Words of Radiance

Words of Radiance is an epic fantasy novel written by American author Brandon Sanderson and the second book in The Stormlight Archive series.[2] The novel was published on March 4, 2014 by Tor Books.[3] Words of Radiance consists of one prologue, 89 chapters, an epilogue and 14 interludes. It is preceded by The Way of Kings and followed by Oathbringer.

Words of Radiance
First edition book cover
AuthorBrandon Sanderson
IllustratorIsaac Stewart
Ben McSweeney
Dan dos Santos
Cover artistMichael Whelan
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Stormlight Archive
GenreEpic fantasy
PublisherTor Books
Publication date
March 4, 2014
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback), audiobook, e-book
Pages1087 (hardcover)
ISBN978-0-7653-2636-2
OCLC889161015
813/.6
LC ClassPS3619.A533 W67 2014[1]
Preceded byThe Way of Kings 
Followed byOathbringer 

In 2015, it won the David Gemmell Legend Award for best novel.[4] The unabridged audiobook is read by narrator team Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.[5]

Development

The release of the book was delayed due to Sanderson's commitment to writing the final book of The Wheel of Time.[6][7]

Initially, Sanderson planned that this volume would be named after the tome Shallan is given at the end of the first volume: The Book of Endless Pages. However, the name was changed after the editor commented "Uh, are you sure you want to name a very long, very thick fantasy book The Book of Endless Pages?”[2] The book, at 1088 pages, is the maximum printable size of a book for its publisher, Tor Books, making it the biggest book ever printed by the company.[8][9]

On July 1, 2013, Sanderson announced on his official Twitter account that he had finished the first draft of Words of Radiance.[10] On July 3 Tor Books officially released an early excerpt of the novel, containing the beginning of an interlude starring Taravangian, the King of Kharbranth.[11] On December 10, 2013, Tor Books announced on its official website that Sanderson had turned in the manuscript of the book, commenting that production could now begin.[12] On the same day a second excerpt of the novel was released, containing an interlude starring the new character Lift.[13]

On December 30, 2013, Tor Books revealed the endpapers for Words of Radiance, painted by American artist Michael Whelan.[14] It pictures Shallan while painting at the Shattered Plains. In the same article Whelan states, "When Irene Gallo proposed a second painting for Words of Radiance, I immediately knew it was Shallan we were talking about. Indeed, like many fans, I had felt that the story was becoming as much Shallan’s as Kaladin’s; she merited equal representation in the book’s design, as far as it was possible to do so."

On January 8, 2014, Tor Books released the prologue and first two chapters of the book as previews with points-of-view of Jasnah, Shallan and Kaladin.[15] A week later, on January 14, Tor Books released the 3rd, 4th and 5th chapters of the book,[16] followed by the 6th, 8th and 9th chapters on January 21.[17] The last chapters to be released before the publication of the book, Chapters Ten, Twelve, Fourteen and the first Interlude, were released on January 28, 2014.[18]

Tor Books revealed the dates and locations for the Words of Radiance book tour on January 29, 2014.[19] On February 4, 2014, Tor announced 'The Glimpses of Radiance', a series of daily previews of the book running from February 11 to March 4, 2014.[20] Non-spoiler reviews were released by Alice Arneson[21] and Carl Engle-Laird[22] on the Tor website and by 17thshard.com, the official fansite of Brandon Sanderson, 17th Shard calling the book, "truly an achievement. It expands on its predecessor, fulfilling the promises it sets up, and manages to surpass it".[23] Samples of interior art painted by Ben McSweeney and Isaac Stewart were released on February 26.[24]

Plot

Years ago, Szeth-son-son-Vallano, the Assassin in White, was sent by the Parshendi to assassinate the Alethi king Gavilar Kholin (for reasons not yet revealed to the reader). This murder resulted in the Vengeance Pact among the highprinces of Alethkar and the War of Reckoning against the Parshendi. Now Szeth is active again, and is sent by King Taravangian of Kharbranth, to kill Highprince Dalinar Kholin (brother of the late King Gavilar).

