Background
Published in 2018, “Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds” by Brandon Sanderson is a collection of three novellas (Legion, Skin Deep, and Lies of the Beholder) on his character Stephen Leeds, an exceptionally brilliant man with a unique psychological condition. Leeds does not suffer from schizophrenia but instead manifests “aspects”—each representing a different skill or area of knowledge. These aspects are fully realized individuals that only Leeds can see and interact with, and he uses them to solve complex problems and mysteries.
Across the three novellas, Leeds faces a range of cases, from recovering stolen technological secrets to unraveling dangerous conspiracies. As he navigates these challenges, he also struggles with questions about his own identity and the nature of his aspects.
My Thoughts
This small collection was a lot of fun to read. Sanderson does such a good job in bringing the reader directly into the story through likable characters and empathetic situations. The collection started with commentary by Sanderson on his writing process and how he found this project “cathartic”. I was glad he did.
Recommendation
Great read.