What The B@@K? #19 The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson

The Emperors Soul by Brandon Sanderson

What’s The Emperor’s Soul About?

"The Emperor's Soul" by Brandon Sanderson takes place in the same universe as “Elantris” and centers on Shai, a Forger who uses magic to rewrite histories. Imprisoned for a theft in the palace, she's tasked with recreating a soul for the Emperor who’s mind was injured after an assassination within 100 days to earn her freedom. To do this, she must craft a soulstamp with all her forgery knowledge and every piece of history she can find on the emperor.

Shai navigates the political intrigue of the palace, dealing with skepticism and hostility like that of the emperor’s arbiters Gaotona and Frava. She must face her own moral dilemmas and implications of her art as she works to achieve the impossible. When she succeeds in her task, she relies on what she’s learned from palace intrigue to escape.

Some themes to be discussed in the full-length podcast:

• Authenticity

• Ethics & Morality

• Perception & Trust

Want to know what we’re up to next for this podcast to read ahead?

1. March: Lost Horizon by James Hilton

2. April: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

Questions & Conversation Starters:

In no particular order (reference pages may vary by edition), let us know what you think in the comments section on any/all topics and questions!

1. What is a soulstamp? What is a forger? Who is Shai? What drives her?

2. What is an Essence Mark? Why do the arbiters ask Shai to work on “fixing” the emperor for her freedom. As this is seen as obscene by the empire, why did they resort to asking a criminal to heal the emperor?

   1. What does Shai think the task of reforging the emperor’s soul? Why does she decide to do it? Does she change her reason over time?

3. Everything exists in three Realms: Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual in this world. Do inanimate objects have some “soul” such that they know what they should be, want to be the best version of that, and can be tricked to be better?

4. Why does Ashravan keep a journal? (Besides being a great plot device to make Shai’s task possible that is.)

5. Why is the most complicated forgery of tone?

6. Did Shai succeed? Was her masterpiece the emperor’s mark or his speech as a result of his mark?

7. So, who’s the bad guy in all this? Is there one?

Topics we didn’t get to:

1. Why do people drift away?

2. Is thinking the same as caring?

3. Does an artist like ShuXen reserve the right to destroy their work if it’s used in a way they don’t approve of? Shai was hired to destroy the painting that set everything in motion by the creator.

Standout Lines:

• In the days of AI LLMs: “You copy other people’s great art. What you do is technically marvelous, yet completely lacking in spirit.”

• “If a wall can desire to be a mural… then you could desire to become a great painter.”

Top Books We’re Thinking About Next:

1. Animal Farm by George Orwell is a novel that falls under the genre of Political Satire. It's a clever and insightful allegory about the rise of Soviet communism.

2. When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey is a novel that falls under the genre of Supernatural Fiction. It's a story of a young girl with a special gift and the mysterious events that surround her.

3. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig is a novel that falls under the genre of Philosophical Fiction. It's a thought-provoking exploration of the nature of quality the meaning of life.

4. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is a novel that falls under the genre of Adventure Fiction. It's a classic story about a boy who discovers a treasure map and sets out on a quest.

5. (added by listener request) What If the Constitution Was Never Ratified? By Chuck DeVore

6. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

7. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

8. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

9. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

10. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!

Season 2 Book List:

1. September: How to Defeat a Demon King in Ten Easy Steps by Andrew Rowe is a novel that falls under the genre of Fantasy. It's a humorous story about a group of adventurers who set out to defeat a demon king.

2. October: Shadow of the Hegemon by OSC

3. November: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

   • The Time Machine by H.G. Wells is a classic novel that falls under the genre of Science Fiction. It's the story of a scientist who invents a time machine and travels to the future.

4. December: Emergence (by me! Craig T. Stewart) interview with a special guest!

5. January: Anthem by Ayn Rand

6. February: The Emperors Soul by Brandon Sanderson

7. March: Lost Horizon by James Hilton

8. April: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

9. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting! (May) 

10. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting! (June) 

11. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting! (July) 

12. TBD – Send us recommendations by commenting!