The Stormlight Archive
Encyclopedia
The Stormlight Archive is an ongoing epic fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson
. The world of The Stormlight Archive is one constantly assaulted by hurricanes. Flora
and fauna
have evolved to cope with this condition. It is a planned multi-novel series, plotted to require ten books to complete. The first book in the series, The Way of Kings
, was released on August 31, 2010 by Tor Books
. The second book is planned to be released approximately two years after the release of the first book (fall 2012) due to writing the final book
of The Wheel of Time
series.
plans to write two The Stormlight Archive books and then write one book in another world.
Sanderson's work on completing the final two books of The Wheel of Time
series contributed to a slower start for working on the second and third books of The Stormlight Archive.
On June 10, 2010 the prologue and first three chapters of The Way of Kings were released, along with an introduction by Sanderson, as a preview on the Tor website. On July 8, 2010, chapters 4-6 were released in audio format exclusively on the Tor Website. On August 5, 2010, chapters 9 and 11 were released exclusively on the Tor Website. Tor wrote that they did not release chapters 7, 8, and 10 because they wanted to focus on the storyline of Kaladin, one of the main characters. On August 26, 2010, chapters 12 and 13 were released exclusively on the Tor Website.
In its first week of release The Way of Kings was #7 on The New York Times Best Seller list. In subsequent weeks the book was #11, #20, and #25.
In October 2010, Brandon Sanderson revealed that his tentative plan is to release the second book in the series in late 2012 or early 2013, followed by the third book about a year later. The second book was initially titled Highprince of War (referring to Highprince Dalinar), but the title is likely to be changed after Sanderson changed the book's plan to put more emphasis on Shallan.
Other religions are mentioned, especially through discussions amongst members of "Bridge Four" at the Shattered Plains, which contains slaves who are from many nations and cultures.
Shardplate is full plate armor which both protects and strengthens their wearer. The armor provides protection against Surgebinding, as one wearing the armor cannot be "lashed" directly. Repeated strikes at the same spot on the armor by regular weapons or Shardblades can cause the armor to crack and break. The armor can be repaired or "regrown" though it is costly to do.
A shardbearer, one wielding both Shardblade and Shardplate, is a force capable of turning the tide of battle on their own. Kaladin and Syl express a revulsion to the Shardblades wielded by the Alethi. During Dalinar's visions he sees the Knights Radiant wearing Shardplate and wielding Shardblades but he notes that, the plate when worn by the Radiants glow. and the number Blades and Plate worn by the Radiants is much greater than number left in the world at the main timeline of the "The Way of Kings".
The only individuals in the book seen to use Surgebinding are Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Kaladin, and through the visions of Dalinar, members of the Knights Radiant.
There are thousands of types of spren. The various spren shown or mentioned in the book include:
Brandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is an American fantasy author. A Nebraska native, he currently resides in American Fork, Utah. He earned his Master's degree in Creative Writing in 2005 from Brigham Young University, where he was on the staff of Leading Edge, a semi-professional speculative fiction magazine...
. The world of The Stormlight Archive is one constantly assaulted by hurricanes. Flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
have evolved to cope with this condition. It is a planned multi-novel series, plotted to require ten books to complete. The first book in the series, The Way of Kings
The Way of Kings
The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson. It was released by Tor Books on August 31, 2010. It is the first volume in a planned ten-novel series called The Stormlight Archive.-Synopsis:...
, was released on August 31, 2010 by Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
. The second book is planned to be released approximately two years after the release of the first book (fall 2012) due to writing the final book
A Memory of Light
A Memory of Light is the planned 14th and final book of the fantasy series The Wheel of Time, written by American author Robert Jordan with Brandon Sanderson. A Memory of Light was expected to be published around March 2012. The latest information indicates that it will be sometime between March...
of The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
series.
Writing process
Brandon SandersonBrandon Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson is an American fantasy author. A Nebraska native, he currently resides in American Fork, Utah. He earned his Master's degree in Creative Writing in 2005 from Brigham Young University, where he was on the staff of Leading Edge, a semi-professional speculative fiction magazine...
plans to write two The Stormlight Archive books and then write one book in another world.
Sanderson's work on completing the final two books of The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time is a series of epic fantasy novels written by American author James Oliver Rigney, Jr., under the pen name Robert Jordan. Originally planned as a six-book series, the length was increased by increments; at the time of Rigney's death, he expected it to be 12, but it will actually...
series contributed to a slower start for working on the second and third books of The Stormlight Archive.
