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Your search for the tag 'hoid' yielded 275 results

  • 1

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    Zas678

    I have some more in-depth questions that might be RAFO'd. For fans who want to know what I'm talking about, go here. Here they are:

    Who is Hoid in Well of Ascension? We (TWG) have found some candidates:

    Wolfhound merchant
    Terris person that Elend meets after Vin went back to Luthadel
    Teur or old Jed (the two Skaa in the first Sazed chapter)
    Crazy cannibal Skaa (I doubt it though)

    We already know it isn't the man who discovered duralumin, or the Skaa leader outside the dress shop, or the old Skaa who waits with the Holy First Witness when the Koloss attack.

    I think those were all of the characters that we found as candidates.

    Brandon Sanderson

    People are really close to this one, and I noticed that later in this thread, you or someone else mentioned the footprints in the deleted scene.

    Hoid's appearance in Mistborn: Well of Ascension is a little unlike the others. When the scene at the Well was moved in revision, one of Hoid's major influences on the book had to go (for various reasons). Left in the book is only one little hint, really. A character notices something odd about someone, but doesn't dwell on it. You can probably find the line if you look very closely.

    Let me say this. Hoid got wrapped up in things he didn't expect to be involved in, and they dominated much of his time during the events of Mistborn: Well of Ascension. He spent most of the book in a different place from most of the viewpoint characters. He's only near them for a very short time, and he's deeply in disguise. I couldn't include his name, as he'd never have used the name "Hoid" for himself there, because it wouldn't have been right for the disguise. He'd have used another pseudonym. (He didn't, by the way, mention one.)

    I've probably said too much already. Now, perhaps what people should asking me is this: "What has Hoid been up to in all of these books?" Or, maybe they shouldn't ask me, as I wouldn't be likely to answer. (There are clues in the novels, however.) No, he's not just hanging out. Yes, I know what he's been doing. Will I write his scenes some day? Maybe. We'll see. There may be short stories posted on my website.

    Tags

  • 2

    Interview: Sep 13th, 2010

    Patrick

    Your solo adult novels have these recurring elements such as the character of Hoid and references to the Shards. In Mistborn, Elantris and Warbreaker these elements are minor and more along the lines of easter eggs, but they seem to be more prominent in The Way of Kings. Can we expect these elements to be expanded on further in future Stormlight books? Will we find out Hoid's full story in this series or are you holding off on that for now?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I will mostly RAFO that. Yes, it will continue. No, you won't get a lot of it. The Stormlight Archive will not be about the story behind the story, though someday I will write a book series about that. There are basically two large epics in the greater sequence of books I'm writing, and the Stormlight Archive is one of them. There is another one, and both of the large epics will have certain amounts of influence from Hoid. Other books will be written that will not have nearly as much influence. But I'll go ahead and say that Hoid's origin story is not in the Stormlight Archive. That's not what this series is about.

    Tags

  • 3

    Interview: Oct 26th, 2010

    Luckers

    Now. Asmodean. I require you answer this question fully and truthfully without any Aes Sedai skittering about. Did Vin kill him?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ha ha ha ha! No, it was not Vin. Now Hoid on the other hand... (No, I’m just joking.)

    Tags

  • 4

    Interview: Jan 10th, 2011

    Nightfire107 ()

    Does the sand storytelling Hoid uses in Warbreaker have anything to do with your future possible trilogy "Whitesand" written about in a recent blog?

    Brandon Sanderson ()

    No, it does not. This is a storytelling method that Hoid developed on his own. It does have a relationship to The Liar of Partinel.

    Tags

  • 5

    Interview: Dec 25th, 2010

    Question

    You've said that Shadesmar is the cognitive relam connecting all the worlds in the cosmere, and that Hoid is very good at using Shadesmar. Should we take this to mean Shadesmar is how he travels between the worlds? Do the other worlds have different ways of accessing Shadesmar than the way(s) the people of Roshar use?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 6

    Interview: May 30th, 2011

    Ashley

    Ashley asked "Who is Hoid?"

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon answered that we would have to wait and read it later. When asked in what book the answer would be, Brandon was vague. It would probably not even be revealed in Stormlight Archive book 10. In the end He gave Ashley a R.A.F.O. card and a WoT sticker.

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  • 7

    Interview: Jul 11th, 2010

    Luke Chant

    Will Hoid be making an appearance in any of the remaining WoT books?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, he will not. I feel that putting a character from one of my own books into the WoT world would be an act of arrogance. The WoT world is not mine, and I don't want to imply that my characters have any connection to it, or that it's part of 'my' cosmology. (Sorry.) There are other Easter eggs, though. The type Mr. Jordan liked to put in.

    Tags

  • 8

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2011

    Reddit AMA 2011 (Verbatim)

    staircasewit ()

    You’ve mentioned some of the characters who we are going to see throughout the Stormlight Archive series (Shallan, Dalinar, Szeth, Jasnah, etc.). However, I don’t remember seeing you comment on Wit. Are we going to see Wit (or plain ol’ Hoid) more throughout the series? Or less? (Hopefully more!)

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid has a large part of the story in the Stormlight Archive. You will be seeing much more of him. However, he will not get a 'book' of his own, most likely. He will get his own novels, just not among the Stormlight sequence.

    Tags

  • 9

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    Nadine

    Melissa, I think we have members from another forum joining us and they have information that we don't have. Maybe even advanced book information, like we know nothing about The Way of Kings and only heard about the book recently and know nothing of its content.

    Could some of you newcomers introduce yourselves (maybe on our "Introduce Yourself" thread and not clutter up this one) and tell us where you are from? We love the information you are bringing and introducing on this thread but we are confused.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I posted on my website that I'd be doing this, and I don't often have time to interact on forums. (They are a delightful way to interact with readers, but have proven a HUGE time-sink for me in the past. As you might have noticed, I tend to write—and respond—in depth when people ask questions of me.) So I only appear on forums occasionally. Hence the involvement of those from my forums looking for some answers to questions.

    Some backstory might help you all. I began writing in earnest in 1997. During those years, I shared the books I wrote with a group of friends. This group worked with me on The Leading Edge, a science fiction fanzine/semiprozine at BYU. Eventually, once we graduated, we founded the Timewaster's Guide, partially as a forum where we could hang out. (Tage and Ookla from the TWG forums—aka Ben and Peter—are among them, and are still very good friends of mine. Another easter egg is to watch how Ben Olsen and Peter Ahlstrom are treated in the acknowledgements of many of my books.)

    The overarching story and theme of my books, what I wanted to accomplish as a writer, and how I approached the fantasy genre, all took shape during this time. These readers read many of my most important, and influential (on me as a writer) novels while in draft form. The biggest three of these during this era were White Sand, Dragonsteel, and Elantris. (On the tail end, I wrote—but never finished—the foundations of what years later became Warbreaker.)

    The next era of my unpublished writing was when I worked on the worlds, stories, and themes that eventually became Mistborn, The Way of Kings, and a book called the Aether of Night. Many of my writing group friends have read these books, including the first draft of Kings (which is very, very different from the current draft.)

    Anyway, these unpublished books are NOT canon yet. I don't canonize a novel until I publish it. But some of the hidden themes (including Hoid and Adonalsium) of my books are present in these novels. (Dragonsteel and Aether of Night are particularly connected—though of the unpublished Shardworld books, White Sand is probably the best written.) Again, none of this is canon yet. (For instance, I've taken chunks out of Dragonsteel to use in the revision of The Way of Kings.) However, these old books do contain clues that aren't available to the average reader.

    Dragonsteel can be ordered through inter-library loan through the university library system. There are only four or five copies in existence. The BYU library has one (the book was my honor's thesis.) I believe the honors department has one. My thesis chair has one. (And maybe the committee has one, I can't remember.) I've got one in my basement. And I believe Ben's sister may have sneaked a copy out of the trash when I was cleaning out old manuscripts. (That might be White Sand.)

    I do have intentions of rewriting these books and publishing them eventually. They each have pieces of the story. (Though I may decide to shift certain themes from one series to another as I eventually write and publish them.) I've been known to email White Sand or Aether of Night to readers who email and ask. (Though it does make me cringe a little to do so. In many of these books, I was experimenting with magic, theme, and narrative style—some experiments were a success, some were failures.)

    Dragonsteel is frozen; I don't send it out any longer, as to not spoil the parts of The Way of Kings that I decided fit better in that world. So the only way to get it now is to borrow it from BYU. I've been told that Dragonsteel is the only undergraduate BYU honor's thesis ever to have been be read so often that it needed to be rebound. (A dubious honor, I'm not sure how I feel about so many people reading a book of mine that is that mediocre.)

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  • 10

    Interview: Nov 11th, 2011

    Wetlandernw

    Was the scruffy-looking "beggar in black" guy at the wedding dinner Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

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  • 11

    Interview: Nov 11th, 2011

    Wetlandernw

    In whose voice is the "Ars Arcanum" written? Hoid's?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I've avoided answering that question. It's either Hoid or a member of the Seventeenth Shard. That's as much answer as I'm giving anyone right now.

    Footnote

    Brandon has later stated that the Ars Arcana Author is not Hoid.

    Theoryland

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  • 12

    Interview: Nov 7th, 2011

    Neth

    For those readers who read Mistborn years ago (or even not at all), what do they need to know before reading The Alloy of Law? Do you think this book is a good introduction to the world of Scadrial?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I honestly don't think you need to remember that much of the original trilogy, or even need to have read it at all, to enjoy this book. Granted, I drop some bombs on you in the epilogue—the epilogue and near ending of this book are deeply tied to the original trilogy, but the actual story of this book other than those after-the-fact bombs is very self-contained. Allomancy and Feruchemy are reintroduced; readers get some quick explanation of that. I think you can pick this up without having to read or reread the whole trilogy.

    Neth

    High Imperial? And where was Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will have to look. Hoid is in the book, though his name doesn't appear. But the things happening here during this interim are not of deep interest to Hoid like the things happening in the original trilogy, so he is playing a much smaller role here than he was in the original trilogy.

    Also, High Imperial just cracks me up.

    Tags

  • 13

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2011

    Reddit AMA 2011 (Verbatim)

    Yserbius ()

    WHO IS HOID?

    Brandon Sanderson

    A character from my books. (/trollface)

    Tags

    hoid, lol,
  • 14

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2011

    Reddit AMA 2011 (Verbatim)

    Eric Lake ()

    Can Hoid jump through time? If so, can Shards jump through time?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid, so far, has only moved forward in time. He has not 'lived' all of those years, but has used some time dilation techniques. That said, he is far older (both in relative and real time) than a normal person can live.

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  • 15

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2011

    Reddit AMA 2011 (Verbatim)

    Renian ()

    When will we see a book that basically revolves around the concept of the Cosmere and the shard-travelers? Basically, a book revolving around people like Hoid who can jump from shard to shard.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Third Mistborn Trilogy involves a lot of this. I MIGHT do some parallel stories showing more of what Hoid has been up to. He is a primary viewpoint protagonist of Dragonsteel, but that happens before all of the other books.

    Tags

  • 16

    Interview: Jan 18th, 2010

    Gordon

    The paintings (I think there were at least two, right?) that remind Lightsong of his dreams and the Manywar etc. Is the Artist someone we know? If not, will we eventually meet him/her in a later book? Does the artist hope to affect Lightsong this way, or is it just some guy giving abstract art to his God?

    JARED

    Is the artist that painted those paintings Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    Hoid did not make the paintings. The goal of those paintings—and this is spoilery, by the way—the paintings are actually what the text implies that they are. They are abstract paintings which Lightsong, having a touch of the divine, is able to see and read into things that aren't necessarily there.

    Beyond that, art is a magical thing in the world of Warbreaker. When an artist creates a work of art, part of the artist's soul ends up in the artwork. Someone who has many breaths and who's Returned like Lightsong has the inherent ability to see into the art and perceive that. So Lightsong can interpret correctly an abstract piece, based on what the artist is trying to convey, in a way that a normal person couldn't.

    I was not trying to make the artists anyone specifically important. In the case of those paintings, they are wonderful artists — I think they are two separate artists, if I'm thinking of the two paintings that you're indicating. As Lightsong has a splinter of divine nature inside him, he is able to interpret the paintings—to foresee, using them, and to see into the soul of the person who made them.

    Tags

  • 17

    Interview: Jan 18th, 2010

    Other Brandon

    I don't know if I'm remembering this right but I thought I saw somewhere that you said that all your books (yours not WOT) are connected somehow. Is that right or am I going insane already?

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    All of my books share a single creation myth, a single cosmology. The connection of them — the greater world, the greater universe — they call the Cosmere. There is a character who has shown up in each of my epic fantasies, and it is the same person, not just a repeated name. Currently Warbreaker, Elantris, and the Mistborn trilogy do all share a common cosmology. My children's books are not part of the Cosmere.

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  • 18

    Interview: Jan 18th, 2010

    David

    I have read Elantris, the Mistborn Trilogy and Warbreaker and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. But I have to say, The portion of Chapter 33 with Hoid (or Dust) the storyteller was a painful experience and I was glad you never brought him back. What was the idea or point of him pulling things from his pocket and dropping it on the ground? I feel like I missed some theme or clues here.

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    That was simply a way that he tells stories—there was no particular theme other than that. He throws puffs of different—colored dust into the air as he's speaking to try and evoke the feelings of the story that he's telling. Sorry it didn't work for you; not everything is going to work for everyone, but this is how he does it.

    Tags

  • 19

    Interview: Jan 18th, 2010

    Nick

    The question I have for you is will we ever get to know what Hoid's purpose is? He shows up in each of the books, presumably looking for something or on some kind of mission. (Lerasium bead?)

    Will Hoid have a short story, novel or will we have to try and piece it together?

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    There will someday be Hoid short stories. I've actually written half of one and then haven't been able to have time to finish it. He will also have short viewpoints throughout the Stormlight Archive series, assuming he survives.

    Mostly this is for you to piece together. As I said before, this is a story I'm telling, and if I have to explain the story outside the story, then in some ways I've done something wrong. So let the story speak for itself, and you will see. I guess that's a RAFO.

    Tags

  • 20

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    joshuapatrao

    Do you plan to ever interconnect your worlds or at least allude to past worlds in your books?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hummm. What an odd question. I’d never do that, would I? (Look for Hoid/Adonalsium).

    Tags

  • 21

    Interview: Nov 8th, 2011

    Question

    How does Hoid know where to go when?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Alright, who does not know who Hoid is? If you want to know about Hoid, the 17th Shard, which is the official fansite for my works, has some great information about him. There is a character who showed up in Elantris, who showed up in Mistborn, who showed up in Warbreaker, who showed up in Way of Kings. All with the same name, the same person. So there’s lots of theorizing about it. How does he know? He has his ways! (general groans) So a little bit more? Just a little bit more? He may be capable of a little bit of foreseeing of certain events, not what’s going to happen, but he may need ot be in a certain place in a certain time.

    Tags

  • 22

    Interview: Nov 8th, 2011

    Question

    When will we see a Hoid book?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It’ll be a little while. He’s playing around with things in the Stormlight Archive if you couldn’t tell, he’s decided to—Hoid is fiddling with things, more than he usually does. But Hoid as a major part of things doesn’t really show up till the third Mistborn trilogy, which is the outer space Mistborn, the sci-fi Mistborn.

    If you didn’t know, Mistborn was pitched to my editor as a trilogy of trilogies. I told him I wanted to do a trilogy of epic fantasy books, then the same world in a modern setting, which we’re not to yet, but it’s going to be Allomancers in the 21st century-equivalent technology. It’s an urban fantasy series. Then I wanted to do a Science Fiction series in the same world, using the Epic Fantasy world as kind of a mythology to this new world, and the magic system becoming the means of Space Travel.

    MEMBER OF AUDIENCE

    Whaaa?!

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    And so that’s how I pitched Mistborn to my editor.

