Collin's comments (member since Jan 12, 2009)

Collin's comments from the Fantasy Book Club group.

Done and Done.

I would recommend that everyone visit his website before he comes and brush up on everything that he has said in the past. http://www.brandonsanderson.com/

That is actually a specific group of named men -- there are many people in the north that are "named men".

Because a book doesn't have a happy ending, does that make it a bad book?

Sanderson is a big fan of keeping his worlds open to further expansion later on. I mean, at the end of Elantris he leaves it open to expanding on the world and the magic system, since clearly there are at least 3 magic systems there.

I have not read Warbreaker but from what you guys say he leaves that able to expand.

Lastly, he has actually said that he will be doing another three books in the Mistborn world. They will take place several hundred years after the first three ended, in a vastly different world.

If anyone has any questions about this I would check out:

http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/in...

It is full of all sorts of additional information directly from Sanderson about the Mistborn world -- as well as some hints and over-arching information about all of his worlds (Shards of Adonalsium).

MM, junk shop owner. That might be me too. I just love stuff. It doesn't need a use (for me) or a reason to be, I just love collecting things. Thankfully I am not made of money and am able to control my impulses and don't buy random things; but man in an ideal fantasy world job sense, antique/junk shop owner would be great!

The Wise Man's Fear has yet to be released in any language. It was supposed to be released this year, though he has fallen behind schedule. It is slated for 2010 now.

There are many books that at least mention in passing the kind of alcohol that the characters are imbibing. Be it the Ales, the Wines or the spirits -- has anyone ever been curious what those things actual taste like?

Some authors have characters that drink fruity (literally) dessert wines, some drink the clear harsh spirits, others dark and rich stouts.

All of these things are feasible to find (for the most part with time and effort), but some authors take it a step further, and come up with their own flavorings or processes. These come up with interesting ideas, but I have often wondered what that product would be like if it actually existed.

Further, there have been times when I will be reading a book and the author will talk about what the party is drinking, and I feel the urge to go out and open a bottle of pear brandy or a bottle of old whiskey. Has this ever happened to anyone else or have these thoughts ever crossed anyone else's minds??

Oh yea, and I'm not an alcoholic... I swear!

Matt, if I may, what is your real world job -- dealing with grains?

I surprisingly agree with you, I would probably stick near my real world job -- making spirits, maybe owning a bar/inn (I currently make spirits, I don't have an inn). It would be stressful work, but I love dealing with different people, and there is no job that deals with more people in a fantasy world then an inn keeper. I would have to get insurance though, the inn's always seem to get trashed ^_^

I would rather go with 'oy from the Dark Tower series instead of Roland. I mean, he (Roland) was bad-ass but as my previous selections may show -- I don't often go for the main character, I like to zanny side characters. Would 'oy even be considered a character?

Though, to make whiskey you would also need a cooper to make barrels -- unless you were going with an unaged corn spirit -- more like moonshine then anything else. So, if there are any coopers out there come on down! Unfortunately it is a very rare skill in this day and age.. so we may have to stick with unaged spirits.

I am a distiller... would that be a viable skill? Please take me to your safe zone! I can make you booze!! And alcohol to disinfect things too!!

Ah Raistlin... I forgot about him. And, while I am a Kvothe fan he didn't make my top three unfortunately.

To take that arguement into a new context, what would you do if it you were kidnapped in this world and thrown into the same problem? In other words -- someone puts you in a pit with another person and says that if you kill them your family will live, if you don't they will die.

That is basically what you are asking, on a larger scale (worlds vs. families) and with a few extra things thrown in (senses change).

So what would you do then?

I would go to the mountains where noone ever goes. Bring a lot of food, alcohol and friends with me (I agree with Elise on the varying skills thing) and hold up until it blew over. The picture you paint isn't of the most optomistic world -- and generally it takes generations to change as dramatically as would be required to fight off those evil over-lords.

Anyway, it would give me a reason to sit in the mountains for a while eh?

Glokta -- as has been said many times.

Mogget from the Abhorsen Series (Garth Nix)

Anansi from Neil Gaiman's American Gods/Anansi Boys

I seem to notice a patern... I like really sarcastic characters I guess... Hm...

But isn't that the point of all the books? I see Abercrombie as a writer who writes as the antithesis of the average "fantasy" writer. I mean, they go on this long journey to save the world... and fail. The old wizard who is guiding the journey... isn't a good guy.

So, why should the end be happy? You expect the Union to be lead into the future by a changed and experienced Jezal but that's not the case. Glokta, the "villain" of the book ends up winning. I think it fits. I was surprised and happy with the outcome because of it (not happy as in it made me feel good, but happy because he didn't change his writing style to fit into the norms of happy endings).

Also, I would suggest you read Best Served Cold. Its a good standalone that takes place shortly after the series ends.

I would recommend, for those of you that have finished the series, to take up his stand alone novel Best Served Cold. It is a large novel (over 600 pages) and takes place after the end of the series with some familiar characters.

A warning -- it is a very dark book and somewhat depressing, though again very well written and wonderfully in depth character creation.

I actually just read in a book a very good reason -- by stewing you keep more of the nutrition, and are able to use more of the animal. You can use the bones and extract the marrow which is super nutritious and you aren't losing anything to the char and grease that is left behind when frying, skewering etc.

Robin wrote: "I read this book from the library so I don't have them off the top of my tongue - I agree with Chris I think there is more to Lorren then meets the eye and I like him even though he is stern.

Th..."

When he jumped off the roof I couldn't stop laughing. It was amazinginly funny because so many fantasy books would have had him fly away like is expected.