Legion: Skin Deep

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 good story

If you liked the first you'll like this one too. Looks like he's setting up an interesting follow up as well.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Multiple personalities detective agency

Fun who hid the body kind of book. Light weight but enjoyable.

Fast listen.

Not much else to add.

Why won't Audible take short reviews?

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Skin Deep = Not Deep at All

The first entry in Legion had a couple of great ideas that were, for me, not fleshed out enough, too quickly resolved, too many missed opportunities. Skin Deep, the second installment in the series, is more than twice as long, but it is still no more than a novella that reads as an afterthought rather than a concept that has been fully thought out.

There is still the excellent central idea of an investigator with multiple personalities -- fully realized characters with areas of specialization that help solve the mystery. That remains an engaging premise. But it still goes nowhere (fast) because the short form is too restrictive. The secondary idea of human cells being used as high capacity flash drives is not as good a springboard for speculation and plot development as the history camera was in Legion.

So despite the brevity of the novella, I quickly lost interest, perking up only when the inner personalities took center stage. I stuck it out to the end because of them, but I was patently underwhelmed by the meager plot. No problem, on the other hand, with Oliver Wyman's narration, which as good as it was in Legion, and helps us appreciate the characters.

11 of 14 people found this review helpful

A Pleasant Surprise

I was pleasantly surprised to get this as a free audiobook from Audible. As usual Sanderson impresses with his concepts, and this is a very cool and interesting character that I could easily see a whole series following. This book reads as though it's a condensed version of a larger novel, though it definitely has enough detail and doesn't feel overly rushed. It might be hard to turn out a larger book with this character without going more in-depth with some of the concepts and hallucinations, but for a novella it's just right. It also has a cool ending, which Sanderson as usual pulls off with style. The main plot's concept was a little wonky, but overall it was an enjoyable listen.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A great continuation for the series.

What made the experience of listening to Free: Legion: Skin Deep the most enjoyable?

The characters, whether they be real or imaginary, makes this book worth it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Free: Legion: Skin Deep?

The main character's aspect JC believing that he was a "Time Ranger" was quite entertaining and memorable.

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

Oliver Wyman is the narrator for the first book in this series, Legion, and does a stellar job all around.

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

Near the end, the protagonist gives a memorable speech to a character while locked in a cellar that I found both moving and memorable.

Any additional comments?

An interesting and quirky read by author Brandon Sanderson, Legion: Skin Deep continues the story of Steven and his mental imbalances (known as Aspects) as he tries to find a body that may contain horrible possibilities for the general population. The book may be short, but I found it was packed full of fun for all ages. The characters, story, and narration are all top notch and I highly recommend this book to anyone.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Looking for More

Loved the first in the series and its follow-up. The ingenuity of the character and his aspects has so much potential for growth and the detective-like stories are very easy to pick up on and get into.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Sanity of the insane

Despite his supposed insanity this character, and his host of aspects, seems shockingly sane compared to those around him. Add that to a spine tingling detective tale and you have an intriguing mix.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Legion... Soooo WOW!!!!

This is such a good series. Brandon is really a gifted writer, so many different books, so many different ideas. Legion is just crazy!!! love all these characters, and wonder how the future of this series will be like.. In this book interesting character development (fake characters (or imagined characters) and the real one).. wonder how the next book will be like...
It must be not easy to have all these different personalities living in your mind and interacting with them... And just think of all the money our friend Steve is spending on all these different personalities when they join him... like the first class tickets in the last book.

Brandon Sanderson, bring the next book ASAP.... But first bring the 3rd addition of the Stormlight Archive... Can't wait.

8 of 12 people found this review helpful

ASK HIM ABOUT THE ZOMBIES

SARCASM WAS KIND OF HER NATIVE TONGUE.
This is listed as story 2, yet does more to explain the main character and why he is the way he is, then the first story. Don't hesitate to get this for free. Their is one line in the book that refers back to story one and it is just a passing remark. Having said that, I liked story one better. I am not that big into sleuthing and that is what this series is about. The concept of creating imaginary characters who interact to help solve mysteries is unique and done well. This should be enjoyed by both Sci-Fi fans and Mystery/Detective fans. This story had a slower start to it then the first story, which is why I enjoyed story one better.

I HATE ZOMBIES
There is a theory that William Shakespeare was not one man. That one man could not have the wide range of knowledge that is covered in Shakespeare's work. Sort of like today's Jack Campbell, in which several writers write under that name. Some day in the future the same may be said about Brandon Sanderson. His work is wide and varied, yet usually of high standard. This series reminded me a lot of Robert J. Sawyer. Sawyer is probably kicking himself that he did not come up with this idea.

Wyman has been around for awhile and does good work. I did think for this story he read very slow, really dragging it out.

14 of 22 people found this review helpful

A Pleasure

I got the "first" book -- Skin Deep -- free from Audible and realized within fifteen minutes of listening that I needed -- and would enjoy -- Book 1 of the series, "Legion". The main character is unique in all I've read, and Sanderson does a great job with the gifts and the tensions and tells a good story in the meantime. Oliver Wyman handles the difficult material very well. A real pleasure to listen to these books.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful