The Sandersonian Institute of Cosmere Studies

As the release of  The Stormlight Archive Book 5: Wind and Truth draws ever closer, the SICS crew is continuing their reread of  The Stormlight Archive to get ready for it! In this episode, Jordan, Amy, and Bill take a look back at  Words of Radiance and remember some of the highlights, as well as point out things that they've picked up on since our last discussion years ago. A lot's happened in t...

He's done it again! Brandon Sanderson somehow keeps surprising us! Once again, this time as part of his crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound editions of  Words of Radiance , he surprised us once again by dropping yet another Secret Project:  Isles of the Emberdark . And true to form, he's given us some preview chapters to whet our appetites. So join the hosts as we discuss these new chapters...

Brandon Sanderson's leatherbound Words of Radiance crowdfunding campaign is LIVE, and wow, there's a lot to talk about! In this episode, the SICS hosts talk about all the #SayTheWords vignettes that were released leading up to the campaign, as well as a couple of HUGE announcements that Brandon dropped on us during the launch! ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.co...

There sure is a lot of talk about medicine, surgery, and other health-based stuff in the Cosmere, isn't there? In this episode, the SICS crew is joined by Roger, a trauma surgeon and longtime friend of the podcast! In this episode, Roger discusses Brandon's depiction of medicine and the healing arts, both mundane and magical, in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere. It was great to have a subject matter ex...

Stormlight Book 5 is coming, and it's time to start getting ready! In this episode, Amy, Jordan, and Bill go back to the beginning of  The Stormlight Archive and revisit  The Way of Kings . We last did a discussion of this full book in 2018, and we figured it was worth a revisit now that we've got a whooooole lot of additional context. We DEFINITELY go into deep spoiler territory beyond just the o...

It's time for another of Wit's stories! In this episode, the SICS hosts dive deep into the story of Mishim, the Clever Moon from  Oathbringer , the third book in Brandon Sanderson's  The Stormlight Archive . Is there a deeper meaning behind it? Or is  this story different and nothing more than a mere story? (HA!) ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...

SPOILER WARNINGS FOR UNPUBLISHED COSMERE MATERIAL! Dragonsteel 2023 was a little over a month ago, and at the end, Brandon did a very interesting reading from the upcoming  Stormlight 5: Wind & Truth . In this episode, the SICS crew discuss the new interlude, how it connects to previous interludes, and what it could mean for the series moving forward. ___ This episode's show notes can be found her...

A new year has begun, but before we dive into 2024, the SICS crew is wrapping up 2023 by taking a look at the most recent State of the Sanderson address! 2023 was packed full of surprises and wonderful news from Brandon Sanderson and Dragonsteel entertainment, and Brandon's annual report was absolutely no exception! So grab your favorite munchies and settle in for the SICS crew's discussion of eve...

We've already dedicated an entire episode to Dragonsteel 2023 (not counting the episode we recorded AT Dragonsteel this year!), but we've still only scratched the surface! In this episode, the SICS crew focus in on the announcements made at the end of the convention by Emily and Brandon Sanderson (and there were some BIG ones), as well as Brandon's closing remarks. (We'll get to the reading from S...

We were worried this would be lost media but thanks to Modulus16 we got some audio! Sorry for the lack of video. Regardless, this was all Bill's idea for the Cosmere Fantasy Draft. We had a great time and hope you enjoy it too! Vote for which team you liked the most here: https://strawpoll.com/xVg7jVoNpnr ___ No show notes for this episode as it was being recorded live at Dragonsteel 2023! Special...

Dragonsteel 2023 was CRAZY this year! The SICS crew was there, and we had an absolute blast, and we're excited to talk to all of you about it! Also, hi to all the new listeners that we met at the booth! To all our listeners, new and old, y'all are AMAZING!!! ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11LivpdkqrRHfNR0xxNi9dTtCFBVtZcd1kG4xhArXqMw/edit?usp=sha...

It's time for another of Hoid's stories! For as short as they are, there's  so much meat to them! ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SWTtx2xw2SBd9-tAWBmW30qv4X8UghwSLhvByDfV9MQ/edit?usp=sharing ___ This week's Cosmere Thing of the Week: "The Girl Who Looked Up" by Brian Kolb Brian Kolb's Website: https://www.artstation.com/bloknayrb ___ You can sup...

