Editing User:Stargazer/Cosmere

[[File:Arcanum Unbounded.jpg|thumb|right|<center><small>by [[David Palumbo]]</small></center>The cover of ''[[Arcanum Unbounded]]'', featuring [[Khriss]]]]
{{quote
|You’ve stumbled into something far, far bigger than you, your politics, or your little planet ... Your questions are dangerous. Once you step behind the curtain and see the actors as the people they are, it becomes harder to pretend the play is real
|[[Khriss]] to [[Kelsier]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
The '''cosmere''' is a fictional shared universe where several of [[Brandon Sanderson]]'s books take place. As a result, books set in the cosmere share a single cosmology and underlying rules of magic, and some characters from one world will make appearances on other worlds. Despite the connections, Brandon has remained clear that one does not need any knowledge of the broader cosmere to read, understand, or enjoy books that take place in the cosmere.{{url ref|name=WhatIsCosmere|url=https://brandonsanderson.com/what-is-the-cosmere|text=What Is The Cosmere?|site=[[Brandon]]'s website}}

Elements of the cosmere are slowly being added to the books, and will eventually come to the forefront in the ''[[Dragonsteel]]'' series and the [[Mistborn Era 4|final ''Mistborn'' trilogy]].{{wob ref|6868}}

Current series in the cosmere are the [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]], [[Mistborn (series)|''Mistborn'' series]], ''[[Warbreaker]]'' (and [[Nightblood (book)|its eventual sequel]]), ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'', and ''[[White Sand]]''. It does not include any books that reference [[Earth]], as Earth is not in the cosmere.{{ref|name=WhatIsCosmere}} For a complete list of books in the cosmere, see [[#Bibliography of the Cosmere|the bibliography section below]].

The shared "creation myth" of the cosmere revolves around [[Adonalsium]], the power of creation, which was broken into sixteen pieces called [[Shard]]s in an event known as the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]]. The Shards are effectively gods, and magic is derived from their power.{{msh ref|3|2}}

== Properties and Forces ==
=== Realms ===
{{for|Realmatic Theory}}
In the cosmere, everything exists in three Realms: the [[Physical Realm]], the [[Cognitive Realm]], and the [[Spiritual Realm]].{{tes ref|12}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|57}} The three Realms have existed since the beginning of the cosmere.{{wob ref|13066}}

When someone in the cosmere dies, their body remains in the Physical Realm and a [[Cognitive Shadow]] forms in the Cognitive Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} For most people, this Cognitive Shadow quickly moves on to the [[God Beyond#Beyond|Beyond]] and their [[Investiture]] returns to the Spiritual Realm.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|mb6|28}} The more Investiture someone held in life, the longer they can linger before being drawn to the Beyond,{{msh ref|1|1}} but only [[Sliver]]s&mdash;those who once held a significant portion of a [[Shard]]'s power&mdash;can resist the Beyond forever, though they can still choose to go if they so desire.{{msh ref|6|8}}

==== The Physical Realm ====
In the [[Physical Realm]], the cosmere is a star cluster of about 50 to 100 stars.{{wob ref|9284}} The laws of physics are the same as our own, except when the other Realms are involved.{{wob ref|6360}} Currently, there are ten known planetary systems in the cosmere, which contain a total of twelve notable planets. The cosmere is also home to other celestial objects, including several dwarf planets, gas giants, and constellations.{{article ref|Physical Realm}} At least one person has tried to leave the physical bounds of the cosmere, with unknown results.{{wob ref|13336}}

==== The Cognitive Realm ====
[[File:Shadesmar (TWoK).jpg|thumb|right|350px|<small><center>by [[Isaac Stewart]]</center></small>A map of [[Shadesmar]], the region of the Cognitive Realm around [[Roshar]].{{wob ref|5814}} Regions labelled "Expanse" lead to other planets in the cosmere.{{wob ref|1392}}]]
The [[Cognitive Realm]] is closely modeled on the Physical Realm, though there are significant differences. Because the Cognitive Realm is the Realm of thought, it is substantially impacted by how people imagine and percieve ideas. For example, outer space is significantly compressed in the Cognitive Realm, because people do not spend much time thinking about the space between planets.{{wob ref|1392}} There are also some entities that naturally exist primarily in the Cogntive Realm, such as the [[spren]] who personify thoughts, emotions, and natural features,{{book ref|sa2|3}} as well as certain [[Cognitive Shadow]]s.

The appearance of the Cognitive Realm around a particular planet seems to reflect salient characteristics of that planet&mdash;around Scadrial, for instance, it is composed of mist, while around Roshar it is composed of spheres.{{msh ref|1|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} Land and water are inverted in the Cognitive Realm&mdash;what is solid land in the Physical Realm is unstable ground in the Cognitive, while bodies of water in the Physical are solid in the Cognitive.{{msh ref|3|2}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} As a result, physical beings attempting to traverse non-solid regions of the Cognitive Realm risk drowning in whatever composes the local Cognitive Realm, though cognitive entities can traverse these regions safely.{{msh ref|2|1}}{{book ref|sa3|89}} 

==== The Spiritual Realm ====
{{quote
|All things exist in three Realms, Gaotona. '''Physical''', '''Cognitive''', '''Spiritual'''. The Physical is what we feel, what is before us. The Cognitive is how an object is viewed and how it views itself. The Spiritual Realm contains an object’s soul&mdash;its essence&mdash;as well as the ways it is connected to the things and people around it.
|[[Shai]] discussing [[Realmatic Theory|the Realms]] with [[Gaotona]]{{tes ref|12}}
}}
The [[Spiritual Realm]] exists beyond space and time.{{wob ref|6129}} As such, it is not truly a place, but rather is the Realm of concepts like [[Identity]], [[Connection]], and [[Fortune]].{{tes ref|12}}{{wob ref|10298}} Everything exists in the Spiritual Realm in its ideal form.{{tes ref|12}}{{book ref|sa3|103}}

'''Identity''' is the spiritual property that demarcates one person or object for another and describes who or what they are.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Losing their Identity during the [[False Desolation]] turned the [[singer]]s into [[singer#slaveform|slaveform]].{{book ref|sa3|17}} Identity also serves as the lock and key for metalminds; [[Feruchemy|Feruchemists]] can only withdraw attirbutes stored by someone with a matching Identity&mdash;ordinarily, this means only attributes they stored.{{book ref|mb6|3}} Because Identity describes who a person is, it is closely tied to the concept of a [[Spiritweb]], which is sometimes called Spiritual DNA.{{wob ref|115}} Spiritwebs are not entirely understood, but they are quantifiable in some way,{{wob ref|13361}} and seem to record information about a person's Investiture, such as the genetics that make one an [[Allomancy|Allomancer]].{{wob ref|9687}}

