Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
“Rhythm of War” is the fourth installment in Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. Set on the planet Roshar, the novel continues the conflict between Dalinar Kholin’s coalition of Knights Radiant and the forces of Odium, a malevolent god seeking dominion. The story delves deeper into the psychological and emotional struggles of key characters, including Kaladin, Shallan, and Navani, as they grapple with war, trauma, and the mysteries of ancient magics. Themes of resilience, identity, and the cost of power are explored amidst intricate world-building and high-stakes battles. The book expands the Cosmere universe, revealing new layers of lore and setting the stage for future confrontations.
3. The Fourth Bridge
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter opens with an epigraph from Navani Kholin’s lecture on fabrial mechanics, detailing the challenges of capturing spren by removing Stormlight from gemstones. She mentions the near-extinct larkin as a potential solution, hinting at the political conflicts over these creatures. This sets the stage for the chapter’s focus on technological innovation and the delicate balance of power in the world of Roshar.
Navani, aboard her flying platform, reflects on the lush landscape of Alethkar, contrasting it with the barren Shattered Plains and Urithiru. Her playful defiance of Velat’s motherly warnings showcases her bold personality and the freedom her authority affords. The scene highlights her excitement and pride as she oversees the landing of her groundbreaking creation, a flying ship powered by advanced fabrial technology.
The chapter delves into the mechanics of the flying platform, explaining how it operates through paired gemstones and pulleys controlled from Urithiru. Navani’s team uses spanreeds to communicate with engineers on the ground, coordinating the ship’s movements. The innovation lies in using aluminum to isolate and redirect forces, allowing the ship to soar despite the limitations of distance and resistance. This technical achievement underscores Navani’s brilliance and the collaborative effort behind the project.
Navani’s personal reflections add emotional depth, as she wistfully remembers her son Elhokar, who would have cherished the view from the ship. The project served as a coping mechanism after his death, though she humbly acknowledges that the breakthrough came from collective discovery rather than her alone. The chapter blends technological marvel with personal triumph, capturing Navani’s resilience and visionary leadership.
FAQs
1. What technological innovation allows Navani’s flying platform to operate, and how does this system work?
Answer:
The flying platform operates using conjoined fabrials and aluminum isolation technology. The system works by pairing gemstone halves so that when one half is moved, the other moves in concert, transferring force across distances. One lattice of gemstones at Urithiru controls altitude—when chulls lower this lattice along the plateau, the ship rises. A second lattice on the Shattered Plains controls horizontal movement. Aluminum is used to isolate motion along specific planes and change force vectors, allowing the ship to maintain direction even when the chulls reverse their pulling direction. This alternating system between the two lattices enables controlled flight (Chapter 3, pp. 63-64).2. How does Navani’s perspective on Alethkar’s landscape reflect her personal journey and current circumstances?
Answer:
Navani’s surprise at Alethkar’s fertility highlights her prolonged absence and adaptation to harsh environments like the Shattered Plains and Urithiru. The vibrant growth seems alien to her, contrasting with her childhood memories. This dissonance mirrors her transformed identity—from a noblewoman constrained by societal expectations to a powerful innovator who “found her way to enough power to simply do as she chose.” The landscape serves as a metaphor for her personal growth: just as Alethkar’s ecology thrives despite storms, Navani has flourished by channeling her “impetuous streak” into groundbreaking engineering (Chapter 3, pp. 62-63).3. Analyze the significance of the epigraph about larkins in relation to the chapter’s themes of innovation and loss.
Answer:
The epigraph about extinct larkins—creatures that could easily remove Stormlight—parallels Navani’s engineering challenges and personal grief. Just as artifabrians must develop complex techniques to compensate for the larkins’ absence, Navani pushes technological boundaries to achieve flight. The mention of wars over “innocent little creatures” also echoes her unspoken grief for Elhokar, whose death motivates her work. Both situations reflect a central theme: progress often emerges from grappling with irreplaceable losses, whether technological (larkins) or personal (her son). The epigraph thus frames the chapter’s exploration of innovation born from necessity and mourning (Chapter 3, p. 62).4. How does the flying platform’s design reflect both practical considerations and symbolic importance for Navani?
Answer:
Practically, the platform’s rectangular design derives from chasm-spanning bridges, prioritizing stability for transport over aerodynamic elegance. Its three decks and partial roofing balance structural integrity with operational needs like the open-air command station. Symbolically, the ship represents Navani’s synthesis of disparate elements—her Alethi heritage (wooden construction), scholarly collaboration (ardent engineers), and grief transformed into creation (dedication after Elhokar’s death). The ship’s very existence defies traditional limitations, mirroring how Navani has transcended societal expectations of age and gender to revolutionize transportation (Chapter 3, pp. 63-64).
Quotes
1. “The final step in capturing spren is the most tricky, as you must remove the Stormlight from the gemstone. The specific techniques employed by each artifabrian guild are closely guarded secrets, entrusted only to their most senior members.”
This epigraph introduces the chapter’s focus on fabrial mechanics and the secretive nature of Rosharan technology. It sets the tone for Navani’s scientific pursuits and the political tensions surrounding technological advancement.
2. “It said a lot about where she’d been living that she kept being surprised by how fertile Alethkar was… Here—as opposed to the Shattered Plains or Urithiru—things grew. It was the home of her childhood, but now it felt almost alien.”
This passage highlights Navani’s emotional reconnection with her homeland while underscoring the stark contrast between Alethkar’s vitality and the harsh landscapes she’s grown accustomed to. It reflects her personal journey and changing perspectives.
3. “She’d rather alarmingly found her way to enough power to simply do as she chose.”
This succinct line captures Navani’s character development - a mature woman who has embraced her authority and independence. It reveals her self-awareness about her privileged position and willful nature.
4. “Flying. It had worked. Not just in maneuvers and tests on the Shattered Plains, but on a real mission, flying hundreds of miles.”
This triumphant realization marks the culmination of Navani’s engineering achievements. The simple, impactful phrasing emphasizes the groundbreaking nature of her airship’s successful maiden voyage.
5. “When one of them moved, the other moved in concert with it… Why not an entire ship?”
This explanation of fabrial mechanics demonstrates the innovative application of existing technology (spanreeds) to create revolutionary transportation. It showcases Navani’s engineering mindset and the chapter’s central technological breakthrough.