Yumi's Intergalactic Adventure: Exploring Surreal Planets

what planet is yumi and the nightmare painter on

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is a novel by Brandon Sanderson, set in the fictional Cosmere universe. The story takes place on the planet Komashi, which is in dual orbit with the planet UTol. Komashi is a world shrouded in darkness, with neon cyan and fuchsia lights, in stark contrast to Yumi's world, which is bathed in constant sunlight with warm orange and yellow tones. The novel explores the characters of Yumi, a yoki-hijo with the ability to call and bind spirits, and Nikaro, a Nightmare Painter who traps nightmares in his paintings to protect the city.

Characteristics Values
Planet Name Komashi
Setting A mix of Japanese and Korean influences, mostly inspired by Japanese media
Story Set on a planet that has gone through a Class 2 Apocalypse, with humanity living in small cities and villages protected by Hion lines
Main Characters Yumi, Nikaro (Painter), Liyun, Akane, Hoid, Design
Yumi's World Constant sunlight, warm orange and yellow tones, extremely hot ground
Nikaro's World Shrouded in darkness with neon cyan and fuchsia lights
Narrative Style Narrated by Hoid, a recurring character in Cosmere series novels
Inspiration Hikaru no Go, Your Name, Final Fantasy X
Yumi's Name Inspiration Yuna, one of the protagonists of FFX

cypaint

The novel's planet Komashi

The planet Komashi is a world of neon cyan and fuchsia lights, shrouded in darkness. It is one of the two settings in the novel "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter", the other being the city of Kilahito, a world of technology and nightmares. The two worlds present a stark contrast, with Yumi's world being a land of constant sunlight, with warm orange and yellow tones. Komashi is a planet in the UTol system, in dual orbit with the planet UTol, and is inhabited by the Sho Del, a four-armed race from Yolen.

The planet is home to Nightmare Painters, a special force that curbs and control the dangerous creatures that feed on people's dreams. Nightmare Painters trap nightmares in paintings, rendering them harmless. They are considered essential workers, similar to nurses and firefighters. Nikaro, also known as Painter, is a Nightmare Painter on Komashi. He is a lonely man who longs for companionship.

Yumi, the main character of the novel, is a yoki-hijo, a woman with the ability to call and bind spirits to perform tasks. She lives in Torio, a place with less technology than Kilahito. Yumi is powerful, and as she interacts with Nikaro and learns more about the world, she begins to question her place in it.

The novel explores the duality, contrast, and cooperation between the two worlds and their respective protagonists. It is narrated by Hoid, a recurring character in the Cosmere universe, and features illustrations by Aliya Chen. "Yumi and the Nightmare Painter" is one of four "Secret Projects" novels written by Brandon Sanderson during the COVID-19 pandemic and published through a Kickstarter campaign.

cypaint

The planet's dual orbit with UTol

The planet Komashi, where Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is set, is in dual orbit with UTol. Komashi is a world of neon cyan and fuchsia lights, permanently shrouded in darkness. It is part of the UTol system, which is also known as the Cosmere. The Cosmere is a fictional universe created by Brandon Sanderson, in which Yumi and the Nightmare Painter is set.

The planet of Komashi is described as having a very different environment to that of Yumi's world. Komashi is a world of darkness, where the ground is so hot that plants have to float to avoid being burnt. In contrast, Yumi's world is one of constant sunlight, with warm orange and yellow tones. Yumi's world is also technologically advanced, with a focus on spirit summoning and stacking stones to attract spirits.

The dual orbit with UTol is significant within the context of the story. The planet UTol, also known as the 'Daystar', is mentioned by Yumi as having appeared one day and being considered a good omen. The dual orbit may also have implications for the Cosmere universe, with some readers speculating that the planet may have been created by Virtuosity or be a space station or man-made planet.

The UTol system is considered important within the Cosmere, with some readers suggesting that it may be the starting point for future stories set in the universe. The system is home to the Sho Del, a four-armed race from Yolen, who are yet to feature prominently in the story. The dual orbit with UTol adds to the intricate world-building and complexity of the Cosmere, leaving readers eager to discover more about the planet and its significance.

cypaint

Kilahito, a world of darkness

Kilahito is a place of dualities and contrasts, reflecting the novel's themes of duality and cooperation. It is a place of darkness, but also of bright, neon lights. It is a place of advanced technology, but also of nightmares and dangerous creatures that feed on people's dreams.