    Alloy of Law is actually a deviation from that, because I didn’t want people to forget about Mistborn, I wanted them to keep reading Mistborn, so I wanted them to keep releasing things, and we’ll eventually get to that second trilogy—

    Hey there you are Mark! I heard you got number one.

    MARK

    Yep.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    You’re crazy (laughter). You’re awesome though. He even beat the 17thshard people, which is really a hard thing to do. (oohs and aahs) Two hours. Beat them by two hours.

    So Alloy of Law I wanted to set up things for the second trilogy. I didn’t want to do the second trilogy yet, because the second trilogy, like the first trilogy is kind of bigger books, with a very involved storyline evolved across three books, and I didn’t want to be releasing that parallel to Stormlight Archive, which is the same sort of thing. Very evolved books where you tie a lot of things together, and so I wanted a series of Mistborn novels that were more independent.

    Alloy of Law is intended to be a “read it, have fun.” Eventually I may end up doing more with those characters, but when I do, you won’t have to remember that much about this one. It’s not like you have to remember a cast of 500 characters. You can just keep track of the main characters. They’re more of an episodic adventure. I kind of imagine Alloy of Law being—I’m not totally sure how to describe it. It’s like you have the giant movie that comes out, and then you have a TV show that’s based off of it, and then another big movie series, or something like that, if that makes any sense.

    So that’s what Alloy of Law is. So Hoid is very involved in the third Mistborn trilogy, he’s also very involved in Dragonsteel, which is actually the first book in the sequence, long before Elantris happened. So eventually I will tell that story. You can read a draft of it at the BYU library. It’s the only copy that I know of in existence. It’s almost always checked out. It’s my Honors thesis, and it’s not very good. It really is not very good, but basically it’s involving the ideas that eventually will become Dragonsteel once I write it again. But I stole the Shattered Plains and put them in Roshar instead because the fit better there.

    Tags

  • 23

    Interview: Nov 8th, 2011

    Question

    You said you were going to rewrite Dragonsteel? Is it going to be a one-book thing, or a trilogy, or what?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Dragonsteel is set to be seven books. I shouldn't tell you these things, because it scares people. The cosmere sequence is set at, what did I say, 36 books? Yeah, it's 36 books. A trilogy of Elantris, Two books from Warbreaker, ten books from Way of Kings, and the Mistborn series, and some other books. So anyways, this is a big thing, but don't get scared. You don't have to pay attention to any of this. Just go ahead and enjoy the books. This is behind the scene stuff, and in fact the reason why we don't have a book about Hoid is because I don't want you to have read all of those books in order to understand that book, does that make sense? As soon as Hoid becomes a main character, then you have to have read the whole sequence in order to get it. I don't you to have to do that. I don't want you to have to read Mistborn to understand Stormlight Archive. Hoid may be involved in these things, but he will never be a prominent character, changing things, until he gets his own sequence.

    Tags

  • 24

    Interview: Nov 8th, 2011

    KChan

    These are things that I overheard.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Kelsier was not spiked.

    Part of the Lord Ruler's motivation for setting up The Final Empire was revenge against the people he viewed as encroaching on his people's land. He was also obsessed with creating order, which Ruin later exploited.

    The Ars Arcanum in the books were all written by one person.

    The author of the Ars Arcanum is either Hoid or a member of the Seventeenth Shard. Brandon also pointed to an annotation on the map of Elendel that's relevant to this question.

    There's just the one system in Warbreaker, and it's also a world with only one Shard on it.

    Tags

  • 25

    Interview: May, 2010

    Chaos

    Long, long ago when Hero of Ages came out you listed four Shards other than Ruin and Preservation. You said we interacted with two directly. One is a tough call, we've never met the Shard itself but have seen its power. The other one we've not met directly but have seen its influence. My questions:

    -Is the Dor the "tough call" one?

    -Do you count Hoid in this list of four shards? It makes a difference for the theories, Brandon! You don't even need to say if he is bound to a shard, rather just if you consider him in this list.

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO, and no, Hoid is not included in the list. (Still not sure if he has a shard or not)

    Footnote

    This refers to the quote made by Brandon in the Hero of Ages Online Q&A on Time Waster's Guide.

    Tags

  • 26

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    Feifner

    Can Hoid travel through worlds? Or, in other words, are all of your "Hoids" one person?

    Brandon Sanderson (2009-07-08)

    Well, "Hoid" the name is an alias that a certain person is using, and he stole it from someone else. But the person named Hoid in Elantris, Mistborn, and Warbreaker are all the same individual. For the record, this is not a "name cameo." This is, indeed, the very same person.

    Tags

  • 27

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    Feifner

    Do you think you will ever include dragons in your books?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Dragonsteel, a series I’ll do someday, has Dragons in it. Hint: This world/series is very important to Hoid.

    Tags

  • 28

    Interview: Jul, 2009

    pmrbluepat

    Who is your favorite character that you have ever created in any of your books?

    Brandon Sanderson (2009-07-08)

    You ask a tough question. Very tough. I'll have to say Hoid is my favorite.

    Tags

  • 29

    Interview: May, 2010

    Chaos

    Will Hoid's character arc, as well as the whole Adonalsium arc, get a satisfactory conclusion eventually?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It depends on what Brandon decides to do. We also might or might not get the rest of the story (pre-story). From a market standpoint it's not wise, simply because if the books require you to have read 32 other books before you read them it doesn't make sense to work on them. However, if the demand is high enough he MIGHT do them after all of the rest of the cosmere books.

    Tags

  • 30

    Interview: May, 2010

    Chaos

    Is Hoid evil?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *chuckle* What do YOU think?

    Tags

  • 31

    Interview: Dec, 2010

    Louise

    Is the remove of Shalash statue connected to the man speaked gibberish that Szeth met before he assasinated Gavilar?

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    RAFO

    Tags

  • 32

    Interview: Dec, 2010

    Brianna

    Will Hoid be a major player in all, most, or only some of these books?

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    He should have as large a role in other books as he had in this one, for the most part.

    Tags

  • 33

    Interview: Dec, 2010

    T.T.

    5. Is Hoid a Herald, or a Shardholder, or something else entirely.

    6. Was the letter posted on the top of chapters to Sazed?

    7. Barring the Almighty, did we seen a Shardholder (like Sazed) in this book?

    Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads)

    5. Hoid is something else entirely.

    6. It is written to a character who exists outside of Roshar. I won't yet say who.

    7. I think "Shardholder" would get confusing alongside "Shardbearer." Basically, in the Cosmere's terms, when someone holds a Shard of Adonalsium, I call that person a Shard of Adonalsium. They are imbued with the power of that Shard, but they also become the Shard. Fans can use whatever terminology they wish, but this is how I term it.

    You did at least see the direct effects of two of the Shards of Adonalsium, but I won't say whether or not you actually saw a Shard of Adonalsium.

    Tags

  • 34

    Interview: Jun 1st, 2011

    Brandon Sanderson

    He didn't talk about Shards, but he did mention that it was very likely we wouldn't find out who Hoid was even in the tenth book of the Stormlight Archive. If anything, it would be in his thesis, of which at this moment only 8 copies were printed. He said he might publish it as a book at a certain point, but not right now.

    Footnote

    That thesis statement is Dragonsteel, and is at the BYU library.

    Tags

  • 35

    Interview: Nov 14th, 2011

    AshleySMoser (14 November 2011)

    I messaged earlier regarding Alloy of Law appendix narrator, unaware of today's torchat. maybe you can respond in the chat?

    Brandon Sanderson (14 November 2011)

    I haven't been telling people the name of the appendix author. It is either Hoid or one of the 17th sharders.

    Tags

  • 36

    Interview: Nov 14th, 2011

    spencerpanger (14 November 2011)

    Is the recipient of the letter in Way of Kings also in Dragonsteel?

    Brandon on Sanderson (14 November 2011)

    Yes. (Good question.)

    SPENCERPANGER

    If so would it be the person that Topaz gets mad at?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    RAFO on the second one. I've already given you too much!

    Tags

  • 37

    Interview: Nov 19th, 2011

    Fejicus

    The person who wrote the Ars Arcanum in Alloy of Law, is that the same person who wrote the Letter in Way of Kings.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Its not confirmed, but it's either Hoid, or someone in the 17th Shard. (However, thinking back, I'm not sure if he fully heard/understood the question, and perhaps he was expecting it to be something else. But it seems to me that if he namedropped Hoid, that he may have misunderstood the question, as it seems very likely that Hoid wrote the Letter, I dont think he'd let something slip like that. So i would count this information as rather tenuous.)

    Tags

  • 38

    Interview: Jan, 2012

    Ace_of_Face (Reddit.com)

    Who wrote the "Ars Arcanum"? Since the writer obviously had knowledge of the Cosmere I assumed that it was you making an editorial note, but then I thought that it could be Hoid (who was suspiciously absent) or Sazed or any Shardbearer... Does that make sense at all?

    Brandon Sanderson (Reddit.com)

    The Ars Arcanum is written in-cosmere by someone, but I don't want to saw who yet.

    Footnote

    Hoid is indeed in Alloy of Law. He's the beggar in black that is at the wedding in chapter 5.

    Tags

  • 39

    Interview: Jan, 2012

    zas678 (Reddit.com)

    I dislike double posting, but I have one question that came up recently from your tweet. You said that there are "multiple" people from Mistborn in WoK. Does this include Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson (Reddit.com)

    Yes, it does.

    CORWIN01

    Are they just vague allusions?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Vague, no. But I wouldn't say they, save Hoid, have any important impact on the events of the book.

    Tags

  • 40

    Interview: 2012

    eridius (Thu Jan 19)

    Wait, are Mistborn and Stormlight Archive somehow connected?

    Brandon Sanderson (Thu Jan 19)

    Multiple people from Mistborn appeared in The Way of Kings.

    Footnote

    "Multiple people" includes Hoid.

    Alloy of Law Reddit Q&A

    Tags

  • 41

    Interview: 2008

    Important links

    At least one more Lerasium Bead:
    * Eleven pieces at the well
    * And at least one morew
    Hoid was at the Shattering:
    * Miyabi's post (Paraphased)

    Tags

  • 42

    Interview: Oct, 2008

    Chaos (15 October 2008)

    When did Preservation decide to imprison Ruin in the Well? No need to be specific, I should think. A simple "Near Alendi's time" or "Way before Alendi's time" would suffice, or whichever time of reference you want to use.

    Also, this one is not a question, but nice Hoid reference in there. I especially like it how the Ars Arcanum refers to Slowswift as "bears a striking resemblance to a well-known storyteller." I'm on to you...

    Brandon Sanderson (15 October 2008)

    Way before Alendi's time. Hence the need for the prophecies. But Ruin managed to corrupt them.

    Tags

  • 43

    Interview: Oct, 2008

    AhoyMatey (15 October 2008)

    Brandon, I just wanted to confirm that you did have a couple of cameos as Slowswift? Or was that mean to be someone else?

    CHAOS

    I'm pretty sure Slowswift is Hoid. The Ars Arcanum says he "bears a striking resemblance to a storyteller", which I take to mean Hoid.

    Brandon Sanderson (16 October 2008)

    Slowswift is an homage to Grandpa Tolkien. A study of his personality will reveal why that name was chosen for him.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Hoid appears in that same chapter, but Vin doesn't meet him. Something he does spooks her. She's just too darn observant for her own good.

    Footnote

    This is actually the first time Brandon mentioned Hoid.

    Tags

  • 44

    Interview: Oct, 2008

    VegasDev (16 October 2008)

    The other lake in Alendi's bumps?

    Brandon Sanderson (17 October 2008)

    A manifestation of Ruin's gathered consciousness, much like the dark mists in book two. The lake was still around in Vin's era, but had been moved under ground. (Note that the Well is a very similar manifestation. You've also seen one other manifestation like this....)

    PETER AHLSTROM

    Such as...this?

    The "lake" was barely ten feet deep—more like a pool. Its water was a crystalline blue, and Raoden could see no inlets or outlets.
    If that's what you're hinting at...I never thought of the connection before! I just kept thinking of Aether of Night, and never thought of this pool at all.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Both are accurate, but the first is what I meant, as most people here don't have access to Aether.

    CHAOS

    I'm also thinking that the Dor in Elantris is another Shard of Adonalsium. Certainly in the Elantris world, where the Dor came from is rather ambiguous, which I expected it would be. Of course, if other Shards of Adonalsium do exist, the Dor could have come from that source.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I will RAFO from here on the other Shards of Adonalsium, as it would be better for me not to give spoilers. Please feel free to speculate. Readers have met four shards other than Ruin and Preservation.

    PETER AHLSTROM

    Have we met these four by name, or just by influence? I can't think of a name that would go with the one that the Elantris lake is a manifestation of.

    Hoid could be one? I know nothing his purpose other than that he shows up in lots of different books, sometimes begging and sometimes telling stories. Since most of these series happen on different planets (though two of them may happen on the same planet as each other), I'm assuming he has mad planet-hopping skills.

    ...Nightblood...

    BRANDON SANDERSON (20 OCTOBER)

    Ookla, I'm going to be tight lipped on this, as I don't want to give things away for future books. But I'll tell you this:

    You've interacted with two directly.
    One is a tough call. You've never met the Shard itself, but you've seen its power.
    The other one you have not met directly, but have seen its influence.

    CHAOS (18 OCTOBER)

    I thought Nightblood was explained sufficiently for my tastes in Warbreaker, so I doubt that it is a Shard, but I've been plenty wrong before. Also, I don't know if Hoid could even be a Shard. Certainly he has mean planet-hopping skills, but I don't know what purpose a celestial storyteller would have in this universe. He doesn't really have the same kind of power as Ruin or Preservation did, so normally I would rule him out right off the bat. But it is possible that these Shards come in many shapes, not just in the near-deific quantity Ruin or Preservation had. I think it's a bit of a stretch to say Hoid is a Shard... but, then again, I don't have any ideas for what those four other Shards are.

    Maybe Hoid is just a traveler trying to find remnants of Adonalsium and stories about them. He doesn't need to be a shard, I suppose.

    BRANDON SANDERSON (20 OCTOBER)

    This is slightly a tangent, but here is a relevant chunk from the Warbreaker Annotations. As this won't be posted for months, I'll put it here as a sneak preview.

    Chapter Thirty-Two

    This whole scene came about because I wanted an interesting way to delve into the history. Siri needed to hear it, and I felt that many readers would want to know it. However, that threatened to put me into the realm of the dreaded info dump.

    And so I brought in the big guns. This cameo is so obvious (or, at least, someday it will be) that I almost didn’t use the name Hoid for the character, as I felt it would be too obvious. The first draft had him using one of his other favorite pseudonyms. However, in the end, I decided that too many people would be confused (or, at least, even more confused) if I didn’t use the same name. So here it is. And if you have no idea what I’m talking about. . .well, let’s just say that there’s a lot more to this random appearance than you might think.

    CHAOS (17 OCTOBER)

    Brandon, I believe in one of Sazed's epigraphs, he actually called it "Adonasium" rather than what you are referring to here, which is "Adonalsium". I'm thinking that's just a typo, right?

    I don't suppose you could tell us which book series of yours will tell us more about Adonalsium, would you? You know, just so us theorizers on the forum know when to properly theorize about these things...

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Well, I guess this means that the proofreaders did not add the "L" when I marked the error on the manuscript.(sigh). Yes, the correct spelling is Adonalsium. I will try to get this fixed for the paperback, but I've been trying to get that blasted steel/iron error in the back of book one fixed for two years now. . .

    If it helps, Sazed would probably under-pronounce the "L" as that letter, like in Tindwyl's name, is said very softly in Terris.

    As for your other question, you will have to wait and see. Now, you could search my old books for clues, but I would caution against this. While there are hints in these, they are not yet canon. Just as I changed how things were presented in the Mistborn books during editing, I would have fixed a lot in these books during revision. Beyond that, reading them would give big spoilers for books yet to be released. White Sand, Dragonsteel, and Way of Kings in particular are going to be published some day for almost certain. (Though in very different forms). Aether of Night should be safe, as should Final Empire prime and Mistborn prime, though of those three, only Aether is worth reading, and then only barely. (It is still pretty bad).

