Modern Fantasy Readers and Writers discussion

Sorry for the delay you all.

I am posting the remaining discussion questions today, I look forward to the talks:

#1 [Scene Structure:] I think action is very hard to write well. When I was a kid I read these action books, I think one series was called Delta Force Trio or something like that, where the action was describing the guns and the gore of the impact. Sanderson uses a lot of action scenes to help pace his book. What do you think of the structure he uses to craft these scenes? Does it work for you? Can you picture the action? Or does it just seem tedious?

#2 [Foreshadowing:] For those of us who finished the book waiting for the lame discussion leader to post the questions, what do you think of Sazed and Kelsier's discussions about religion? Did you pick up on the tie to the twist at the end? In particular their discussion about Jaism from page 173 of my book. Sanderson uses several potent allusions that we miss until later in the book. What do you think of his skill on handling these? Are they obvious or obscure? Give examples.

#3 [Character:] In the scene where Kelsier and Vin discover the destroyed thieve's hideout, what do you take from her reaction? Was it believable that she was that cold, did Sanderson build her well enough to this point to believe it?

#4 [World Development:] Atium is a valuable commodity throughout the book. Sanderson has established a large part of his plot on the value of Atium. The only reason its valuable is because of Mistborn; but Mistborn are extremely rare. Do you buy into the economy of his world? Does it make sense and is supportable? Why or why not?

#5 [World Development:] The way to discover Mistings is not discussed as far as I can recall in the book; other than having a bronze burner be near someone who is burning a metal. Do you think that is effective? Or would noble houses have a way of testing, should Sanderson have explored this further? How would it have changed the dynamics of power to have a Misting who could burn Atium?

Psst!

Questions Posted

Sanderson uses a lot of action scenes to help pace his book. What do you think of the structure he uses to craft these scenes? Does it work for you? Can you picture the action? Or does it just seem tedious?

When they started off I read them. But after about 3 I just skimmed them. The only one I read after the start was when Kelsier fights the (guy with spikes in his body)

what do you think of Sazed and Kelsier's discussions about religion? Did you pick up on the tie to the twist at the end? In particular their discussion about Jaism from page 173 of my book. Sanderson uses several potent allusions that we miss until later in the book. What do you think of his skill on handling these? Are they obvious or obscure? Give examples.

I enjoyed their discussions of religion, and they helped set up what happend to Kelsier near the end. I thought they were subtely doen, especially when you consider that Kelsier nearly says what he is going to do, but I never caught on. I tried to look up what Jaism is, but couldn't figure it out. I found out what Jainism is, but I'm not sure that is what you weree referring to. My book seems to have different page numbering, as page 173 is a fight scene with no dialog.

In the scene where Kelsier and Vin discover the destroyed thieve's hideout, what do you take from her reaction? Was it believable that she was that cold, did Sanderson build her well enough to this point to believe it?

I thought it rang true.

Atium is a valuable commodity throughout the book. Sanderson has established a large part of his plot on the value of Atium. The only reason its valuable is because of Mistborn; but Mistborn are extremely rare. Do you buy into the economy of his world? Does it make sense and is supportable? Why or why not?

In terms of what is presented in this book, the high value of Atium doesn't make much sense. In terms of book 3, it makes a lot more sense as their are things happening in the background economically that we don't see at this point. But if it was jsut usable for a few people, then it wouldn't be greatly desired.

The way to discover Mistings is not discussed as far as I can recall in the book; other than having a bronze burner be near someone who is burning a metal. Do you think that is effective? Or would noble houses have a way of testing, should Sanderson have explored this further? How would it have changed the dynamics of power to have a Misting who could burn Atium?

In book 3, the way to find more mistings is discussed. (Don't want to throw in a spoiler here) In answer to the other questions, these are all answer in later books. You must have been thinking like Sanderson. ;)

#1 I liked the action scenes. I am not sure if they took me back to those really bad war books I use to read. I thought he did well in giving enough physical information to let my mind construct what was happening; he also didn't fall into the trap of describing every single action in detail. I think he gave just enough to get a flavor for the combat, especially with its difference to the real world.

#2 The Jaism reference was to a religion where the leader was dead but the people continued to follow it to the last dieing man because they believed in him. I thought it was well done for tieing to the end of the book.

#3 I thought the scene was ok, but unnecessary. I didn't learn anything new about the characters than I had already gleaned to this point. Her reaction was entirely predictable and only served as more of the heavy handedness that Sanderson used to develop her.

#4 I did not buy into the economy. Atium is valuable, and that value needs to be controlled. I understood that part-it's the same reason we don't print 10 trillion dollar bills and pay off our debt. Our currency is built on a shared acceptance that gold is valuable. Sanderson's economy would crash if there were no more Mistborns-as it is there are so few that it seems only a handful of houses would have a use for it and the counter economy being that you buy it up to keep it out of others hands just doesn't seem to hold water. I think we saw Kel, Vin, the high noble woman, and the Inquisitors (who don't need to buy it because their supplier [the government:] gives it to them without cost) that could burn it. Even in the second book we see the brother, and the one Mistborn throw away from Elends father that can burn it. That's only like 7 people that it needed to be bought for in the books.