin is holding Tien's lifeless body in the flashback, it was absolutely heartbreaking. The interaction between Kaladin and Dalinar after the bridgemen's lives were purchased with the cost of a Shardblade.  "...today you and your men sacrificed to buy me twenty-six hundred priceless lives.  And all I had to repay you with was a single priceless sword.  I call that a bargain."  I don't know why but I suddenly found myself having trouble reading the page after that and had to clear my eyes, it was just so well written. 

And of course Kaladin had his crowning moment of awesome (thus far) leaping across the chasm and engaging dozens of Parshendi and taking charge of Dalinar's entire force and organizing the retreat.  Wow gosh I love that guy.  And Dalinar as well, finally knocking some sense into that nephew of his.  I kept wondering why Dalinar didn't just smack Elhokar upside the head and say "Hey I'm your Uncle and the most loyal person to you in the entire world."  So I was so excited to see that happen.  "Tomorrow you're going to name me Highprince of War."  Finally!

Anyway, yeah, great book.  LOVED it.     

Hello everyone new user here.  Been reading Brandon's books for years but just now decided to get into the forums, so I'm probably not as enlightened as ya'll.  Ok as for this theory that there were no highstorms in the past during the time of the Heralds or the shadowdays or however they'd be called.  Well there was the story Hoid told Kaladin about Derethil and the Wandersail, and how he took the ship out to sail the sea during a highstorm.  Now obviously the story is somewhat suspect, and even Hoid admits that it could just be a legend or folktail, but then again, the people said the same thing about Voidbringers and we know that was wrong.  I wouldn't be surprised if there was at least an origin of truth to the story.  So it would seem that highstorms may have existed that long ago, but then again there was definitely some differences from how things are now.  I guess we'll just need another book to find out more.