In Kilahito, Nightmare Painters like Nikaro work to curb and control these dangerous creatures. They do this by painting the nightmares, trapping them in harmless, non-threatening forms. Nightmare Painters are considered essential workers, similar to nurses and firefighters, and are honoured for their service.

Kilahito is a place of mystery and intrigue, where Yumi and Nikaro find themselves swapping bodies and having to learn each other's jobs. They must navigate the complexities of their new identities, all while trying to escape their situation and uncover the truth behind the scholars' machine.

The world of Kilahito is a vivid and immersive creation, brought to life by Brandon Sanderson's masterful world-building and Aliya Chen's illustrations. It is a place of danger and intrigue, where the line between technology and magic is blurred, and where the characters must navigate their way through a dreamlike landscape.

cypaint

Torio, a world of sunlight

Torio is home to Yumi, a yoki-hijo, or a woman with the ability to call and bind spirits. The people of Torio live in a village and have far less technology than their counterparts in Kilahito. The planet is bathed in constant sunlight, with warm orange and yellow tones. The ground is so hot that plants have to float to avoid being burnt, and the people of Torio use clogs, stilts, and levitating magic to avoid touching the ground.

Torio is part of the fictional Cosmere universe created by author Brandon Sanderson. The novel is inspired by Japanese and Korean influences, particularly the manga and anime Hikaru no Go, in which a young boy finds a Go board haunted by an old master who teaches him the game. This inspired the dynamic between Yumi and Nikaro, a Nightmare Painter from Kilahito, who teaches Yumi his craft, while Yumi teaches him hers.

In the story, Yumi is contacted by a spirit that begs her for help. After this encounter, she and Nikaro swap bodies when they fall asleep. The residents of Torio see Nikaro in Yumi's body as her, while Yumi in Nikaro's body takes on her shape, effectively making Nikaro disappear. The two must then work together to learn each other's jobs and find a way to break the spell.

cypaint

The Machine and its impact

The Machine is a central plot point in the fantasy novel 'Yumi and the Nightmare Painter'. It is a device created by scholars that can summon spirits, which threatens to replace the yoki-hijo, or priestesses, who traditionally perform this function. The Machine demonstrates artificially powerful stone-stacking abilities, which allow it to hold the world's spirits hostage and transform Torio's citizens into nightmares.

The Machine has a profound impact on the story's protagonists, Yumi and Nikaro, who initially swap bodies due to the influence of a spirit. They suspect the scholars and their Machine, and Yumi notices that the machine's creations are smaller, suggesting that it keeps a piece of the spirit's soul for itself. The Machine returns Yumi and Nikaro to their original bodies but forces Yumi back into a time loop, where she has repeated the same day for centuries, losing her memory each night to prevent her from freeing the spirits.

Yumi eventually confronts the Machine, stacking rocks to drain it of its energy and free the spirits. She dies in the process, but Nikaro, inspired by her sacrifice, brings her back to life through a masterpiece of art.

The Machine's impact extends beyond the personal to the societal. It represents a potential disruption to the traditional order, where the yoki-hijo like Yumi serve necessary functions for Torio's inhabitants. The Machine's ability to hold spirits hostage and transform citizens into nightmares underscores its potential for harm on a broader scale.

The Machine also serves as a catalyst for character growth and development. Yumi and Nikaro must learn each other's jobs and work together to understand their situation and save their communities. They also discuss what to do about the Machine and how to destroy it, indicating a sense of agency and determination in the face of a formidable adversary.

Portrait Painting: A Step-by-Step Guide

You may want to see also

Frequently asked questions

The novel 'Yumi and the Nightmare Painter' is set on the planet Komashi, which is in dual orbit with the planet UTol.

Komashi is a world of neon cyan and fuchsia lights, permanently shrouded in darkness.

UTol is a planet with four-armed people called the Sho Del, a fain race from Yolen.

'Yumi and the Nightmare Painter' follows Yumi, a yoki-hijo, or a woman with the ability to call and bind spirits. She lives in Torio, a place with little technology. The novel also follows Nikaro, a Nightmare Painter who works to curb and control the dangerous creatures on Komashi that feed on people's dreams.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment