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Sixth of the Dusk

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'Sixth of the Dusk' by Brandon Sanderson is a Cosmere novella set in a world with unique world-building elements. The story follows Dusk, a trapper specializing in catching magical birds that grant powers, as he navigates dangerous islands filled with deadly creatures. The plot delves into the complexities of the fading native trapping culture, the advances of civilization, and the arrival of an advanced alien race known as The Ones Above.

The writing style of 'Sixth of the Dusk' is praised for its originality, intricate world-building, and engaging storytelling. The novella explores themes of mystery, adventure, and the clash between traditional practices and technological advancements in a captivating manner.

Characters:

The story primarily revolves around Dusk and one other character, with limited development due to its brevity, although Dusk is depicted as a stoic figure.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features moments of clunky prose but becomes immersive as the story progresses, with expectations of unobtrusive narration not always met.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot explores a declining native culture grappling with advances from an alien race, highlighting unique magic tied to birds in a vividly described oceanic setting.

Setting:

The setting is described as a dangerous archipelago inhabited by trappers and advanced aliens, with an emphasis on a unique ecological and magical system.

Pacing:

The pacing is generally fast as the story evolves, but the short length restricts deeper narrative development.
Death hunted beneath the waves. Dusk saw it approach, an enormous blackness within the deep blue, a shadowed form as wide as six narrowboats tied together. Dusk’s hands tensed on his paddle, his heart...

Notes:

The story features a magic system based on birds that grant abilities to their owners.
The novella is set in a low-tech world contacted by an advanced alien race called the Ones Above.
Worldbuilding is extensive despite the novella's short length of only 65 pages.
The main character, Dusk, is a trapper responsible for navigating dangerous islands filled with deadly flora and fauna.
This novella takes place furthest in the future of any of Sanderson's Cosmere stories.
The narrative explores themes of fading native cultures in the face of advancing technology and globalization.
Sanderson's prose received mixed reviews, with some finding it clunky at parts.
The relationship between Dusk's culture and technology is central to the story's conflict.
Character development is limited due to the novella's brief format.
Readers noted that the world feels original and intriguing, prompting interest in future stories set in this universe.

From The Publisher:

A fascinating new novella in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, the universe shared by his Mistborn series and the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive.

Sixth of the Dusk, set in a never-before-seen world, showcases a society on the brink of technological change. On the deadly island of Patji, where birds grant people magical talents and predators can sense the thoughts of their prey, a solitary trapper discovers that the island is not the only thing out to kill him.

When he begins to see his own corpse at every turn, does this spell danger for his entire culture? -------------------- A note from the publisher: For a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this novella, including brainstorming and workshopping session transcripts, the first draft, line-by-line edits, and an essay by Brandon, please see Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology.

Ratings (41)

Incredible (7)
Loved It (16)
Liked It (15)
It Was OK (3)

Reader Stats (69):

Read It (44)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (17)
Not Interested (6)

2 comment(s)

Incredible
1 month

The sixth of dust is 68 pages of a great story. Brandon Sanderson is able to take 2 characters, and develop both with their own personalities, develop the world, and have a conflict, twist, and climax in such a short space of time in a way that I have come to enjoy. I did not go through the version where he and the Writing Excuses folks worked this story from idea to completion, I only entered in at the point of completed novella, and I enjoyed this greatly. I would highly recommend for a quick dose of Fantasy.

 
Incredible
5 months

Really cool cosmere Novella.

 
 
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