Kaladin, once a slave and bridgeman on the Shattered Plains, is given command of the royal bodyguards to protect Dalinar and his family (including King Elokhar) from perils and the threat of the Assassin. Meanwhile, he struggles with both his feelings regarding lighteyes (the nobility of the Alethi) and his past with Brightlord Amaram. He trains and practices to master the powers of a Windrunner that are linked to the bond with his honorspren, Syl.

Shallan Davar, together with her mentor Jasnah Kholin, are heading to the Shattered Plains to prevent the return of the Voidbringers and their civilization-ending Desolation. Jasnah arranges a marriage between Shallan and Adolin Kholin, Jasnah's cousin. Their ship is attacked en route to the Shattered Plains and while Shallan survives, Jasnah is believed to be killed. Shallan, with the assistance of sailors and outlaws she finds on the road, makes her arrival at the Shattered Plains.

One of the Parshendi, Venli, discovers a stormform that allows Parshendi to summon a storm similar to the Highstorms and turn the tide of the war. Some Parshendi believe using stormform will summon the Voidbringers, but the ruling council allows the form. Eshonai wants to parlay with Dalinar to bring an end to the war before stormform is used.

Szeth attempts to murder Dalinar but is stopped when Dalinar catches Szeth's shardblade with his hands. Kaladin ends the attempt by knocking himself and Szeth into open air. During the melee after landing, Szeth sees Kaladin use stormlight and flees from the duel, realizing that the Radiants are back and he is not Truthless.

Eshonai, along with most of the surviving Parshendi transform to stormform, and summon the Everstorm, which comes from the opposite direction as the normal highstorms. The Alethi attack and defeat the Parshendi, but not before the storm is summoned. The Alethi armies are only able to escape the storms through Shallan's discovery and activation of the Oathgate (a system of teleports usable only by the Radiants), which evacuates the army to the legendary city of the Radiants, Urithiru.

After arriving at Urithiru, Dalinar swears the oaths of the Knights Radiant and the Order of the Bondsmiths - binding the Stormfather as his spren. It is discovered that Renarin, son of Dalinar, is also a member of the Knights Radiant (a member of the order of Truthwatchers). Adolin, after being confronted by Sadeas who states that he will continue to oppose Dalinar - despite the desolation - kills Sadeas after a short struggle.

In the epilogue, Jasnah is met by Hoid after she returns from the Cognitive Realm, where she escaped to from the attack on her ship to the Shattered Plains.

Viewpoint characters

The primary chapters within the book are told from the viewpoint of several major characters, while the book's interludes are told from the viewpoint of other characters (not all of which repeat).

Main
  • Szeth-son-son-Vallano: An assassin from the land of Shinovar. He refers to himself as a "Truthless" who must serve those who bear his Oathstone. Bearer of an Honorblade which gives him the power to use Stormlight and the abilities of a Windrunner. He hates being forced to murder and weeps as he does.
  • Shallan Davar: A minor lighteyes from the nation of Jah Keved. Her family has fallen on hard times after the death of her father. She is the ward and student of renowned scholar Jasnah Kholin. Shallan is a Lightweaver; she is able to, with a single glance, remember and recreate a scene with charcoal and paper and able to Soulcast without a Soulcaster. She travels to the Shattered Plains to learn more about the Voidbringers. She becomes betrothed to Adolin Kholin after Jasnah sets it up as a way to help save House Davar from ruin. She has a spren, named Pattern, accompanying her.
  • Kaladin: A darkeyes from the nation of Alethkar who serves as the captain of Dalinar's personal guard, and subsequently the king's Honor Guard. Formerly an apprentice surgeon to his father and member of the army of brightlord Amaram. Kaladin is a Windrunner; he is able to use Stormlight to heal himself and make himself stronger and faster than any normal human being. He is accompanied by an honorspren named Syl.
  • Dalinar Kholin: A highprince of Alethkar, brother to the slain King Gavilar, uncle to the current king and Highprince of War. Nicknamed the Blackthorn. A general who helped unite the kingdom with his brother. A man who experiences visions during the highstorms, and a Full Shardbearer, he is criticized as weak because he follows the Codes and talks about stopping the pointless war Alethkar is engaged in. He plans to unify Alethkar and refound the Knights Radiant. Dalinar is revealed to be a Bondsmith at the end of WoR, and his bonded spren is the Stormfather himself, a splinter of the Almighty.
  • Adolin Kholin: A lighteyed prince and heir to his father Dalinar's highprince seat. A skilled duelist and a Full Shardbearer, he loves and respects his father. He is betrothed to Shallan Davar.
  • Renarin Kholin: The younger son of Evi and Dalinar Kholin, Renarin is also Adolin's younger brother and is revealed to be a Truthwatcher, a type of Surgebinder. He has a spren named Glys.
  • Navani Kholin: Widow of King Gavilar, mother of King Elhokar and Jasnah. She is a skilled artifabrian. She has always loved Dalinar, even when she was married to his brother, Gavilar, and eventually rekindles her relationship with Dalinar.