    Footnote

    Peter's quote is from Elantris. It's the pool that Raoden finds in the mountains above Elantris.

    Tags

  • 45

    Interview: Oct, 2008

    Xandeis (18 October 2008)

    Who is HOID? I have read Elantris and all three Mistborns but don't remember the name, am I missing something?

    Brandon Sanderson (20 October 2008)

    Hoid is a mystery which I cannot speak on other than what has been written in the text of the novels. However, I'm sure that others have explained it by now.

    Tags

  • 46

    Interview: Oct, 2008

    Natalie Perkins (19 October 2008)

    I'm one of those readers that gets swept in the stories and fails to come up with any theories whatsover.

    However I did notice one... 2 years ago.

    Hoid

    I can't believe this is being talked about. I remember making a thread about it shortly after I joined the forums (I can't even find it anymore) About how I thought it was odd to see Hoid in Mistborn as an informant, Elantris as a beggar, Warbreaker as a storyteller, and I had a strong feeling it was in the first chapter as Liar as well but was too lazy to investigate.

    It was before these forums got so crazy crowded and I'm pretty sure my questions on whether the use of the name was intentional were brushed off. Weird right? Ever since then I considered my speculations unimportant (much like my speculation's on Reen's obsidian, the nobility really being Terris, and Vin being a feruchemist, by the way, don't ask about the second two, I'm crazy)

    Anyway, just wanted to add this. I sure wish I could find my original Hoid post but I'm pretty sure it was so old, it's been deleted.

    Brandon Sanderson (20 October 2008)

    I remember when you pointed Hoid out, notxaxlie. I was curious to see if others would start talking about it then, but it just kind of faded. You were certainly one of the first to spot that point.

    Tags

  • 47

    Interview: Sep 21st, 2010

    Boomtron Interview (Verbatim)

    Lexie

    Will there be other crossover characters like Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There already have been.

    LEXIE

    Really?

    BRANDON SANDERSONM

    Yes.

    LEXIE

    Can you tell?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I cannot say more than that, I think that they’re placed quite obviously, they were not very obvious before this book, they do exist, other crossovers do exist. But none so obvious as Hoid. I think there are several obvious ones in this novel, no one has yet found them that I know, but I think once they see them- once you look closely they’re there

    Tags

  • 48

    Interview: 2005

    Brandon Sanderson

    History and Use

    Some scholars have expressed amusement that this symbol should come to mean intelligence in a broad sense, as the classical meaning of Aon Ene was far more narrow. Ene was the Aon which represented cleverness, the ability to outwit and outthink opponents. It was often applied in stories and tales to those who had a slyness about them, and often was the symbol which represented the trickster figure. Indeed, those who played tricks on others were said to be Enefels—literally, Wit Killers, or those who kill with wit.

    During the Middle Era, when Elantris's influence expanded and the kingdom of Arelon began to take shape, Aon Ene was attributed to the guild of storytellers who brought tales of the marvels in Elantris. It was often rumored that these people, who took upon themselves the Enefel name, were agents of the Elantrians. Their purpose was to spread good will about the city and its inhabitants, calming the rural populace, who regarded Elantris and its magics with suspicion.

    Over the centuries, this guild of storytellers transformed into a more scholarly group who gathered stories and histories from the people. By the dawn of the Late Era—about two centuries before the fall of Elantris—the group had burgeoned beyond its origins into several distinct sects of scholars and philosophers. By the time of the fall of Elantris, the constant association of this group with Aon Ene expanded its meaning into the more familiar use, representing scholarly intelligence and study.

    Some still remember the original meaning, however. Most of those are themselves scholars, and find the entire transformation to be something of a humorous joke played by history itself.

    Tags

  • 49

    Interview: Oct 18th, 2004

    Brandon Sanderson (Chapter 58-2)

    I don't know if you remember or not, but there was some small confusion on Raoden's part earlier about who Sarene was getting to bring supply shipments into Elantris. They always came and left at night, and didn't want anybody there to greet them. I realize we haven't seen the beggars very often, but I thought I'd use them again in this section. It made sense that they would be the ones Sarene used, assuming she knew about them. I'd say that Ashe found them in one of his information-gathering excursions.

    Footnote

    The leader of the beggars whom Sarene meets is Hoid.

    Tags

  • 50

    Interview: 2012

    Supahamir (19 February 2012)

    We also meet three other people who can travel between the worlds, two of whom we've met before (one in Elantris and one in Mistborn), who are apparently trying to track Hoid down.

    Brilliant, just brilliant.

    robdizzledeets

    This really makes me excited to meet Blunt from Dragonsteel.

    Peter Ahlstrom ()

    Blunt is NOT from Dragonsteel. :)

    Footnote

    Brandon later said that Blunt is from White Sand.

    Tags

  • 51

    Interview: May, 2012

    Nalini Haynes

    I have been told that Way of Kings has been set in the same universe as Mistborn?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It is. All of my epic fantasies have been set in the same universe.

    Nalini Haynes

    Are they on different planets?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They are different planets, but there is a character who is in every one of them. The same character is in Warbreaker and in Mistborn. There are other characters who appear here and there and cross between the books.

    Nalini Haynes

    Who is the character?

    Brandon Sanderson

    In Warbreaker he is the storyteller, Hoid, with the dust, and he’s the King’s Wit from Way of Kings. If you read Mistborn, he is named Hoid in each of those as well. In Alloy of Law and Well of Ascension, he is not named but is only there to be picked out by description, but in the others he’s named. I did this because, during those early days writing books, I wrote thirteen, as I said earlier.

    I love the big epics. You can’t be a Wheel of Time fan without loving big epics. I wanted to tell a big epic, but early on it seemed to me that writing a whole bunch of books in the same series was a bad way to break in. If an editor rejects the first one, you can’t really send in the second one.

    So, while hunting editors, I wrote thirteen books that were all different worlds, different settings. I started having characters sneakily move between them, to be building, setting the stage for a grand epic that I would tell later on, behind the scenes. So from the get go, from Elantris, this was all planned because this is something I been doing in my books since then.

    Tags

  • 52

    Interview: Jul 17th, 2012

    Question

    When asked if all his books occur in one universe:

    Brandon Sanderson

    While he was selling his initial works to publishers, Brandon was encouraged to write books set in different worlds as opposed to huge epic fantasy series. That way if a publisher didn't like one book he could pitch them a different one, which you can't do with a huge fantasy series. But as a way of still having a huge fantasy series, Brandon made all of these independent stories a "hidden epic." That is, he seeded continuing characters and elements into all of these different worlds, now dubbed the "cosmere".

    Elantris, the first book he sold, was one of the novels embedded with these elements so Brandon just kept putting them in subsequent novels. So far there is one character who appears in all of the worlds that he has created (i.e. not The Wheel of Time), sometimes by his name, Hoid, and sometimes only by appearance. He is connected to the grander story going on involving this cosmere.

    Right now Brandon wants this to remain a fun easter egg so no one feels obligated to read his books in the order they were published. He will eventually tell the story of the cosmere, though, and you will be able to see what this character is doing.

    Tags

  • 53

    Interview: Sep 22nd, 2012

    Josh and Eric

    So are Shards the most powerful thing in the Cosmere?

    Adam

    Or is Adonalsium?

    Josh and Eric

    No, no, let him RAFO the first one first, or he'll lump them together.

    Brandon Sanderson

    It depends on what you believe. The Shards are the most powerful things currently overtly manifest. There are those who would say there are other subtle forces being manifest. Most people in the know would say that Shards are the most powerful thing.

    Adam

    Does Hoid believe that Shards are the most powerful thing?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You'll have to ask him sometime. [gives troll grin]. Or see him get asked something like that sometime. There's argument to be made that right now Harmony is the most powerful thing in the Cosmere.

    Tags

  • 54

    Interview: Sep 2nd, 2012

    Question

    I was actually talking to some other fans outside who are fans of your other works obviously as well as the Wheel of Time, and something that kind of occurred to me when we were speaking was you have a recurring character named Hoid. Is he going to sneak his way into A Memory of Light?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Um, Hoid will not make an appearance in A Memory of Light. (laughter) I chose this very consciously. It felt like enormous hubris of me to sneak my recurring character into the Wheel of Time. There was a little bit of temptation there since the Wheel of Time is—we've got this kind of indication that it is the kind of almost Amber-like in that it is the true world, and there are all these Mirror Worlds where people are living—so it's possible to conceive that even our world is a Mirror World happening, and that...or, you know, we don't know if our world is the real world in a different Age, or if our world is a Mirror World, or...what do you call them, Shadow Worlds? There's all sorts of different...yeah—but it's plausible that there could be a connection, but at the end of the day I really just decided, no, this was not something I wanted to do.

    I did write in a cameo for myself—Robert Jordan wrote one for himself into the books. In Knife of Dreams there is an appearance by Robert Jordan; the fans know where it is if you ask them. I also have an appearance in a different way—we are both objects actually—and when I visited Charleston, I think it was the second time, they were getting ready to auction and give away Robert Jordan's spear collection. And, Wilson, his cousin and very dear friend, invited me to go in and said, "Pick one, any one, and it's yours." And so, I was like blown away. I went in there and like, it's like a kid in a candy store, there's like swords everywhere and spears and ashanderei, and just everything, and in the middle of them I found a katana with red and gold dragons painted on the hilt, and I had to choose that one. And so I took the katana—they're twirling around the hilt, just kind of like you know I always imagined them on Rand's arms—and I took that one, and I framed it actually in a sword box and put at the bottom, "Let the Dragon ride again on the Winds of Time," and then "Robert Jordan," and his date of birth and date of death underneath and it hangs in my room in kind of our gallery down below, and I wrote that into the books. I haven't officially said that before, but yes, I wrote that into the book. That's my kind of cameo. And so, when you see that sword, you know why that sword is in the books. That's my equivalent of his cameo.

    Tags

  • 55

    Interview: Apr 14th, 2012

    Question

    Hi Brandon.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hi.

    Question

    I've read a bit online about how you have an overall storyline covering all of your novels, but I really don't know much about it. I was wondering if you could expand and explain.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay. The overarching story of all of my novels. This warrants some backstory. If you weren't familiar, I wrote thirteen novels before I sold one. I spent a lot of time practicing and learning, and I love big epic grand series. However, you know, you can't grow up reading the Wheel of Time without loving big series, but advice I heard early on was, selling a big series is actually pretty hard from a new author and if you, for instance, spend your life and you write like six books in the same series, and you send off the first book to someone and they don't buy it, you can't really send them the second book because, you know, they've already rejected that, and so it's really putting all of your eggs into one basket, and that doesn't end up working out for some people. I didn't want to do that; I wanted to expand my chances, and so I wrote thirteen novels in different worlds, all with their own different magic systems and own characters. But secretly I loved the grand epic, and so I started connecting all these worlds during my unpublished era, and telling a hidden epic behind them all that I was setting up for.

    Well, eventually I sold book number six, and embedded in book number six was a bunch of this stuff for the hidden epic, of course, and six is actually one of the ones where I first started doing this. My first five were kind of throwaway novels. It was six, seven, eight, and nine that were really involved in this. Six was Elantris; seven was a book called Dragonsteel; eight was a book called White Sand; and nine was a book called Mythwalker, which eventually became Warbreaker, which I eventually rewrote and released as Warbreaker. So that four-book sequence was very ingrained in this kind of hidden story behind the stories. When I started publishing these books, I just kept it going, the hidden story, the hidden epic.

    Now one aspect of this was that I didn't want people to have to know all the books that came before to understand what was happening in any one of them. So, for instance, if you read these you don't need to know anything about the hidden epic. It is back there behind the scenes for some day when I actually write a series dedicated to it, that there will be all this foreshadowing, but it will never directly and in really important ways influence a given series. For instance, you don't have to have read Elantris to understand Mistborn even though technically they're sequels; Mistborn is technically a sequel to Elantris, just set on a different planet.

    There is one character who has appeared in all of my novels, and several other characters who have jumped between novels. For instance there's a character from Elantris who is in The Way of Kings—one of the main characters from Elantris shows up in Way of Kings under hidden auspices, but it's pretty obvious; the fans found it really fast, those who were watching out for it—but that sort of thing. So, there is a story going on behind all of this that I will eventually tell, but what do you need to know about it right now? That all of these things are basically Easter eggs right now. None of them are dominating the storyline at all; it's just a bunch of cool Easter eggs that eventually will mean something to you. So the character to watch out for is called Hoid; it's a pseudonym he usually uses—pseudonym is I guess the wrong term; the alias he normally uses—and he's all over in the books, so if you watch out for him you'll see him.

    Tags

  • 56

    Interview: Jan 9th, 2013

    Mike Cockrum

    Hoid is regularly around when important events take place. How does he know where to go?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He uses Feruchemy. Part of it that will show up in later books.

    Tags

  • 57

    Interview: Nov 4th, 2012

    Rebecca Lovatt

    So... Hoid. We see him in almost all of your books, though I don’t think I saw him in The Emperor's Soul...

    Brandon Sanderson

    He's referenced in The Emperor’s Soul, but he got cut from the book. I actually wrote the scene with him in it, but it didn't fit so we had to cut it.

    Rebecca Lovatt

    Are we ever going to get his origin story, or learn more about him?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, we definitely will learn more about him. A book that has more of him is Dragonsteel, which I wrote when I was undergraduate as my honors thesis. It's not his origin story, but it's one he's mostly part of. We will find out everything, and get the complete story for him. It will happen eventually.

    Rebecca Lovatt

    Well, I look forward to reading more about him... He's an interesting character.

    Tags

  • 58

    Interview: 2013

    Mike Cockrum (23 January 2013)

    How many shards has Hoid received powers from, whether taken, stolen, given, etc.?

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    Well, he has a bead of Lerasium.

    Tags

  • 59

    Interview: 2013

    Darrel (23 January 2013)

    @BrandSanderson, can we expect to see Wit in his same duties to the king? Or perhaps just in other duties?

    Brandon Sanderson (23 January 2013)

    Wit is going to be around, for sure.

    Tags

  • 60

    Interview: Feb 8th, 2013

    Question

    Someone asked if Rand riding off at the end was Hoid.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon said it wasn't, but he liked the question.

    DJ Stipe

    Someone else suggested that maybe Androl was Hoid. [Me]

    Tags

  • 61

    Interview: Feb 9th, 2013

    KiManiak

    I didn't write down specifics on anything that I hadn't heard discussed before in the reread or on Theoryland or that I didn't feel was new information. Here's a quick summary:

    There were approximately 4 "process-type" questions;

    There were 2 Mistborn questions and 1 Mistborn game question;

    Harriet was asked a generic question about RJ;

    There was one question that was RAFO'd (The Tuatha'an and the finding of the Song);

    There was a question about Hoid and when he started appearing in Brandon's books (Brandon's 6th book, Elantris was listed as Hoid's first appearance; his next was in BWS's 7th book, Dragonsteel, then in his 8th book, White Sand);

    Brandon recommended the works from authors Brian McClellan and Brent Weeks, and the novels A Fire Upon the Deep and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms;

    Harriet told the story of how she heard about and ultimately selected Brandon to continue RJ's work;

    Finally, Harriet read the "Wind" passage from A Memory of Light.

    Tags

  • 62

    Interview: Feb 16th, 2013

    Viper

    Hoid has a nugget of Lerasium and the Moon Scepter. Does he have a Breath?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It seems quite likely that he would.

    Tags

  • 63

    Interview: Feb 18th, 2013

    Green Fire

    I was at the signing and I asked him,(and I'm paraphrasing now because I didn't get much sleep before or since) "If Hoid would be printed as an Magic: The Gathering card, what would be his color and converted mana cost?"

