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Brandon Sanderson’s Latest Sci-Fi Book has a Surprise Cosmere Connection
Author Janci Patterson has revealed that Brandon Sanderson's beloved recurring character Hoid makes an unplanned cameo in Blightfall, the latest instalment of the Cytoverse sci-fi series they co-write together. This marks the first time Sanderson's sprawling fantasy universe, the Cosmere, has crossed over with his separate Cytoverse setting, delighting fans who track the author's famously interconnected body of work. Patterson clarified that this isn't a sign the two universes are merging, but rather a playful nod, since the Cosmere exists within the Cytoverse as a fictional franchise, much like The Lion King or Hamlet would in the real world.
Patterson explained that the crossover began as a joke on a fan forum, where someone suggested naming a slug-like alien creature after Hoid, and the idea stuck once Sanderson approved it. In Blightfall, Hoid appears as a psychic taynix, fitting the shape-shifting nature he takes across Sanderson's other books, including his own spin-off series Hoid's Travails. The article also details the collaborative writing process between Patterson and Sanderson, who has worked with her since 2021 on Cytoverse novellas, and the challenges of building a new trilogy that appeals to both longtime Skyward fans and newcomers unfamiliar with protagonist Spensa.
In short
- Hoid cameos in Blightfall, linking Sanderson's Cosmere and Cytoverse for the first time
- The crossover began as a joke on a fan forum, not a planned plot
- Cosmere exists within the Cytoverse only as a fictional book series
Explained simply
Brandon Sanderson writes books set in several fictional worlds. The Cosmere is a connected group of fantasy stories, while the Cytoverse is a separate science-fiction setting that includes the Skyward series.
Hoid is a recurring Cosmere character who appears in different forms across Sanderson’s books. In the Cytoverse, Sanderson and author Janci Patterson write together, including stories connected to Skyward and its protagonist, Spensa.
The distinction between the settings matters because the cameo is a reference to the Cosmere as a fictional franchise within the Cytoverse, rather than evidence that the two story worlds have merged. It also shows how the authors can add a playful detail while writing for both established readers and newcomers.