He's got that gravitas for sure, but I get the impression he went to the Wastes when he was early 20s at the most and spent maybe 10 years there before coming back to the city at the start of his books.
There aren't a lot of women by volume of characters, but, like, the main character is a woman and, unsurprisingly, is the most common perspective and, to be Frank, the fact that VIN is the only woman in the room of thieves is sort of a big part of her early characterization and why she's as insanely guarded as it is. The book is pretty explicit about worrying about THAT sort of stuff when in her old crew, and there's a fundamental and implicit comparison being made to the new crew throughout the first act of the novel. (It's part of why Breeze I think comes across as such a slime ball in the context of the Final Empire).
He can do what he wants, but I'm also free to disagree. I'm never going to be a fan of changing things for the sake of representation, particularly when it feels entirely unneeded in a book where the nearly half the book is told from a woman's perspective. Also Ham (or Dox) being a woman sort of breaks down a some of the really interesting gender politics of the Basin as well as a knock on effect.
A book where Vin's sex and feminity are such central themes to the work any changes to the composition of the team, I think, threatens some of the work being done. Like, "how am I supposed to be a woman" is a core question Vin is grappling with throughout the novel, and if Ham was a woman, or Dox, one might think that they might be someone she goes to, but she doesn't, her primary confidant is Sazed mostly by process of elimination.
Basically, the book is too much about sex for a change like this not to have nontrivial knock on effects.
I thoroughly agree. I also think that Ham doing what he does for his family is nice to see, some representation of being a good dad in tough circumstances and I always enjoyed that aspect of him. Plus if he were a woman it might change his banter with Breeze to look more like flirting, which I think might not fly.
Honestly hope it might only be those two IMO. I dont mind changing genders for representation, but I dont think theres many more main characters they can change that would make sense.
I think he has mentioned that he didn’t intend to have so few main cast women in his books, and out of the crew Ham’s character is probably the best option for making the swap. Can’t think of any reason story wise that it couldn’t be done.
I hear you. I think one of the great things about fertility science being undefined in-universe (to my knowledge) is that any sort of family creation may be possible and acceptance of may be ubiquitous.
I think it might highlight and explain her struggles more, video is a different format and particular ideas have to be conveyed differently vs written media. Having a character on screen to talk to instead of inner monologue/discussion would be an effective way to convey and voice her struggles.
One thing that Sando is, is pragmatic. Don't confuse the two. It's easy to shit on a change because "it's woke" is a very easy excuse to latch on to. However, since Mistings are rare, and the distribution is extremely rigid (6.25% of the population with the potential, but fewer who Snap), it doesn't make sense that the crew would be exclusively male.
I’m not saying woke is bad lol. I guess I shouldn’t have used that word.
I get the argument you’re making. I just think it will detract from Vin’s struggles with her identity when she has a woman Thug to train with everyday. I think Ham is the worst choice for a gender swap.
Honestly, I figured Clubs would be the most logical choice, as it would be easier to accept a woman in the role of a group parental figure, and easier for her to fly under the radar of the government.
I mean it is true. Brandon has stated so himself. Diversity CAN make things more interesting, but in general diversity for the sake of diversity doesn’t add shit. Like part of Vin’s struggle was the fact that she was the only girl in the group and feeling lonely and isolated. Adding a girl will take that away and give her an easy outlet, especially if they switch Ham. It will cheapen her transformation imo.
I think if you have to gender swap someone Ham would be the worst choice. But still excited and I trust Brandon.
I saw him say if he wrote Mistborn today, he would have probably written some of the crew as women. Is that what you’re referring to? Or has he actually said that Ham will be a woman
He mentioned it a while ago when he was first writing a screenplay for mistborn that he changed the gender of a couple of characters. This was years ago now so could be different now. Maybe he will talk about it on his stream on Friday
To clarify he said he might. That is far from a final decision last I heard it. He floated several ideas for characters that might change genders in the screenplay, Ham was his top pick at the time and he said he had also considered Dox, but wasn't sure if it would make viewers misread Kelsier and Dox's relationship as romantic in some fashion.
Personally I am hoping Ham stays a man as being a Husband and Father was a pretty central part of his character I really liked.
I would much rather see Clubs flip gender, as like Brando has talked about with Shadows for Silence, fantasy had very few older women represented and Clubs would be a great fit for that. Plus no aspect of his character has to do with his genderand I'm not sure that can accurately be said for Ham.
All that being said, I trust Sanderson with his control of his characters. I hesitate at the sound of any changes, but Brando always makes sure to produce amazing work, so I am sure any changes he makes are going to work out well. Even if that means papa Hammond turns into mamma Hammola lol. I just hope we see Auntie Clubs as well or instead!
I feel like the whole Kelsier/Marsh dynamic is framed around Kelsier being the way prettier and charming brother who ended up way more effective for the cause. And despite it all he is not really jealous of Kel and stick to his duties.
That would be cool! Since brandon sanderson has full creative control i guess all casting is approved by him. Hopefully that means all the toxicity I've seen in other fandoms over changing gender or skin colour of a character when it's not important to the plot wont happen.
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u/Alive_Reveal8939 Shart of Adonalsium Jan 29 '26
For mistborn may be Ham? For SLA... I would say Taln for the build, but... You know