Interludes
  • Jasnah Kholin: the sister to the king of Alethkar and the greatest scholar in the world. She is capable of Soulcasting without a Soulcaster, and is bonded to a spren named Ivory, who gained her the abilities of Stormlight used by the Knights Radiant. She is a member of the Order of Elsecallers, who have the Surges of Transformation and Transportation.
  • Eshonai: one of the Listeners, known by the Alethi as Parshendi, and the only Shardbearer among her people. She seeks peace with the armies of the humans.
  • Ym: a shoemaker in Iri, bound to an unnamed spren. Once a beggar, he now makes shoes, which he gives to urchins on the street.
  • Rysn: a young woman from Thaylenah, an apprentice merchant. She travels with her babsk to the Reshi Isles.
  • Zahel: a swordmaster and ardent, training both Adolin and Renarin.
  • Taln: known as Talenelat or Stonesinew, he is a Herald of the Almighty, sent to prepare humankind for the Desolation.
  • Lift: a Reshi thief who works in Azimir in Azir. She has Surgebinding abilities that corresponded with the Order of Edgedancers.
  • Lhan: an ardent in Kholinar. He is lazy and often drunk. He explains 'the easiest job in the world' to a woman called Pai, who - a day later - starts riots in the city.
  • Taravangian: the king of Kharbranth. He employed Szeth to kill a great number of leaders around the world, following the Diagram, a masterplan to prepare the world for the Last Desolation, made by himself.
  • Wit: also known as Hoid, is the court jester of king Elhokar Kholin at the Shattered Plains.

Reception

Critical response and sales

In its first week of release, Words of Radiance debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller list.[25] It also reached No. 1 on the combined print/ebook bestseller list and the Kobo Bestseller list.[25] It was at No. 3 on the National Indie Besteller list, and at No. 6 on the Southern California Independent Bookseller Association bestselling hardcover fiction list.[25] The UK publisher of the book, Gollancz, debuted with Words of Radiance at No. 2 on the Sunday Times of Londen Besteller list.

A review written by Rob Bricken of io9 called the book an old-school, "90s fantasy-style behemoth",[26] also commenting, "While Sanderson continues to build his characters and reveal who they are (especially in the case of Shallan's past) it still clings to one overarching plot that drives relentlessly to an ending that can only be described as 'epic'."[26]

The Lincoln Journal Star called the book "an extremely satisfying read that shows what the beginning of an epic fantasy series should look like."[27]

Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryResultRef
2014 Whitney Awards Best Speculative Fiction Won [28]
Goodreads Choice Awards Best Fantasy Novel Nominated [29]
2015 Audie Award Best Fantasy (audiobook) Won [30]
David Gemmell Legend Award Best Novel Won [4]

Audiobook

An audiobook version was released by Macmillan Audio on the same day as the hardcover version read by narrator team Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, who also read The Way of Kings.[31] A 5-part GraphicAudio version of Words of Radiance was released from September 2016 to January 2017.

Sequel

The third book in the series, Oathbringer, was released on November 14, 2017.[32]

gollark: This is not very accurate, though.
gollark: In a market, if people don't want kale that much, the kale company will probably not have much money and will not be able to buy all the available fertilizer.
gollark: You can just hand out what some random people think is absolutely *needed* first, then stick the rest of everything up for public use, but that won't work either! Someone has to decide on the "needed", so you get into a planned-economy sort of situation, and otherwise... what happens when, say, the community kale farm decides they want all the remaining fertilizer, even when people don't want *that* much kale?
gollark: Planned economies, or effectively-planned-by-lots-of-voting economies, will have to implement this themselves by having everyone somehow decide where all the hundred million things need to go - and that's not even factoring in the different ways to make each thing, or the issues of logistics.
gollark: Market systems can make this work pretty well - you can sell things and use them to buy other things, and ultimately it's driven by what consumers are interested in buying.

