Difference between revisions of "The Lost Metal"

'''''The Lost Metal''''' is the title of the fourth and final [[Mistborn Era 2|''Mistborn'' Era 2]] book. It will bewas released on November 15, 2022.{{ref|name=TorAnnouncement}}

== Cover Synopsis ==

Following completion of ''[[The Alloy of Law]]'' Brandon plotted out three more books, following the same characters, to finish the story. Brandon began writing ''The Lost Metal'' in April 2021, after he finished ''[[Cytonic (book)|Cytonic]]'',{{tweet ref|1377732696865042432|Brandon's starting announcement|date=2021-04-01}} and completed the first draft on August 4, 2021.{{tweet ref|1423320505839325191|Brandon's completion announcement|date=2021-08-05}} The second draft was completed on September 20, 2021,{{wob ref|15360}} and went to beta readers and Brandon's editor shortly thereafter;{{wob ref|14971}} the beta read thenreads finishedconcluded some time in November.{{wob ref|15360}} BrandonThe planspost-beta toread doedit onewas moredone substantiveby editMarch based on their feedback7, likely2022;{{reddit whenref|brandonsanderson|t8v6hu|hzsps6y|context=8|text=Draft he4 needscompletion aannouncement|date=2022-03-07}} breakit fromtook [[Stormlightmore 5|''Stormlight''time 5]];to aftercomplete somethan workBrandon onhad polish, continuity,expected and proofreading,resulted in the book shouldgrowing belonger turnedthan inhe tohad Torinitially in summer 2022 for a November 15,anticipated.{{wob ref|name=TorAnnouncement15411}} 2022After releasethat, aroundBrandon whendid theone firstfinal twoedit, Erawhich 2was booksdone areby releasedMay in24, leatherbound.{{wob2022, ref|14971}}before Theturning post-betathe readbook editin wasto done by March 7, 2022;Tor{{redditurl ref|brandonsanderson|t8v6hu|hzsps6y|contexturl=8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4lrVPMaMnw|text=DraftMay 424, completion2022 announcementWeekly Update|site=YouTube|date=2022-0305-0724}} itfor tooka moreNovember time15,{{ref|name=TorAnnouncement}} to2022 completerelease, thanaround Brandonwhen hadthe expectedfirst andtwo resultedEra in2 thebooks bookwere growingreleased longerin than he had initially anticipatedleatherbound.{{wob ref|1541114971}}

The book will includeincludes some information relevant to the broader [[cosmere]], including the identity of [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]], the nature of [[trellium]],{{wob ref|14695}} and some clues about [[Kelsier]]'s plans.{{wob ref|11747}}{{wob ref|13135}} Most of those elements are more foreshadowing for [[Mistborn Era 3|''Mistborn'' Era 3]]{{wob ref|5996}} and the book will mostly focusfocuses on the characters of [[Wax]], [[Wayne]], [[Steris]], and [[Marasi]],{{wob ref|14695}}{{wob ref|14693}} though Brandon also considers the book to be slightly more cosmere-aware than any other book he has written.{{wob ref|15409}} The book will likely beginbegins with a [[Wayne]] flashback, rather than one of [[Wax]].{{wob ref|13838}} At least very earlyEarly in the development process, Brandon envisioned Wax having basicallyessentially retired and the book opening with Wayne as Marasi's deputy.{{wob ref|10283}} ItThe will almostbook certainly includeincludes a broadsheet, like the other books in ''Mistborn'' Era 2.{{wob ref|14602}}

The first draft of the book iswas about 149,000 words total.;{{wob ref|14971}} in the third draft, it grew by about 25,000 words.{{bws ref|some-faqs-you-might-enjoy|Some FAQs You Might Enjoy|date=2022-03-16}} In the first draft, Part One iswas about 30,000 words and hashad two separate narratives, each with two of the main characters, and alternatesalternated viewpoints between all four main characters.; Part Two iswas about 45,000 words and bringsbrought all four of the main characters together, continuing to alternate viewpoints.; Inand in Part Three, the characters split again, with oneMarasi on theirher own arc of about 30,000 words;, twoWax ofand themWayne together for an arc of about 40,000 words;, and Steris on her own for a short arc of about 10,000 words. Brandon wrote each of the arcs of Part Three separately from each other, which he found was a good approach as it essentially let him write the ending three times and he likes writing endings.{{wob ref|14852}} In total, Brandon predicted that Steris willwould have around seven or eight viewpoints.{{wob ref|14969}} The epilogue is a bit longer than normal, as it is the last book of Era 2 and Brandon wanted to linger with the characters and setting a little more.{{wob ref|14971}} The book later grew longer than Brandon expected in the third draft.{{wob ref|15411}}

* At JordanCon in 2021, Brandon did a reading of the first draft of the prologue, a flashback to Wayne as a young child. It can be listened to and read [[wob:14863|here on Arcanum]] and was also sent out in Brandon's July 2021 newsletter.

* At Dragonsteel Mini-Con in 2021, Brandon did a reading of the second draft of chapter one and part of chapter two, which can be listened to and read [[wob:15385|here on Arcanum]].