Magical healing in the cosmere usually works by using [[Investiture]] to make a person's condition in the Physical Realm more closely match their idealized self in the Spiritual Realm, though this idealized self is filtered through the person's perception of themself in the Cognitive Realm. As a result, healing is usually limited by how a person views themself, and once a person accepts something as part of themself, it will not be able to heal.{{wob ref|9441}}

{{sidequote
|Yours is the power of Connection, of joining men and worlds, minds and souls.
|The [[Stormfather]] to [[Dalinar Kholin]], explaining the powers of the [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]]{{book ref|sa3|64}}
|side=left|size=300px
}}
In addition to containing this information about a person or obejcts's Identity, the Spiritual Realm also stores '''Connection''' between people, objects, and even more abstract concepts.{{tes ref|12}} For example, a person can form Connection to a region, which will allow them to speak that region's language.{{book ref|mb6|22}}{{book ref|sa3|65}} In order to take up a [[Shard]] after a Vessel dies, a person must be Connected to that Shard.{{msh ref|5|2}} 

Because the Spiritual Realm exists beyond space an time, it&mdash;along with the associated property of '''Fortune'''&mdash;can be used to see events in other locations or even the future,{{wob ref|730}}{{wob ref|10298}} though this is generally very difficult.{{wob ref|6304}}{{book ref|sa1|75}}

=== Investiture ===
Just as there is an equivalency between mass and energy, in the cosmere these things can also be exchanged with a magical power known as [[Investiture]]. When Investiture is accounted for, the cosmere adheres to the ordinary laws of conservation and thermodynamics.{{wob ref|3544}}{{wob ref|1649}} Investiture mostly exists in the Spiritual Realm, though it is more precisely understood as transcending the Realms.{{wob ref|5610}} However, it can also exist in a "condensed" form in the Physical Realm as solid, liquid, or gas.{{msh ref|6|7}}

If left alone, Investiture will, over time, become self-aware,{{wob ref|3776}} resulting in a [[Splinter]].{{wob ref|10563}} [[Khriss]] suspects that the land itself on [[Sel]] is undergoing a process like this as a result of [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]]'s Investiture being trapped in the Cognitive Realm.{{au ref|Sel}} More common examples of this process include [[seon]]s and [[spren]].{{wob ref|10563}}

Investiture has a property that associates it with one of the sixteen [[Shard]]s of [[Adonalsium]]; at the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], all Investiture was divided evenly between the Shards.{{wob ref|8605}}{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|5313}} Even though, as a result of the Shattering, all Investiture is associated with a Shard, Investiture also remains linked to Adonalsium in some way and the Shattering meant "everything and nothing at the same time" to Investiture.{{wob ref|9385}}

A Shard can also "co-opt" another Shard's Investiture or interfere in a planet where they are not already present. When this happens, the effects will often be colored red.{{wob ref|8340}} For example, when [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]]'s Faceless Immortals on [[Scadrial]] possess someone, their eyes glow red.{{book ref|mb6|epilogue}} This effect is also seen with many of [[Odium]]'s servants on [[Roshar]],{{book ref|sa2|81}} as Odium is primarily Invested in [[Braize]], not Roshar.{{wob ref|13074}}

{{sidequote
|This is a powerful magic, and one where humans themselves have often had access to grand bursts of strength. I would challenge one to identify another planet, save only Roshar, where one can find such strength of Investiture so commonly in the hands of mortals.
|[[Khriss]] on [[Allomancy]] and [[Feruchemy]]{{au ref|Scadrial}}
|side=right|size=300px
}}
Investiture can be divided into two categories: '''Kinetic Investiture''' and '''Innate Investiture'''. Kinetic Investiture refers to Investiture actively doing something. When Investiture is kinetic, it can often be detected by various methods, such as [[Allomancy|Allomantic]] [[bronze]] or sand from the Dayside of [[Taldain]].{{wob ref|5715}}{{wob ref|9521}} Innate Investiture refers to all Investiture not actively doing something, from the piece of [[Preservation]] in all [[Scadrial|Scadrians]] to [[Feruchemy|Feruchemical]] charge in a metalmind.{{wob ref|5715}}{{wob ref|1072}}{{wob ref|6927}}

Cosmere scholars term the various methods of utilizing Investiture (such as the [[Metallic Arts]], [[Surgebinding]], and [[Awakening]]) '''Invested Arts''',{{book ref|sa3|part=ars}} Since the Shattering, these can be grouped into three main categories. The most common are those powered directly by the Shards,{{wob ref|4097}} which arise from the interactions between a Shard and the planet they are Invested in.{{wob ref|5269}} Such Invested Arts are capable of far more spectacular results than other Invested Arts.{{wob ref|9385}}{{wob ref|4097}} If a planet does not have a Shard in residence, it inhabitants can still access and use Investiture by the ordinary laws of Realmatics, but, without a Shard to provide additional power, the results are far more limited.{{wob ref|9385}} The last category is the few Invested Arts left over from before the Shattering of Adonalsium,{{wob ref|4097}} of which the only known example is [[Yolen|Yolish]] [[Lightweaving]].

=== Perpendicularities ===
[[File:I am Unity.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small><center>by {{a|Wanda Sonnemann}}</center></small>[[Dalinar Kholin]] summoning [[Honor's Perpendicularity]]]]
{{quote
|Honor's Perpendicularity. A well of power that pierces all three realms. A pathway home.
|[[Syl]] to [[Kaladin]]{{book ref|sa3|119}}
}}
When a sufficient amount of Investiture coalesces in one place in the Physical and Cognitive Realms, it creates a junction between all three Realms known as a [[perpendicularity]]. Most stable perpendicularities form from the presence of a [[Shard]] on a planet and the massive amount of Investiture they bring with them.{{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|9665}} Sentient beings can use perpendicularities to travel between the Physical and Cognitive Realms, which in turn facilitates easier travel on and off a planet for those with the knowledge to use them.{{au ref|Drominad}}

=== Adonalsium ===
{{quote
|There was a God. Adonalsium. I don’t know if it was a force or a being, though I suspect the latter.
|[[Khriss]] on [[Adonalsium]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
When the cosmere began, there was an entity known as Adonalsium; this entity is widely believed to have created the cosmere.{{wob ref|4850}} Perhaps for this reason, Adonalsium is sometimes referred to as "the power of creation."{{wob ref|6072}} Investiture was Adonalsium's power,{{wob ref|5799}} which has led cosmere scholars to conclude that either Investiture seeks intelligence because it used to be Adonalsium or that Adonalsium came into being because Investiture sought intelligence.{{wob ref|9324}}

The exact nature of Adonalsium, however, remains unclear. It may have been a mere force that acted according to specific rules or an actual entity that could think on its own; [[Khriss]] suspects the latter.{{msh ref|3|2}} The way Adonalsium saw the cosmere was simply how the cosmere worked. For example, the [[spren]] on [[Roshar]] could not form [[fabrial]]s prior to the Shattering because Adonalsium did not want them to be able to do so. Given Adonalsium had this level of control over the cosmere, some have suggested that Adonalsium may have wanted the Shattering to occur.{{wob ref|13525}}

Some say there are "subtle forces" being manifest in the cosmere, separate from Adonalsium, likely referring to belief in the [[God Beyond]].{{wob ref|3436}}

==== Shards of Adonalsium ====
{| class="infobox sortable center-col-1 center-col-2" style="float:right; margin-left:15px; margin-bottom:10px; width:25%;"
|-
! colspan=2; style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Shards of [[Adonalsium]]
|-
! [[Shard]]
! Original Vessel
|-
| [[Endowment]]
| [[Edgli]]
|-
| [[Cultivation]]
| ''Unknown''
|-
| [[Honor]]
| [[Tanavast]]
|-
| [[Odium]]
| [[Rayse]]
|-
| [[Preservation]]
| [[Leras]]
|-
| [[Ruin]]
| [[Ati]]
|-
| [[Devotion]]
| [[Aona]]
|-
| [[Dominion]]
| [[Skai]]
|-
| [[Autonomy]]
| [[Bavadin]]
|-
| [[Ambition]]
| [[Uli Da]]
|}
{{quote
|[Odium] is far greater than I, but the power of ancient Adonalsium permeates him. And controls him. Odium is a force like pressure, gravitation, or the movement of time. These things cannot break their own rules. Nor can he.
|The [[Stormfather]] on [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium{{book ref|sa3|16}}
}}
During the [[Shattering of Adonalsium|Shattering]], Adonalsium split into sixteen pieces, referred to as [[Shard]]s of Adonalsium. Each of these Shards represents a particular facet, or intent, of Adonalsium. Sixteen people involved in the Shattering then took up those Shards, becoming the first Vessels and effectively ascending to godhood.{{msh ref|3|2}} There was some sort of force or property of the cosmere that caused Adonalsium to shatter into the sixteen Shards that it did,{{wob ref|9956}} and the distribution of the Shards to the Vessels was not random.{{wob ref|5490}}

Though the power of a Shard requires a mind to control it, known as a Vessel, the intent of a Shard will slowly warp the minds of those that hold it, overriding their independence.{{epigraph ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|5485}} For example, after [[Leras]] Ascended as [[Preservation]], he became unable to cause harm, even to preserve other things.{{book ref|mb3|81}}{{msh ref|2|3}} It is unclear whether the original Vessels knew this when they took up their Shards, but, eventually, the Vessels came to be known simply by their Shard's name.

The Shards have access to infinite power, but the Vessels' minds, even though they are expanded by holding the Shard, are not capable of wielding it all at once.{{wob ref|8605}}{{wob ref|8702}} The Shards are also limited by certain rules that restrict how they can act;{{book ref|sa3|16}}{{book ref|sa1|75}} for example, they must fulfill a formally made oath.{{wob ref|13144}}{{book ref|sa3|122}} Shards can also intervene to block another Shard's actions, though not perfectly.{{book ref|mb3|76}}

Despite these restrictions, however, the Shards are generally capable of both subtle and incredible changes. Among other things, they can change to orbit of entire planets, make changes to individuals and entire species on a genetic level, alter some of the mechanics of an Invested Art resulting from their presence on a planet, and speak into the minds of people.{{book ref|mb3|82}}{{wob ref|5971}}{{book ref|mb5|17}} Since Shards exist primarily in the Spiritual Realm, they also have some ability to look into the future, though not all Shards are equally good at this and it fragments into more and more possibilities the further they look.{{wob ref|8147}}{{book ref|sa3|75}}

Since the Shattering, the Shards have been the primary source of magic in the cosmere.{{wob ref|4097}} The interactions between their Investiture and a planet give rise to Invested Arts that are far more powerful than those formed by people accessing background Investiture.{{wob ref|5269}}{{wob ref|4097}}

== Planets ==
{{quote
|Other planets ... Yes, there are dozens of them. Many are inhabited by people much like you or me. There is [[Yolen|an original]], shrouded and hidden somewhere in the cosmere. I’ve yet to find it, but I have found stories.
|[[Khriss]] to [[Kelsier]]{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
{{for|Physical Realm}}
While the cosmere has a wide array of planets, twelve are currently known that are relevant to the broader cosmere. Three of these planets&mdash;Ashyn, Braize, and Roshar&mdash;are in the same planetary system.{{au ref|Roshar}}
[[File:Cosmere constellation map.jpg|thumb|right|<small><center>by [[Isaac Stewart]]</center></small>A star chart of the cosmere in the Physical Realm]]

=== Primary Worlds ===
'''[[Nalthis]]''' is a world of color. Color is needed to fuel its magic system, [[Awakening]], and those with large amounts of [[Breath]] will enhance the colors around them and can see perfect shades of colors.{{book ref|wb|prologue}} When someone dies, [[Endowment]], the resident Shard, occasionally sends their [[Cognitive Shadow]] back as a [[Returned]] to prevent a tragedy they forsee after their death.{{book ref|wb|57}}{{wob ref|5943}}

The [[Rosharan system]] consists of three planets of note. '''[[Ashyn]]''' was nearly destroyed in an apocalypse long ago, though a few cities remain floating in the atmosphere.{{wob ref|8243}} Anyone with a disease there also gains a magical power.{{wob ref|12271}} '''[[Roshar]]''' is a planet with a [[highstorm|powerful storm]] that frequently blows across the continent and [[spren]] can cross into the Physical Realm.{{au ref|Roshar}} '''[[Braize]]''' is the prison of the [[Fused]] where the [[Herald]]s are tortured between [[Desolation]]s.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

'''[[Scadrial]]''' is the most technologically advanced planet and the most similar to [[Yolen]].{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{wob ref|6732}} Its [[Metallic Arts|three magic systems]] all use metal to store and access [[Investiture]].{{book ref|mb6|part=ars}}

'''[[Sel]]''' is a large planet with three great domains.{{au ref|Sel}} It has many magic systems, which are tied to the user's location and are accessed by creating shapes in the proper form, rather like programming.{{wob ref|1768}}

The planet '''[[Taldain]]''' is tidally locked between two stars, a blue-white supergiant and a white dwarf. The side of the planet facing the former, [[Dayside]], is a vast desert where Investiture arrives from the light of the star. [[Darkside]] faces the white dwarf and is in perpetual twilight, and many things there fluoresce in ultraviolet light. Its [[Shard]], [[Autonomy]], keeps the planet isolated from the rest of the cosmere.{{au ref|Taldain}}

