Narrative Looking Glass

It's time for the Sandee Boyz to discuss Brandon Sanderon's most recent Cosmere Secret Project: Isles of the Emberdark. A space age, late Cosmere book set in the Drominad system, it continues the story of Dusk (from a previous novella) and introduces Starling, a dragon in charge of a ragtag crew of spaceship-faring folk from all over the Cosmere. It rules. Get full access to Narrative Looking Glass at narrativelookingglass.substack.com/subscribe

The following contains full spoilers for Gardens of the Moon and light hints about the rest of The Malazan Book of the Fallen.Matt and Chris join up once again for another installment of the Sandee Boyz… this time to discuss the second half of Steven Erikson’s Gardens of the Moon. Topics include favorite charcaters so far, Chris’s spidey sense for foreshadowing, debates about whether Raest was a good payoff after a book of setup, Kruppe impressions, the downsides of listening to audiobooks, Erikson’s decision to throw away big moments in brief sentences, Matt’s waxing about how the series is on re-read, and vague hints towards the future. Then, the two discuss what Sanderson has revealed so far about Ghostbloods and boy is it some doozies.Next Time: Isles of the Emberdark! Get full access to Narrative Looking Glass at narrativelookingglass.substack.com/subscribe

This episode contains spoilers for the first 10 chapters of Gardens of the Moon, first volume in The Malazan Book of the Fallen. While there are references and teases to future events, this assumes no knowledge of anything beyond the first half of that book.A giant floating mountain hovering over a grand city. A young fisher girl possessed by the Patron of Assassins. A large stoic man who wears a six-and-a-half-foot-long sword strapped to his back. A psychotic sorcerer in the body of a wooden puppet. Gods called the twins of Chance. Devastated survivors of a once-legendary military unit. An undead skeleton with the power to corrupt magic pathways around him. Seven Hounds who serve the God of Shadow. And a young captain who wants to be a hero, learning what the world is really like.These are just some of the many players in Gardens of the Moon, the first in Steven Erikson’s epic fantasy series The Malazan Book of the Fallen. Hot off their journey through the Cosmere, Matt (who’s read Malazan before) and Chris (who hasn’t) started their newest project: to read all of the books in this massive sprawling fantasy series. They unpack all the developments, parse through the events of the first half of this dense tome, and even find time to talk about A Song of Ice & Fire and the films of Quentin Tarantino.Join along as we read one of the greatest fantasy series of all time!Remember to like & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!Narrative Looking Glass is reader/listener-supported. To receive new posts and support the work, consider becoming a subscriber. Get full access to Narrative Looking Glass at narrativelookingglass.substack.com/subscribe

This episode contains spoilers for all of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere as of April 1, 2025. Stormfall has arrived, and Matt & Chris sit down to discuss the end of the first half of the Stormlight Archive. Even though it’s been a few weeks since they finished reading, they reflect on where the book left them, digging into the big revelations, shocking developments, lingering cliffhangers, and where we leave the series’ characters as we enter this planned hiatus. They go character by character to discuss what left them satisfied, what left them wanting more, and the benefits and limitations of Sanderson’s thoroughly-planned roadmap. Other topics include queer representation, full circle moments, open-ended arcs, Rosharan mythology, the nature of Shards, and speculation about where we go from here.All of this, and they give a brief preview of their next massive reading project to fill the void. Don’t worry. Unlike their big en media res Cosmere discussion, you can jump onto this one on the ground floor.Next time: Parts 1-3 of Gardens of the Moon, the first volume of Steven Erikson’s The Malazan Book of the Fallen! Get full access to Narrative Looking Glass at narrativelookingglass.substack.com/subscribe

This episode contains spoilers for the Cosmere up thru the end of Day 5 of Wind & Truth.Matt and Chris sit down again to do a mid-book check-in on Brandon Sanderson’s Wind & Truth. So much happens in the first half of the Final 10 Days that they go character by character with all the developments. They talk about Kaladin’s new role, Shallan grappling with the aftermath of Rhythm of War, Dalinar’s quest maybe not being all it seems, the interludes, and Sanderson’s method of revealing Rosharan history. And has anything happened to make them feel any better about Adolin?All this and as we reach the midpoint of the series, Matt brings up a worrying proposition: what is the story of Roshar?Next Time: Wind & Truth Days 6-10 Get full access to Narrative Looking Glass at narrativelookingglass.substack.com/subscribe

WARNING: This episode contains full spoilers for all Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere up to and including the prologue for Wind & Truth. All previous Stormlight Archive books, Mistborn (thru Lost Metal and including Secret History), Secret Projects (especially The Sunlit Man), and other Cosmere ephemera are all on the table. You’ve been warned.In the first installment of The Sandee Boyz, Matt sat down with co-host Chris Visser on the release day of Wind & Truth, the fifth book of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive Series. They focus primarily on the book’s prologue as well as their journeys before this destination, which promises to be one of the Cosmere’s big turning points. Is it a two-hours discussion about a 17-page prologue? Yes, but it’s is also a free-wheeling gabfest about all the Cosmere leading up to this pivotal moment. Lots of speculation for what might happen, analysis of Sanderson’s narrative conventions, how the prologue brings the other prologues full circle, concerns about Adolin’s safety, and so much more.Also Chris learns what the book’s structure is. Live. On the air. And it’s rad.Next time: Wind & Truth Days 1-5 Get full access to Narrative Looking Glass at narrativelookingglass.substack.com/subscribe