Kaladin surviving the Highstorm is the most cinematic moment I’ve ever read in a book. I hope we get to see it on the big screen someday

Michael kramer’s voice gives me goosebumps EVERY. TIME.

Having grown up in Southern Utah, I often forget just how unique our landscape is as it's just part of everyday life. It's awesome to hear how it was part of the inspiration for such a great book series though.

Personally I love Oathbringer and Dalinar's perspective. I don't know how you do it Sanderson but Dalinar's addiction to the thrill and blood lust you portrayed addiction so well. Having dealt with addiction in the past you hit it spot on with the voices in your head "do it, it's okay, you need this.." or Odium leading him on to go back to his old ways. I found Oathbringer so powerful and Stormlight is just incredible. Sanderson you are a genius and please keep creating stories for us.

Thank you, Micah! You took Brandon to Roshar, and now he has taken us there too!

I was trying to build a magic system the other day. I thought it would be interesting for the magic to be tied to positive self commitment. Meaning that committing to be the best version of yourself, you'd actually gain magic powers. But there needed to be some mechanism to control that effect, something that would take it away if you failed to live up to your own ideals. ...Then, I realized that that's the narrative function of spren. The Knights Radiant are magically powered by positive self-commitment, and spren are a mechanism to make the Knights Radiant lose that power if they cease to fulfill the criterion for having it. Sanderson's so brilliant it scares me.

Major props to the videographer and sound mixer on this video

How does that one little line “and they’ll know that I survived” make me cry… that’s not fair 😅

I think it is a testament to the power of this series that a picture of Brandon is a slot canyon can somehow make me emotional. Strange how a little rain could end up making such an impact on my life.

He writes when he speaks. ❤

I grew up in Southern Utah and first started listening to Way of Kings while driving through the Moab area, so I really connected with Roshar on that level from the start.

Demoux, you are a legend, sir

I finished rhythm of war 2 days ago, and I just have to say something, this books changed my life, and my way of seeing things it’s different now, it has been an amazing adventure, and I can’t do anything other than thanking you Brandon and your team for the amazing work you’ve put on to this, thanks.

I have Journey Before Destination written on my classroom board as a reminder to myself, and a message to my students, that it’s about the present steps we take in life and not the end results. Cherish the now and the rest will flow from it. Thank you, Brandon.

I never thought something could touch me as deeply as Wheel of Time. Never thought someone could create a story that meant as much to me as RJ's work. But you've done it. Thank you for sharing this look at The Stormlight Archive's inspiration.

Man Michael Kramers voice for narration really perfects these books, the gravity he can put behind Brandon's words is incredible.

That photo of Sanderson in college just pulled my heartstrings. So fun!

Loved watching the Mistborn origin video, this one is sure to be just as amazing! Thanks, Brandon.

Michael Kramer's reading of that scene adds so much to an already amazing tale.

Thanks Brandon now I have to go reread the whole series AGAIN

Wow this is what i love about Brandon, he has such an amazing ability to capture this beauty and tell a story

When I started reading Stormlight, I had never been to Utah. I've now been many times, and I'm excited to reread the series with that landscape in mind.

I hope one day I'll see something like this on the “behind the scenes” section of the DVD of the Stormlight movie.

This entire video was so well done. I could feel those emotions of awe and wonder mixed with terror when facing mother nature. I just love what you're doing here Brandon, and I really hope a movie is done for stormlight and done well

The graphic audio version of that scene is amazing.

I live in the Southwest as well, and any time I see a desert landscape and/or one of those rare huge thunderstorms, I can't help but think of Roshar.

Anyone else shocked by how handsome Brandon was back then? (Not saying he's not anymore, but damn he was one good looking young man)

Utah IS gorgeous. Arches and Zion are some of the most breathtaking things I've ever seen. I came from Missouri beginnings, and now live in Nevada, so I feel all this very much. How I wish I would ever have the opportunity to buy you a meal and talk about our shared experiences.

Brandon is right. Utah is beautiful. I've visited there 3 times and been to all 5 national parks in the state. It's one of the coolest landscapes you'll ever see. I can totally see how he created the shattered planes.

I grew up in southeastern Utah and spent my teenage years adventuring all over the desert; hiking slot canyons, the San Rafael Swell, Zion, Bryce, and other areas in SE Utah. The first time I read The Way of Kings and read the description of the chasms and the shattered plains, this is EXACTLY what I pictured! Sounds like I was spot-on. Love this.

