The Sword and Laser discussion

Kandra (Mistborn), Seons (Elantris), Lifeless (Warbreaker) , Szeth / Truthless (Way of Kings)


Anyone else find this pattern of characters strange? An odd topic but the Elantris forum is running dry and we have two weeks left.

Could you maybe expand on that for those of us that don't see an obvious pattern?

It looks like Dustin is referring to characters that Sanderson tends to create that are basically a race of servants. Or at least are treated as such in the world. I don't know if that's just a pattern he tends to fall into, or if it's somehow related to the overall Cosmere mythos. Could be either. Could be both.

(view spoiler)[On the other hand, the Kandra, at least, turn out to be much more than just servants. (hide spoiler)]

I can see the Kandra / Seons connection. Haven't read Warbreaker. Szeth is a person with interesting powers and constraints, but it doesn't seem such a close match. If we're talking about a race of servants, the Parshmen / Parshendi seem a closer fit.

Slavery is certainly a theme in Sanderson's work. I really, really hope it has nothing to do with the Cosmere (mainly because I hope that the Cosmere is just a bad joke).

Mike wrote: "If we're talking about a race of servants, the Parshmen / Parshendi seem a closer fit."

Ha I didn't even think of them. I only thought of Szeth because the scene with wrist cutting reminding me of the mentioned Kandra.

Warbreaker is the the worst example of them, almost a pointless one but then again very similar to Seons as well in the situation of being a magical servant.

Not the most interesting topic but I thought it was worth noting.

I can never remember how to do the spoiler thing -_- so...

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I've read Warbreaker and Elantris and really am not seeing the connection beyond them both being magically created. The lifeless in warbreaker had no mind, they were nothing more then a shell that was used for battle.

The Seons though on the other hand are much more "life-like". They can make their own decisions to a point, and they enjoy serving their masters. I can't remember the exact wording but Raoden remembers a conversation that he had with his seon when he was little and they mention just why the seon serve the way they do.


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;)