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon said he would be a "Straight Blue Planeswalker" and "expensive" "probably 7 to 9 mana 4-6 colorless UUU".

    Green Fire

    I should have pressured him for a sample loyalty ability or something... but the line was NUTZ.

    For thoes who don't understand the magic color pie/philosophy of each color, there are plenty of essays online, but without me explaining all the info; to me it means he has real power in craftiness and trickery (like we didn't know that before) ;) But that tells us he's not Blue-White or Blue-Black just "Straight Blue", which is important. And as planeswalkers go it puts him up in at least Nicol Bolas' level. Jace is a small fry to a Blue planeswalker with Hoid's level of expertise.

    Tags

  • 64

    Interview: Feb 6th, 2013

    Freelancer

    In the opening of The Emperor's Soul, I see a scene familiar to Warbreaker; the first character we meet is in jail. Was this "connection" intentional?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes and no. Originally there was a prologue which featured Hoid speaking with the main character and setting some of the plot in motion, but it was cut before final revision. Also, it's convenient to begin with a character who is already in trouble.

    Tags

  • 65

    Interview: Feb 19th, 2013

    Rob B

    Although I was taking some pictures during the signing, I was able to point my ears into some of the conversations between Brandon and the fans. First and foremost, Brandon is an awesome person. He first thanked people for coming, then asked if they had any questions for him. Never once did he rush anybody or shush them. For fans who mentioned they were writers themselves, he offered words of encouragement.

    Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

    One great bit of information I overheard was the next Mistborn novel would be published in 2014.

    Brandon also mentioned (and I tried to filter this through all the other discussions circulating) that Hoid would be the main character (I think) of the trilogy or that Hoid would feature as the main character in another trilogy.

    I also overheard Brandon say his least favorite Wheel of Time character was Cadsuane, I don't think he is alone in that. Well, for I fact I know he isn't alone because she was probably my least favorite character as well.

    One Russian fan brought a Russian edition of Mistborn: The Final Empire to be signed.

    Another Bulgarian fan said the Bulgarian translations, which are recent, were done very well.

    Tags

  • 66

    Interview: May 21st, 2012

    jean_santos45

    I'm definitely excited for your upcoming books. Are you going to sell signed and numbered copies of Legion and Emperor's Soul? Just got used to having my Sanderson books numbered and signed. a bit spoiled, i know.

    Are Legion and Emperor's Soul contained in their own worlds or are they part of the universe of The Stormlight Archive, etc (anywhere with Hoid in it. lol)

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    The Emperor's Soul is set on Sel, the world of Elantris. It's far off, though, so you have to have your eyes open to catch the clues. Hoid shows up in a deleted scene, and is referenced in the story.

    Footnote

    In case it was not clear, Legion is not part of the cosmere.

    Tags

  • 67

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    DeleriumTrigger ()

    Maybe I'm a bit ignorant here, but what is the motivation for a fascinating character like Wit/Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I have always been impressed by masterworks like those done by King/Asimov, weaving multiple works by one author together into a single continuity. I felt that most authors who have done it didn't have the chance to start from the beginning intending to combine worlds. It is something that they decided upon after the fact. So, I thought I'd give it a try from book one.

    I love stand alone novels, but I also love big epics. This was a way to let me have both at the same time with some of my works. And so, Hoid was born as a character plotting behind the scenes of my novels, connecting them together into a larger tapestry.

    Kurkistan

    Have you ever felt constrained by this commitment to consistency across the Cosmere, or does it amount to "limitations are more interesting than powers" as applies to own options as an author?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I feel it has always helped. If an idea doesn't fit into the limitations, I simply move it to a non-Cosmere story instead.

    Tags

  • 68

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    AptoCanavalian ()

    Dear Brandon, If you could have a dinner party with six of the characters that you have written about, which six would you choose and why? Would your answer change if the party was in someone else's house?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well, it would be tough—I'd have to decide if I wanted the party to be crazy, interesting, or low risk.

    For example, inviting Hoid and Kelsier to the same party could result in murdering. Having Sazed around with someone like Jasnah would lead to some great discussions of philosophy.

    In the end, I'd probably pick the core WoT cast, just because they've been my friends for so long. Longer than anyone other than Wit and Dalinar, actually. So Perrin, Rand, Mat, Egwene, Nynaeve, and Thom. Fourth book era.

    ngu_ns

    Wait—are you implying Hoid and Kelsier would want to murder each other, or that they would team up to murder other people?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid and Kelsier do not get along. At all.

    Tags

  • 69

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    Herowannabe ()

    Hoid has Lerasium and breaths, Does Hoid have anything from Sel? Soul stamps perhaps?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. :)

    Tags

  • 70

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    Herowannabe ()

    Is Sigzil, as Hoid's apprentice, Rosharan?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is from Roshar.

    Herowannabe

    Has Hoid taken him to other worlds?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, Sig hasn't visited any other worlds.

    Tags

  • 71

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    mycoltbug

    Hoids base magic system Lightweaving?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO

    Tags

  • 72

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    mycoltbug

    Are there any world hoppers that we should recognize as world hoppers in anything other than tWok beyond Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They aren't recognizable, and aren't intended to be, as of yet. There are some around, however.

    Tags

  • 73

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    Yamato

    Where did you get the idea for your Adonalsium mythos? Did it develop in your head for a while, or did you have a sudden flash of inspiration.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Over time, particularly when building Dragonsteel as a novel. I was planning it as I wrote Elantris. Hoid has been around forever, long before Adonalsium became the central plot of his story. I have an old short story from the early, early, early days where he's on a planet trying to figure out how the local magic system works.

    Tags

  • 74

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    NeverKnowsBest

    In Mistborn 3, what spooked Vin off from meeting Hoid? (My theory is Ruin's influence, because he didn't want Hoid interfering(sub question that just occurred to me. Was Ruin aware of Hoid on Scadrial?)

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ha. Well, by this point Hoid had been to the Well--getting there just before Vin--and had retrieved something from it. That should have been enough to get him to leave the planet entirely, but he got involved in events. (He tends to do that.) It's pie in the sky, but I would someday like to do parallel novel to the Mistborn series with Hoid in the background like they did in the second(?) back to the future move. I don't know that I'll ever be able to do it, but we shall see. I would answer this question there.

    Footnote

    Brandon has since confirmed that the thing Hoid took from the Chamber of Ascension was a bead of lerasium.

    Tags

  • 75

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    Nesh

    Is Hoid an older Alcatraz Smedry? (This is a joke I know Alcatraz isn't in the Cosmere but with Hoid being present at the Shattering and Alcatraz's Talent being braking things... That could include Gods)

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ha!

    Tags

  • 76

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    Cheese Ninja

    Does Hoid have a safety-deposit box somewhere, or does he carry all his souvenirs with him?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He has a home base.

    Tags

  • 77

    Interview: Sep, 2012

    Arcanist

    7. When will be see the whole Cosmere-concept (Shards, the plans of Hoid) at the level of the books? In the third Mistborn trilogy or earlier? In which books do you plan to finish the “hidden story” which connects all your earlier books?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Third Mistborn Trilogy will certainly include some of this. We shall see if I do any of Hoid's stories before then.

    Tags

  • 78

    Interview: Oct 30th, 2012

    Lance Alvein

    Can you confirm if the scene with Taln at the end of Way of Kings is entirely in Hoid's perspective? There was some discussion that it might not be, since Taln's honourblade was called a shardblade.

    BRANDON SANDERSON (paraphrased)

    That entire scene is in Hoid's POV, and the reason for it being called a shardblade is because honourblades are shardblades.

    Tags

  • 79

    Interview: Oct 30th, 2012

    Lance Alvein

    The deleted prologue with Hoid in it - is there any chance of that being put online?

    BRANDON SANDERSON (paraphrased)

    It will be online, and it will probably be bundled with the ebook version as well.

    Footnote

    Peter has said that this could be released at any time, but he'd prefer to do it after September 1, 2013.

    Tags

  • 80

    Interview: Oct 30th, 2012

    Lance Alvein

    Is Shadows of Silence a cosmere story?

    BRANDON SANDERSON (paraphrased)

    It is cosmere, but takes place on an unimportant side planet that doesn't have anything interesting going on there. Hoid is not in the story.

    Footnote

    The story's correct name is Silence For Shadows in the Forests of Hell. In addition to that Peter is unsure whether or not Hoid makes a brief appearance.

    Tags

  • 81

    Interview: Oct 30th, 2012

    Lance Alvein

    You mentioned in the forum QA that Liar of Partinel was scrapped - does this mean that Hoid's backstory will no longer be told?

    BRANDON SANDERSON (paraphrased)

    There are still plans to do Hoid's backstory, all that the comment about the book being scrapped meant is that when it comes time to write it, the current draft will be tossed away and it will be written fresh - similar to how Way of Kings was done.

    Footnote

    Brandon has said that he now wants to tell Hoid's story from a first person perspective.

    Tags

  • 82

    Interview: Nov 6th, 2012

    Question

    Okay Hoid, you mentioned he's in all your books, is he in also in all your shorter stories?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is not in all of my shorter stories. In fact, he is not in any book that references Earth. So if there's a reference to Earth- most of my science fiction has referential stuff to Earth, Alcatraz is like this. He's not in anything like that. He's not in the Wheel of Time. It would not have been appropriate for me to seed something like that into a Wheel of Time book. So he's not in Steelheart or the other children works that I've done. But he is in all my epic fantasies.

    QUESTION

    Now my main question actually, which magic systems, if any, does he have access to?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    That's an excellent question. He is familiar with very many of them, and lots that you haven't seen yet.

    Tags

  • 83

    Interview: Nov 6th, 2012

    Question

    Okay, I also want to know if there are other ways to Worldhop aside then what Hoid uses.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 84

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2012

    Question

    [Josh and Mi’ch] were kind of explaining that your books were all in different worlds and Hoid can jump from world to world?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, they’re all in the same universe. And there are some characters who have appeared in multiple books. Hoid, for instance, has appeared in all of them so far.

    QUESTION

    Yeah is he going to have his own book?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    He will eventually have his own book series.

    Tags

  • 85

    Interview: May 14th, 2013

    Brandon Sanderson

    The origin of The Rithmatist

    Six years ago, I was writing a book that I hated.

    Now, that's both rare and common for me at the same time. I tire of pretty much every book I work on at some point, usually during the revision process. I push through and get over it. That's what you do as a writer. By the time I'm done with the process, I'm tired of the book—but it's the good kind of tired. The "I worked hard, and now have something awesome to show for it" tired.

    Unfortunately, that wasn't happening for this book. Called The Liar of Partinel, every chapter was a chore to write. Though it had started very well, it continued to spiral farther and farther down the drain. I was familiar enough with my own writing by this point to realize the problems with Liar wouldn't work themselves out. The characters were boring, the plot forced. The worldbuilding elements never quite clicked together.

    It had been years since I'd had such a bad feeling about a novel. (The last time, in fact, was Mythwalker—my sixth unpublished book&mdsah;which I abandoned halfway through.) Part of the problem, I suspect, had to do with my expectations. Liar, set in the same world as Dragonsteel, was to be the origin story of Hoid, the character who has appeared in all of my Cosmere novels. (Information here—warning, big spoilers.)

    I needed Hoid's story to be epic and awesome. It just wasn't. And so, I ended up "hiding" from that novel and working on something else instead.

    The Rithmatist. It started with some drawings and a purely creative week sketching out a world, characters, and magic. That week is the exact sort that turned me into a writer in the first place, and was a distinct contrast to the grind that had been Liar. I abandoned the book and dove into The Rithmatist (then called Scribbler), and wrote a book where everything just came together. It happens sometimes. It just works, and I can't always explain—even to myself—why.

    I finished the first draft of the book in the summer of 2007. In the fall, I got the call regarding the Wheel of Time, and my world transformed forever. The Rithmatist, though an awesome book, languished for years because I didn't have the time to devote to it. Doing a tour or contract for another teen book was impossible at that time, and beyond that I couldn't commit to writing any sequels or even doing any revision for the novel.

    I did tell Tor about it, though, and they started to get excited. The publisher tried several times to get me to release it, but I didn't feel the time was right. I couldn't let my attention be divided that far. I was already stretched too thin, and I wanted my attention (and that of my readers) to be on the Wheel of Time.

    The month A Memory of Light was done and turned in, however, I called Tor and told them it was time to move forward. I'm pleased to be releasing the book now, when I can give it the attention it deserves.

    And hopefully someday I'll be able to fix The Liar of Partinel. (At this point, I'm feeling I need to rewrite it as a first-person narrative, though making that switch is going to cause an entire host of problems.)

    Anyway, thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoy The Rithmatist.

    Brandon

    Tags

  • 86

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    The_Vikachu ()

    How old is Hoid? Or better yet (to avoid any trickiness), how many years has he lived through?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He's been alive since Dragonsteel. However, he may not have spent all of that time awake and alert.

    Tags

  • 87

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    Windrunner17 ()

    Why does Hoid want the Moon Scepter? Or was it just a convenient excuse to get Shai imprisoned?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He wanted it for more than just getting Shai in prison.

    Tags

  • 88

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    i_are_pant ()

    How old is Hoid? How long did it take to become that old?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ha. Let's just say that he's far older than a human should be able to get.

    Tags

  • 89

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    Phantine ()

    We know Hoid stopped by the Well of Ascension. Would it have been possible for him to take up the power while he was there? Or is it limited to guys created out of Preservation and Ruin?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid had no interest in holding that power in the state it was in.

    Tags

  • 90

    Interview: Apr 15th, 2013

    Reddit AMA 2013 (Verbatim)

    darkeningpath ()

    Will there ever be some overarching plot with all the Cosmere and Adolnasium stuff?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. There is one already, honestly, you just don't have the beginning or the end. I will write those books eventually, and things will start falling into place.

    Tags

  • 91

    Interview: 2013

    Autarchk (March 2013)

    If I can ask a question, I just read the Mistborn trilogy and, were Preservation and Ruin two different shards or a single one with their power split somehow? If they were two shards, does that mean a single person can hold more than one, since Harmony apparently holds both now?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They were two shards.

    Yes, one entity can hold more than one. Remember that holding a shard changes you, over time. Rayse knows this, and prefers to leave behind destroyed rivals as opposed to taking their power and potentially being overwhelmed by it.

    Nepene

    I have a question, if you are willing. Would Ruin be more compatible with Rayse, would he pick up that shard had he visited Scadrial and shattered him? All the shards we have seen that he has shattered seem rather different in intent than him—Honor, Cultivation, Love, Dominion. But Ruin seems more in line with Odium. Rayse has ruined the days of quite a few people.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Technically, Ruin would be most compatible with Cultivation. Ruin's 'theme' so to speak is that all things must age and pass. An embodiment of entropy. That power, separated from the whole and being held by a person who did not have the willpower to resist its transformation of him, led to something very dangerous. But it was not evil. None of the sixteen technically are, though you may have read that Hoid has specific beef with Rayse. Whether you think of Odium as evil depends upon how much you agree with Hoid's particular view.

    That said, Ruin would have been one of the 'safer' of the sixteen for Rayse to take, if he'd been about that. Odium is by its nature selfish, however, and the combination of it and Rayse makes for an entity that fears an additional power would destroy it and make it into something else.

    Tags

  • 92

    Interview: 2013

    Nepene (March 2013)

    I suppose one thing to wonder is how do you enter Shadesmar? We know of a number of people who are jumping from world to world through Shadesmar. Grump Thinker and Blunt, Hoid too. How are they accessing the cognitive plane to transport themselves across the lands?

    Presumably Shallan's bond with the truthspren let her get in. How does this work? If she had only a dim sphere then does it not require any stormlight, any spiritual power? Is it a purely cognitive change? I could see some advantages to that. You could hop into this alternative dimension at will if you were being attacked, even with little power.

