Arcanum Unbounded (April 2021) Buddy Read Discussion - Elena & Raviteja

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on April 3rd and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 04/03
April 3-4: The Emperor's Soul and The Hope of Elantris

Week of 04/05
April 5-6: The Eleventh Metal, Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania and Secret History
April 7-9: Edgedancer
April 10: Rest of the stories

PARTICIPANTS
~ Elena
~ Raviteja

[Elena]

I've just finished The Emperor's Soul story and it was good! I'm glad I decided to read the Arcanum before Rhythm of War. To freshen up the memories and bind all the Cosmere together before diving into the next totally new book in the Cosmere world.
(view spoiler)[The idea of mixing up different cultures is great and I love that this book has some asian culture in it. Also the abilities to craft everything, even a soul are both great and a bit terrifying. (hide spoiler)]

[Elena]

The Hope of Elantris:
I was glad to read more about this world as it was interesting. (view spoiler)[It's also great that the main characters here are Ashe and Matisse. It was a really short story so not much revealed about the world itself but still enjoyed being back. (hide spoiler)]

Scadrial:
Wow! Never expected this and was nicely surprised to learn more about one of my favourite characters. (view spoiler)[I missed Kel when he died in the first book of Mistborn series and was happy to learn more about where he actually was and how he helped to save the world. Indeed those stories have enough spoilers and reveal the key points of the series. I finally found some answers I had since finishing the original series (ex: How did Mash get the idea to take off Vin's earring? or Was it Kel or Ruin who directed Spook?) (hide spoiler)]

Taldain, Threnody, First of the Sun:
Those were good and give more information about the Cosmere. I loved Shadows the most. (view spoiler)[It had those asian vibes and some mystery I like so much! (hide spoiler)]

Roshar (Edgedancer):
I've read this one some time ago and was excited to re-read before starting the 4th book in the series. I missed this world so much! Roshar is my favourite world of all the Cosmere universe. And Lift is just hilarious! (view spoiler)[A hungry arrogant yet cute, the only child with such a great power! She's so optimistic and makes everything look so easy. Like saving the universe? Hell yeah! Easy! :D (hide spoiler)]

[Raviteja]

I started this a bit late.. But I am currently going through the scadrial stories. Since you are done with most of these stories, I am gonna go ahead and not mark spoilers

I went through the Eleventh metal and Allomancer Jak are minor, insignificant stories as far as Cosmere is concerned.

However, I am loving Mistborn: Secret History. While it gives the behind-the-scenes story, I can see a few Cosmere tidbits.

First of all, I am going ahead and guessing that the stranger who fought Kelsier - Cephandrius is none other than Hoid from Stormlight Archive. There are only a handful of world-hoppers across Cosmere and the words "ancient", "non-interfering" and all, point out to him. I am currently in Chapter 4 and I am excited to find out how Kelsier is going to stop/delay Ruin.

[Raviteja]

Ok, It is confirmed that the drifter/Cephandrius is indeed Hoid.
In Part 6 (Hero), chapter 1, we see Kelsier confirming that the beggar Vin was meeting is the Drifter. When we look at the same scene in Hero of Ages, the same beggar is Hoid.
She picked an informant on the other side of the spectrum—a beggar named Hoid whom Cett claimed could be found in a particular square late at night.

[Elena]

Yeah! There are things that link the worlds of the Cosmere universe together. Actually only after reading Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection I finally got the understanding that all the worlds are connected. Reading the original stories it wasn't clear at all. Though the connection is still pretty poor.
But I believe there will be more to the universe as a whole in the further books. Otherwise why to hold oo the idea of the worlds connected? I just anticipate something bigger to happen in yet-to-be-written books. I believe in Sanderson's brilliant mind and ideas behind his stories.

[Raviteja]

Elena wrote: "Yeah! There are things that link the worlds of the Cosmere universe together. Actually only after reading Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection I finally got the understanding t..."

Hmm, I have already seen world being connected in other series though it is rarely seen in Mistborn alone. But I have seen references/easter-eggs across various series so far. Some of them are quite well hidden to spot but some of them are easy.

One such place are the epigraphs in stormlight archive books, where there are details about Cosmere as a whole (but when we read them, they sound like random ramblings that have no connection).

Since we have read Secret History, one such epigraph I point out is the one from Chapter 33, Oathbringer.
Dearest Cephandrius, I received your communication, of course.

There are three letters in total from Oathbringer and I believe the third one (starting from chapter 53) is written by Harmony (Sazed).

I still think there are bits connecting Cosmere, that I haven't realized and I would love to discuss!

