Introducing: The Dog and the Dragon From Hoid’s Storybook Collection

Hoid has been telling stories for longer than most civilizations have existed. He's done it with sleight of hand, half-formed illusions, and the particular kind of misdirection that only comes from centuries of practice. By the time he sat down with Kaladin in Rhythm of War, he had exactly the right story for exactly the wrong moment.

Now, we’re bringing that moment to life with The Dog and the Dragon, illustrated by Howard Lyon and available as part of the Hoid's Storybook Collection.

A dog cannot become a dragon. But this story was never really about what's possible. It was about what you become while chasing something that isn't.

Looking Back on The Dog and the Dragon

The Dog and the Dragon is simultaneously a story about failure, acceptance, accomplishment, and potential. 

In the fourth book of the Stormlight Archive, Kaladin was assaulted by his enemies, trapped in a bleak dream where all the world hates him. As he struggled with visions of those he felt he had failed and the weight of moving forward became almost too much, Wit found him trapped in this illusion and offers an illusion of his own: the story of a dog who wanted to become a dragon. “Hint: that’s impossible. A dog can’t become a dragon.” While the dog’s quest may be destined for failure, he might just become a hero along the way.

In all of Hoid’s time mentoring the heroes of the Cosmere, he relied on tricks to tell his stories. By the time he shared stew with Kaladin in Rhythm of War, his bond with Design let him weave images out of pure stormlight. After a lifetime making do with the hints of illusions, lightweaving is almost too easy.

Cover Reveal

To capture the magic of Hoid’s lightweaving, Brandon asked Howard Lyon to illustrate this story, and he captures the charm of the dog and the majesty of the dragon with all the whimsy they deserve. Just as this story found Kaladin when he needed it most, we hope you find what you need in this hopeful story.

If you’d like another memento of this tale beyond the storybook itself, we’ll also have adorable plushies available as part of the campaign. Here’s a sneak peek…

As a reminder, these plushies, the gold-foiled editions of the books, and all the other merch from Hoid’s Storybook Collection are exclusive to the BackerKit campaign, so get your pledge in before it closes!

The Hoid's Storybook Collection campaign launches March 3 on BackerKit. Follow the campaign now to be notified when it’s live.