So it's kinda random but I've assigned songs to these characters from stormlight: Charlie Brown (Kaladin): it's a melancholic song with a feeling of wanting to be free. It talks about "seeing the lights go down standing in front of him" which remind me of that scene where Kaladin is contemplating jumping into the abyss. It talks about "glowing in the dark" and a room that spins around, which is what Kaladin feels when he uses his powers. Old yellow bricks (Lift): it says that someone, Dorothy, is a fugitive, although she doesn't know what she's running from. She wants to revel in nostalgia and not "wake up", therefore, not grow. Believer (Dalinar): a very passionate song, talks about regret and annoyance with oneself. It declares that pain was the reason of his transformation to a believer. "By the grace of the fire and the flames", come on. Pain!

What a lovely choice of music to go with the video. It's really cool hearing the inspiration for the different worlds, especially in this format with pictures and narration.

I just love the dramatic sound effects in the background as Brandon talks about thunderstorms, and deadly flooding, and an idea. Truly, this is a master storyteller at work.

I’m half way through book 3. Thank you Brandon Sanderson! Thank you.

Incredible cinematography and video production, thank you! Very enjoyable to watch.

I'm from Louisiana, have been through several hurricanes in my life, and it HARD rains basically year round and often. I don't know why it took him talking about his childhood for me to realize why I like the highstorms and Roshar so much. the entire society is built around the storm, and when they prepare for it, it reminds me of hurricane prep and hunkering down.

The Narrows at Zion national park always remind me of the shattered pains. It’s awesome.

Im so hyped for the fifth installment

I grew up in Northern Iowa. It was much like Nebraska. I dove into video games and books because reality didn't have much to look at lol. Then I traveled to the Meteora in Greece. I've seen a lot of beautiful things since, but that is the only time nature has moved me to tears.

Nebraska native here. Cheers, Brandon. Journey before destination!

Acabo de rememorar la escena de Shallan y Kaladin en los abismos. Gracias por hacernos tan felices con tu obra Brandon, es una emoción real, limpia y agradable. Estos vídeos lo hacen todo un poquíto más humano 🙂

Having lived in the mid west and Utah, I agree with you. I used to watch the storms when I was in the mid west. Crazy powerful storms. It was awe inspiring.

Videos like this make my day. As someone who moved around a lot in my early twenties (Hawaii, Oregon, South Dakota, etc), and worked hard and saved up to visit places like New Zealand and Iceland, I’ve always (mostly subconsciously) pulled from my surrounding for inspiration in my writings. Not just culturally and socially, but environmentally and geographically and meteorologically, too. To hear one of my favorite authors more or less outlining a similar approach with his own genius work is not only reassuring for someone constantly questioning whether the blending and merging of distinctively different things can truly work, it’s entertaining and heartwarming. I’m grateful for all the BTS videos and writing courses that Brandon shares for free here. Such an inspiring creative, pulling people up with him. A main takeaway from this is for my fellow introverts and homebodies out there to take more opportunities to go outside, experience things, and actually live a life before attempting to create a whole world.

Thank you Mr Micah Demoux whenever you are, and thank you Mr Sanderson for the amazing video.

A beautiful story of the origin

i feel vibrato in my heart watching this video, this video give me strength that I can, one day share my creation with people and express vision of my mind. thanx for sharing yours:)

this is my new favorite video on the internet... it feels like a movie, and that makes me so excited and hopeful for a stormlight tv show someday.

I love your work!

Beautiful video. You are leaving an incredible legacy to future generations.

Beautiful presentation, Dragon Steel! I can totally see where the Shattered Plains idea stems from & the beasts that roam inside them Looking forward to StormLight book 5 (Currently listening to WoT, & am tempted to re-listen to StormLight Archives before delving into #5)

I love how beautiful these documentaries are, it's nice to get the insight in a well thought out and well produced response.

Just spent the last weekend walking the red rocks of southern Utah. I love this state. Also get a sense of pride to hear an incredible author and person like you to speaks highly of it. Great video.

You are such an inspiration, Brandon! Thank you for making these amazing stories :)

Im so thankfull for your Books and with these story its more real then before.

