I'm Doing Science and I'm Still Alive

2/22/2014

You may have noticed that I've been silent for a while, but trust me when I say that's a good thing. I'm running up against my personal deadline for City of Light, so I'm writing like a fiend. I want to make sure you have something to read after you finish Brandon Sanderson's Words of Radiance.

If you haven't started re-reading The Way of Kings, you should soon. Just to prepare. If you haven't read The Way of Kings...you should.

Anyway, City of Light, out as soon as I can get it to you. It's looking like mid-to-late March, but I'll keep you apprised.

I'm writing fight scenes right now. So many fight scenes. And a death scene, but I skipped over that one, because I'll need to come back and write it later to give it all of my attention.

-Will

44 Comments

bludvein

2/22/2014 08:38:29 am

I finished my reread weeks ago. I'm just waiting for the release and enjoying the glimpses they send to my email. Looking forward to Kaladin vs. Szeth.

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:08:44 pm

I am SO looking forward to that. And if you've read the preview chapters...

**SPOILERS**

**SPOILERS**

**NO, FOR REAL GUYS, SPOILERS**

...I'm honestly looking forward to Shallan and Adolin. Is that weird for me to look forward to? I think she's going to end up with Renarin in the end, but I think she and Adolin will have some really interesting character interactions.

bludvein

3/7/2014 06:15:56 am

I read the whole book in about 6 hours, and then turned around and read it again the day after. It was epic.

*SPOILERS* Seriously, keep reading and its your own fault.

The Kaladin vs. Szeth was everything I expected and more. Is it weird that I cheered when Sadeas got the knife to the eye treatment?

For ships it seems Shallan is being set up with Kaladin in the future. Not a big fan of love triangles, but the foreshadowing was so obvious.

Will Wight link

3/7/2014 09:00:09 am

I read it in one sitting after I bought it, and I immediately wanted to turn right around and read it again. I didn't, though. I sat down and kept writing City of Light.

But yeah, Kaladin vs. Szeth was...exactly what I wanted. In the sky? Yes, please. And Syl's role in this book...I don't want to say too much without spoiler tags, but for real, Syl in this book.

I laughed so hard at that Sadeas scene. I was so worried that he was going to be a long-term villain, and then Dalinar didn't kill him...

He was basically begging for it, though. It reminded me of that scene in Firefly when the villain is swearing eternal vengeance on Mal, so Mal just shoots him in the head, kicks his body into a jet turbine, and turns to the next guy in line. If the bad guy makes it perfectly clear that he's going to oppose you even when the entire world is on the line, and you can't change his mind or get him out of the way...kill him. There's too much at stake otherwise.

I'm glad somebody finally got the message.

And yeah, Sanderson wasn't trying to be subtle with the Kaladin/Shallan thing. I could grow to like it, and it makes sense from a certain perspective. I'm definitely fine with it. But I absolutely despise love triangles. I just don't care enough about who ends up with whom. Pick Adolin? Great! Pick Kaladin? Fantastic! They're both cool characters, and I'd be happy reading about either of those relationship. But PLEASE don't make me read about the agonizing period of time in which you're trying to choose between them. Just...skip that.

Jessiah`

3/7/2014 12:17:31 pm

This book is really epic, I mean REALLY epic, and yea that Kaladan, Shallan, Adolin triangle would really be a large pain its been over used to much. But more importantly THAT LAST CHAPTER! Just saying I freaking did back flips when I read it =] can't say to much with out spoiling it so I will refrain sighh. Now how bout that CoL Will?

Chris

3/8/2014 09:27:53 am

Renarin?! Really? Nah... he's too young/immature for her.... Book was definitely awesome, and now I'm waiting on City of Light! hurry up!!!! haha... I wonder with the foreshadowing for "Shalladan" being so obvious what he's going to do with that? Seems like he's setting things up for some twist, especially after what happened with Adolin and Sadeas.

Jessica

2/22/2014 08:42:41 am

I may need some more short stories to get me through until mid-March.....

Rhys

2/24/2014 07:04:06 am

Trust me Jessica, you won't. Words of Radisnce is coming out and I, for one, am grateful that CoL is coming out a little after it, so I have time to re-read it two or three times. No offence to Will of course, I just like to have time to really get stuck into my favourite books before another one comes out.

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:11:42 pm

I am absolutely incapable of taking offense at that. Heck, I'll be reading and re-reading Words of Radiance myself.

Well, I probably won't re-read it until after City of Light. But the point remains.

Jessica, I don't think I can come up with another set of short stories in March, but I am planning on putting out some more in April and/or May. Post-CoL. Kind of like a really detailed epilogue.

