Snapshot

By: Brandon Sanderson

Narrated by: William DeMeritt

Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's Summary

If you could re-create a day, what dark secrets would you uncover?

From New York Times number-one best-selling author Brandon Sanderson comes a detective thriller in a police beat like no other.

Anthony Davis and his partner, Chaz, are the only real people in a city of 20 million, sent there by court order to find out what happened in the real world 10 days ago so that hidden evidence can be brought to light and located in the real city today.

Within the re-created Snapshot of May 1, Davis and Chaz are the ultimate authorities. Flashing their badges will get them past any obstruction and overrule any civil right of the dupes around them. But the crimes the detectives are sent to investigate seem like drudgery - until they stumble upon the grisly results of a mass killing that the precinct headquarters orders them not to investigate. That's one order they have to refuse.

The hunt is on. And though the dupes in the replica city have no future once the Snapshot is turned off, that doesn't mean that both Davis and Chaz will walk out of it alive tonight.

©2017 Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Narrator William DeMeritt delivers everything one needs in this sci-fi gumshoe novella.... Sanderson's skillful story is made all the more compelling by DeMeritt's deliberate narration." ( AudioFile)

Yet, Another Universe

I hate to sound like a broken record, but Sanderson does it again. He comes up with something entirely different from what he has been writing. Think of your favorite fantasy or sci-fi writers and now think of how many universes they write in. For most it is one. I have lost count of how many Sanderson has invented and so many are great wonders to get lost in. This world is a world within a world or a city-state within a city-state. It is a time travel book. It is easy to get into your head, the rules are not complicated. The story has some twists and turns, some are predictable, but a couple I did not see coming.

The universe itself is enough to recommend this book, but I also like the characters. These are cops or detectives who are basically outcasts. In the real world they are losers, outcasts, failures. In this world it is harder for them to screw up and cause damage. They of course don't see themselves this way and are hungry to prove themselves. One cop is OVERLY AGRESSIVE, while they other one is the opposite. Yet, even in a world that really does not exist, crime can still happen and crazies can still torture.

If your a Sanderson fan, this is a must and if you don't know him, this is a good place to start.

65 of 74 people found this review helpful

Creative World and Fantastic Mystery Story

I have been meaning to try a story by this author for quite some time, but hadn't gotten around to it until now. My loss! The creative worldbuilding, the description of characters and setting, the tight plot with that wow-worthy end twist made for a fantastic first-time encounter. This was a cross between sci-fi and mystery with a good old-fashioned detective noir feel.

This shorter story introduces a futuristic situation when technology now allows police to recreate a day and setting from the near-past and send officers into the simulation to find out what happened on a certain day or time to gather facts that will lead to finding evidence in the real world to present in court. Two of the 'snapshot' officers, Davis and Chaz, are sent in by court order to find evidence against a murderer, but they stumble across hints of something bigger going down.

Davis and Chaz know they are considered screw ups by the rest of the force and have been given assignments in the Snapshot sym because it's considered lesser police work. Both want to prove themselves so they set out to solve the darker case they stumbled upon.

So, I'm not going to say a lot about this one other than I was intrigued by the futuristic idea of simulating past scenes to gather evidence for crimes and the intense case the pair of Snapshot detectives stumble across. I enjoyed both characters and they were a fun team of opposites. But that ending, wow. I actually saw it coming to a certain extent, but not in its entirety. Left me sitting there gaping with surprise and I love when a story pulls a 'gotcha!' like that.

I experienced Snapshot in its audio version. This was my first encounter with William DeMeritt as narrator. He had a great deep gravelly voice that matched the tough guy detectives and the story. His Chaz accent was perfect with it's noir flavor.

All in all, quick yet engrossing sci-fi mystery that I can highly recommend.

I rec'd this book free.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Sort of Matrix mixed with Blade Runner.

It sort of reminds me of The Matrix crossed with Blade Runner. Gets creepy, too.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Another Great Sanderson Tale!

I loved this story! It was a short-story but full up to the brim with Brandon Sanderson style mind-twisting stuff. I always have to keep an open mind when I read (or listen to) his stories. He always takes me someplace I wasn't expecting. Loved It!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ghosts in the Machine

An excellent short sf mystery... Nice pacing, well drawn characters, and some crafty mystery within a mystery within a mystery stufff going on... Kinda like Minority Report meets The Butterfly Effect... Performance is better than good and fits w/ the mood and voice of the narrative... Very much worth the small freight for a Sanderson tale that impresses one w/ his range...

8 of 11 people found this review helpful

Grittier than YA, but still Brandon Sander-riffic!

From H.G. Wells' Time Machine through Ray Bradbury's "butterfly effect" to Back to the Future and on into Star Trek, we have grown accustomed to worrying about the space-time continuum and the paradoxes of being in two times at once and the havoc that this can wreak. We know of accidental time travelers, collectors of lost artifacts, historians verifying events, and people trying make adjustments, for good or ill. There are so many time-traveling stories around now, it is hard to find one that is new or interesting, yet that is just what we have here. Time traveling crime investigation is also not a completely new concept, but Sanderson's how-does-it-work ideas are fresh and pleasing.

A likable cop with his bristly partner team up to find corroboration on particularly sticky cases. In this fairly short story, Sanderson develops their personalities and their back-stories, yet leaves some surprises for the end. There is cops-and-robbers excitement, startling non-rescues, and an unsettling, thought-provoking ending. It's not as light as many might prefer for a YA novel, but it is an intriguing little story for older teens and adults.

William DeMeritt's narration is delightful. The characters are realistic and sympathetic. This was an all-around pleasure to listen to.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Snapshot was fantastic, but too short!

This book is the intersection of a whole bunch of stuff that I like:
- thoughtful science fiction;
- noiresque detective story;
- well-written characters and a twisty storyline (aka Brandon Sanderson).

Mr Sanderson has a "story starts now, we'll world-build as we go" style and, despite the length of this story (or lack thereof) it works really well here again. You're quickly enmeshed in the day of Detective Davis and his partner as it kicks off, attempting to corroborate a real-world case via a vaguely-defined "snapshot" of the city that he lives in. The "snapshot" concept is mostly referenced as vague tangents (it's the kind of thing that would probably turn up in the latter third of a properly sized Sanderson story) and it's best explained by reading the story rather than a review. You should go do that now.

Mr DeMeritt's voice provides a perfect narration and he does really well voicing the small collection of characters.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

To short to really enjoy - Not for linear people

Some reviewers use comparisons like the Matrix, Blade Runner and Minority Report. Those comparisons fit the book. Saying that, this got confusing to read. Who is real? What is the secret? Who are the rats in a cage? For me, this short 2 hour book was not easy to follow. I am very linear and could not grasp in the short time what was happening. It was a good concept and longer would have been better.

This was a wasted credit for me.

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Another great one

I don’t know how Sanderson can come up with so many great ideas, all while writing his other great ideas. The ending on this one... wow! Great blend of crime detective mystery and sci-fi twists. The narrator does a really good job too. Good characterizations on the voices, good pacing.

Good story! Warning partial spoiler

Although a tad predictable in my opinion, it was still well written.
I would have loved to read this as a full length book so that I would have had time to convince myself that there wasn’t going to be a twist. But overall, well written and interesting concept.

brilliant short story

As always a great story by Brandon Sanderson. I really enjoyed the different story setting and characters. It's one of those ideas that in our futures could become the norm especially the cars and credit system. Definitely worth a listen.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Snappy Sci-fi!

I suspect that Brandon Sanderson has a lot of fun when he writes these. Readers of his magnificent Stormlight Archive series will know that he is capable of incredible world-building, complex character development and political intrigue. He writes magic systems and battle descriptions in great detail and with good logic. In this short novella form he can just throw off the shackles and write a story that he doesn’t have to explain in depth. In Snapshot that’s just what he does. A fast-paced short(ish) story moulded along classic sci-fi lines with little attempt to explain the far-fetched scenario. The narration by William DeMeritt is massively appropriate and it’s a good couple of hours of sci-fi trickery.