{| class="infobox sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Primary Worlds of the Cosmere
|-
! style="width:15%;" |Planetary System
! style="width:12%;" |Planet
! style="width:29%;" |Shards
! style="width:40%;" |Books
! class=unsortable style="width:4%;" |Reference
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Nalthian system|Nalthian System]]
| [[Nalthis]]
| [[Endowment]]
| ''[[Warbreaker]]'', ''[[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]]'' (unpublished)
| {{wob ref|1120}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=3 |[[Rosharan system|Rosharan System]]
| [[Ashyn]]
| ''None''
| ''[[The Silence Divine]]'' (unpublished)
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|8869}}
|-
| [[Braize]]
| [[Odium]]
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]''
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
| [[Roshar]]
| [[Cultivation]], [[Honor]]
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]''
| {{au ref|Roshar}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Scadrian system|Scadrian System]]
| [[Scadrial]]
| [[Preservation]], [[Ruin]] ([[Final Ascension|combined]] as [[Harmony]])
| [[Mistborn (series)|''Mistborn'' series]]
| {{au ref|Scadrial}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Selish system|Selish System]]
| [[Sel]]
| [[Devotion]], [[Dominion]]
| [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]], ''[[The Emperor's Soul]]''
| {{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Taldain system|Taldain System]]
| [[Taldain]]
| [[Autonomy]]
| ''[[White Sand]]''
| {{au ref|Taldain}}{{wob ref|5984}}
|}

=== Other Notable Worlds ===
The [[Drominad system]] is home to several planets, all of which have water as a dominant feature. Three of them are inhabited by humans, the most of any planetary system in the cosmere. The innermost planet, '''[[First of the Sun]]''' has a [[perpendicularity]], though travel through it is incredibly dangerous.{{au ref|Drominad}}

'''[[Threnody]]''' is a planet with two principle parts: the [[Fallen World]], which is under the control of an unknown entity called the [[Evil]] that is so dangerous that everyone left, and the [[Forests of Hell]], which is home to dangerous [[Cognitive Shadow]]s known as [[Shade]]s. Perpendicularities on Threnody are unstable and have a morbid origin.{{au ref|Threnody}}

'''[[Yolen]]''' is the original planet of humans and the location of the [[Shattering]].{{wob ref|5702}}{{wob ref|11602}} It has few inhabitants in the modern era and has been hidden from most of the people of the cosmere.{{wob ref|6545}}{{msh ref|3|2}}

Little is known about '''[[Obrodai]]''' and '''[[Vax]]'''.

{| class="infobox sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
!colspan=5 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Other Worlds of the Cosmere
|-
! style="width:15%;" |Planetary System
! style="width:12%;" |Planet
! style="width:29%;" |Shards
! style="width:40%;" |Books
! class=unsortable style="width:4%;" |Reference
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Drominad system|Drominad System]]
| [[First of the Sun]]
| [[Patji (being)|Patji]] (Avatar of [[Autonomy]])
| ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''
| {{au ref|Drominad}}{{wob ref|8902}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Obrodai]]
| Avatar of [[Autonomy]], ''possibly others''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[Oathbringer]]'')''
| {{epigraph ref|sa3|50}}{{wob ref|9081}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |[[Threnodite system|Threnodite System]]
| [[Threnody]]
| [[Ambition]]
| ''[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]''
| {{au ref|Threnody}}{{wob ref|5603}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Vax]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''None (Referenced in ''[[Elantris]]'' and ''[[Mistborn: Secret History]]'')''
| {{book ref|elantris|part=ars}}{{msh ref|6|8}}
|-
! rowspan=1 |''Unknown''
| [[Yolen]]
| ''Unknown''
| ''[[Dragonsteel]]'' series (unpublished)
| {{wob ref|5984}}
|}

== History ==
=== Before the Shattering ===
{{quote
|It was a distant place where two lands meet and gods have died.
|[[Hoid]] on pre-[[Shattering]] [[Yolen]].{{book ref|wb|32}}
}}
The first humans lived on [[Yolen]] and were created by Adonalsium.{{wob ref|5702}}{{msh ref|3|2}} Yolen was also home to [[dragon (cosmere)|dragons]] and [[Sho Del]].{{wob ref|9676}} At some point, a poorly-understood and parasitic ecosystem hostile to humans, known as fainlife, began to develop on Yolen. It began to spread and overtake the landscape, though the other inhabitants eventually learned how to keep it in check.{{wob ref|7825}} Plants and land overtaken by fainlife retain their shape, but turn bone-white and spill red liquid when crushed or snapped.{{wob ref|9518}} Information about fainlife remains accessible enough in the modern cosmere that [[Khriss]] was able to mention it to cosmere-aware people without need for explanation.{{au ref|Scadrial}} Prior to the Shattering, Yolen's technology was likely pre-industrial.{{wob ref|9882}}

Most of the other planets in the cosmere existed and were named prior to the Shattering.{{wob ref|7262}} During this time, Adonalsium created the entire [[Rosharan system]] and grew the supercontinent on the planet [[Roshar]]; as a result, the continent is shaped like the two-dimensional projection of a [[wikipedia:Julia set|Julia set]].{{wob ref|9283}}{{wob ref|3953}}

[[Investiture]] still existed prior to the Shattering, though its form was different.{{wob ref|1118}} During this time, there was a plot to destroy Adonalsium, but it failed.{{wob ref|2648}} [[Hoid]], the dragon [[Frost]], and the original Vessels all lived before the Shattering.{{wob ref|11070}}

=== The Shattering of Adonalsium ===
{{quote
|Sixteen people, together, killed Adonalsium, ripping it apart and dividing its essence between them, becoming the first who Ascended. [They were] a diverse group, with equally diverse motives. Some wished for the power; others saw killing Adonalsium as the only good option left to them. Together they murdered a deity, and became divine themselves.
|[[Khriss]] on the original [[Vessel]]s{{msh ref|3|2}}
}}
Eventually, a group of people that opposed Adonalsium came together and plotted its destruction.{{wob ref|4078}}{{wob ref|2539}} They created a weapon,{{wob ref|5602}} which was expended in its use;{{wob ref|2246}} though remnants of it are the cause of [[Hoid]]'s immortality.{{wob ref|10439}} The group consisted of people of all three sapient species on [[Yolen]]: humans. [[dragon (cosmere)|dragons]], and [[Sho Del]].{{wob ref|9676}} Possibly by using that weapon, in an event known as the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]], that group of people managed to destroy Adonalsium and split it into the sixteen [[Shard]]s. By doing so, they became the first Vessels of the Shards.{{msh ref|3|2}} There was some sort of force or property of the cosmere that caused Adonalsium to shatter into the sixteen Shards that it did,{{wob ref|9956}} and the distribution of the Shards to the Vessels was not random.{{wob ref|5490}} The Shattering occured on Yolen, though there is some "weirdness" with regard to Yolen and location,{{wob ref|11602}} and occurred all at once.{{wob ref|1292}} As a result of the Shattering, all Investiture in the cosmere became aligned with one of the sixteen Shards.{{wob ref|8605}}