Ben

2/22/2014 09:01:19 am

Heya! Been lurking for a while, first post! :P

Thanks for the update!

Will there be a pre-order available do you know? I saw an earlier blog response where you mentioned amazon wouldn't allow it for self publishing, it seems that Hidden Gnome are tagged on the books now. I'm not too sure how it works though, any good news perhaps? xD

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:13:25 pm

Actually, Hidden Gnome Publishing is me. I was advised to not put my own name in the "Publisher" slot, but to make up something. So I registered the name Hidden Gnome Publishing and purchased the ISBNs under that label.

It's a weird system.

But yeah, pre-orders still unavailable to me. I plan on pursuing that more aggressively with Amazon for my next series, because I really want the option to set a pre-order.

Bryce

2/23/2014 12:28:17 am

While I liked The Way of Kings I felt that it was kind of boring. But boring in the way you watch a fuse being lit. I fully expect book 2 to be fantastic.

Jon

2/23/2014 07:44:54 am

I felt the same way the first time I read "The Way of Kings." It is definitely a little slower than most of Brandon Sanderson's books. After reading it again though I really started to appreciate the world Sanderson created as well as the depth of each character. I don't know if your into the cosmere that Sanderson is creating too, but if you are "The Way of Kings" is amazing. Plus Hoid is just awesome.

Jessiah

2/25/2014 06:09:42 am

Yea the second read through made the book really come alive, and I can't believe I didn't remember who Hoid was till I read about him on a forum.

JohnW

2/26/2014 03:45:00 am

Hoid is in almost all of Sanderson's books. Strange character. I haven't decided yet whether I like Sanderson's technique of trying to link all his disparate fantasy creations like that.

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:16:05 pm

Back in 2010, the first time I read Way of Kings, I thought it was just okay. I would probably have given it a B, maybe a B+.

I just finished my fourth re-read yesterday, and now it's one of my favorite books. A+.

Each time I read it, I liked it more and more.

Good ol' Hoid.

As for the Cosmere aspect of the books...I don't know, I like it in theory, but some of the specific choices he's made in linking the books leave me puzzled. For instance, it would never be my preference to have the different worlds be different planets in the same galaxy. I would always prefer them to be alternate dimensions, like the Territories.

That's probably just a personal preference/taste thing, though.

2/27/2014 11:57:31 pm

I think that you could consider them to be different territories if you wanted, as they are all connected by one overall territory (Shadesmar). My feeling is that wouldn't really be different than what you are doing in your books as it seems that when you travel to a different territory, sometimes it feels like you are traveling to a different planet (i.e. Lirial with different moons). Anyways, just a thought

Will Wight link

3/7/2014 02:12:00 am

That's true, and I will admit that Hoid and Shadesmar help me to enjoy the Cosmere more than I perhaps would otherwise. I certainly do like the idea of a long-term, epic-scale cosmic conflict going on behind the scenes. I think that's awesome. I also really appreciate the little Easter eggs he hides for his fans, as those are a blast for me.

So again, I like the effects of what he's doing, and I totally agree with his reasons for doing it. It's just that...I don't know, I feel a little disappointed with each individual world when I think that these magic systems aren't all there is, they're just fragments of a much larger system that we can't see. It makes me feel like the stakes are lower than we're expected to believe they are.

Anyway, that's just a little, persistent, nagging voice in the back of my head. Honestly, it very rarely has any effect whatsoever on my enjoyment of any Sanderson books. Words of Radiance now ranks up there as one of my favorite books, period.

And he's said that he'll eventually do a Cosmere series putting all the pieces together. At that point, all of my tiny nagging doubts may be totally swept away.

Brian son of Andy

2/23/2014 03:48:41 am

Don't worry your books (also cant wait for the pre-quell about the wanderer) are going to be awesome... Two best books of the year will be City of Light and Words of Radiance... Do you think you could post the first chapter of your book while we humbly await?

P.S. if I could pre-order this book my brother and I would have done so just like words of radiance... Love your work

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:17:27 pm

I thank you, Brian, Andy's son. Your words bring a warm glow to my heart.

I will indeed post a preview chapter, but not immediately. I must wait for the...opportune moment.

As for the pre-order, I too wish that you could pre-order City of Light. Alas, cruel Amazon prevents it.

Mordin

2/27/2014 03:54:58 am

Damn you foul Amazon! Deceivingly kind one day, as you lead me to my new master an lord, and then you rip of your silken mask, revealing a hideous grin twisted across your face, as you deny me the privilege and comfort of per-ordering his holy tomes!
DAMN YOU!