PS At the time of writing it looks like the waiting for the next Stormlight book comes to an end in November with the release of Oathbringer . . . I can’t wait!

9 of 12 people found this review helpful

Clever - and an easy listen.

Very unlike anything else I've listened to by Brandon Sanderson. How does he do it? He's taken what might be a passing thought for the rest of us, and turned into a fully fledged concept - with a tidy story to boot (and probably all while he's working on the epic of all epics, the Stormlight archive!!).

Simon says "snappy sci-fi" - spot on. Snapshot is clever, sharp, and it all stacks. I knew there was a good twist coming; even had a few guesses at what it might be. As always I got close, but not quite 100% and as always, there's another little kick in the tale. The story is short enough to think back over, looking for holes and flaws - I couldn't find any. Indeed, the more I thought about it, the more clever the foreshadowing. The concept is sci-fi, the story telling all Sanderson.

Narration was well suited to the story too.

I don't usually spend credits on short stories - but I think this one was worth it.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Fast-paced, character driven. simply Sanderson

What made the experience of listening to Snapshot the most enjoyable?

It was most certainly the pace. And of course the idea behind the story itself.

Who was your favorite character and why?

What can I say, both main characters were my favourites. Each of them brought something different to the table.

What does William DeMeritt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

His gruff baritone added that extra almost hardboiled atmosphere to the world Sanderson created. He made the world real and also made the character’s sound distinct. Which in my opinion is what truly matters when grading a narrator.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Snapshot: take a picture: you never know, it might be your last.

Any additional comments?

The magic man did it again! I knew as soon as I saw the title on audible; I knew that I would buy it, buy it and enjoy it.
One thing to say was that the audiobook was only 2 hours and 23 minutes.
But somehow it felt longer. But please don’t take that the wrong way, in my opinion that was good. The story did not feel rushed. The conclusion brought everything to a close with a snap and it left my mind reeling. Brandon Sanderson manages to put in plot and character developments galore; adding little clues on the way and letting your imagination roam for a little while. Until you are hit with the big reveal, and make no mistake, there is a big reveal. One of those ahhh…. Head-scratching moments that leave you asking yourself, “How did I miss that”? And the ending so simple but at the same time oh so brilliant.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Yet again!

Yet again Brandon sanderson has left me wanting more from one if his short stories!! I hope he has plans for more in this world, it's an interesting premise.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Best audiobook I've listened to so far

If you like plot twists and detective/crime thrillers then this is the book for you. It is also quite short which is really helpful for someone with a short commute like me.

The voices were all varied and well performed, it realy sucks you in. The story is imaginative and, although at this point a bit of a philosophical cliché (reality is a simulation / are we just a collection of memories), the details made it very original.

I liked this even more than the Mistborn series to be honest. Definitely give this a try if you like Sanderson!

Surprisingly good

I don’t have time for these epic 30-40 hour novels that are appearing these days, so I figured I’d give this 2 hour novella a try. I’m a fan of Brandon Sanderson’s work anyway, and I was unsure whether listening to his sci-fi would be as enjoyable. I can resoundingly say “yes, it is just as enjoyable”.

Sanderson was able to capture the scene, the characters, and the story brilliantly in such a small space of time.

I highly recommend this novella.

Exciting short story

I enjoyed this book a great deal.
The story was intriguing and unique. The length of the book was just perfect as it held tension high without feeling rushed.

The narrator also did a great job. I am really pleased with the overall quality of this book.

It's okay

Any additional comments?

Snapshot won't blow your mind but it also won't leave any real lasting impression on you. The premise is interesting and the characters are okay but the plot is just a little bit lacking. There's nothing particularly wrong with it, except maybe aspects of the somewhat ludicrous serial killer plot, but it just doesn't do a very good job of making you all that invested. It feels like a,lot of little things could have been done to make the book have more impact, Sanderson certainly seems to be setting up things, but in the end these things are forgotten. It sort of feels like Sanderson had the ending thought up before starting the book and though he added more to the story as he wrote it he was reluctant to change the original ending he envisaged.

Captivating short story

I love all Sanderson's work and this is no exception. Great story with a few twists and turns