There's still a lot to talk about in  The Sunlit Man , so the SICS crew is continuing their discussion of everything in the last of the Year of Sanderson's Secret Projects. Major spoilers inside. You have been warned. ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ehgl8qOc6ve10h_w5msjrR45yaTCEa82oroM3x6WYZI/edit?usp=sharing ___ This week's Cosmere Thing of the...

The fourth and final of the Secret Projects of  The Year of Sanderson is OUT! Secret Project #4, now fully announced as  The Sunlit Man , has released, and the SICS crew is excited to discuss it! This book is incredibly rich in Cosmere lore, so be warned: SPOILERS AHEAD! Seriously, though, this is a great book. ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zb...

Didn't we just barely discuss the journey of the Wandersail? Oh, wait, that was the  other Wandersail! In this week's episode, the SICS crew return to  Dawnshard to give it some more time (because last time, there was so much going on that they didn't have time to give the book its due). There's a  lot going on in this shorter Sanderson work, so let's get to it! ___ Thumbnail Art Credit: Connor Ch...

There  will be tears this week. We don't want to spoil anything here, so we'll just say this episode centers around the events surrounding Chapter 108 in Rhythm of War —the one titled "Moments." (If you've already read it, you probably know exactly what we mean.) This was an emotional conversation, and we're excited to share it with you. ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://doc...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in the eyes of the SICS crew, Katie Payne's art is  beautiful! And we're very fortunate, because this week, we got to interview her! Katie is the talented artist behind the Secret Project bookmarks and a  huge fan of the Cosmere. So join us for this interview where we ask her about her connections to the Cosmere and Dragonsteel, her favorite aspects of Bra...

Food, glorious food! The SICS crew has rolled up their sleeves and attempted to cook a couple of recipes from the home planet of Brandon Sanderson's  The Stormlight Archive . The recipes we used came from a series of articles that Tor posted, which you can find here: Part 1:* https://www.tor.com/2020/07/16/cosmere-cuisine-meals-inspired-by-the-stormlight-archive-part-1/ Part 2: https://www.tor.com...

NOTICE: We had some technical difficulties recording this episode, and we ended up having to rely on our backup recording. That recording is, unfortunately, lower quality, so some of the audio levels and quality are a bit off. We hope you still enjoy the discussion, though! Story time! Specifically, we're discussing another one of Wit's stories: "Fleet." This is a fun one, and it has some great de...

Steve from RAFO is here! (Check out his YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/@TheCosmerenaut !) In this episode, Steve from  Read and Find Out joins the SICS crew for a discussion about all the Cosmere connections in  Yumi and the Nightmare Painter . It's always a good time with Steve around, and this episode is no different! ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.googl...

NEW COSMERE NOVEL!!!   Secret Project #3, aka  Yumi and the Nightmare Painter , is out, and the SICS crew is excited to talk about it! In this week's episode, we dive in and give our initial reactions to the book on a brand new Cosmere world. It's a fun one! ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L7_AfHxNzXVZpR6Y6JqlWohMf9SLyXjp_T9tV3b45-k/edit?usp=sha...

This is an interesting one. In this week's episode, the SICS crew take a look at the cover art of all the books in the Cosmere and place them on a tier list. Which covers will be ranked as crem? And which will be held up as the Shard Tier? And why does Hugh Jackman keep coming up in this discussion? ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BnTfaYcrdIf08j...

Odium. There's a lot to be said about this Shard, particularly moving forward in the Cosmere. In this episode, the SICS team speculates about what effect Odium's recent actions could have on the future of Roshar and the rest of the Cosmere. ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hBL8ipXvddn8IYdda7f7tfS65lwSeoQBnQPIckC1GEA/edit?usp=sharing ___ This week...

We're talking about  that scene in  The Lost Metal . You know the one. ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LSyPvnIZk3Ibx_ImnFWKn-m9oYf4YnZnh3qwqUXJnHs/edit?usp=sharing ___ This week's Cosmere Thing of the Week: Fan-Made Chasmfiend Lego design by @fastlindyrick https://www.tiktok.com/@fastlindyrick/video/7227585075855281454?_r=1&_t=8cJsS5S3aAd ___ Yo...

The SICS crew has made no secret about how much they enjoy Hoid's stories, so in this episode, we've decided to do a deep dive into the tale of The Wandersail. ___ This episode's show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_dfp3-Ft3ldPn5VBHtengprAoSsHQMKzXeCCaHeEw1Y/edit?usp=sharing ___ This week's Cosmere Thing of the Week: Fan-Made Cosmere Lego designs by u/Mathemagician23:...