    The scholars earlier talk of whether there is food in Shadesmar, so presumably others have visited it. Can non soulcasters visit it? Is there some fabrial that grants you access? Are they only referring to the distant past, when KR had the power to access it? Is it purely a thing of the mind that anyone can learn? Is it only possible if you have access to a splinter of a shard?

    And on an unrelated question, they have symbols on their heads. If Shallan managed to draw one of these would it be some glyph? Perhaps some glyph that we would recognize, like the glyphs in the artwork at the front?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There are many ways to enter Shadesmar. You'll see more of this in the future. One thing to keep in mind about Shadesmar is that space where things are thinking is expanded, while space where there is nothing to think is contracted. In other words, in an empty void, you get almost no Shadesmar. This makes distances as we think of them very different there.

    As for the symbols making up the heads of the cryptics, those are not glyphs. But it's possible you would recognize them...

    Tags

  • 93

    Interview: 2013

    cubiclejockey (March 2013)

    I have based countless Dungeons and Dragons characters off of your worlds. Thank you for being an inspiration. Your systems of magic are wonderful.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Fun fact: Hoid, the character who has shown up in each of my cosmere books, had a brief stint as one of my high school D&D characters. He didn't start life there, but I did try to build a character for him. So I've done the same thing. (Koloss made their first appearance in a game I ran, though they were far more demonic in nature.)

    Tags

  • 94

    Interview: 2013

    blocking-WTF (March 2013)

    Holy cow, do I feel dumb, and maybe a little smart.

    I did not know about "Cosmere" or its cycle until this very moment. I have however, read just about every single one of your books and knew that HOID makes an appearance in them. I had always thought it would be a grand idea if someday, a long time from now, we found out that all these different worlds were connected and your last masterpiece would be the book that revealed that to us. But I guess you thought of this brilliant idea before I did, sigh.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I planned to do something just like that, actually. I considered sticking the clues more deeply into the text. (For example, in some early drafts of later books, I didn't use the name Hoid for his alias.)

    In the end, though, I felt that readers would enjoy the journey far more if they could connect things and begin to dig at the deeper picture themselves. Besides, if I hid the clues so well nobody found them, then that would have required so much arranging of stories as to make for some awkward moments.

    Tags

  • 95

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2012

    Question

    So I was reading the Alloy of Law, and at the end I read through the Ars Arcanum. And I got confused because it’s written in first person, but it refers to Harmony in third person. I thought he was writing it, so who writes that part?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That’s a good question for you to be asking, one which people have been curious about, and I have not yet answered who writes all of the Ars Arcanum, but they are in-world, somebody's writing them. If you ever read The Way of Kings, it’s written in first-person too.

    QUESTION

    Are they all written by the same person?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Ah, have I answered that yet?

    JOSH

    You should.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I should? They are all written by the same person.

    QUESTION

    Because it sounds like they’re written by Hoid, I think.

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    They are all written by the same person.

    Tags

  • 96

    Interview: Dec 18th, 2011

    Finallity

    I also attended the signing, but arrived late and missed the Q and A. I waited roughly two hours in line to get a few books signed, and had some interesting discussions over what to ask Brandon while he signed my stuff. I decided to ask him to do what he has done for a few others, which is to write a cosmere clue in my copy of Alloy of Law. After asking him this, he looked up at me and asked, "Are you from the 17th shard?" He asked me to relay his request that we don't ask for that anymore, and that we instead, come with specific questions. Apparently my book will be the last one he will ever write a generic cosmere clue, at least, to the same effect.

    Brandon Sanderson

    The clue was SOO vague, and I hope you guys can make at least a bit of sense of it. It say, verbatim, "Hoid has metal he isn't supposed to have." Any ideas as to what he means?

    Footnote

    Hoid is confirmed to possess a bead of lerasium.

    Tags

  • 97

    Interview: Mar 17th, 2012

    Question

    How about a confirmation one? We have a secondhand report from Miyabi actually, that says that Hoid was at the Shattering of Adonalsium. Was he there?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes he was.

    Tags

  • 98

    Interview: Aug 31st, 2013

    WorldCon Flash AMA (Verbatim)

    woodchuck_vomit (August 2013)

    Does "Alethi" come from or have anything to do with the Greek word for truth or is that just a coincidence?

    Less serious: does Hoid have all of his fingers?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Alethi is a coincidence. However, it is the sort of coincidence that happens a lot for me in languages, as I often look for a "feel" for a language. Alethi, for example, is a semitic language mashup with some Mediterranean influence. So I'm not surprised if it means something in the right languages. (I did this with Straff and Elend from Mistborn, looking for Germanic-sounding words and accidentally using two words from German.)

    Hoid has had fingers chopped off on occasion. I doubt he's kept them around after the new ones grow in.

    Tags

  • 99

    Interview: Oct 1st, 2013

    Question

    Will Hoid return as the King's Wit in the next/future Stormlight Archive book?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 100

    Interview: Oct 1st, 2013

    Question

    Before his [Hoid's] departure in The Way of Kings and his return in a future book, does he stay on Roshar only?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Good question. RAFO.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 101

    Interview: Oct 8th, 2013

    Question

    Will Shallan and Hoid meet and have a battle of wits?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Good question! I think you should read Words of Radiance and find out.

    Tags

  • 102

    Interview: Aug 8th, 2013

    Question

    If Hoid were tempted by a Shard, which one would it be?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Endowment.

    Tags

  • 103

    Interview: Dec 7th, 2013

    PrncRny

    What can you tell us about anagrams in what Wit says to Dalinar? Like how "Balderdash" is an anagram of "Shardblade"?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Everything Wit says is significant. How much or how little varies, but it's all significant.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 104

    Interview: Mar 24th, 2014

    Question

    Someone from Earth is about to be sent off to the cosmere. They've read your first Stormlight book, but they've never really taken time to really dig deep and find out about how it sits in the overall "cosmere", so they're totally unprepared. What basic concepts regarding shards, magic systems and world hopping do you think are most important?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The first, most important thing to say to the person who's being sent there is to enjoy the story you're in. All of the cosmere stuff, the interconnection between my books and all these wonderful little things, are right now mostly Easter eggs. Which means that if you spend the whole book only worried about that, you're going to miss the beauty and fun that is the book that you're part of. I often say to people, don't worry if you read them "out of order," because it's all Easter eggs right now. Don't worry and stress if you miss something about the cosmere, because while someday that might be important, you first need to enjoy the book that you're part of. But the primer I'd give to this person is that the worlds are connected. If you show up on a planet and there's a guy named Hoid around, then be very afraid, because you're someplace very dangerous.

    Tags

  • 105

    Interview: Mar 24th, 2014

    Question

    Finally, and most importantly, if all your protagonists had an epic all out brawl, who would win?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Some of them are immortal, but that would kind of be cheating. If you let people who are immortal participate, it's going to very much favor someone like Hoid, who is really, really, really hard to kill. Of course, he would not be very good at offing anyone either, because of certain things in his past. It would be really futile when it got down to the last two. But if we take that out.

    You'd have to set ground rules. Do they get access to their magic? Where is it taking place? If we take away all magic and we just say people are beating up on each other, who's going to win? It's probably Kelsier because he'll fight dirty. Vasher fights really dirty, too. If Kelsier and Vasher gang up on the rest, and then it depends who's still not in pieces at the end. It'd be Kelsier or Vasher probably.

    Tags

  • 106

    Interview: Mar 24th, 2014

    Question

    Is Hoid drawn to novel-worthy plots? Or does he ever just show up in a completely "normal" time/place, with no ramifications on the cosmere, shards, etc.?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is drawn to places specifically because of what's happening in those worlds. He is there and he is meddling.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 107

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Do we ever get to see a good banter between Wit and Shallan?

    Brandon Sanderson

    She is not quite ready yet to be on his level. And if you watch through the series, her use of humor will mature. And in fact you should be able to notice a difference between these two even [Way of Kings and Words of Radiance]. By later books she will be able to stand a little bit better. Right now he would rip her to shreds.

    Tags

  • 108

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Herowannabe

    The Lord Ruler, he had his Lerasium beads, did he use them for Feruchemy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    [impish grin] Ah ha ha ha. The Lord Ruler, heh heh heh, That is an excellent question.

    Herowannabe

    Not going to answer?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Not going to answer that one.

    Herowannabe

    Would you answer if Hoid used it for Feruchemy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    His bead? Hoid’s bead was—He originally got it because he wanted to be an Allomancer. [Note that he doesn’t actually answer the question.]

    Tags

  • 109

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    So regarding Hoid, are we ever going to learn his real name at any point in time? I guess in Dragonsteel? I know he says about how he's borrowing stuff and about how he steals stuff.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. You eventually know his real name, but it depends on what you define as real.

    Question

    So also, regarding the magic systems and stuff, I hear you have another book that's unpublished and that you can send it to people.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, just drop an email, say that you want a copy of White Sand. It's okay. It's not great.

    Tags

  • 110

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    Will the flute come back?

    Brandon Sanderson

    A lot of people are curious about the flute. I have been non-committal, so far.

    Footnote

    The flute that Wit gave to Kaladin, which he had to abandon in Sadeas's camp after the Battle of the Tower.

    Tags

  • 111

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    When are we gonna see a published copy of [White Sand]?

    Brandon Sanderson

    We're working on a graphic novel of it right now.

    Question

    Who's gonna do the art?

    Brandon Sanderson

    We have four or five people who have sent us pitches, and we are looking through them to decide who we want to use.

    Question

    Can you put me in one of your novels? I'm a three-fingered Irishman who speaks four languages.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay, write me an email that says "I'm a three-fingered Irishman who speaks four languages," we'll see what we can do. [...] Who did you think Hoid was, in White Sand?

    Question

    Hoid is not a real person, he did not start life as [can't make out].

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, who did you think he was in White Sand?

    Question

    I don't know yet, I'm not that far.

    Tags

  • 112

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    I wanted to ask about how, you mentioned that in the [third] trilogy for Mistborn, all the things are tied together. All the different worlds. In books that you write after you've written that, are you going to attempt to tie them in?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I will tie them in. I've already seeded hidden things that I can use to tie them in the way I want to. So it should all be there, the things I want to use. When you read, watch for a character named Hoid.

    Tags

  • 113

    Interview: Mar 17th, 2014

    SFFWorld

    2. Will we learn more about the character currently known as Hoid in Words of Radiance?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, you will. Watch for a story told at a bar.

    Tags

  • 114

    Interview: Apr 22nd, 2014

    Frannie Jackson

    Sanderson's Three Laws of Magics:
    1) An author's ability to solve conflict with magic is DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL to how well the reader understands said magic.
    2) Limitations > Powers (i.e. "Superman is not his powers. Superman is his weaknesses.")
    3) Expand what you already have before you add something new.

    In the years leading up to and during his time concluding The Wheel of Time series, Sanderson developed three Laws of Magics for the fantasy genre. He's been quick to point out on his blog that the laws merely serve as "guidelines" for his own writing, but his insight is revolutionizing the traditional approach to fantasy writing.

    Literature has a history of ignoring rules when it comes to magic—it is magic, after all. But the 21st century is cultivating a new breed of reader who doesn't take magic for granted. Sanderson's laws appeal to their desire to understand how Dorothy's ruby slippers transport her between worlds and why the Phial of Galadriel shines brighter when used by Sam vs. Frodo. From allomancy to surgebinding, the magic systems in Sanderson's novels are both incredibly original and comprehensively detailed.

    Beyond his penchant for establishing unique systems of magic in multiple worlds, Sanderson has a tendency to dream astronomically.

    Brandon Sanderson

    "At some point," Sanderson says, "I was inspired by Michael Moorcock's Multiverse and the way Isaac Asimov eventually connected his Foundation novels and robot novels, to write a 'stealth' series into the background of my novels." Enter the Cosmere.

    Frannie Jackson

    An entire universe distinct from our own, the Cosmere consists of 10 (and counting) planets with autonomous magic systems, geographic characteristics and storylines. All of Sanderson's novels (excluding his YA and The Wheel of Time titles) exist within the Cosmere, but each planet's book(s) can be read independently of the others. In simpler terms, Sanderson has subtly connected everything—so subtly, in fact, that only one character is granted the ability to travel between worlds.

    Hoid, the world jumper and mysterious fan favorite, appears in every Cosmere-set novel. But don't plan on always recognizing him; the intelligent trickster favors disguises. And, to be honest, no one besides Sanderson understands Hoid's significance at this point.

    Brandon Sanderson

    "I have said before that choosing a favorite [character] is a tough question," Sanderson says. "Very tough. I'll have to say Hoid, but I can't say why without giving spoilers."

    Tags

  • 115

    Interview: Sep 24th, 2013

    Question

    Will Hoid be making a reappearance in Words of Radiance?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Question

    I also heard he was part of your unpublished Dragonsteel.

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is.

    Question

    And is that a series you are going to be publishing?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I will eventually rewrite it, it is not up to my current standards. I consider the events that happen in it basically to be canon. With some exceptions, like for instance when I originally wrote Dragonsteel the Shattered Plains were there and Dalinar was there and I split off Way of Kings into its own book. I took half of what had been Dragonsteel and made it into the Stormlight Archive and I split half of it off onto a separate planet. If you were to read it, you can check it out from BYU, half of it will be a less well-written version of the Shattered Plains sequence of Way of Kings and the other half is Hoid's story. And Hoid's story stuff is still kind of canon but the rest...

    Tags

  • 116

    Interview: Sep 24th, 2013

    Question

    Have you ever thrown in something into one of your books from one of the other books you've written, like an easter egg?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, well all of my books are connected. There is a character in Mistborn who is in Elantris, who is in Warbreaker, who is also in The Way of Kings. Easter egg things, if you read my middle grade series, the Alcatraz books, there are all kinds of silly things thrown in there just for fun. But there's a continuing character doing cameos in each of the books.

    Question

    is it the same throughout the books?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 117

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2014

    Question

    If Hoid were to hold an unsheathed Nightblood, would he feel sick?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (Loud laughing) RAFO

    Tags

  • 118

    Interview: Mar 11th, 2014

    Question

    Is Hoid the most knowledgeable about what's going on in the cosmere?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, Khriss is the most aware by a long shot. Nazh knows a lot as well. Hoid might know more than Nazh but he is pretty in the know as well so it's close.

    Tags

  • 119

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    Pinpoint

    If Hoid got beheaded, would his body grow a new head?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Pinpoint

    What if Hoid got cut by a shardblade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Shardblade cuts the soul and what Hoid does heals the soul.

    Tags

  • 120

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    DefiantBurrito

    Can you tell me what Wit put in his drink in Shallan's flashback scene?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It was something that you or I would probably not want to eat in our world, but that Wit got some benefit from eating...

    DefiantBurrito

    Something we've seen in the Mistborn books, perhaps?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (sounding pleased) Yes, perhaps like something you've seen in Mistborn.

    Tags

  • 121

    Interview: Mar 6th, 2014

    Question

    When are we going to get Hoid’s book?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid has 6 books, they are the 3 books of Dragonsteel, which are prequels and the last Mistborn trilogy of the nine book arc will have him as a main character.

    Tags

  • 122

    Interview: Mar 6th, 2014

    Question

    What powers does [Hoid] have, what magics is he using?

    Brandon Sanderson

    If you watch in these books, he has used on screen so far three of the different magics?

    Question

    Have we seen those three, do we know what those three are?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You know at least two of them. More obvious clues are in [Words of Radiance]. Watch where he and Kaladin have some interactions. Watch carefully, you will see something in what he mentions. You've seen him and Shallan, that scene in one of her flashbacks, in that scene he uses one if you watch.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 123

    Interview: Mar 6th, 2014

    Question

    Do you know how you're going to write how Hoid goes between worlds?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes I do. There is a big clue in Words of Radiance. There is a very big clue in the very first book I published.

    Tags

  • 124

    Interview: Mar 6th, 2014

    Question

    At the very end of Words of Radiance, Dalinar touches a Shardblade and it screams at him. Should that particular Blade have been safe?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No it should not have. It's a clue that something has happened. There are other clues that something is wrong with what the story you've been told is.

