Cosmere
The cosmere is a distinct universe totally separate from our own,[1] in which several of Brandon Sanderson's epic fantasy books take place.
Overview
There are ten "core" Shardworlds, meaning worlds with "significant Shardic influence", that feature in the over-arching story of the cosmere.[2] There are also several minor Shardworlds.
Once there was the mysterious power Adonalsium, whose true characteristic is still unknown. Due to unrevealed happenings in the cosmere the Shattering took place, which splintered Adonalsium in - suggested[3] - sixteen Shards, each one of them holding a part of the original power of Adonalsium. They then inhabited the ten Shardworlds across the Cosmere inter alia being responsible for the several magic systems on each planet.
In addition to the ten core worlds, there are also untold number of other inhabited worlds in the cosmere, with either no Shardic Influence, or only a Splinter of a Shard. While the cosmere has the same structure as our universe, with galaxies, solar systems, and the like, all of the Shards and Shardworlds are located within the same compact dwarf galaxy, so there are much fewer stars and solar systems than in our own.[4]
Time flows the same on all Shardworlds unless it is being manipulated by an external force such as bendalloy or cadmium.[5]
Note that there is no need to know anything of the cosmere to enjoy the cosmere books and series separately, since its story is told in background.
Other Relations
The structure of the Cosmere is explained by the Realmatic Theory.
The character Hoid and the organization Seventeenth Shard are speculated to be integral part of the cosmere's narrative beside the story of the Shards and Shardholders.
Planets
There are currently ten known Shardworlds. Two of these, Threnody and First of the Sun, are minor Shardworlds.
| World | Shards | Books |
|---|---|---|
| Ashyn | None | The Silence Divine |
| Braize | Odium | The Stormlight Archive |
| Nalthis | Endowment | Warbreaker, Nightblood |
| Roshar | Honor, Cultivation | The Stormlight Archive |
| Scadrial | Preservation, Ruin, Harmony* | Mistborn series (including Mistborn Adventures) |
| Sel | Devotion, Dominion | Elantris & sequels, The Emperor's Soul |
| Taldain | Unnamed Shard held by Bavadin | White Sand |
| Yolen | Unknown | Dragonsteel |
| Threnody | None | Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell |
| First of the Sun | None | Sixth of the Dusk |
Bibliography of the Cosmere
| Publication | Title | Series |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Elantris | Stand-Alone |
| 2006 | The Hope of Elantris | Short Work |
| 2006 | Mistborn: The Final Empire | Mistborn series |
| 2007 | The Well of Ascension | Mistborn series |
| 2008 | The Hero of Ages | Mistborn series |
| 2009 | Warbreaker | Stand-Alone |
| 2010 | The Way of Kings | The Stormlight Archive |
| 2011 | The Alloy of Law | Mistborn Adventures |
| 2012 | The Emperor's Soul | Short Work |
| 2013 | Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell | Dangerous Women Anthology |
| 2014 | Words of Radiance | The Stormlight Archive |
| 2014 | Sixth of the Dusk | Shadows Beneath Anthology |
| 2015 (forthcoming) | White Sand | Graphic Novel |
| 2015 (forthcoming) | Shadows of Self | Mistborn Adventures |
| 2016 (forthcoming) | Bands of Mourning | Mistborn Adventures |
| 2016 (forthcoming) | Stones Unhallowed (working title) | The Stormlight Archive |
| Forthcoming | The Lost Metal | Mistborn Adventures |
| Forthcoming | The Silence Divine | Stand-Alone |
| Forthcoming | Nightblood | Warbreaker sequel |
| Forthcoming | Dragonsteel |
Notes
- ↑ [1]
— Twitter - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "tweet-22409638968295424" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ {{{3}}}
— Theoryland - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "qa-718-8" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 11 epigraph#
- ↑ {{{3}}}
— 17th Shard forums - {{{date}}}# Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "17s-post-42426" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ YA fantasy livestream- min 55:33
— Livestream - 2013-11-16#