What a really beautiful video. Thank you, Brandon.

This series captured me and then you added this..thank you ❤

New Mexico has similar landscapes. I've definitely pictured them when reading about chasms in the Stormlight Archive

Absolutely amazing. Love this

That was extremely well done. Loved it. And thank you Micah!

Michael is the absolute goat, breezing through the audiobooks currently

I love storm light archives

Really hope we need a movie/series adaptation of Stormlight someday, its special. Thank you so much Brandon.

Love this new series!

Just awesome, no words.

That was a fantastic glimpse into the background of my favorite series. One of these years I'll make a side trip to southern Utah during the trip to Dragonsteel.

I have also sat on a swinging porch and watch the lightning storms. I think my love of flight, the sky, storms, and lightning, is what drew me to Kaladin fairly quickly, although as the story progresses I feel closer to Dalinar personality wise. kaladin is my younger self, and Dalinar is my older self now.

we would love more of these

I grew up hiking the Paria River Canyon too.. this was cool to see the correlation between the canyons and your inspiration.

Every time I hike a slot canyon in Goblin Valley (in southern Utah) I feel like I'm on Roshar in the chasms. Makes sense now!! ❤️

Such a cool video! Thanks for sharing your insight with us and for building these worlds!

Having grown up mostly in Central Washington and along the Columbia River Gorge, with a couple years as a kid in Colorado and Utah, I've always pictured the Shattered Plains as a combination of your slot canyons and the basalt crags & mesas of the Columbia Basin steppes.

One of my favorite little details that I believe is mentioned multiple times in Stormlight is how you always find both rotspren and lifespren at the bottom of the chasms

been waiting for this video for AGES!!!

Amazing video, love the story!

wow, it's a fantastic sharing

I cannot WAIT to see any adaptation.

The music feels very Skyrim-y. I love this video!

The way he described floods that happen here in St George is so accurate haha. It is cool to hear someone describe our landscape in such an accurate but alien way. I love hearing it from an outside perspective:)

Wow! A very well edited video, congratulations to the team.

I love the entire four corners region. Beautiful red rock formations in Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. Utah does have the amazing Arches National Park and surrounding areas that hopefully serve as visual inspiration some day when we get a live action adaptation.

Warms my heart that you based Stormlight archives off my home state :)

Nice photos of young Brandon!

Awesome

Lived my whole life in Kansas - I know those storms well :)

I definitely thought of the Narrows in Zion National Park during the chasm scenes in Way Of Kings!

Makes me wanna go to Utah now ...

that first minute just makes me want to listen to all of stormlight in audio book version

this is epic

Wow. Now I have to go there

I noticed that brandom has a thing for things that FEEL magical. Like the atmosphere of a cathidral, the grate canyon, salt and reeely cold drinks. He likes popcorn to. 🤔 fasinating. Concidering he bearly reatcs to spicy food.😂

I have family in St George, UT. Beautiful red hills and volcanic areas.

Awesome!

Loving that the music is from Tears in rain!

Growing up in the same place as Brandon I can attest what we lack in mountains we make up in some of the most amazing thunderstorms that you could ever imagine

I love the background soundtrack to kramer's reading here, it really puts melody to the emotions I was feeling when I read those words. I would love to hear a full audiobook done like this, like something between a dramatized audiobook (which I'm not really a fan of) and a traditional one

It's always interesting to me where ideas like this come from. A few years ago I was watching a video about centipedes, and I saw one wrap itself around another insect and start eating it. Not long after I was taking my kids to a natural history museum and they had this giant model of a centipede looking thing, the size of a human. It gave me this idea of how horrifying it would be to have this giant centipede with knife like legs wrapping itself around you and digging into you. So when I started thinking up a sci-fi horror novel, you can guess what I had to put in it.

Sweet

In Rhythm of War, Dabbid gets focus for a chapter and it’s absolutely perfect. One of the (many) things that makes Sanderson so great is the little things like this. These little choices that build out the characters, so he can come back to them later and they make sense. Stormlight (the entire Cosmere, really) is just a master class in story telling.

If we could get a audio book version of stormlight with sounds and music in the background....I think it would be my favorite thing ever

I hope that the Radiant Order kits become available after the leather-bound run is done. I couldn't make the finds for it work out in time, and I think that's the part I'm the most sad to miss out on.