    Question

    Because Option 2 is that it's unsafe to touch an honorblade, but there's no evidence of that.

    Brandon Sanderson

    There is no evidence of that. There's much stronger evidence that something else is going on.

    Question

    Did Hoid switch out the blades?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid did not switch out the blades, but good question.

    Tags

  • 125

    Interview: Oct 14th, 2013

    Question

    Is Hoid in Shadows for Silence?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is not. I intentionally didn't put him in... I wanted to indicate that he goes where there is an important reason for him to be there rather than just being a cameo in every story.

    Tags

  • 126

    Interview: Oct 14th, 2013

    Question

    Is Hoid any of the Shards of Adonalsium?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Good question. He does not hold a Shard.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 127

    Interview: Oct 14th, 2013

    Question

    Is he [Hoid] a Worldsinger?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He has a relationship with the Worldsingers.

    Tags

  • 128

    Interview: Mar 19th, 2014

    Question

    Are we going to be seeing more Wit in the Stormlight Archive?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Depends on if you mean the character or actual wittiness. I'm never sure if I'm actually witty or not—you'll have to judge. But the character never knows when to leave well enough alone and will be muddling things for quite a long time.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 129

    Interview: Aug 9th, 2014

    Khyrindor

    Was Allomancer Jak in the newspapers in The Alloy of Law just Hoid in disguise?

    Brandon Sanderson (Paraphrased)

    No. I actually just published a short story with him in it.

    (He also said that he came up with the idea for him in an RPG writing group, or something along those lines.)

    Footnote

    The short story in question is in the Alloy of Law supplement of the Mistborn Adventure Game.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 130

    Interview: Aug 9th, 2014

    Khyrindor

    Hoid went through Cultivation's Shardpool to get to Roshar as opposed to Honor's. Yet, he notes he never got along well with Cultivation. Why did he choose her Shardpool rather than Honor's?

    Brandon Sanderson (Paraphrased)

    You're making assumptions!

    (I asked if it's possible that it was Honor's and he said it's possible.)

    Tags

  • 131

    Interview: Aug 9th, 2014

    Jeremy

    Does Wit specifically treat people differently when he knows they're going to have a spren bond? (E.g. Renarin, Dalinar)

    Brandon Sanderson (Paraphrased)

    Yes, Wit treats people differently, but it is not because of present or nascent spren bonds. He has an opinion of what each person needs to hear. He isn't always correct in this opinion, but he tries to give people what he thinks they need. In Dalinar's case, he simply has too much respect for the man to be glib. In Renarin's case, he believes that the boy has had more than enough breaking down, and is much more in need of building up.

    Tags

  • 132

    Interview: Aug 13th, 2014

    Question

    Who is the oldest character we know?
    Can a person in Shardplate be Rioted or Soothed? What about Seeked?
    Could a Coinshot, in a fight, damage Shardplate?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Frost is almost certainly the oldest by a small amount. After that, Hoid.

    Tags

  • 133

    Interview: Aug 13th, 2014

    Question

    Do Zahel and Hoid know each other? Can Zahel regrow limbs as well?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They've met.

    Otherwise, RAFO.

    Tags

  • 134

    Interview: Aug 13th, 2014

    Question

    You said that Shallan will have different apprenticeships, we know 2, will Hoid be another?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. :)

    Tags

  • 135

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    QUESTION

    A while back someone asked if Hoid's sword is Nightblood, you said that was interesting. Is it similarly Invested?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    I'm going to RAFO that. It is a very interesting question.

    Footnote

    Hoid's sword has been proven to not be Nightblood. Nightblood is now in Szeth's possession.

    Tags

  • 136

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    QUESTION

    For the Dangerous Women story, are you going to write anything again in that world?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    That world will show up again. Silence probably won't, but the world itself, yes. It's called Threnody, it is one of the Cosmere worlds. There's not a Shard there but there are interesting things happening. There's actually been a character in other books who's from Threnody. It will eventually be clear who that is, but they have shown up in many previous Sanderson novels.

    QUESTION

    Would that be Hoid?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    Hoid is not from Threnody. Good question though. Hoid is from Yolen.

    Footnote

    Nazh is from Threnody.

    Tags

  • 137

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    QUESTION

    When are we first getting a look at the Cosmere coming together?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    The third Mistborn trilogy is going to involve-it's the first one I planned to do a lot with. I doubt I will do much in the second Mistborn trilogy, more than I probably have done [so far]. It's fun for me, so I'll keep including things in. You'll notice that Hoid is a bigger part of the Stormlight than previous ones, but I still don't want it to come to the forefront quite yet.

    Tags

  • 138

    Interview: Mar 4th, 2014

    QUESTION

    Does Hoid ever show up somewhere, stand around for awhile, realize that there isn't a novel-worthy plot going on, and leave?

    BRANDON SANDERSON

    [Laughed] Yes, Hoid gets around a lot and that has happened a couple of times. He does not know everything.

    Tags

  • 139

    Interview: Mar 22nd, 2014

    Question

    Is Hoid human?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid was human a long time ago. Now... It's complicated. We would call him human, and so will pretty much everyone else, but he is not exactly that.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 140

    Interview: Mar 22nd, 2014

    Question

    In the last part of the book, Hoid is talking to [a cremling], and says "If you think hard, this sentence is really clever." Are there any implications beyond this, or was that him just talking?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Go compare to another sentence he used earlier in the book. He is making a pun off of the sentence he used before. It's not as clever as he thinks he is, it's kind of a bad pun.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 141

    Interview: Mar 22nd, 2014

    Question

    Has Hoid been on Roshar before The Way of Kings?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 142

    Interview: Mar 22nd, 2014

    Question

    The prevailing theory on the 17th Shard is that Hoid worldhops using Shadesmar. Could you confirm or deny that?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid has indeed gotten between worlds before through Shadesmar.

    Question

    And would you be willing to give us a hint as to how he does that?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There are hints in the books. There is a hint in the very first cosmere book I released [Elantris]. Which I thought was a huge hint, but so far I haven't seen anyone talking about it.

    Argent

    Really?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Mmhmm. I thought that once people started figuring the cosmere, they would see the massive in-your-face hint I put in that book, but so far, as far as I know, no one has. [Some chat about Brandon's tendency to drop sneaky hints and how he likes doing that] Now, the one [hint] about the map, that one I don't think is obvious. I know people have been trying to figure it out. It's something fun once you figure it out, but it's not something huge and obvious. The Elantris once was, like, enormously "HIIINT!"

    Tags

  • 143

    Interview: Mar 22nd, 2014

    Question

    Since Hoid is the Horneater god, are there, or at least implied, other Shards...

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid is not a Shard.Question

    Or other Shards that are related to Hoid, since they are in the same time period. Would they also be Horneater gods?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I think that the Horneaters might interpret things very differently from their reality, as they are viewing things...

    Question

    So would they originally be from Roshar, or would they have traveled from somewhere else?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That's a RAFO, it depends on the person. Hoid is not originally from Roshar.

    Tags

  • 144

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2014

    Brandon Sanderson (Paraphrased)

    The way that Hoid and Defending Elysium do FTL travel is very different.

    Tags

  • 145

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2014

    Question

    When Hoid is playing for Kaladin, has he awakened some part of himself to help him play?

    Brandon Sanderson (Paraphrased)

    No, he's not Awakened anything to help him play.

    Question

    Did he use Allomancy?

    Brandon Sanderson (Paraphrased)

    RAFO.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 146

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    Who is Wit?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is a character who has been in all of the books so far and is somehow getting between all of the different planets these are taking place on and is somehow surviving the fact that these books are hundreds of years apart.

    Question

    I have a good idea that he's a Mistborn.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well he did steal a bead of lerasium.

    Question

    And he has extra Breath because he said it was easier with perfect pitch.

    Brandon Sanderson

    He did indeed say that didn't he... I will eventually write a book series that is about him, but it is a ways off.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 147

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    So I've been told there is one character who is in each of the series.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes there is.

    Question

    Is that Wit by chance?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It is.

    Question

    Does he show up in some of the others?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, in this [Mistborn: The Final Empire] he shows up briefly, Kelsier meets with a blind beggar at one point who is introduced by the name Hoid and that is the name Wit uses through most of the books. If you read Warbreaker he's in that one, there is a storyteller who uses dust and sand. He's in most of them. The Way of Kings is where you see him the most, he's not in the other ones nearly as much, but he's mentioned by name in most of them.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 148

    Interview: Sep 4th, 2014

    Question

    How many different kinds of magic does Hoid know how to use? I know you can't tell me exactly but is it hundreds or like dozens?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It depends on your definition of types of magic, in some ways you could say they are all one. He knows multiple varieties, but not hundreds.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 149

    Interview: Feb 15th, 2014

    WOB-signed book (Verbatim)

    Alaxel ()

    ? is unknown, but likely a request for previously unknown information to be added to a personalized copy of TWOK

    Brandon Sanderson ()

    Alaxel got a personalized copy of WoK, and written in it was "Odium and Hoid were once friends."

    Tags

  • 150

    Interview: Mar 13th, 2014

    Question

    Is Wit a Herald?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Wit is not a Herald. Wit predates the Heralds.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 151

    Interview: Mar 13th, 2014

    Sir Jerric

    Has Hoid ever visited the planet Braize?

    Brandon Sanderson

    [Sing-song, delighted] RAFO. Such a big RAFO! The biggest RAFO!

    Footnote

    Braize is a planet in the Roshar System.

    Tags

  • 152

    Interview: Mar 13th, 2014

    Macen

    Why does Hoid show up in all of your books?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Because they're all connected and he's searching for something.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 153

    Interview: Mar 13th, 2014

    Macen

    What Heightening is Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    [Coy] I don't know what you're talking about! Heightening? He's just the King's Wit! Q: With perfect pitch? A: He does have perfect pitch! [Even more coy]You're obviously misconstruing that!

    Tags

  • 154

    Interview: Mar 13th, 2014

    Macen

    Unknown question.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sigzil claims Hoid is his master Sigzil is not a world hopper, but he spent some time with Hoid during one of Hoid's visits.

    Tags

  • 155

    Interview: Mar 13th, 2014

    Kythis

    Is there anything Hoid was scared of? And if so, is it still around, and...

    Brandon Sanderson

    There are many things that Hoid is scared of. He is really scared of Odium, but there are others.

    Tags

  • 156

    Interview: Mar 14th, 2014

    the_archduke

    Is the woman around Wit's age named Reya?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO

    Tags

  • 157

    Interview: Mar 14th, 2014

    the_archduke

    Is the Moon Scepter an object of Investiture?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Moon Scepter is an item that is important to Hoid, but I won't say why yet.

    Tags

  • 158

    Interview: Mar 14th, 2014

    the_archduke

    Does Hoid have all the abilities of the planets he's visited?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Not yet.

    Tags

  • 159

    Interview: Mar 20th, 2014

    Outis

    Is Hoid the one that comes out of the lake that Rock is talking about?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 160

    Interview: Mar 20th, 2014

    Outis

    What alloy did Hoid drink?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Let's just say he was trying to make certain people act the way they wanted to.

    Footnote

    act the way "they" wanted to, or "he" wanted them to?

    Tags

  • 161

    Interview: Mar 20th, 2014

    Outis

    Do we have another worldhopper potentially, with the epilogue?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There is some interesting things happening there. Good question!

    Tags

  • 162

    Interview: Mar 20th, 2014

    Outis

    How did Hoid and whoever he's sending the letters to deliver the letters?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO

    Tags

  • 163

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    Hoid said [in Warbreaker] that he learned stories from a place where gods have died. Is that Roshar?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. I will say this. A god has died on Roshar. Only one, that we know. So, "gods" would not be plural.

    Tags

  • 164

    Interview: Mar 21st, 2014

    Question

    The Seventeenth Shard--is their purpose limited solely to tracking down Hoid? Or is it something grander than that?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, they have other stuff. It is something grander than that.

    Question

    He's just one of many priorities?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. They are very worried about what he's going to be doing.

    Question

    But there's others they're worried about as well?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. [...] So they have a task, they have goals, and they are worried that he is going to be at cross purposes to them, so they are trying to hunt him down.

    Tags

  • 165

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Is Wit/Hoid an Allomancer?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He did steal a bead of Lerasium off of Scadriel. If he were to make use of that bead, certain powers would have been gained.

    Tags

  • 166

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Who or what is Hoid/Wit?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is a person that has shown up in all of my epic fantasy books.

    Question

    How does he have so much information about what's going on and how is he always in the right place at the right time?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Those are very excellent questions. RAFO, but he has a surprising ability to be in the right place at the right time in the Cosmere.

    Tags

  • 167

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Is there any reason he didn't go by "Vasher"?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Because in the original draft he was, and I'm like, "That's just too easy." Plus he's kinda trying to hide. He's not as foolhardy as a certain other character who goes willy nilly by the same aliases over and over again and doesn't care. Picking a new alias, if you know people will potentially be looking for you, having them not be able to ask for you by name is useful.

    Tags

  • 168

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Are we going to see the flute again?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid is very disappointed by the loss of his flute and would like to recover it.

    Tags

  • 169

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Does Hoid have 2 Honorblades?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid currently has no Honorblades.

    Tags

  • 170

    Interview: Mar 29th, 2014

    Question

    Has Hoid used his Lerasium Bead for Feruchemy?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid got the bead originally because he wanted to become an Allomancer.

    Footnote

    BWS has stated elsewhere that Hoid has not used his lerasium bead.

    Tags

  • 171

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    Will Hoid ever have a book of his own?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes he will. He will several.

    Tags

  • 172

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    When will we see a Hoid book?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will see a Hoid book-- You will NOT see a Hoid book until I finish the first five books of Stormlight and the next Mistborn trilogy at the earliest. More likely is after Stormlight is done.

    Tags

  • 173

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    Are we going to see any chapters that are expressly(?) Hoid now that he is becoming more and more important?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You have seen two. Are you going to see more? Yes. I would say that if you look at the structure of the first two Stormlight books, you will find several themes and those themes are likely to be repeated in future books. And Hoid does like having the last word.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 174

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    Unknown question.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid waxes poetic on the idea that the more people expect the harder it is on the artist. This is more the critic in me having noticed my own expectations for a piece play dramatically into how much I enjoy it [...] How someone who analyzes art like a critic in my analyzes art what would be an observation they would make. Hoid is not me and he does not voice necessarily my personal opinions but he is an artist and a critic so he notices some of the things I notice.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 175

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    Hoid mentions that no story is new, is repeated, this feels like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time overarching philosophy, any connection?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Certainly, though it is more a storyteller's connection. Storytellers know that the same stories are told over and over and we have just learned to interpret them differently for our different lives.

    Tags

  • 176

    Interview: Apr 16th, 2014

    Question

    Hoid can regrow his head, so can the Lord Ruler, what would happen if you cut them both off and switched them?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That's… really weird.

    Tags

  • 177

    Interview: Aug 4th, 2014

    kari-no-sugata

    Unknown question, but possibly relating to the Elantrian easter egg about how Hoid travels via Shadesmar.

    Brandon Sanderson

    World Hopping Hint in Elantris: Raoden has misinterpreted one of the Aons.

    Footnote

    See http://www.theoryland.com/intvmain.php?i=1088#35 for more information.

    Tags

  • 178

    Interview: Jan 17th, 2015

    Question

    If your character Hoid were a Planeswalker what color would he be?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You know I might do him like the Reaper King. Like two slash on all five. That’s what I would do him as.

    Tags

  • 179

    Interview: Jan 17th, 2015

    Question

    The Shardblade that Dalinar had at the end of Words of Radiance, was that the Honorblade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Shardblade that Dalinar had at the end of Words of Radiance that he gave up?

    Question

    Yeah, that he gave up.

    Brandon Sanderson

    No it was not.

    Question

    It was not? So what happened to the Honorblade that the Herald had?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Nobody kno- Well, somebody knows, but it is not known to the main characters.

    Question

    Can I ask if uh, Hoid-

    Brandon Sanderson

    If Hoid knows?

    Question

    Yeah.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid did not take it, but I’m not answering whether he knows.

    Tags

  • 180

    Interview: Jan 17th, 2015

    Question

    Aha! Yes! Uh, ok, second thing. My brother and I have been debating about Hoid and how he got his abilities. We have a couple theories. One of them is Hemalurgy.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ok…

    Question

    The other has to do with the portals into the worlds themselves, because the birds in Sixth of Dusk-

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ok, he does not have Hemalurgy. He has powers that predate the Shattering of Adonalsium. Not all of his powers predate, but he does have powers that predate.

    Question

    Ok, so I was wrong on both counts then… Am I wrong on both counts?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I’m not saying that. I’m saying that he has powers that predate, and has gained powers since.

    Tags

  • 181

    Interview: Jan 17th, 2015

    Question

    I have a final question then, is there a Hoid cameo in Shadows for Silence?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I intentionally didn’t put one in, because I didn’t- couldn't come- there was no reason for him to be there, and I didn’t want to be doing it just to do it, if that makes sense, like, the Cosmere isn’t just a bunch of cameos, it is a story within itself.

    Tags

  • 182

    Interview: Jan 17th, 2015

    Question

    Worldbringers and Worldsingers -- similar mission?

    Brandon Sanderson

    The similarity of the names is intentional.

    Question

    Similar origin?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Question

    Did Hoid start them?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That’s a RAFO. That’s a RAFO, but definitely they have a similar origin.

    Tags

  • 183

    Interview: Mar 12th, 2015

    _0_-o--__-0O_--oO0__ (Reddit)

    Where is Hoid's flute and does he want it back?

    Brandon Sanderson (Reddit)

    Sadeas had it.

    Yes.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 184

    Interview: Mar 12th, 2015

    i_am_a_watermelon1 (Reddit)

    Hi Brandon! Thank you so much for doing this! I love your work, and I just had a couple questions regarding it...

    1) I've heard somewhere that you already have a backstory for Hoid written, but you're waiting to release it as it would reveal too much about the Cosmere universe... is this true?
    2) Do you ever plan on bringing different realms together?
    3) Do you have a favorite series to write? Or is one more difficult to write than another?
    4) What is your favorite book (or series) to read for pleasure (either by yourself, or another author)?

    Again, thank you so much for doing this AMA, and I'm really looking forward to the rest of your work!

    Brandon Sanderson (Reddit)

    1) Yes, this is true.
    2) Yes I do.
    3) Stormlight is most difficult, but also the most fulfilling. Not sure if it's the most "Fun." It's a lot of work. But that's a good thing.
    4) Anything by Terry Pratchett. (See my blog post today for more.)

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 185

    Interview: Apr 24th, 2016

    Question

    Does Hoid learn the languages magically? Or is he just a gifted linguist?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is learning them magically. He’s decent with languages, but he has to speak as if he were a local in order to pass as he does. And no matter how gifted you are, doing that across multiple tongues, that’s really hard.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 186

    Interview: Apr 24th, 2016

    Question

    Have Hoid and Sazed (as Harmony) interacted?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Uhm… yes, that has happened.

    Question

    Was it meaningful?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid considers everything meaningful. [laughter]

    Question

    Would Sazed consider it meaningful?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sazed considers every individual meaningful. [more laughter from fans]

    Question

    Are we ever going to get an official Cosmere timeline.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. Were getting really close to releasing it. I’m not sure when we will. The real trick is now that we are locking down White Sand it is close. The novel wasn’t canon, but once it’s out we will be real close to locking everything down. The trick is where is it? Like Sixth of the Dusk, we’re not sure exactly where it is.

    Question

    So is it actually canon that MB:Era 2 takes place between SA first & second half?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well I haven’t written second half so it depend on when I take a break. Maybe it takes place after 5, maybe after 7. We’ll just see how it goes when I get there. The timing there is a little more tight.

    Question

    So they are much closer in the timeline.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Exactly. So that’s why I have to be a little more doggy on those. Mostly because they are a similar timeline.

    Tags

  • 187

    Interview: Jan 21st, 2015

    Question

    Favorite thing Hoid’s done?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO, sorta. A lot of his fave things have happened off screen that we’re not supposed to know about (yet). Wit is his fave role that we’ve seen!

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 188

    Interview: Jan 21st, 2015

    the_archduke

    Is Hoid's sword when he is the King's Wit an invested object?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No. It is a badge of office as the King's Wit. Hoid isn't even that good with a sword.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 189

    Interview: Jan 7th, 2015

    WeiryWriter

    This is one you probably aren’t going to answer, but how old is Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid is older than [???] He is very old.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 190

    Interview: Jan 7th, 2015

    Question

    Is Hoid a dragon?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh I will give you a RAFO card. Have you read Dragonsteel? Don’t read it, it’s bad. He is one of the oldest people in the cosmere, but he is not the oldest. The person he is writing a letter to is indeed older than he is.

    Tags

  • 191

    Interview: Jan 7th, 2015

    Question

    [references the conversation between Hoid and Dalinar where he says he would watch Roshar burn if it got him what he wanted] Has he seen any worlds die?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, he has.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 192

    Interview: Jan 7th, 2015

    Question

    Is the guy he took his name from related? Blood related. (talking about Hoid)

    Brandon Sanderson

    I’m going to RAFO that.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 193

    Interview: Jan 16th, 2015

    The Only Joe

    Was Hoid offered one of the Shards we know about.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You know, I can't remember which Shard I've shown you, Wait, no I haven't shown you that one.

    Tags

  • 194

    Interview: May 3rd, 2016

    little wilson

    Is Hoid talking to a skaze?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yup.

    Footnote

    Picture of personalization in Elantris 10th Anniversary

    Personalized book/17th Shard

    Tags

  • 195

    Interview: Jan 24th, 2015

    Question

    Can you give us some more tidbits about Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Can I give you some more tidbits about Hoid? He loves bacon. *laughter* No I can’t give you any, you’ll have to go online and find out more tidbits about Hoid. I’m very tight-lipped.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 196

    Interview: Jan 24th, 2015

    Question

    When you write Hoid's story is it going to be like Ender's Shadow, with a new perspective on the same events?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I know that stuff, but I don't plan to do it that way. I plan to do his backstory more as his own story because while I really like Ender's Shadow, most of the things like that I haven't enjoyed as much. Plus, it would take me books and books and books to do it. We'll see. I haven't closed the door on that idea, but I'm not planning on it right now. There are parallel things like that I am planning to write, though--just not Hoid.

    Tags

  • 197

    Interview: Jan 31st, 2015

    Sirce Luckwielder

    At the Yomen wedding, the newlyweds are talking to 'a scruffy man who looked like a beggar, dressed all in black.'Is this an appearance of Hoid?"

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 198

    Interview: Jan 31st, 2015

    Sirce Luckwielder

    In the flashback with Shallan meeting Hoid, Hoid pours something from a pouch into his cup and drinks it. Are these Allomantic metal shavings?"

    Brandon Sanderson

    His answer was that there was something indeed significant about what Hoid placed in the cup, but that it was not necessarily Allomantic shavings. He wouldn't tell me what it specifically was and gave me a R.A.F.O. card.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 199

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2015

    Question

    In, I believe, Well of Ascension, when Hoid-- Vin was going to talk to Hoid and get information but she sensed something.Can you reveal anything about that? [questioner doesn't have a theory] [bystanders]: theorize

    Brandon Sanderson

    No, But you can have a RAFO card... Do you have a theory? The clues are all there. They’re very obscure. Stop theorizing! I shouldn’t have said anything.

    Tags

    Vin, Hoid,
  • 200

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2015

    Question

    Is Hoid from Elantris, the same from The Stormlight Archive?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 201

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2015

    Question

    Now the Wit, does he have a spren, is he a Herald, is he one of the older people?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So, Wit is an immortal who travels between worlds. Who-- His magic is not from Roshar. He is in all the other books, if you look for him. So he’s in Warbreaker, he’s in all three Mistborn books, he’s in-- yeah…. [points to Argent and Kurkistan] These guys can point you to everything, they’re from the fansite and they’ve found out about all kinds of things about him. But he is popping up everywhere.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 202

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2015

    Question

    Why didn’t you have Vin talk to Hoid? She sort of saw him and then just ran off.

    Brandon Sanderson

    I have not answered that question yet. But that means you can have one of these [RAFO card].

    Argent

    That doesn’t come up very often but we got it twice.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah, it’s not that big of a thing.

    Argent

    You should take the hint.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You are going to have to wait a while to get that answer.

    Tags

  • 203

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    Which world does Hoid enjoy visiting the most?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Scadrial almost has instant noodles. So he's very interested in Scadrial.

    Question

    Is he doing anything to push that along?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is not as involved in that as certain other forces are.

    Question

    There are forces involved in the developing instant noodles?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, oh yes.

    Tags

  • 204

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    From Shadows of Self, you just sort of name Hoid. Is he just not caring anymore, or is it just space in the book? [If anyone wants to make sense of what this question is asking, feel free. I can't understand it.]

    Brandon Sanderson

    In Alloy, he wasn't really interested. He showed up only for a wedding. By this, he's noticed something else is happening on-world, so he's come back to investigate, but he's not really relevant. You will see him taking a larger role as he becomes more interested in what's happening on-planet. His level of involvement is kind of directly tied to how interested he is in what's going on.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 205

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    Is Vasher aware of who Hoid is?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher is aware of Hoid, yes. He doesn't know the whole story, but he knows that something's up with this guy.

    Tags

  • 206

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    Any chance we'll be seeing further correspondence between the writers of the letters? In further books, perhaps?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will see more letters.

    Tags

  • 207

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    In the Epilogue of Words of Radiance, Jasnah is talking with Hoid and Hoid mentions a nearby village. Is it Hearthstone?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No it is not. Good question. Because they're out in the Unclaimed Hills somewhere. They're not even in Alethkar.

    Tags

  • 208

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Question

    Is there going to be a Hoid series? Just Hoid?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There will be several Hoid books eventually. It will be about his backstory, the main one, and then we'll have some in the present as well.

    Question

    Will it show up in scenes where he interacts with these characters [presumably meaning, in scenes we already have seen him in, but from his viewpoint]?

    Brandon Sanderson

    I'm not planning those right now. I know they would be interesting, but I'm not sure if they'd make good enough books.

    Tags

  • 209

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Alterodent

    Can Hoid safely have an MRI?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Why do you ask that?

    Alterodent

    Because if you have metal inside your body, and you have an MRI, which is magnetic, it's very bad for you.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You're just assuming that... That's a very clever way to try to get around a question that I have not answered and intentionally said I am not going to answer, so...

    Alterodent

    Also, tattoos. You can't have a tattoo with an MRI. The ink has little bits of metal in it.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You can't? Well, I assume there are tattoo inks that are not little bits of metal.

    Alterodent

    That's true.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 210

    Interview: Oct 12th, 2015

    Kurkistan

    Did Hoid conference in on Harmony's chat with Wax?

    Brandon Sanderson

    (laugh) RAFO. (more laughing)

    Tags

  • 211

    Interview: Oct 9th, 2015

    Question

    Was Hoid ever two different people?

    Brandon Sanderson

    There have been other people named Hoid in the past, but you have never met them.

    Tags

  • 212

    Interview: Oct 9th, 2015

    Question

    In Hero of Ages, I don’t quite understand why… the point of Hoid is in Fadrex, going around the city, gathering information…?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Not many people do! It’s an intentional secret, I have to wait a little while longer to explain it.

    Tags

  • 213

    Interview: Oct 9th, 2015

    Question

    Does Hoid go to the same place the Elantrian’s (Elantrians are? ) going?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 214

    Interview: Oct 9th, 2015

    Question

    What were Wayne and Hoid talking about outside the carriage?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 215

    Interview: Oct 6th, 2015

    Shadow Guardian

    We know that Hoid likes to collect various "trinkets" and powers from the various shard worlds he visits. If he could, would Hoid choose to have access to 'every' magic system within the Cosmere, or are there some that he would rather avoid for any reason?

    Brandon Sanderson

    *nervous laugh* Let's just say that he's not very good at avoiding things that are bad for him.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 216

    Interview: Apr 2nd, 2015

    Ruro272

    Does Hoid have a Hemalurgically charged Nicrosil spike?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It's... unlikely. Hoid would not want to open himself to the influence of Shards so using Hemalurgy on himself is unlikely. Although Hemalurgy is the easiest way to get other powers, he'd more likely do things the hard way.

    Question

    Alright, but would Nicrosil be the right metal to make a Hemalurgic spike if you did want to steal powers from another world?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It's a good theory, you're theorizing well.

    Tags

  • 217

    Interview: Oct 10th, 2015

    WayneSpren

    "Why did Wayne choose to ride with Hoid on the exterior of the carriage in SoS?"

    Brandon Sanderson

    "Wayne likes Hoid, but he doesn't know who he is."

    Tags

  • 218

    Interview: Oct 17th, 2015

    Havoc

    I know that 'Perfect State' is not part of the Cosmere, but if the Wode were to construct a 'Perfect State' for someone like Hoid, would that look like the Cosmere?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So a universe with him as the most important character.. yes.

    Tags

  • 219

    Interview: Oct 22nd, 2015

    Jaller

    I also asked Brandon about that part in the Wandersail chapter of WoK, where Syl leaves Kaladin before he meets Hoid because she gets a bad feeling. I wanted to know whether this related to why Vin decided to not meet Hoid in HoA.

    Brandon Sanderson

    He said that they both got a certain impression from him, but wouldn't say whether or not it was the same thing, and stated I would have to RAFO what that was exactly.

    Tags

  • 220

    Interview: Nov 28th, 2015

    PrncRny

    Did Hoid have anything to do with Bavadin showing up on Sel?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. (Though interestingly, he asked me why I asked this question. I said I got it off a question list here and he stated that people had been trying to get him to say something on the subject for a while. Trying to pry information from him. Hence the RAFO.)

    Tags

  • 221

    Interview: Nov 28th, 2015

    PrncRny

    How much of Harmony's manipulation of Wax was Hoid aware of?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He knew what was going on. That's all I'm going to say.

    Tags

  • 222

    Interview: Nov 28th, 2015

    PrncRny

    Is the flute that Vin saw in the Lord Ruler's secret room in WoA the same flute that Hoid gives to Kaladin in tWoK?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. The origins of that flute will be revealed at some point.

    Tags

  • 223

    Interview: Feb 17th, 2016

    Question

    Where Hoid and Frost some of the older humans created by Adonalsium?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will find that out eventually… Frost is not a human.

    Tags

  • 224

    Interview: Feb 17th, 2016

    Question

    I was wondering what magic systems the Wit uses.

    Brandon Sanderson

    The Wit uses a variety.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 225

    Interview: Feb 16th, 2016

    CarolaDavar

    Does the pool in Elantris have anything to do with the Pool that Rock mentions is in his homeland?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Look closely at who he says comes through that pool (I took this as a yes, I later found out that my Mom asked him if Hoid travels through the pool, and Brandon said yes, he worldhops through the pool)

    Tags

  • 226

    Interview: Feb 25th, 2016

    Question

    Can you share any abilities that Hoid has accrued so far in the books, has he-- I can't even pronounce the L-word...

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, lerasium, he is indeed an Allomancer. That has happened. I haven't confirmed much else, but he does have that.

    Footnote

    confirmed

    Tags

  • 227

    Interview: Feb 25th, 2016

    Question

    Can Hoid change how he looks?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He has...various methods of changing how he looks.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 228

    Interview: Feb 22nd, 2016

    Question

    Hoid, in the Liar of Partinel sample chapters, is referred to as a Jesk. Is this related to the Jesker Mysteries religion in Elantris?

