Brandon Sanderson

I've read most of his books (excepting the Alcatraz series-read the first one, haven't been able to find the others.) While I do agree he does repeat certain themes and re-uses certain phrases (I swear, people nod in response an awful lot in some scenes), he is still one of my favorite authors and I will gladly pick up anything he writes, especially if it's Mistborn-related.

I read Mistborn a few years ago but only just recently got into anime-and I have to say, Gurren Lagann does have some eerie similarities to Mistborn (which was written first, IIRC). Interestingly, Mr. Sanderson did mention that he'd watched at least the first episode of FLCL on his Twitter once and liked the ending theme enough that he had music by The Pillows on his ipod. Perhaps he became a bit of an anime fan when he was out in Korea all those years ago? *shrugs Whatever, probably just an amusing coincidence...

Yes, I too immediately noticed the similarity of Mistborn to Gurren Lagann. Maybe that's what helped me enjoy it so much.

edited 1st Jul '11 9:36:32 AM by Firebert

Just finished Hero of Ages. I can honestly say that the ending surprised me.

I'm not sure I'll think about the number 16 the same way again for a while.

Now I'm super looking forward to Alloy of Law. Might even read the sample chapters, which isn't something I do often.

I also personally think any similarities to TTGL are either purely superficial or the result of people seeing the superficial similarities and then looking too deeply into them.

oh, I also have a question. I read somewhere that fans had figured out the holes in the systems that weren't filled in in the books, and Sanderson confirmed them. Anyone know where I can find this?

edited 1st Jul '11 7:27:45 PM by LuckyRevenant

this link gives a summary of everything we know about the various powers associated with each metal.

edit: you should read the annotations on Brandon's website if you haven't already.

edited 1st Jul '11 7:36:56 PM by Andygal

I always save that kind of thing for when I finish a book or series, so that's what I'm doing now. Thanks!

If we're gonna talk about similarities that are probably unintentional, am I the only one who thought that the main plot of The Well of Ascension was reminiscent of The Marvelous Land of Oz?

Around the 300 page mark in Elantris. This book has much more of a politics/religion focus compared to magic presence than his other books, but I'm still enjoying it a bunch.

Hrathen is by far and away the best character, even though his chapters seem to be getting progressively shorter. And dang at three tear-worthy moments in a row.

Finished it last night. The book keeps with his traditions of having shit get progressively more real in the last 50 or so pages. The last few paragraphs in the epilogue have the rare distinction of actually bringing me to tears, rather than just getting my eyes moist. I can't remember the last time that's happened.

I've finished the Mistborn trilogy and Elantris. I'm currently reading Warbreaker (Lightsong is obviously the best, no matter how much the reviewer at the beginning thinks it's Vasher), and I have some spare giftcards lying around with which I intend to buy The Way Of Kings.

Out of curiosity, what plot twists have you figured out in his work?

In the Mistborn trilogy, I correctly guessed that Vin's earring was a hemalurgic spike and that Vin wasn't the Hero of Ages. In Elantris, I figured out Shaor being female the page before it was revealed, and I knew all along that the earthquake caused the Reod.

Brandon Sanderson is epic.

Technically Shaor being female wasn't the twist, rather it was that she was a child being worshiped instead of a leader.

And yes, Lightsong is the best character. Spoilaz:That ending. Goddamn. ;_;

edited 20th Apr '12 5:16:32 PM by Moth13

Damn you and your spoilers that I'm not going to read.

Now I shall use my stick of predicting! (I'm around page 240.)

Nightblood is the Big Bad and 11th Heightening. Yeah, I wonder if either of those happens. Don't tell me.

Lord Ruler, Lightsong writing out the conversation so it didn't have to happen makes me like him nearly as much as Kurow, my favourite fictional character ever.

Ending Spoilers: Oh my fucking god Nightblood's true abilities were a true beauty to behold hnnnnnnnngggg.

And now, more guesses! Don't reply to them, however. I'm a Spoiler Hound who's trying to avoid spoiling himself.

Lightsong is Arsteel (spelling?)

Denth made Nightblood

Oh wow, Denth was a bad guy. Well, now I think that Blushweaver is the Big Bad, but I'm really not sure. Anything could happen at this rate.

Just finished Warbreaker. I hated the ending of The Hero of Ages (even though I thought it worked well), and I was iffy on the ending of Elantris, but I thought Warbreaker had an awesome ending.

My review of things:

• Lightsong's death was obvious. It's said often that he can give away his breath to heal someone just once. It would have been a shocker if he didn't die. Of course, he was absolutely awesome, to the point of being on par with Kurow. I'm not sure what to think.
• Bluefingers being the Big Bad? I guessed that when he showed up, but that was at the point where I was absolutely paranoid and every single time a new character showed up I wondered if they were the Big Bad.
• The epilogue: Vivenna has grown a lot. And that was one of the best Title Drops ever.

Yep, when you get one heal and it costs you your life, you make sure it freaking counts. And man, did he make it count. I clapped forever.

What didn't you like about those endings btw?

In Elantris, there were too many loose ends. I know he wanted to make a sequel, but still.

In The Hero of Ages, it made sense and all, but it just felt wrong. Vin and Elend both dying?

the ending of Hero of Ages is basically the posterchild for bittersweet endings. The epilouge was a beautiful mix of heartwarming and tear-jerking.

And if you want, you can always imagine that Sazed figures out how to bring them back and they live a peaceful life somewhere or other

IIRC, Sazed's message to Spook stated that Vin and Elend were happy being Together in Death, and didn't want to come back

The ending certainly is very bittersweet, but once you read Alloy of Law, it makes sense.

At least to me, anyways >.>

My friend went to Supanova (a convention) and was given a RAFO by Sanderson. I'm terribly jealous.

It was actually that he could (and did) fix their bodies, but he couldn't figure out how to bring them back to life by sticking their souls back in them, but he wasn't too worried because they "are quite happy where they are".

I'm going to the city today and I might get The Alloy Of Law and The Way Of Kings! Yes!

edited 5th May '12 5:51:57 AM by Lightflame

I finally got The Alloy Of Law and The Way Of Kings last night! Yay!

I started The Alloy Of Law first.

edited 5th May '12 5:51:48 AM by Lightflame