Review: "Stick"

Once again Sanderson proves he is above the rest, this time in the form of a deleted interlude from the amazing book Words of Radiance. I don't know why he deleted it; it would have added so much more to the story. It starts with the character, Stick, affirming its existence. I am a stick. Next, it talks about its duty in life, what it ought to be doing, rather than what it wants to do. I am a stick. It gives a brief history of its life, an extremely touching paragraph. I am a stick. Then it takes a turn for the worse, as it begins to question its existence, its duty to the world, its purpose in life. I am a stick? It is a masterfully written existential crisis in just two sentences. It throws away the doubts, it throws away the fear, reaffirming that it is, indeed, a stick. I am a stick. It speaks of the trials and tribulations to come, as a stick in a world where men fly around like gods, crushing its friends and family with no second thought. But it continues on, it perseveres, with the final three lines I was brought to tears. The sheer will of the character to triumph over all the woes of the world is a lesson to us all.

I am a stick.
I am a stick.
I am a stick.

Not only does this teach us an important lesson, but it raises questions about the Cosmere, Roshar in particular, itself. If a "thing" such as a stick is capable of such introspection, what else is going on? What about the rocks? What about the water? How will all of this play into the bigger picture? Will Hoid sweep in and save this "lower caste" of creatures from the evils of man? Could Shallan speak to this creatures and gain insight into her own troubles? We will never know.