    Brandon Sanderson

    No. Good question.

    Tags

  • 229

    Interview: Feb 27th, 2016

    Paladin Brewer

    Which of the 16 original shardholders know Hoid the best?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 230

    Interview: Feb 27th, 2016

    Paladin Brewer

    Is Hoid related to any of the 16 original Shard bearers?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 231

    Interview: Feb 27th, 2016

    Paladin Brewer

    Why did Hoid not take both beads of lerasium?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid has an innate ability to know where he needs to be and what he needs to do.

    Tags

  • 232

    Interview: Feb 27th, 2016

    Paladin Brewer

    In Way of Kings SYl leaves Kaladin before he means Hoid because she gets a bad feeling, did this have to do with Hoid himself or something unrelated?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO, I believe. I don't remember an answer for it. unsure emoticon.

    Tags

  • 233

    Interview: Oct 14th, 2015

    zandi

    Is the Fleet story indicative of future events/ending of SA?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. Hoid is telling Kaladin things he needs to know. But Hoid's knowledge of the future doesn't extend that far...(or something like that).

    Footnote

    WSB: surprised at such an open answer

    Tags

  • 234

    Interview: Apr 8th, 2016

    Blightsong

    Would Hoid's spirit web seem more similar to that of a savant or a regular human?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, neither one, but it would be weirder than a savant. Are you just getting these question's of the 17th Shard?

    Blightsong

    No, these are mine, I write questions in my notes when I read through books.

    Brandon Sanderson

    These are actually yours? Ok, I'll keep going then. If these are actually yours you can have as many as you want. Some people just go to the list of all the questions to ask Brandon and they come and just "Oh I'm just gonna ask Brandon all of these", and I'm like "no you can have three or four". But, if they're your questions you can have as many as you want.

    Tags

  • 235

    Interview: Apr 8th, 2016

    Blightsong

    Was Hoid trying to become an Elantrian kind of in a way how Kelsier was able to connect to preservation to take up the shard?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, the thing about it is your getting Hoid before he knew as much as he did in Scadrial era, so what he was trying to do was completely ineffective and it couldn't have worked.

    Blightsong

    Doesn't it get weaker the farther away you are, so it wouldn't help at all.

    Brandon Sanderson

    mhmm.

    Question

    Well we have an example of an Elantrian on Roshar, so.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes we have an Elantrian on Roshar, but we don't see him use any powers, and his skin is dark on Roshar rather than glowing. That is something to be aware of. While I keep doing this, who is here for the magic draft? *Talks about the magic draft and his writing process for a bit*.

    Tags

  • 236

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2016

    Question

    Is one of the guys looking for Hoid at the Purelake Galladon from Elantris?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Tags

  • 237

    Interview: Feb 20th, 2016

    Question

    I think someone asks if it’s Hoid coming out of the Horneater pool.

    Brandon Sanderson

    He’s never confirmed it but he’s strongly implied it. (I think he has confirmed it before, though). And then a lewd joke The Lopen would find hilarious.

    Tags

  • 238

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Ted Herman

    Question about Hoid…

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO. [laughter] No, no, go ahead.
    Question

    When Hoid said that Ivory [Jasnah’s spren/blade] wasn’t capable of harming him, is that related to Hoid’s difficulty in harming others?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

  • 239

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    So in Words of Radiance, when Hoid switches places with the carriage driver, who was mentioned as having a hat and a strange accent - is that carriage driver important?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That’s a - I’ll leave this one to you. It’s a RAFO, but not a big RAFO.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 240

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    Someone who has Breath Investiture, can they give the Breath to someone who doesn’t, so like somebody from Scadrial, or…

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Question

    Would the Scadrian be able to use it.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. You have seen people from off-planet who have Breath before.

    Moderator

    Or… perfect pitch?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. [laughter] And are making use of it in variety of ways.

    Tags

  • 241

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    My question’s about Secret History, specifically it’s a two-parter. The first part’s easy to answer. Is it relevant that the glowing substance that Hoid puts on his oar is very similarly described to the stuff that the Ire drinks, the glowing…?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yeah, that is relevant.

    Question

    And does it have to do with Connection.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ah… [sigh] Yes, but not the way you’re thinking. I’m wiggling out of... Yes, it has to do with Connection, but so does a dog. Cause a dog is Connected to things. [laughs in the audience] You said “does it have to do with”! The answer is yes. [more laughs]

    Tags

  • 242

    Interview: Apr 23rd, 2016

    Question

    Has Hoid had a direct interaction with the Nightwatcher at this point, you said he’d be calling her very nasty names?

    Brandon Sanderson

    [laughs] Hoid is… let’s go ahead and RAFO that one.

    Tags

  • 243

    Interview: Nov 7th, 2016

    Lisbon, Portugal (Paraphrased)

    Question

    In the books, the Hoid we see is always the same physical being?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes! It's the same physical entity.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 244

    Interview: Nov 7th, 2016

    Lisbon, Portugal (Paraphrased)

    Question

    Was the Hoid we see born naturally, or was he created?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He was born naturally.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 245

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    In one of the Allomancer Jak broadsheets, there is a mention of a white-haired man who asks if the woman wants to hear a story.

    Brandon Sanderson

    This man is now confirmed to be Hoid!

    Tags

  • 246

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    I asked if Hoid would call himself a good person, and I specified that I was not talking his cause but actually him as a person, and he said,

    Brandon Sanderson

    "No."

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 247

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    I asked about the age Wit appears to be, and he kind of mentioned the obvious that he appears to be different ages depending on his disguise, but when I specifically asked about him as Wit in the SA, he said

    Brandon Sanderson

    mid-30's.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 248

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    no question specified

    Brandon Sanderson

    Without spoiling anything the scene where Drifter punches a certain "dead person" in Secret History is important because he normally can't hurt people.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 249

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    And lastly I asked him if Hoid had to describe Khriss, as in what he thought about her, what would be say.

    Brandon Sanderson

    And Brandon mentioned that it was good because Hoid had actually met Khriss, and then he wrote in my book verbatim, "Hoid thinks well of Khriss." Which I find particularly interesting, especially considering his opinion of the 17th Shard, as expressed in the First Letter.

    Tags

  • 250

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    I asked why Hoid gave the memory coin to Wax, what his motivation was (since it seemed to cast a more positive light on someone Hoid does not like), and

    Brandon Sanderson

    Brandon said he did it to correct a lie that was being perpetuated.

    Question

    I said that I was still suspicious of Hoid,

    Brandon Sanderson

    to which he said I should be, as those two (Hoid and Kelsier) do not get along. He said that the memory uncovered a truth that Kelsier did not want to be known.

    Tags

  • 251

    Interview: Nov 22nd, 2016

    BYU Bookstore (Paraphrased)

    Question

    no question specified

    Brandon Sanderson

    The myth Hoid tells in Words of Radiance is referencing how worldhopping works.

    Footnote

    what myth? about Fleet?

    Tags

  • 252

    Interview: Jun 28th, 2016

    Question

    Has Hoid ever submitted a painting to the Court of Gods?

    Brandon Sanderson

    That is the sort of thing that Hoid would do, but none of the paintings that we've seen were by Hoid or anything.

    Tags

  • 253

    Interview: Jun 28th, 2016

    Question

    During this same scene, Hoid mentions that he'd been named after a rock, a very beautiful one. Was this a reference to Dragonsteel? When he had the name Topaz?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes

    Tags

  • 254

    Interview: Oct 13th, 2015

    Blaze1616

    Who would win a game of Tarachin, Hoid or Lightsong?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid. Even if he had to cheat.

    Question

    I thought so.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Plus, Lightsong wouldn't really care.

    Tags

  • 255

    Interview: Sep 6th, 2016

    Question

    Lastly, I asked for a random fact about Hoid.

    Brandon Sanderson

    He was hesitant at first, and after a bit, and me begging for even something inconsequential, he responded: "In the next book people will think he is helping them, but he is really helping himself." And when I pushed by what he meant by "next book" he refused to answer.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 256

    Interview: Nov 3rd, 2016

    Question

    Is Hoid human?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes... but. Hoid is... you can say that he is still human, but his DNA have changed. Now he is human but you wouldn't call him Homo sapiens anymore. It happens something similar with the Steel Inquisitors"

    Tags

  • 257

    Interview: Oct 22nd, 2016

    Question

    In which published book is Hoid the happiest ?

    Brandon Sanderson

    He is the happiest when he is getting away with something. Not in the Stormlight Archive because he is nervous about Odium being there. I think he is the happiest during the Wax and Wayne series, in bands of mourning maybe.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 258

    Interview: Oct 22nd, 2016

    Question

    I was there too! I asked him if Wit was always gonna tell Kaladin a story in every book,

    Brandon Sanderson

    he said Wit will always tell someone a story, but it won't always be Kal.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 259

    Interview: Oct 22nd, 2016

    Question

    Also a weird question, has Hoid ever had a romantic interest?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid has had romantic interest in the past.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 260

    Interview: Nov 29th, 2016

    Question

    You've mentioned before that Hoid ends up where he needs to be.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, and usually without knowing why.

    Question

    Is Chromium involved in that?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. Well, he's not necessarily using Chromium, but the underlying mechanic, yes.

    Tags

  • 261

    Interview: Nov 30th, 2016

    Borderlands SF-AU Tour (Paraphrased)

    Question

    Why was Hoid drinking perfume that time he met Wax?

    Brandon Sanderson

    RAFO.

    Tags

    hoid, wax,
  • 262

    Interview: Nov 30th, 2016

    Borderlands SF-AU Tour (Paraphrased)

    Question

    On the less serious side, I asked what Hoid's favorite flavor of instant noodles is.

    Brandon Sanderson

    At first I think he misheard me asking what his own favorite is ('spicy Korean ramen' apparently, though I don't remember the exact specifics) so I clarified. He said that Hoid is looking forward to instant noodles but they aren't Yolenese and he knows about them via the same method that he knows where he needs to be in the Cosmere.

    Tags

  • 263

    Interview: Dec 3rd, 2016

    Ted Herman

    I asked for info about Hoid's silver sword.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Verbatim in personalization: it is not invested but it has personal value to him.

    Tags

  • 264

    Interview: Dec 3rd, 2016

    wicktacular

    If Hoid were a Magic card, what colors would he be?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Five color. Although, if he were to drop a color, it would be White.

    Tags

  • 265

    Interview: Dec 3rd, 2016

    Patrick Diomedes

    Who has the best and worst handwriting in the cosmere?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid's is just terrible, but it can also be really beautiful when he wants to, but Brandon said he didn't have a real answer for this one.

    Tags

    hoid,
  • 266

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    I want to know how Hoid travels between worlds. Or, if you won’t tell me right now, will we ever find out?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hoid has traveled between the worlds by getting in one Shardpool in Shadesmar and coming out a different one. So that is one method he has used to travel between the worlds. The worlds are connected through Shadesmar. Um, things that people don’t think about as much reflect very minorly in Shadesmar, so most of the space between planets is cut out, and there’s some weird, twisted geography going on there.

    Tags

  • 267

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    Does Hoid have any relations other than his friends?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Like direct blood relatives?

    Question

    Yeah

    Brandon Sanderson

    Okay. In the book when I wrote it, he did not. Dragonsteel isn’t 100% canon anymore so that may change, but he did not, and there are none in my mind right now, so he’s an only child right now. It’s unlikely to change, but asterisk because I haven’t written Dragonsteel yet. Oh no, he had a little brother! Even in the original, he had a little brother.

    Tags

    Hoid,
  • 268

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    In Secret History, Hoid says something to Kelsier about him destroying the Pits and destroying an entire mercantile system. Is he talking about literal inter-Realmic trade?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes. Interplanetary trade, yes.

    Question

    Is House Venture involved?

    Brandon Sanderson

    House Venture is not involved. People in House Venture might be.

    Tags

  • 269

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    When Hoid took the bead of Lerasium, did he actually eat it or did he just hang on to it?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You have seen him use Allomancy in other books, so… that’s your answer.

    Tags

  • 270

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    The Epilogue of Words of Radiance. Hoid makes particular note of a cremling.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes.

    Question

    Dysian?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Hehehehe. You’re starting to learn!

    Question

    That epilogue just got so much--

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, he was speaking to one of the Sleepless there.

    Question

    So, he knows.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Oh, he knows!

    Question

    Because he makes a comment about having “no intelligent audience.”

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes, yes, yes. [laughing] Of course he doesn’t have an intelligent audience!

    Tags

  • 271

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    So we know some people can survive going through Perpendicularities, but we also know, like, when Rock talked about the lake that people swam in, that Hoid came out of, he [Rock] said that some people who swam in it died. So, who can and can’t survive a Perpendicularity?

    Brandon Sanderson

    So, you should not take much of what Rock says. When he says they swim in it and they die, they just went through the Perpendicularity. They just don’t come back; what would you think if someone swims and doesn’t come back; they have drowned.

    Question

    So pretty much anyone can?

    Brandon Sanderson

    It is not traumatic to go through most Perpendicularities.

    Question

    So it depends on where, who and when?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Uh huh.

    Question

    Okay, that’s good to know.

    Tags

  • 272

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    Is Ati Ruin’s original Shardholder?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ohh, good question. I’m gonna go ahead and RAFO that.

    Question

    I have a big theory that someday we are gonna see something more about him.

    Brandon Sanderson

    You will see something more about him for sure! Because Dragonsteel includes--But that’s not what you meant, and I know what you meant.

    Question

    Thank’s for that Reddit comment earlier today about ‘Yeah, if you read Dragonsteel it’s super obvious!’

    Brandon Sanderson

    Well, if someone is asking a question about Cephandrius, I assume that they know about Dragonsteel, because, how else would they hear the name Cephandrius?

    Question

    Secret History.

    Brandon Sanderson

    Ohhhh, I did, that’s right!

    Tags

  • 273

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    So, why did Hoid in Secret History have to ride on another person to get to the Well, when that person could float on--

    Brandon Sanderson

    Sooo, what he’s floating on is a Cognitive Shadow, it’s a spirit, it’s not an actual person.

    Question

    Do we know them?

    Brandon Sanderson

    You don’t know them, don’t worry about them. But see, he’s using that as a boat because it’s easy to sink through the mist. And if you notice, he has to coat his oar with Investiture in order to move him. So yeah, he’s floating on a person’s soul. It was so much easier with the Pits, but that’s because there were boats and things.

    Tags

  • 274

    Interview: Dec 6th, 2016

    Question

    Are there requirements to join the Seventeenth Shard, and would they accept, for lack of a better term, a non-enhanced member?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Yes and yes. Well, um, Baon is not Invested.

    Question

    Well, what would they not like? We know they don’t like Hoid, and what he’s doing, but…

    Brandon Sanderson

    They do like what Khriss is doing, alright? This is an acceptable thing to them.

    Question

    What about when people start integrating themselves in [a] culture, is that gonna make problems?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They would prefer that people didn’t do that.

    Question

    So not Vasher?

    Brandon Sanderson

    Vasher is very far from being the Seventeenth Shard! VERRRY far. [laughter]

    Argent

    Is it fair to say that they are a community of scholars?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They are a community-- well they are not all scholars, so I wouldn’t say that. I would say they are interested parties who do not want any planets to get destroyed.

    Question

    So they’re the Apocalypse Guard?

    Brandon Sanderson

    They aren’t really able to prevent these sorts of things. They’re like...Oh what are they called in DC...But those guys are powerful though, so it’s not like that, but you can imagine it’s something like that, right? We’re watching, studying, we’re investigating and we’re trying to prevent... They’re like Starfleet right? They’ve got some Starfleet stuff right? We’re gonna go research and study these people, but we shouldn’t be involved. It’s less about Prime Directive, and more about what it’s something to do that it exacerbates the conflict between the Shards. The Shards split up for a reason, is what they think, and they should continue to be split up, and we should not dabble in bringing them back together.

    Tags