References
  1. "Words of radiance" (first edition). LC Online Catalog. Library of Congress (lccn.loc.gov). Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  2. "The Title for Brandon Sanderson's Second Stormlight Archive Book Has Been Revealed". Tor.com. February 28, 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  3. De Groote, Michael (March 1, 2014). "Words of wonder: Brandon Sanderson seeks, delivers 'something big' in epic fantasy". Deseret News. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  4. Liptak, Andrew (August 9, 2015). "Here's The Winners Of The 2015 David Gemmell Awards". io9. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  5. Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive): Amazon.co.uk: Brandon Sanderson, Kate Reading, Michael Kramer: Books. ASIN 1427233071.
  6. Sanderson, Brandon. "Tweets Dec 19-21 2011". Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  7. "Words of Radiance Release Date has Moved". Tor.com. July 30, 2013.
  8. "Words of Radiance and the Art of Creating Epic Fantasy". Tor.com. March 4, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  9. "Twitter / BrandSanderson: The press Tor is using cannot". Twitter.com. December 19, 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  10. "I just sent in the completed first draft of Words of Radiance". Brandon Sanderson on Twitter. July 1, 2013.
  11. "Words of Radiance: Interlude: Taravangian (Excerpt)". Tor Books. July 3, 2013.
  12. "This is How Big the Words of Radiance Manuscript Is!". Tor Books. December 10, 2013.
  13. "Words of Radiance: "Lift" (Excerpt)". Tor Books. December 10, 2013.
  14. "Michael Whelan's Endpapers for Words of Radiance, Featuring Shallan". Tor.com. December 30, 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  15. Brandon Sanderson (January 8, 2014). "Read an Excerpt from Words of Radiance: Prologue, Chapters One and Two by Brandon Sanderson". Tor.com. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  16. Brandon Sanderson (January 14, 2014). "Read an Excerpt from Words of Radiance: Chapters Three, Four, and Five by Brandon Sanderson". Tor.com. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  17. Brandon Sanderson (January 21, 2014). "Read an Excerpt from Words of Radiance: Chapters Six, Eight, and Nine by Brandon Sanderson". Tor.com. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  18. Brandon Sanderson (January 28, 2014). "Read an Excerpt from Words of Radiance: Chapters Ten, Twelve, Fourteen, and Interlude I-1 by Brandon Sanderson". Tor.com. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  19. "Announcing the Words of Radiance Brandon Sanderson Book Tour". Tor.com. January 29, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  20. "Announcing Glimpses of Radiance: Daily Previews of Words of Radiance". Tor.com. February 4, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  21. "Reflections of Radiance: Spoiler-Free Reactions to Brandon Sanderson's Words of Radiance". Tor.com. February 19, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  22. "Worth the Wait: A Non-Spoiler Review of Words of Radiance". Tor.com. February 25, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  23. "Our spoiler-free Words of Radiance review - Brandon and Book News - 17th Shard News". 17thshard.com. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  24. "Interior Art from Words of Radiance". Tor.com. February 26, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  25. "Brandon Sanderson's Words of Radiance Debuts at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List!". Tor.com. March 12, 2014. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  26. 3/11/14 1:30pm 3/11/14 1:30pm. "Words of Radiance puts the "epic" back in epic fantasy". Io9.com. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  27. Mason-D'Croz, Michael. "Book review: 'Words of Radiance' long but engrossing and action-packed". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  28. "2014 Whitney Award Winners". May 18, 2015.
  29. "Best Fantasy Novel". Goodreads. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  30. "2015 Audie Award Winners". May 29, 2015.
  31. Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive): Brandon Sanderson, Michael Kramer: 9781427233073: Amazon.com: Books. March 4, 2014. ISBN 978-1427233073.
  32. "Revealing the Cover to Oathbringer, the Third Book in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive". Tor.com. March 16, 2017. Archived from the original on March 16, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
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