Hoid was loosely involved in the plot to Shatter Adonsalsium and was present at the Shattering.{{wob ref|10868}}{{wob ref|6470}} He also had the opportunity to take a Shard, but turned it down.{{wob ref|3337}} He and [[Frost]] both knew the original Vessels personally.{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}

After the Shattering, the new Vessels made some sort of agreement to not interfere with each other,{{epigraph ref|sa3|39}} though the exact agreement was somewhat ambiguous and the Vessels who suggested it did not make sure to get a formal oath from the others.{{wob ref|10835}}{{wob ref|13144}} Regardless, the Shards then went their separate ways. Most settled on a planet, though at least one did not.{{wob ref|4441}} Some chose to go off on their own,{{au ref|Taldain}}{{au ref|Threnody}} while others stayed together with other Shards.{{au ref|Sel}}{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{au ref|Roshar}} Around this time, [[Ruin]] and [[Preservation]] created the planet [[Scadrial]], using the non-fain parts of Yolen as a guide.{{au ref|Scadrial}}{{msh ref|3|2}}

=== Odium's Quest ===
{{quote
|One need only look at the aftermath of his brief visit to Sel to see proof of what I say. In case you have turned a blind eye to that disaster, know that Aona and Skai are both dead, and that which they held has been Splintered. Presumably to prevent anyone from rising up to challenge Rayse.
|[[Hoid]] on [[Odium]] in [[Letters#The First Letter|his letter]] to [[Frost]]{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}{{epigraph ref|sa1|23}}
}}

Soon after the Shattering, or possibly even beforehand, the Vessel of Odium, Rayse, decided he wanted to become the strongest being in the cosmere.{{wob ref|6685}} However, Odium is, by its nature, selfish and Rayse did not want the intent of an additional Shard to make him into something else, so he instead decided to destroy the other Shards so that there would be no one left to challenge him.{{wob ref|6685}}{{wob ref|4130}} To do so, he developed a way to [[Splinter]] a Shard's power, which also results in the death of its Vessel.{{epigraph ref|sa1|22}}

{{sidequote
|He bears the weight of God's own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become.
|Frost on Odium in [[Letters#The_Second_Letter|his reply]] to Hoid{{epigraph ref|sa2|71}}
|side=left
|size=300px
}}
Odium's first target was [[Ambition]], as he feared that it would be a threat to him. However, while searching for Ambition, he encountered the Shards [[Devotion]] and [[Dominion]] on [[Sel]] and attacked them,{{wob ref|1550}} likely because he could argue they had violated the Vessel's pact to not interfere with each other.{{epigraph ref|sa3|37}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|39}}{{wob ref|8358}} In the ensuing battle, Odium successfully splintered Devotion and Dominion and killed their Vessels, Aona and Skai.{{au ref|Sel}} In order to ensure that no one could take up their Shards, he then somehow moved most of their Investiture from the Spiritual Realm into the Cognitive Realm, which made the [[Expanse of the Densities|Selish Congnitive Realm]] incredibly dangerous and the Selish Invested Arts location-dependent.{{wob ref|9616}}{{au ref|Sel}}{{wob ref|4129}}

Sometime after he splintered Devotion and Dominion, Odium finally found Ambition, who had settled in the [[Threnodite system]]. Odium attacked and mortally wounded Ambition, though the Shard fled and was ultimately Splintered elsewhere, possibly by another cause.{{au ref|Threnody}} Chunks of Ambition's power were ripped off in this clash, which twisted the people and planet of [[Threnody]].{{au ref|Threnody}}

[[File:Odium - XV the Devil.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<small><center>by {{a|taratjah}}</center></small>[[Odium]] and the [[Fused]]]]
Sometime after [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]] arrived on [[Roshar]], Odium traveled to the [[Rosharan system]].{{wob ref|9934}} Odium never intended to Invest himself in a planet,{{wob ref|227}} but, at some point, he became Invested in the Rosharan system to the point where he would now have to leave some of his power behind or forcibly tear it out in order to leave.{{wob ref|9852}} At some point while he was in the system, Honor and Cultivation used their power to trap him in the system.{{book ref|sa3|38}}

As a result, Odium has since been waging a war to free himself from whatever binds him to the system so that he can continue his quest. To that end, he Splintered off pieces of his power to create the [[Fused]],{{book ref|sa3|38}} the [[Unmade]],{{wob ref|9207}} and [[voidspren]],{{au ref|Roshar}} and also Invested in the Rosharan system enough to create and grant access to Invested Art known as [[Voidbinding]].{{wob ref|1540}} When the Fused first appeared, Honor created the [[Herald]]s, who could seal the Fused on [[Braize]], though the Fused tortured the Heralds into allowing them to return to [[Roshar]]. Every time a Herald broke, a [[Desolation]] would begin and the Heralds and [[Knights Radiant]] would fight the Fused until they could be sealed on Braize again. This situation continued for millennia and the Shards remained at a stalemate.{{book ref|sa3|38}} As a result of his past clashes with Shards, Odium has "scars that do not heal," which makes him more careful about future engagements.{{book ref|sa3|16}}

At least some of the other Shards are aware of Odium's actions. [[Endowment]] is currently indifferent to him and thinks he was justified in Splintering the Shards he did;{{epigraph ref|sa3|37}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|40}} she also believes she could "deal" with him if he becomes an issue.{{epigraph ref|sa3|41}} One of [[Autonomy]]'s avatars, [[Patji (being)|Patji]] also expressed indifference,{{wob ref|12761}}{{epigraph ref|sa3|46}} though he did indicate that a different avatar might be more receptive.{{epigraph ref|sa3|47}} There is also a [[Survival Shard|Shard who just wants to survive]] that is aware of Odium's goals and is "smart enough" to stay away.{{wob ref|326}}

=== The Ascension of Harmony ===
[[File:Harmony by Kelley Harris.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small><center>by {{a|Kelley Harris}}</center></small>[[Sazed]] as [[Harmony]]]]
For much of [[Scadrial|Scadrian]] history, [[Ruin]]'s mind was trapped in the [[Well of Ascension]], which prevented him from destroying the planet. After the death of the [[Lord Ruler]], however, he was successfully able to manipulate [[Vin]] into taking up the Well's power and then releasing it, which allowed him to be free.{{msh ref|2|3}} After [[Marsh]] removed her [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic]] spike, Vin Ascended and became the Vessel of [[Preservation]].{{book ref|mb3|73}} During the [[Battle of Hathsin]], Ruin had Marsh kill [[Elend Venture]], which inspired Vin to sacrifice herself and kill Ruin's Vessel, [[Ati]].{{book ref|mb3|81}}

