Episodes
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#40 Rosharan Light Part 2: Developments from Rhythm of War
Spoilers for the Stormlight Archive through Rhythm of War! In this second installment, we handle the complications in the Rosharan magic system introduced by Rhythm of War, including things I can't really talk about without spoiling things. As always, let me know what you'd like to see covered in...
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#39 Lirin
Episode Notes Lirin--Kaladin's father--is a complex character that has divided the fanbase for the last ten years. A lot of that came to a head with the release of Rhythm of War, with that relationship taking a somewhat more prominent role. In this episode, I try to explain my view of Lirin--as a...
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#38 Rosharan Light Part 1: What Even Is Stormlight?
Spoilers for The Stormlight Archive through Rhythm of War! Rhythm of War is finally out, and the Worldhopper's Guide has finally put together an episode. This is part 1 of 3 as we tackle the fundamental nature of Light on Roshar, beginning with the very basics. What exactly IS Stormlight? What's…
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#37 Kickstarter Release, Rhythm of War Interlude, and the Stormlight Archive Card Game!
SPOILERS FOR RHYTHM OF WAR FROM 1:30 to 7:00. Skip that portion of the episode if you want to avoid spoilers. What an action-packed week, folks. The title says it all; the Way of Kings Leatherbound has blasted through all of its Kickstarter goals (nearly $4 million at latest count), we got a new...
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#36 Way of Kings Leatherbound Kickstarter and the Return of the Worldhopper's Guide!
It's been a while. I know. Thanks to those still listening and gaining things from this podcast! I hop to start bringing back episodes with some regularity now that I've found my footing a bit. This episode begins with some housekeeping and personal details, and then a brief discussion of where I...
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#35 Aimia and the Larkin
A quick episode this week covering what we know about Aimia and the mysterious little crab-dragons known as larkins. Spoiler alert: it's not much. Actual spoiler alert: The Stormlight Archive through Oathbringer. Check out my Patreon if you'd like to throw a few bucks at the show! Music: Kevin...
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#34 The Surges of Roshar
This week, we run down the Ten Surges of Roshar, examing what they do and who gets access to them! Along with this mnemonic: Angsty Glowing Darkeyes Attacks Parshendi In The Tower's Cremmy Terrain Check out Read and Find Out's video on the Knights Radiant! Special thanks to Bill from the...
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#33 Yolen, The Origin of Species, and the Stormlight Reread!
This week, a quick review of what we know about Yolen, the planet where it all began. Medium spoilers for Stormlight and Mistborn. Stormlight Archive Reread Hub Check out my Patreon if you'd like to throw a few bucks at the show! Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email:...
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#32 Where to Start with the Cosmere
This week, a quick rundown of a Cosmere reading order for those of you just getting into the Cosmere or trying to recommend it to your friends. Check out my Patreon if you'd like to throw a few bucks at the show! Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected]…
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#31 Identity
This week, we take a quick dive into the nature of Spiritual Identity, the Cosmere concept that'll be making some waves in the future Mistborn books, and then a quick lesson in metaphysics as we talk about personal identity in general and what it means to persist. Fun, fun, fun. Check out my...
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#30 Kelsier and the Lord Ruler
This week, a dip into Scadriel to discuss the interesting parallels between two of the biggest players in the Mistborn series (spoilers for ALL of Mistborn, including Secret History). Expect an episode on Starsight and the new Stormlight chapter next time. Also, I launched a Patreon! If you'd…
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#29 Non-Cosmere Recommendations
On an off-week, I chatter about some of my favorite books for about 8 minutes, then call it quits. Go forth, fantasy readers! Books Mentioned: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy Bartimaeus Sequence by Jonathan Stroud Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Redwall by Brian Jacques John Cleaver by Dan Wells...
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#28 Sel and the Art of Magic System Maintenance
This week, an overview of Sel, the home of Elantris and The Emperor's Soul. We talk geography, religion, magic, and history, and apologies for the weird mic quality--it'll be fixed by next time. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: RAFO Video on Selish Magic Unofficial Cosmere Timeline...
