This week, we dive deep into Wind and Truth, the fifth entry in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive. What starts as admiration for Sanderson’s worldbuilding turns into a sharp critique of bloated storytelling, lazy editing, and inconsistent prose. We talk about what worked—Kaladin’s healing arc, Adolin’s relationships, and some truly epic battles—but spend most of the episode unpacking what didn’t: Shallan’s unbearable arc, the meandering Ghostbloods subplot, and a Dalinar who’s overstayed his welcome. The discussion moves from disappointment to analysis, tackling themes of mental health, narrative bloat, and the line between ambition and indulgence. We end by recommending The Gone Away World as a palate cleanser for readers craving tighter, more inventive writing.
📝 Episode Notes
- Both hosts share travel updates and kick things off sick but chatty.
- Wind and Truth clocks in at 1,360 pages or 63+ hours on audio—“a beast of a book.”
- Aubrey finished months ago; Peter only recently wrapped it up after rereading all Mistborn and the Secret Projects.
Overall impressions:
- Aubrey: emotional, conflicted, “stabbed in the heart” but also confused.
- Peter: relieved it’s over—“glad I won’t have to spend any more time with some of these characters.”
Favorites:
- Kaladin’s recovery and arc completion.
- Adolin and Yanagawn’s evolving friendship.
- The battles in Adolin’s storyline.
- Kaladin’s ending feels earned and hopeful.
Critiques:
- Sanderson’s prose feels “lazy” and “11th-grade honors English.”
- Too much worldbuilding—“circled back around and crawled up its own ass.”
- Shallan and the Ghostbloods storyline: “No one likes Shallan.”
- Dalinar: “A whiny ass little bitch.”
- Yasna’s “debate” with Odium felt implausible and shallow.
- Side plots (Lift, Navani, singers) felt unnecessary or underdeveloped.
Positive Spoilers:
- Kaladin’s ending as a Herald and Szeth’s tragic depth were highlights.
- Discussion of how Sanderson’s earlier writing (Mistborn, Final Empire) felt sharper and better edited.
- Peter recommends The Gone Away World by Nick Harkaway as a contrast—beautiful prose, mind-bending structure, and unforgettable turns.
- Aubrey resolves to slow down her reading pace to savor strong writing better.
- We close with laughs, no facts this week, and announce a four-week break for travel before the next episode.