[[Leras]], when he held Preservation's power, had forseen all this and planned for both Ruin and Preservation to be left without a Vessel so that [[Sazed]] could take up both Shards and their intents could moderate each other.{{book ref|mb3|82}} As a result of one person holding both Shards, Ruin and Preservation's power began to intermingle, and Sazed became known as [[Harmony]].{{wob ref|4115}} It is considered a single Shard, much like a king of two countries is still just one king.{{wob ref|6486}}

Odium is aware of Harmony, is scared of him,{{wob ref|1025}} and is making plans regarding him.{{wob ref|7319}}

=== Splintering of Honor and the True Desolation ===
Some time after the [[Recreance]],{{wob ref|8144}} [[Odium]] finally managed to [[Splinter]] [[Honor]],{{wob ref|9810}} even though [[Cultivation]] was assisting Honor in some way.{{wob ref|2729}} Honor, however, had prepared for this eventuality by, among other things, giving the [[Stormfather]] the power to create new [[honorspren]] and recording a series of visions for the Stormfather to show to potential [[Order of Bondsmiths|Bondsmiths]].{{book ref|sa3|28}}

Eventually, after approximately 4,500 years of torture on [[Braize]], the [[Herald]] [[Talenel]] broke and allowed the [[Fused]] to return to [[Roshar]],{{book ref|sa3|38}} though [[voidspren]] had already been actively preparing for their return, most notably by guiding the [[Listeners]] to summon the [[Everstorm]].{{book ref|sa3|prologue}}{{book ref|sa3|i|7}} Odium is now waging the [[True Desolation]] against the people of Roshar, while [[Dalinar Kholin]] and the newly re-founded [[Knights Radiant]] attempt to stop him;{{book ref|sa2|89}} presumably, winning this war in some way would allow Odium to leave the [[Rosharan system]]. As the person most [[Connection|Connected]] to the remnants of Honor's power, Dalinar could release Odium from whatever binds him to the Rosharan system; if he were released, Odium would Splinter Cultivation and "substantially" alter Roshar.{{book ref|sa3|57}}

=== Trell and Scadrial ===
Around three hundred years after the [[Catacendre]], the [[kandra]] [[Paalm]] used a [[Hemalurgy|Hemalurgic spike]] made of an [[trellium|unknown metal]] to hide herself from Harmony. After Bleeder's death, [[Marasi Colms]] connected this metal to the entity [[Miles Dagouter]] named just before he died, [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]].{{book ref|mb5|epilogue}} When [[Waxillium Ladrian]] died, Harmony showed him a red haze of "dread and destruction" surrounding [[Scadrial]], held back by a thin strip of light.{{book ref|mb6|28}} Harmony does not fully understand this, but it is another Shard manifesting its power on Scadrial,{{wob ref|6261}} most likely [[Autonomy]] or [[Odium]].{{article ref|Trell (Trellism)#Theories & Speculation}}

== Worldhoppers ==
{{for|Worldhopping}}
Some people who are aware of the broader cosmere have learned how to travel between planets and are known as worldhoppers. Since space in the Cognitive Realm is linked to how people think about that region, most of outer space is extremely compressed in the Cognitive Realm.{{wob ref|1392}} Therefore, if one could shift from the Physical to the Cognitive Realm, they could quickly travel between planets. The most common method for transfer to the Cognitive Realm is by going through a [[perpendicularity]], though it is also possible with the [[Surgebinding#Transportation|Surge of Transportation]].{{wob ref|1525}} Travel is also possible through the Physical Realm, though it takes a long time without faster-than-light travel,{{wob ref|12901}} which all planets could develop, though [[Scadrial]] is expected to take the lead on.{{wob ref|3453}}{{wob ref|3912}}

In total, the number of people traveling between planets probably numbers somewhere in the thousands.{{wob ref|9501}} There is no universal language that all worldhoppers speak,{{wob ref|1136}} though they can use [[Connection]] to speak local languages.{{wob ref|1021}}

=== Hoid ===
[[File:Hoid Frost.jpg|thumb|left|200px|<small><center>by {{a|Botanicaxu}}</center></small>[[Hoid]] with [[Frost]]]]
{{quote
|For I have never been dedicated to a more important purpose, and the very pillars of the sky will shake with the results of our war here. I ask again. Support me. Do not stand aside and let disaster consume more lives.
|[[Hoid]] on [[Odium]]'s war{{epigraph ref|sa1|28}}
}}

Hoid is a mysterious worldhopper who has been alive since before the Shattering of Adonalsium and was present for that event.{{wob ref|5077}} He has collected a variety of Invested items from around the cosmere and gained access to multiple Invested Arts.{{wob ref|5077}}{{article ref|Hoid#Abilities}} His long-term goals are unclear, but he is an adamant opponent of Odium's attempts to become the sole god of the cosmere. He has written to [[Frost]], [[Endowment]], [[Autonomy]], and [[Harmony]], hoping to enlist their help in dealing with Odium, but to no avail.{{article ref|Letters}} He has some ability to mainpulate [[Fortune]], which lets him learn where and when he needs to be to advance his goals, though he often doesn't know why being somewhere is important.{{wob ref|2567}}{{book ref|sa2|67}}

=== Worldhopping Groups ===
==== The Seventeenth Shard ====
{{quote
|However, it seems to me that all things have been set up for a purpose, and if we—as infants—stumble through the workshop, we risk exacerbating, not preventing, a problem.
|Frost to Hoid on his non-intervention policy{{epigraph ref|sa2|68}}
}}
The [[Seventeenth Shard]] is a group of worldhoppers that seeks to research and study the various worlds of the cosmere without interfering in existing cultures. They believe the Shards separated for a reason and want to minimize the risk of conflict between the Shards.{{wob ref|1564}} Frost may have some influence over them, either formally or informally.{{epigraph ref|sa1|26}} They are worried about Hoid, as they fear his actions on planets will exacerbate Shardic conflict and are trying, unsuccessfully, to hunt him down, though they have larger objectives as well.{{epigraph ref|sa1|26}}{{wob ref|7910}}

==== Silverlight ====
[[File:Nazh Khriss.jpg|thumb|right|200px|<small><center>by {{a|Botanicaxu}}</center></small>[[Khriss]] and [[Nazh]]]]
[[Silverlight]] is a city in the [[Cognitive Realm]] with both worldhoppers and long-term residents, as well as at least one university.{{wob ref|2555}}{{wob ref|3310}} The researcher [[Khriss]], the most knowledgeable person in the cosmere and author of the [[Ars Arcanum|Ars Arcana]],{{wob ref|5623}}{{wob ref|6873}} is associated with Silverlight and at least one university there.{{wob ref|8342}} Her employee, [[Nazrilof|Nazh]], who, among other things, draws and annotates maps, and collects other things for Khriss likely has ties there as well.{{wob ref|5623}}{{wob ref|5341}}