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#27 Jasnah Kholin and the Almighty
This week, a brief discussion on atheism in the Cosmere, the nature of Adonalsium, and Brandon Sanderson's view on writing those with different perspectives from himself. Spoilers for the entire Cosmere. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...
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#26 Moash, Morality, and the True Desolation
Bit of a tricky episode, but this week we ask the most important question a man can ask: What do we think of Moash? Going beyond that, what are we to make of the true history of humanity on Roshar? Ultimately, who is justified in the True Desolation? We'll try to break that question down as best…
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#25 Taravangian, King of Kharbranth
Finally back with another episode! This week, we discuss the philosophy of Taravangian, King of Kharbranth, as well as speculation about his role in the Stormlight Archive going forward. Spoilers for the entire Stormlight Archive through Oathbringer. If you like what you hear, feel free to leave…
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#24 Stormlight 4 Prologue Reading at DragonCon
Moderately Breaking News! At DragonCon 2019, Brandon Sanderson did a Q&A and a reading from the prologue of Stormlight 4, which is chock-full of some fascinating discoveries. This is only a part of the prologue, but it reveals a whole about the world and Gavilar's intentions (though we'll have to...
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#23 The Future of the Cosmere
Prepare to be haunted by the specter of your next thirty years of fantasy reading. This week, we examine the planned stories in the future of the Cosmere, though not in terms of hard dates. Spoilers for the whole Cosmere ahead! Links: An excellent timeline by /u/simon_thekillerewok Sandersonian...
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#22 Hemalurgy
Rounding out the Metallic Arts of Scadriel, this time we explore the mechanics of Hemalurgy, one of the most dangerous magic systems in the entire Cosmere. Spoilers for all of Mistborn and, later, the Cosmere. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...
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#21 Spottin' Worldhoppin'
What's a Worldhopper and where have we seen them? Excellent question, young Cosmerenauts. This episode, we briefly discuss the nature of worldhopping as well as some of the main factions that do it. Spoilers for most of the Cosmere! Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email:...
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#20 Splinters, Slivers, and Shards
Whoo! We're back with another episode of the Worldhopper's Guide, this time taking a quick look at three related, but somewhat unclear terms from the Cosmere. What are Shards, and what's the difference between a Splinter and a Sliver? Find out here. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links:...
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#19 The Best-Laid Plans of Preservation and Ruin
Apologies for the lateness! This week, we take a brief dive back to Scadriel and take an overview of the overall plans of Preservation and Ruin during Mistborn Era 1. Spoilers for the entire Mistborn trilogy. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...
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#18 Nightblood and Awakening
Back after a two-week break. We travel between Nalthis and Roshar to examine the power of Breath, Awakening, and the magical blade known as Nightblood. Spoilers for Warbreaker and the Stormlight Archive. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...
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#17 Perpendicularities
Portals, yo. This week, a quick discussion of Perpendicularities, the slip-n-slides of inter-Realmatic travel and the center of some of Roshar's biggest moments. Spoilers for Mistborn: Secret History and Oathbringer. We'll be moving to a two-week schedule for the foreseeable future, just so I…
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#16 Voidspren and the Unmade -- Spren Part 2
An addendum to last week's episode, this time running down the spren of Odium and, in particular, his Unmade. A little shorter this week as finals season hits hard. Spoilers for Stormlight through Oathbringer. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal (incompetech.com) Links: Email:...
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#15 Little Pieces of Divinity -- Spren Part 1
As promised, we stick around on Roshar for an overview of spren, the curious creatures in Stormlight that quickly become monumentally important. Let me know what aspects of spren you may want covered in the future, since I've got at least one episode for Voidspren and possibly more. Spoilers...
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#14 Amaram and Moash: Giving Up the Pain
This week, we do some good old-fashioned compare-and-contrast with some of the Stormlight Archive's most hateable villains: Brightlord Meridas Amaram and Moash, as well as how they relate to Kaladin and Dalinar. Spoilers through Oathbringer. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email:...
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#13 Hoid
Need I say more? This week, we dip into the history and motivations of the Cosmere's greatest enigma; the man, the myth, and the legend. Full Cosmere spoilers, folks (And apologies for rougher audio quality). Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...
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#12 The Rosharan System 101
Time for some physics, folks. This week, we discuss some of the details of the Rosharan System, from the physicalities of Singers to the planet's axial tilt. Spoilers for Stormlight through Oathbringer. RAFO on Knights Radiant Tor.com Article Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email:...
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#11 Allomancy & Feruchemy: The Metallic Arts of Mistborn
You try saying "Feruchemical" a dozen times. This week, an overview of the two best-understood Metallic Arts. We run down the metals and powers, Twinborn, Compounding, and look to the future. Spoilers for all of Mistborn. Check out the SICS: Twitch | YouTube Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal…
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#10 Adolin Kholin: The Unsung Hero
This week, a quick discussion of one of the Stormlight Archive's potentially underrated characters; Adolin Kholin. I mostly just wanted an excuse to talk about my boy for a few minutes, and especially consider how someone who appears boring on the surface actually acts as one of the series' most...
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#9 Cognitive Shadows
Looks like Shardcast beat me to posting an episode on this, but here it is anyway. A quick bite-sized discussion on the nature of Cognitive Shadows, the closest thing the Cosmere has got to straight-up ghosts. Spoilers for Shadows for Silence in the Forest of Hell, Mistborn: Secret...
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#8 How Sanderson Builds an Underdog Hero
This week, we take a quick gander at some of the methods Sanderson uses to make us invest in his heroes; from try-fail cycles to the 3 sliding scales of character. Spoilers for Elantris and The Way of Kings. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Brandon's Lecture Series Writing Excuses...
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#7 The Many Factions of Roshar
This week, we take another dive into the complexities of Roshar and the Stormlight Archive, trying to list the overlapping factions and groups at play throughout the series. Where exactly are the Sons of Honor, and what are the Ghostbloods up to? And what even are Aimians? Spoilers for the...
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#6 The Shards and the Shattering
This week, we roll all the way back to the beginning of the known Cosmere timeline; the Shattering of Adonalsium. If you've ever been curious about the Cosmere "creation myth" or merely want a refresher on the ten known Shards, this is the place to start. Thanks for listening! This episode starts...
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#5 Extra: The Heralds...Where Are They Now?
A little extract that didn't quite fit into the Oathpact episode, detailing the current whereabouts of the various Heralds on Roshar. Spoilers through Oathbringer. Thanks for listening! Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...
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#4 The Oathpact and Desolations
Returning to Roshar, this week we do a quick refresher on the Oathpact and Desolations from the Stormlight Archive! What are they, who's involved, and what's the history of the Heralds and the Knights Radiant? Music: Kevin MacLeod, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...
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#3 Investiture & Realmatic Theory 101
We dip a toe into Investiture & Realmatic Theory! Advanced listeners, this'll probably be old hat, but it's a good starting place for Cosmere newcomers. Next, we return to Roshar and tackle the Oathpact and Desolations! Music: Kevin Macleod, Eternal Terminal Links: Videos mentioned: RAFO…
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#2 Stormlight Prologues: A Timeline of the Feast
Welcome to the first "real" episode of the Worldhopper's Guide! This week, we tackle the timeline of one of the Stormlight Archive's most pivotal nights: the feast where Gavilar Kholin is assassinated. Combing through the three points of view we know so far (Szeth, Jasnah, Eshonai) we try to…
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#1 Intro to the Worldhopper's Guide
Hey there! Welcome to the initial episode of the Worldhopper's Guide to the Cosmere. This one's mostly a (very) brief introduction to the show and an audio test for me. Thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the intro song, Eternal Terminal. Links: Email: [email protected] Web:...