Will M

2/23/2014 01:20:38 pm

I'm really looking forward to CoL. I never could get into Sanderson's stuff. However, I am hoping that I get the Arena Mode and Assault or Attrition books soon. They look really interesting.

By the way, the date on the home page for the blog still has the year as 2013.

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:18:29 pm

Thanks for telling me about the date! It's fixed now. I changed the date manually, and I obviously switched the year back to 2013 without thinking.

My subconscious desire for time travel is too strong.

Gabe newell

2/24/2014 03:55:43 am

How would you feel about a Travelers Gate game?

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:19:31 pm

Something tells me you're not the real Gabe Newell, but just in case you are:

Absolutely, on the condition that the different Travelers are represented by different collectible hats and you open a Gate by means of a portal gun.

Alex link

2/24/2014 04:59:42 am

Wait. Why is there no preorder? I've gone through the re-read phase in both the first two books AND the short stories. I NEED the final one as soon as it comes out.

Pat

2/25/2014 10:33:42 am

I believe Amazon pre-orders are not available for self-published books. I don't know about others sellers.

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:06:50 pm

Yeah, Amazon doesn't provide the option for a pre-order through Kindle Direct Publishing (which is the service I use). It's not that they won't let me put up a pre-order; it's more like they just don't give me that option.

I really wished I could have had it for both Crimson Vault and City of Light, so after Traveler's Gate I'm going to pursue it more aggressively. I want people to be able to pre-order the books in whatever my next series is.

roddan93

2/26/2014 08:57:58 pm

I just want to say that on the frontpage of your website the bloginformation says that the last blog posted was from last year

Will Wight link

2/26/2014 11:04:41 pm

Thanks, Roddan! I changed the date manually, and obviously I forgot what year it was.

Riders of BROhan

2/27/2014 12:36:57 am

Will - found your books via suggestion from a friend. Within a weeks time I had eaten up all you've published so far. Thanks for working diligently to create interesting fantasy books for your fans. I look forward to CoL and your future projects.

Will Wight link

3/7/2014 02:02:05 am

Thanks, Broseidon! (God of the Brocean)

I'm glad you enjoyed them, and sorry it took me so long to respond to you. Normally I'm quicker on the draw than this, but I've been pretty consumed with CoL lately.

Jeremiah Halstead

2/27/2014 08:00:28 pm

It is now the end of February. My anticipation grows with each passing day as to the aforementioned alignment of the moons of Lirial. Whatever will happen with the Ragnarus incarnation when it meets the Queen? Will Kai become the leader of Dragon Army? Will anyone be consumed by the sofa? Only time will tell...

Will Wight link

3/7/2014 02:03:03 am

You've actually hit on the twist ending of the book: the sofa consumes the Ragnarus Incarnation and then marries Kai. The two of them rule unchallenged as King and Queen of Valinhall.

David

3/1/2014 05:38:57 am

Dearest Will,
I regret to inform that although this is my first post it shall also be my last. My wife has regrettably informed me that in the process of being as well informed on the upcoming release of your new novel, I have inadvertently followed your blog more closely than hers. (Woman scorned) So although I may no longer post I want it to to be known known that as a fan of literature and world building I find your books to be a refreshing change of pace from simple elf's and ogers. You are in my library next to C.S. Freidman and Sanderson.

Will Wight link

3/7/2014 02:04:53 am

My heart aches with sorrow for you, fallen brother. Truly, I feel your loss most keenly.

In the interests of placating She Whose Respect Must Be Earned, could you send me a link to her blog? I'd like to check it out!

Maybe that will make up for you spending some time here.

David

3/7/2014 08:50:41 am

Thank you for your concer. Her blog is candicemjackson.com . This should make things better, only time will tell

Will Wight link

3/7/2014 08:54:07 am

I love the layout! And you and your wife are really rocking those sunglasses.

David

3/7/2014 10:40:28 pm

She is appeased!

tophlayton

3/11/2014 11:03:56 pm

BRIDGE 4!!!

Will Wight link

3/19/2014 05:53:19 am

BRIDGE FOUR!

Mark Jaeger

3/21/2014 04:57:58 am

Bread lightning waste. Loved it! Simon has officially become a badass. Can't wait for City of Light. (I loved the proverbs in lightning waste about elysia)

Jessiah

3/22/2014 05:33:53 am

I know right! Simon was seriously badass. Just stared at them and they backed off, and I love how everyone thinks he's a weakling and he proves them wrong every time.

Will Wight link

3/23/2014 07:52:48 am

Hey, I'm glad you liked it! I know that collection turned out the best, but I enjoyed writing all the short stories. It was neat going into the different corners of the universe that I usually have to skim past in the main trilogy.

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.