==== The Ire ====
{{quote
|Perhaps the Ire know more [about Investiture on Sel], but they are not speaking on the topic and have repeatedly denied my requests for collaboration.
|Khriss on the Ire{{au ref|Sel}}
}}
The [[Ire]] is a group of worldhopping [[Elantrian]]s. They existed prior to the [[Reod]] and were off-world when it occurred, which may have played a role in allowing them to weather it.{{wob ref|10476}} Their objectives are unclear, though they did attempt to Ascend one of their members as the Vessel of Preservation after Leras died.{{msh ref|5|2}} At that time, they were at least associated with a group whose forces were keeping the [[Shade]]s of [[Threnody]] contained in the [[Threnodite system]].{{msh ref|5|2}}

==== The Ghostbloods ====
The [[Ghostbloods]] is a secret society on Roshar. Unlike other groups, they are not entirely comprised of worldhoppers. However, at least two of their high-ranking members, [[Mraize]] and [[Iyatil]], are worldhoppers, the latter of whom was born in Silverlight.{{wob ref|1394}}{{wob ref|12733}}

=== Other Notable Worldhoppers ===
{{for|:Category:Worldhoppers|a complete list of worldhoppers|Category:Worldhoppers}}
Most, if not all, of the [[Five Scholars]] of Nalthis were worldhoppers and are well-regarded by the cosmere-aware scholarly community as pioneers of the study of Investiture and Realmatic Theory.{{wob ref|1548}} After learning from one of the Scholars, [[Vasher]], [[Vivenna]] became a worldhopper as well.{{wob ref|8511}} The [[dragon (cosmere)|dragon]] [[Frost]] is extremely knowledgeable about the cosmere, but is not actually a worldhopper, as he has not left [[Yolen]].{{wob ref|3679}} Additionally, there are several [[kandra]] from [[Scadrial]] who have become worldhoppers,{{wob ref|5990}} likely to help [[Sazed]] figure out the dynamics of the cosmere.

In addition, there is a thriving interplanetary trade system, the quality of which depends on the planets involved&mdash;Nalthis is easy to get to and even has customs for travelers to go through; Sel is incredibly dangerous due to the power of Devotion and Dominion being stuck in the Cognitive Realm; Roshar can be welcoming or dangerous, depending on the era; and Scadrial was relatively easy to access and had a stable mercantile system before [[Kelsier]] destroyed the [[Pits of Hathsin]] and rendered [[Ruin's Perpendicularity]] unusable for transferring between the Physical and Cognitive Realms.{{wob ref|9501}}{{msh ref|2|1}} [[Felt]] was involved in trade through the Pits of Hathsin.{{wob ref|11812}}

== Development ==
{{sidequote
|During my unpublished days I wrote thirteen books, only one of which was a sequel. ... But I wanted to be writing big epics. This is what I always wanted to do; something like the Wheel of Time. So I began plotting a large, massive series where all these books were connected, so I could kind of "stealth" have a large series without the editors knowing I was sending them books from the same series. It was mostly just a thing for me, to help me do the writing I wanted to be doing. And then when publication came I continued to do that, and told the story behind the story.
|Brandon on the beginnings of the cosmere{{wob ref|10182}}
|side=right
|size=400px
}}
When Brandon was beginning to write and trying to get published, he loved gigantic epic fantasy series. He knew, however, that starting with a big series might not be the best idea. If he wrote four books in a series, and the first one didn't get published, he couldn't submit his sequels, so he decided instead to focus on standalone stories. However, he still loved the idea of a huge epic series, so he decided to create a "hidden" epic to link his novels together. Brandon had seen other authors who made a single universe for all their books, like Isaac Asimov, but didn't like how Asimov had to retcon and shoehorn things together to connect his books, and so wanted to build the cosmere from the beginning, so it would always be consistent.{{wob ref|9813}}

Some ideas that came into the worldbuilding of the cosmere came from Plato's theory of forms, which contributed to the development of [[Realmatic Theory]]. In this, the distinction of what is perceived as "ideal" and what is the true ideal is important: true ideals have much to do with the Spiritual Realm, while people's perception of ideals deals with the Cognitive Realm. Another influence is Spinoza, with the idea that God is in everything.{{wob ref|4051}} Brandon also incorporated the idea of a "unifying theory of everything" from physics into the magic in the cosmere. All magics have underlying rules, and are derived from a single unified theory of magic.{{wob ref|9007}}

{{sidequote
|I hope that people will stick with me for all these books, because I'll do a lot of them. But they will fit together in some really cool ways once they are all done. I think you'll be very very impressed, but that's a while off.
|Brandon on the cosmere{{wob ref|6496}}
|side=left
|size=300px
}}
The cosmere sequence has a clear story that Brandon wants to tell and is fairly firmly outlined as 35 novels, plus a variety of novellas and other works, with the ''[[Dragonsteel]]'' series, [[Mistborn (series)|''Mistborn'' series]], and ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' forming the core of that story.{{wob ref|7744}}{{wob ref|13550}} ''Dragonsteel'' will tell [[Hoid]]'s backstory and the story of the [[Shattering of Adonalsium]];{{wob ref|13550}} ''Mistborn'' will have four series, following [[Scadrial]] from the [[Final Empire]] to the development of faster-than-light travel and the interaction between the various planets;{{wob ref|9005}}{{wob ref|5343}} ''The Stormlight Archive'' will be split into two arcs of five books each and is the story of the clash between the people of [[Roshar]] and [[Odium]].{{wob ref|3380}} Generally, knowledge of the cosmere as a whole will not be necessary until ''Dragonsteel'' and the final ''Mistborn'' trilogy, which are the beginning and the conclusion respectively of the cosmere sequence{{wob ref|6868}}

Brandon does not feel that the cosmere is restrictive to his writing.{{wob ref|6496}} Though cosmere novels are intensive, as they require more thorough planning and continuity maintenance, Brandon also has an internal wiki and people like [[Peter Ahlstrom|Peter]] and Karen Ahlstrom who help him keep the cosmere on track.{{wob ref|9015}}{{wob ref|9610}} When Brandon feels like he needs a break from the more stringent requirements of the cosmere, he'll turn to work on a less intensive novel or novella, which are almost always non-cosmere.{{wob ref|9015}} If there is a concept he really wants to write but doesn't fit in the limitations of the cosmere, he moves it into a non-cosmere book. For example, ''[[The Rithmatist]]'' started as a cosmere novel, and its magics take many elements from cosmere magics, but Brandon decided that he did not want a version of Earth in the cosmere, and so moved it to its own universe.{{wob ref|10860}} 

Brandon does generally plan out which cosmere hints to give to fans, but sometimes he gives hints on the fly. Usually, fans are able to pry much more than he initially intended to tell.{{wob ref|4910}}

== Bibliography of the Cosmere ==
{| class="infobox sortable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! colspan=3 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Published Works of the Cosmere
|-
! Publication Year
! Title
! Series
|-
! rowspan=1 |2005
| ''[[Elantris]]''
| [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]] #1
|-
! rowspan=2 |2006
| ''[[The Hope of Elantris]]''
| [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]] #1.5
|-
| ''[[Mistborn: The Final Empire]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #1
|-
! rowspan=1 |2007
| ''[[The Well of Ascension]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #2
|-
! rowspan=1 |2008
| ''[[The Hero of Ages]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #3
|-
! rowspan=1 |2009
| ''[[Warbreaker]]''
| Standalone Novel
|-
! rowspan=1 |2010
| ''[[The Way of Kings]]''
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' #1
|-
! rowspan=2 |2011
| ''[[The Alloy of Law]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #1
|-
| ''[[The Eleventh Metal]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn'' (Era 1)]] #0.5
|-
! rowspan=1 |2012
| ''[[The Emperor's Soul]]''
| Standalone Novella
|-
! rowspan=1 |2013
| ''[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]''
| Standalone Novella
|-
! rowspan=3 |2014
| ''[[Words of Radiance]]''
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' #2
|-
| ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''
| Standalone Novella
|-
| ''[[Allomancer Jak and the Pits of Eltania]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #1.5
|-
! rowspan=1 |2015
| ''[[Shadows of Self]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #2
|-
! rowspan=5 |2016
| ''[[The Bands of Mourning]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 2|''Mistborn'' (Era 2)]] #3
|-
| ''[[Mistborn: Secret History]]''
| [[Mistborn (series)#Era 1|''Mistborn (Era 1)]]'' #3.5
|-
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 1]]''
| ''[[White Sand]]'' #1
|-
| ''[[Arcanum Unbounded]]''
| Anthology
|-
| ''[[Edgedancer (novella)|Edgedancer]]''
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' #2.5
|-
! rowspan=1 |2017
| ''[[Oathbringer]]''
| ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' #3
|-
! rowspan=1 |2018
| ''[[White Sand|White Sand Volume 2]]''
| ''[[White Sand]]'' #2
|-
! rowspan=1 |2019
| ''[[White Sand Volume 3]]''
| ''[[White Sand]]'' #3
|}

=== Forthcoming ===
The following are confirmed upcoming cosmere novels:
*''[[Rhythm of War]]'', the fourth book of ''The Stormlight Archive''. It will feature flashbacks from [[Eshonai]] and [[Venli]]'s points-of-view,{{wob ref|12963}} and is set to be released on Novemeber 17, 2020.{{wob ref|13544}}
*''[[The Lost Metal]]'', the fourth and final Era 2 ''Mistborn'' novel. Projected release in 2020 or 2021.{{wob ref|13544}}
*[[Elantris sequel]] and [[Elantris finale]], the sequels to ''[[Elantris (book)|Elantris]]''. Expected to be written after ''The Stormlight Archive'' book 5 and ''Mistborn'' Era 2 are done.{{wob ref|13545}} They need to be written before ''Mistborn'' Era 3 and ''Nightblood''.{{wob ref|1053}}{{wob ref|9105}}
*[[Mistborn (series)#Era 3|Era 3 ''Mistborn'' trilogy]], the next ''Mistborn'' series, set to take place when Scadrial a technology level similar to that of the 1980s.{{wob ref|13585}} Planned to be written in the break between books 5 and 6 of ''The Stormlight Archive''.{{wob ref|11548}}
*''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'', which will have ten books in total, plus novellas. Book 5 will be written in the somewhat near future, after which Brandon will take a break and there will be an in-universe time skip of about a decade before book 6 picks up.{{wob ref|9442}}
*''[[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]]'', the sequel to ''[[Warbreaker]]''. Likely won't be written until ''The Stormlight Archive'' book 5, the ''Elantris'' sequels, and ''Mistborn'' Era 3 are written.{{wob ref|12276}}
*The ''[[Dragonsteel]]'' series, the origin story of [[Hoid]] and the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]]. Brandon is loosely working on it, but the series will not be written until the Stormlight Archive is finished.{{wob ref|12490}}{{wob ref|12313}}
*[[Mistborn (series)#Era 4|Era 4 ''Mistborn'' trilogy]], the science fiction trilogy, with [[Hoid]] as a main character.{{wob ref|10012}} Chronologically, this will be the last series in the cosmere sequence, and has much to do with the worlds coming together.{{wob ref|6868}}

=== Chronological Order ===
Brandon has been somewhat evasive about the order of cosmere stories, so that the timelines remains flexible for future books that he writes.{{wob ref|10273}} He has estimated the time from the Shattering to the breaking of the [[Oathpact]] at around 6000 years, but that number is non-canonical and may change greatly.{{wob ref|1355}} Brandon has, however, provided some answers and has stated that books have mostly been released chronologically, which allows a rough timeline to be constructed:{{wob ref|10502}}
* ''[[Dragonsteel]]'' series{{wob ref|10502}}
* ''[[White Sand]]''{{wob ref|10502}}
* [[Elantris trilogy|''Elantris'' trilogy]] and ''[[The Hope of Elantris]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* ''[[The Emperor's Soul]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* [[Mistborn Era 1|''Mistborn'' Era 1]]{{wob ref|10273}}
* ''[[Warbreaker]]'' and ''[[Nightblood (book)|Nightblood]]''{{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|5657}}
* ''[[Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* ''[[Arcanum Unbounded]]'' essays{{wob ref|1491}}
* ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' (books 1 through 5){{wob ref|10273}}{{wob ref|549}}
* [[Mistborn Era 2|''Mistborn'' Era 2]]{{wob ref|549}}
* ''[[The Stormlight Archive]]'' (books 6 through 10){{wob ref|549}}
* [[Mistborn Era 3|''Mistborn'' Era 3]]
* ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]''{{wob ref|10273}}
* [[Mistborn Era 4|''Mistborn'' Era 4]]{{wob ref|10273}}

== Further Reading ==
{{columns|
* [[Realmatic Theory]]
* [[Investiture]]
* [[Adonalsium]]
* [[Shard]]
* [[Perpendicularity]]
* [[Hoid]]
}}

== Notes ==
<references />
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[[Category:Cosmere| ]]
[[Category:General Cosmere| ]]
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Magic]]
[[Category:Notable articles]]
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