Alcatraz Bundle 1 – 4 – Brandon Sanderson

That is ironic, since we actually know nothing about them. Think about it. Why does someone become a writer? Is it because they like people? Of course not. Why else would we seek out a job where we get to spend all day, every day, cooped up in our basement with no company besides paper, a pencil, and our imaginary friends? Writers hate people. If you’ve ever met a writer, you know that they’re generally awkward, slovenly individuals who live beneath stairwells, hiss at those who pass, and forget to bathe for weeklong periods.

And those are the socially competent ones. I looked up at the sides of our pit. Bastille sat on the floor, obviously trying to pretend she was a patient person. It worked about as well as a watermelon trying to pretend it was a golf ball. (Though not as messy and half as much fun.) ‘Come on, Bastille,’ I said, glancing at her. ‘I know you’re as frustrated as I am. What are you thinking? Could I break these walls somehow?

Make a slope we can climb up?’ ‘And risk the sides of the wall toppling down on us?’ she asked flatly. She had a point. ‘What if we tried to climb up without using the Talent?’ ‘These walls are slick and polished, Smedry,’ she snapped. ‘Not even a Crystin can climb that.’

‘But if we shimmied up, feet on one wall, back against the other one . . .’ ‘The hole is way too wide for that.’ I fell silent. ‘What?’ she asked. ‘No other brilliant ideas? What about jumping up? You should try that a few times.’ She turned away from me, looking at the side of our pit, then sighed. I frowned. ‘Bastille, this isn’t like you.’ ‘Oh?’ she asked. ‘How do you know what’s “like me” and what isn’t? You’ve known me for what, a couple of months?

During which time we’ve spent all of three or four days together?’ ‘Yes, but . . . well, I mean . . .’ ‘It’s over, Smedry,’ she said. ‘We’re beaten. Kaz has probably already arrived at the center of the Library and given up those Lenses. Chances are, Kiliman will just take him captive and let my mother die.’

‘Maybe we can still find a way out. And go help.’ Bastille didn’t seem to be listening. She simply sat down, arms folded across her knees, staring at the wall. ‘They really are right about me,’ she whispered. ‘I never deserved to be a knight.’ ‘What?’ I asked, squatting down beside her. ‘Bastille, that’s nonsense.’ ‘I’ve only done two real operations. This one and the infiltration back in your hometown.

I am not a good person. Oh, I know what the stories say about me. They call me Oculator Dramatus, Hero, Savior of the Twelve Kingdoms . . . Those, however, are just rumors. Some are exaggerations; many are outright lies. The truth is far less impressive. When Mr. Bagsworth first came to me, suggesting that I write my autobiography, I was hesitant. However, I soon realized that this was the perfect opportunity to explain myself to the public. As I understand it, this book will be published simultaneously in the Free Kingdoms and Inner Libraria.

This presents something of a problem for me, since I will have to make the story understandable to people from both areas. Those in the Free Kingdoms might be unfamiliar with things like bazookas, briefcases, and guns. However, those in Libraria – or the Hushlands, as they are often called – will likely be unfamiliar with things like Oculators, Crystin, and the depth of the Librarian conspiracy. To those of you in the Free Kingdoms, I suggest that you find a reference book – there are many that would do – to explain unfamiliar terms to you.

After all, this book will be published as a biography in your lands, and so it is not my purpose to teach you about the strange machines and archaic weaponry of Libraria. My purpose is to show you the truth about me, and to prove that I am not the hero that everyone says I am.

In the Hushlands – those Librarian-controlled nations such as the United States, Canada, and England – this book will be published as a work of fantasy. Do not be fooled! This is no work of fiction, nor is my name really Brandon Sanderson. Both are guises to hide the book from Librarian agents. Unfortunately, even with these precautions, I suspect that the Librarians will discover the book and ban it. In that case, our Free Kingdom agents will have to sneak into libraries and bookstores to put it on shelves.

Count yourself lucky if you’ve found one of these secret copies. For you Hushlanders, I know the events of my life may seem wondrous and mysterious. I will do my best to explain them, but please remember that my purpose is not to entertain you. My purpose is to open your eyes to the truth.

I know that in writing this I shall make few friends in either world. People are never pleased when you reveal that their beliefs are wrong. But that is what I must do.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: c8f758f463a7a591
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 4,802,519 bytes (4.58 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 889
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 1172.66 minutes
• Total Words: 234,532
• Total Characters: 1,304,965
• Average Words per Page: 263.82
• Average Characters per Page: 1467.9

Most Frequent Words

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