Legion

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Brandon Sanderson is one of the most significant fantasists to enter the field in a good many years. His ambitious, multi-volume epics (Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive) and his stellar continuation of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series have earned both critical acclaim and a substantial popular following. In Legion, a distinctly contemporary novella filled with suspense, humor, and an endless flow of invention, Sanderson reveals a startling new facet of his singular narrative talent, read by Audie Award-winning narrator Oliver Wyman.

Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society. The action ranges from the familiar environs of America to the ancient, divided city of Jerusalem. Along the way, Sanderson touches on a formidable assortment of complex questions: the nature of time, the mysteries of the human mind, the potential uses of technology, and the volatile connection between politics and faith. Resonant, intelligent, and thoroughly absorbing, Legion is a provocative entertainment from a writer of great originality and seemingly limitless gifts.

©2012 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Excellent glimps into a interesting world

Any additional comments?

The macguffin was a little silly, but other wise an interesting and enjoyable story, being free certainty didn't hurt either.

The mind is a wonderous thing

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If they like Shelock Holmes they will like this listen

Who was your favorite character and why?

none really stands out it was a good mix of give and take between the characters

Have you listened to any of Oliver Wyman’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first listen to the narrator

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When you found out that all that all the characters were of one mind

An interesting idea

Any additional comments?

I think this was an interesting idea for a story, in that he is able to utilize the different personalities in his mind - each of which is a different expert in a field - to solve problems. That however is also part of the problem for me. He is a multimillionaire, mental giant and even though his 'mental illness' is complex because there are so many different genius individuals living in his mind, the main character really had no problems other than people trying to ask him for help. He was not someone I could warm up to or in the end even root for.

Fascinating!

I was deeply engrossed in this story and want to know what happens next for the protagonist(s). I didn't know what to expect, but then didn't want to stop!

A great "Listen."

Where does Legion rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the better audio books I have listened to. The idea of the story is unique and the narration really brings it to life.

What about Oliver Wyman’s performance did you like?

I am not sure how much I would have liked this book if I had "read" it. The narrator did a great job of bringing the hallucinations to life and integrating them with the outside world.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This is a great book for a 2 hour car ride. I would highly recommend listening to this book.

Great Concept! I Cannot Wait for More

I downloaded this novella because it sounded somewhat interesting--and it was free. I hadn't read anything by Brandon Sanderson before, so I didn't really know what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised by the story. The main character, Stephen Leeds, is a schizophrenic who has multiple "aspects" or hallucinations with whom he interacts as if they are real people. Because each aspect has a specialized skill set or knowledge base, many people believe that Leeds is a genius--he knows things because his aspects know them. Because of his condition, scholars seek to study him; others seek him out for help. In this novella, Leeds gets involved in solving a crime in which a camera that has the ability to take picture of the past has been stolen. Leeds needs to rely on his aspects (and create a new one!) to help try to solve the crime. He is enticed to help by seeing photographs of a mysterious person from his past. This novella is very short, so it is fast-paced and incredibly interesting. I am truly looking forward to the next installment in this upcoming series.

intelligent and enjoyable

Where does Legion rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I don't usually listen to audio-books, but lately I've had to travel a lot, so it seemed like an interesting option, especially with amazon's whispersync. Legion is an ideal choice for an audiobook, as there are so many different characters, which were admiringly portrayed by the narrator.

What other book might you compare Legion to and why?

Having read the first book of the Stormlight archives by Sanderson, I wouldn't expect a short story by this author to be so accomplished.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This read made me laugh at many instances. Nevertheless, the story is not at all shallow. Quite the opposite. There are many things that make you think.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommended, albeit a bit short. I would love to know what happens next...

Interesting Concept

I found this short story fascinating. I would really like to see more in about this same character in the future. It was very well written and for as short as it is, it was very well fleshed out. The whole concept behind the story I found very novel. I don't think I've ready anything before that matches it. I thought the narrator did a very good job.

Short and sweet

Any additional comments?

You can't beat free! Brandon Sanderson pens an inventive story, one that you wish was longer but is still satisfying. I feel as though there was potential here for more, but then it wouldn't have been free...

Excellent

Any additional comments?

Mr. Sanderson, turn this into a full novel and I will definitely buy it. The novella was excellent, but far too short.

-- david j.