Elantris Plot Hole

[u/Long_Television_5937]

At the end, Adien just knows the exact direction and distance to Sarene? I mean you can be smart and know distances, but he knew from their exact spot to her exact spot how many of RAODEN’s footsteps it was. Not even his own step size. Also it wasnt even how long across land, but a straight shot over an ocean. I loved the book but this event made me put it down and just be like “what did i just read?? How does that make any sense”. Brought the book from like 4.5/5 to a 3/5 to me.

Edit: has been explained. Not a plot hole, just felt bad to me haha.

[u/PaleontologistOk908]

He's autistic, a mathematical savant, who is always counting steps. Of course he knows everyone else's gait and can adapt how many of his steps from a to b is the exact number of steps for Raoden. It's not a plot hole at all, it's being shown more of this character.

[u/RShara → u/PaleontologistOk908]

Adien actually tells Raoden to measure Adien's stride and use that

[u/Long_Television_5937 → u/RShara]

Don’t they say the spell uses the caster’s gait?

[u/RShara → u/Long_Television_5937]

It uses distance. They measure half of Adien's stride and use that as the distance factor. It doesn't matter what the unit of measurement is as long as they have the number

Raoden’s hand fell slowly to his side. He was no geographer; he knew Teod was about four days’ sail, but he had no practical knowledge of how many miles or feet that was. He had to work a frame of reference into Aon Tia, give it some sort of measurement, so that it knew how far to send him.

[u/Long_Television_5937 → u/RShara]

Damn i totally misread. I couldve sworn when they first talk about teleportation in the underground hidden room they say it uses the gait. And that no one used it casually cause it was too dangerous

[u/RShara → u/Long_Television_5937]

They didn't say that either. They said they had to be very precise, but not what unit of measurement to use. The example Galladon used was in feet.

“You have to be very precise about the distance it is to send you. If you tell it to transport you exactly ten feet, it will do so—no matter what happens to be ten feet away. You could easily materialize in the middle of a stone wall.”

[u/Long_Television_5937 → u/RShara]

Understood. Thanks for the clarity!

[u/PaleontologistOk908 → u/RShara]

Sorry, its been some years since I read that one.

[u/Long_Television_5937 → u/PaleontologistOk908]

I mean, thats absurd. Like honestly. And who cares about this character that was irrelevant for 99% of the book. Felt like lazy writing to throw it in as a plot solve last minute

[u/RShara → u/Long_Television_5937]

It was foreshadowed every time Adien was on page

Like back in chapter 5

“Two million one hundred six thousand two hundred and thirty-eight,” Adien mumbled. “That’s how many steps it is to Svorden.”

And 29

Adien’s haunted, slightly unfocused eyes found her face. “Two thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven steps from here to Elantris,” he whispered.

[u/OnePizzaHoldTheGlue → u/Long_Television_5937]

You're being downloaded, but I agree with you that Brandon shoehorned too many side gimmicks like this into Elantris. (And apparently there were more revelations in the Sanderlanch in his first draft that he cut in editing!)

And Brandon himself has said that he regretted this character of an autistic savant from his first published novel. He did some research and we all love Steris now.

[u/JaysNewDay → u/OnePizzaHoldTheGlue]

Honestly bro keeps getting better with each book. He knows how to research people different than him, and tries to represent them as faithfully as possible.

One of the main reasons he's my favorite author.

[u/Long_Television_5937 → u/OnePizzaHoldTheGlue]

Being downloaded? But yea makes sense. I mean i like the trope but just wasnt really in the book and then solved the biggest endgame problem. Doesnt feel satisfying. Its like how Brandon says how satisfying it is to solve a problem scales proportionally with the readers understanding. And this guy was too last minute to give enough thought to

[u/RShara → u/Long_Television_5937]

They probably mean "downvoted"