Legion: Skin Deep

De: Brandon Sanderson

Narrado por: 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 short, distinctly contemporary novella filled with suspense, humor, and an endless flow of invention, Sanderson revealed a startling new facet of his singular narrative talent. In the stunning sequel, Legion: Skin Deep, that talent is on full display.

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 new story begins, Leeds and his "aspects" are hired by I3 (Innovative Information Incorporated) to recover a corpse stolen from the local morgue. But there's a catch. The corpse is that of a pioneer in the field of experimental biotechnology, a man whose work concerned the use of the human body as a massive storage device. He may have embedded something in the cells of his now dead body. And that something might be dangerous... What follows is a visionary thriller about the potential uses of technology, the mysteries of the human personality, and the ancient human need to believe that death is not the end. Legion: Skin Deep is speculative fiction at its most highly developed. It reaffirms Sanderson's place as one of contemporary fiction's most intelligent - and unpredictable - voices.

©2014 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Another cool SF novella from Sanderson

Originally posted at Fantasy Literature.

“I’m not crazy. I’m compartmentalized.”

Legion: Skin Deep is the second novella in Brandon Sanderson’s series about Stephen Leeds, a man whose psyche has spawned a “legion” of extra personalities that he thinks of as “aspects.” Stephen is the only person who can see his aspects — each is a separate personality who lives with him and can follow him around and help him solve problems. Everyone else thinks Stephen has schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder, but it’s not the same thing. Stephen doesn’t know why he has all these aspects or why he creates new ones when he learns something new. There’s one woman (Sandra) who can help him understand, but she has disappeared.

When we met Stephen in the first LEGION story (simply called Legion), he was helping a client find a camera that can take pictures of past events. This had interesting ramifications for politics and religion. In Skin Deep, Stephen and his aspects have been hired to find a missing corpse that contains some innovative biotechnology — part of the body might have been used to store some deadly data. If the body is not recovered and cremated soon, that information might get into the wrong hands and could cause a worldwide epidemic.
Like the first LEGION story, Skin Deep is creative and exciting. In this case, it’s cool to think about the capabilities (and security risks) of biotechnology as scientists work to find more efficient and flexible ways to store large amounts of data. What would happen if we started using the body’s DNA, which naturally holds a vast amount of information, as basically a really big flash drive? Sanderson uses the opportunity to briefly discuss topics such as Open Source and Wetware.

Skin Deep is also partly a mystery — who stole the corpse, and how did they do it? Where is the keycode? I was in the dark until the last pages, though Sanderson gave me a few clues that I missed (I love it when that happens).

I mentioned in my review of Legion that the shortness of these stories means that we don’t get to know Stephen’s aspects very well, but in Skin Deep we get to spend a lot of time with three of them — Tobias is a historian, Ivy is a psychologist, and J.C. is an ex-Navy Seal. Ivy and J.C. have an on-again-off-again romance which adds some humor and some extra weirdness. J.C. doesn’t want to admit he’s not real, so he thinks of himself as an inter-dimensional time traveler who comes to help people in need. (Each of the aspects has their own personality quirks and maybe even mental illnesses.) The aspects can eat, go to the bathroom, and talk to each other on imaginary cell phones. I’m not really sure it always works, but it’s entertaining and it does solve the problem for Sanderson of how to make his hero have so much knowledge and skill without making him seem like a god.

There’s so much more that Sanderson can do with Stephen and his “friends” and it seems clear that more LEGION stories are planned. I’m glad. The print versions are being published by Subterranean Press and the audio versions are produced by Audible Studios. I have and can recommend both. As I write this, the audio version of Skin Deep is free. Oliver Wyman does a great job with the narration.

Gem of a story!

Any additional comments?

4 Stars!

This is another wonderful story from Brandon Sanderson! I was lucky enough to grab this audio book from audible months ago when it was free. I didn't realize what kind of gem I had received at the time. This is a remarkable series that is so different than anything else I have had the chance to experience.

I love being in the mind of the main character, Steven Leeds. Sanderson has created a truly unique character set in this series that really drives the story. Many people would think that Steven is crazy. He has been studied and more than a few scientists would like to study how his mind works. Steven isn't crazy...but his aspects are. Steven lives in a large mansion with all of his aspects, or hallucinations. Each aspect is a has his or her own identity and set of expertise. The psychological aspect of this novel is absolutely amazing.

The narrator of the audiobook is the same as in the first story. I believe that Oliver Wyman brings a lot to this story. Each character has a separate voice and his voice is soothing. In my mind, he is the voice of Steven. His delivery of the story is absolutely wonderful.

The wonderful characters are paired with a complex and highly creative mystery. The mystery in this story is just as unique as the character of Steven Leeds. Steven is enlisted to help find a corpse. This isn't just a normal corpse though. This corpse holds a massive amount of data that needs to stay out of the wrong hands. Everything that happens is logical but very unexpected.

In this story, Steven is pushed to the limits in many ways and his sanity is threatened. He has specific rules that must be obeyed or his illusions shatter. Steven knows how vulnerable his ability to function in the world really is. He finds himself having to deal with several situations in this story that upset his delicate balance.

I would highly recommend this book to other. This is the second installment in the Legion series and while this story could be read as a stand alone. I would recommend that this series be read in order since the first installment is very short and does a fantastic job of introducing the characters. I look forward to see what challenges Steven and his aspects will face in the future.

Brandon Sanderson can do no wrong

If I am being honest I had not heard of Brandon Sanderson until he finished Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" series. Even though we live in the same town. However since then I have become a quick fan, and have read or listened to everything he has done. These are different than his usual book and I love them. Honestly the only thing I would change is making them longer or several more of them. Just a fun series.

Interesting concept

The aspects of the protagonist is a marvelous device. Lots of potential to go sci-fi or psycho. Highly recommended.

Thoth would love this.

Would you consider the audio edition of Legion: Skin Deep to be better than the print version?

I have not read the printed version, so I asked my imaginary friend Socrates (such a know it all) and he said he would recommend the printed version, but the Audio version is just as entertaining. Or did he recommend the Audio version over the printed version?... (Lucilius finds it entertaining that I can't remember, and recommends that I read the story of Thoth) Why do all of my aspects have to be Greek?

What other book might you compare Legion: Skin Deep to and why?

Other than the first book, I don't know that I have read a similar story... Except for the one I created to answer the previous question.. :)

Which scene was your favorite?

I love just about any scene where JC was correcting everybody on the fact that he was an Inter-dimensional time Ranger.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Can you get so smart that you can outsmart yourself, in at least one aspect?

i loved this book.

I enjoyed listening to this book. it's the first book that I've been sble to listen to without falling asleep! 😀 The narrator did an excellent job in keeping my attention. Well played!

a fantastic story

A great novel. Interesting characters, good depth of theme, and excellent developement of main character. Only complaint is there only being 2 novellas so far, please give us more legion!

Fun quick book

Brandon continues to write interesting stories. This was fun, not epic or intense. Just fun. Sometimes a short fun book is relaxing.

A legion of a audio

This is a great audio. It’s not the type I usually get but the title interest me . This audio will teach you things that will open your mind a lot . Even though it’s a novella of a listen it’s enough to qualify for a full story

Another Homerun

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

Definitely recommend!! Another entertaining and exciting book by Brandon Sanderson. Just wish he could write faster. Love the story, plot and imagination.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Main character is very likable and his "aspects " are intriguing and entertaining as well.

Any additional comments?

Love the narrator. I was having flashbacks to the Monster Hunter International books which I also love. Great voices for the different characters, great tone and meter. You will absolutely love the performance as well as the story.