[Elena]

I think I've just described it not clear enough. Indeed there are references but not the solid connection between the worlds (like when they intertwine, for example). And those clues make me want more connection between the worlds.
Actually after reading the Arcanum I realised that those epigraphs were not random but related to the Cosmere universe.
Also maybe you've read more books than me. I've only read the 1st generation of Mistborn, 3 books of the Stormlight Archive and Elantris, Warbringer.

I have some thoughts about Hoid. (view spoiler)[He actually tells that he passes through realms in those epigraphs in the Archive. It looks like he's everywhere. The third letter (by Harmony) was also written to him. It seems like he's a storyteller from the Warbringer, a beggar not only from Mistborn, but also Elantris, maybe terrisman who leads the group of refugees in Well of Ascension. (hide spoiler)]

I've definitely seen some Nazh presence in both Mistborn and Stormlight Archive but can't remember where exactly.

Also from letter Aona and Skai - shards from Elantris? I don't remember the names though.

Now... I think I have to re-read at least the Stormlight Archive at this point :D

[Raviteja]

Elena wrote: "I think I've just described it not clear enough. Indeed there are references but not the solid connection between the worlds (like when they intertwine, for example). And those clues make me want m..."

Ok, I agree with you. We haven't seen a full-blown interaction between worlds or their people but it would feel coming closer with each book.

Ok, I've read Mistborn era 2 books, Dawnshard and Rhythm of War from Stormlight archive other than the books you've read. So, not so much.

I agree with you on Hoid. His most prominent appearence is as a beggar, but occasionally he is a storyteller. I am sure that he is a mistborn (he stole a bead in secret history and a similar one made Elend a mistborn), he has a lot of breaths (In words of radiance, he says that he has perfect pitch), he is also a radiant (by the end of Oathbringer).
btw there is this short story I read some time back, involving Hoid.
https://wob.coppermind.net/events/332...

Nazh is the ardent who tries to draw bridge four tattoos but rock shoos him away. He is featured in those pages that contained the artwork.

They are the vessels for the Shards that settled in Sel (Elantris). The shards I think are Devotion and Dominion.

I am going to reread the whole cosmere, in 2023, when the next Stormlight archive book comes out. Since the fifth book finishes Era 1, it deserves a re-read :)
In your case, you need to refresh your memory before Dawnshard and RoW.

[Elena]

Raviteja wrote: "Ok, I agree with you. We haven't seen a full-blown interaction between worlds or their people but it would feel coming closer with each book."

I'm waiting this thing to happen :D

Raviteja wrote: "I agree with you on Hoid. His most prominent appearence is as a beggar, but occasionally he is a storyteller. I am sure that he is a mistborn, he has a lot of breaths, he is also a radiant."

Yeah! I agree with you on that. He is everything and everywhere. Feels like some force that guides and helps main characters (like an author's appearance in some stories. But also has a set of rules not to interfere too much so that the balance is not ruined.
And thanks for the link. So much info on that website!

Raviteja wrote: "Nazh is the ardent who tries to draw bridge four tattoos but rock shoos him away. He is featured in those pages that contained the artwork."

Oh! Now I remember it. Thank you.

Raviteja wrote: "I am going to reread the whole cosmere, in 2023, when the next Stormlight archive book comes out. Since the fifth book finishes Era 1, it deserves a re-read :)
In your case, you need to refresh your memory before Dawnshard and RoW."

I'm definitely going to do it as soon as I have enough time for the whole series (maybe summer vacation as we still can't travel).

[Raviteja]

Elena wrote: "Raviteja wrote: "Ok, I agree with you. We haven't seen a full-blown interaction between worlds or their people but it would feel coming closer with each book."

I'm waiting this thing to happen :D
..."

I think Wit's presence everywhere might have to do with "Fortune", though I find it different from Feruchemical Fortune (via Chromium). Remember in Secret History, when Kelsier first tries to infiltrate the Ire, this was said

“Bah,” said a seated man who held a cup of glowing liquid. “You always jump at stories, Alonoe. Not every coincidence is a sign of someone drawing upon Fortune.”

And even in Oathbringer, Odium says this about the Diagram to Taravangian.
“You did this without access to Fortune, or the Spiritual Realm? Truly incredible.”

In chapter 68, Shallan asks a question to Wit and he answers.
Shallan grinned and let out a deep sigh. Her hair had reverted to red—she’d let the illusion lapse. “Wit,” she said, “why are you here? In the city?”

“I’m not completely sure.”

“Please. Could you just answer?”

“I did—and I was honest. I can know where I’m supposed to be, Shallan, but not always what I’m supposed to do there.”

So, that is as best as my guess goes. Wit somehow accesses Fortune and knows where he needs to go, but not why. But Brandon has always been very tight-lipped about Fortune in Cosmere and we only heard it referenced so far. We dont have much details about the mechanics of it.

As for the rules to not interfere, I think they are set by the people who were there during the shattering of Adonalsium and those who took up shards then.