Book releases
| # | Title | Pages | Words | 1st Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | The Way of Kings The Way of Kings The Way of Kings is an epic fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson. It was released by Tor Books on August 31, 2010. It is the first volume in a planned ten-novel series called The Stormlight Archive.-Synopsis:... |
1008 | 389,544 | August 31, 2010 |
On June 10, 2010 the prologue and first three chapters of The Way of Kings were released, along with an introduction by Sanderson, as a preview on the Tor website. On July 8, 2010, chapters 4-6 were released in audio format exclusively on the Tor Website. On August 5, 2010, chapters 9 and 11 were released exclusively on the Tor Website. Tor wrote that they did not release chapters 7, 8, and 10 because they wanted to focus on the storyline of Kaladin, one of the main characters. On August 26, 2010, chapters 12 and 13 were released exclusively on the Tor Website.
In its first week of release The Way of Kings was #7 on The New York Times Best Seller list. In subsequent weeks the book was #11, #20, and #25.
In October 2010, Brandon Sanderson revealed that his tentative plan is to release the second book in the series in late 2012 or early 2013, followed by the third book about a year later. The second book was initially titled Highprince of War (referring to Highprince Dalinar), but the title is likely to be changed after Sanderson changed the book's plan to put more emphasis on Shallan.
Class structure
Much of the Way of Kings takes place within the nations of Alethkar and Jah Keved. Both of these nations divide their people into classes, primarily based on the color of their eyes. Those with dark eye colors are the peasants (and can even be made slaves). Those with light eye colors are the noble and ruling class. Within these classes there are further class distinctions known as nahn (for darkeyes) and dahn (for lighteyes).Religion
Much of the world follows the Vorin religion. Vorinism tells of a struggle between forces of the Voidbringers and humanity. The Voidbringers forced humanity out of its afterlife, called the Tranquiline Halls. They believe that when you die you continue in the role you are in, but towards the regaining of the Tranquline Halls. In Alethkar, a man's highest calling is as a warrior in life so they can be a warrior in the afterlife. The religion also tells of the Knights Radiant, an order who once fought against the Voidbringers during the wars against them on Roshar (known as Desolations). This order was said to abandon or betray humanity at some point in the distant past. The priesthood of the Vorin religion are referred to as Ardents. Those who reject the existence of the Almighty, such as Jasnah Kholin, are referred to as heretics.Other religions are mentioned, especially through discussions amongst members of "Bridge Four" at the Shattered Plains, which contains slaves who are from many nations and cultures.
The Knights Radiant
The 10 Heralds founded 10 orders of the Knights Radiant and gave them Shardplate and Shardblades to combat the voidbringers. The 10 orders specialized in different abilities linked to the Herald that founded the order. The Knights Radiant gained their power through spren by creating a bond to them, the only examples are Syl who is an Honor spren shares a bond with Kaladin giving him the power to surgebind and Shallan created a bond with the unnamed spren to soulcast. The Knights radiant lived by their 4 ideals, the first ideal or the Immortal Words was the same for every order: Life before Death, Strength before Weakness, Journey before Destination. The other 3 ideals are different for each order, Kaladin towards the end of The Way of Kings utters the second ideal for the Order of Windrunners: I will protect those who cannot protect themselves. After saying the second ideal Kaladin is able to use Surgebinding more effectively, use larger amounts of stormlight and he gains the soft glow of the radiants seen in Dalinar's vision.Soulcasting
Soulcasting is a practice where objects are changed from one form to another. It has been shown to turn rock into smoke, purify the blood from poisons, and create food, and has many other uses. The only known practitioners of soulcasting are Jasnah Kholin, and the Ardents of the Vorin religion. By the end of The Way of Kings Shallan is shown to begin Soulcasting. Also, Shallan's father's steward knew how to use a soulcaster, as he used Shallan's father's soulcaster.Shardblades and Shardplate
Shardblades are powerful swords which have the ability to cut through any non-living matter with ease. When used on living creatures they can kill with a single cut, when the blade passes through the spine, or render limbs useless when they cut through them. The only known defenses against a Shardblade are Shardplate, shields called "Half Shards", and another Shardblade. Those who own a Shardblade can summon their blade from thin air in ten heartbeats, and can make their blade disappear at will. The blades are rare and highly valued, and there are estimated to be fewer than one hundred known blades in the world.Shardplate is full plate armor which both protects and strengthens their wearer. The armor provides protection against Surgebinding, as one wearing the armor cannot be "lashed" directly. Repeated strikes at the same spot on the armor by regular weapons or Shardblades can cause the armor to crack and break. The armor can be repaired or "regrown" though it is costly to do.
A shardbearer, one wielding both Shardblade and Shardplate, is a force capable of turning the tide of battle on their own. Kaladin and Syl express a revulsion to the Shardblades wielded by the Alethi. During Dalinar's visions he sees the Knights Radiant wearing Shardplate and wielding Shardblades but he notes that, the plate when worn by the Radiants glow. and the number Blades and Plate worn by the Radiants is much greater than number left in the world at the main timeline of the "The Way of Kings".
Surgebinding
Surgebinding is a talent where the wielder uses the power of Stormlight to affect gravity. It is described in three methods known as the "Three Lashings". A Basic Lashing changes the direction of gravitational pull for an individual (causing the person to be pulled towards another object or direction instead of towards the center of the planet). A Full Lashing is described as creating an almost unbreakable bond between two objects until the Stormlight dissipates. A Reverse Lashing causes an object to have a much stronger gravitational pull, causing objects to be pulled towards it.The only individuals in the book seen to use Surgebinding are Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Kaladin, and through the visions of Dalinar, members of the Knights Radiant.
Spren
Spren are spirits in the land of Roshar which either cause, or are drawn to, different conditions or emotions. One character, Hesina, the mother of Kaladin states, "Spren appear when something changes-when fear appears, or when it begins to rain. They are the heart of change, and therefore the heart of all things." With the exception of Syl, they are never shown to speak or have intelligence.Jasnah Kolin also mentions that that the 10 orders of the Knights Radiant drew their power from spren, the only examples are Syl who is an Honor spren shares a bond with Kaladin giving him the power to surgebind and Jasnah also states that soulcasting was associated with two orders of the Knights Radiant, this indicates that Shallan created a bond with the unnamed spren to soulcast.There are thousands of types of spren. The various spren shown or mentioned in the book include:
- Alespren: These spren are either drawn to those who are drunk, or are a figment of their intoxication.
- Anticipationspren: Are seen when anticipation is felt, as in the presence of an army about to charge.
- Bindspren: Appear when Surgebinding is used to bind objects together.
- Creationspren: Apparently drawn to people creating works of art.
- Cusicesh, the Protector: Only one is known, which is seen in the bay of the city of Kasitor at 7:46 am every day. Named by the city's inhabitants, and is an enormous sea-blue spren which appears, stays for ten minutes, and leaves. Its face constantly changes from one human face to another.
- Deathspren: Seen only by someone who is dying or near death, though possibly only hallucinations caused by extreme trauma.
- Decayspren: Occur when something has decayed or is decaying. Mentioned by Syl.
- Exhaustionspren
- Flamespren: Often seen dancing around the flames of fires.
- Gloryspren: Drawn to great acts of valor, such as a Shardbearer in the midst of battle.
- Groundspren: Pull people downward, explanation of/or substitute for gravity.
- Honorspren: Syl, the spren who accompanies Kaladin is the only example shown in the book of Honorspren. She takes the form of a translucent female and has intelligence beyond any shown by other spren in the book. Also referenced by Nohadon, ancient author of The Way of Kings (within the story), in Dalinar's vision of him.
- Lifespren
- Logicspren: Said to appear in the presence of great arguments.
- Musicspren: Appear when a musical sound like a pure note is made.
- Painspren: Attracted to individuals in pain.
- Passionspren: Appear when someone feels something strongly, such as love (perhaps only love).
- Riverspren
- Rotspren: Attracted to festering or infected wounds.
- Starspren: Can be seen at night, flittering across the sky as if they were themselves stars. Said to be very rare.
- Windspren: Appear floating on winds at seemingly random times and places. Seen in force during Highstorms.
- Unnamed spren which appears near recently killed greatshells.
- Unnamed spren seen by Shallan and Jasnah during their Soulcasting. Also seen by Elhokar and are a source of his paranoia