If you are familiar with the fantasy genre in fiction, then you probably already know the name Brandon Sanderson. For those new to sword-and-sorcery fiction with wizards and dragons, it helps to know that his name is often mentioned alongside modern giants like George R.R. Martin, Robert Jordan, and Terry Pratchett.
Tor Books bought Sanderson’s novel “Elantrist” in 2003 after the author developed his voice and style. It was a breakthrough that paved the way for his wildly successful “Mistborn” series.
Apart from writing books, Sanderson also teaches fantasy fiction writing at Brighham Young University, and started his own fan expo/comic con event called Dragonsteel. You have to admire that sort of work ethic.
Known almost exclusively for multi-volume epic fantasy, he later branched out into science fiction with his Skyward Series. But what he isn’t known for is short stories, which is why the release of “Tailored Realities” is a little unusual.
Part of this omission is likely because the fantasy genre generally doesn’t lend itself well to the short story format. Fantasy novels often involve a lot of world-building and historical lore; this can be exceptionally difficult to encapsulate in just a few pages.
Science fiction shorts, on the other hand, often focus on a single twist of our reality, either set in today’s world or something easier to recognize by readers.
Nine Tales
Anthologies and collections almost always try to start with a bang, and this one is no exception. “Snapshot” is a novella featuring two failed detectives, Davis and Chaz, who are relegated to investigate events in a day that no longer exists.A mysterious, somewhat eldritch piece of technology allows a specific day in a city to be recreated in an underground complex. The city looks and feels real, including the people who were respawned in it, and it replays events as they originally happened.
The advantage for the police is that they can send investigators to observe past crimes as they occurred and gather intelligence for prosecution in the real world.
“Snapshot” alone makes the book worth considering. The story is reminiscent of Philip K. Dick’s “Minority Report,” but with a healthy dose of a serial killer thriller. The read is tons of fun.
In the short “Perfect State,” every human being lives in their own simulated utopia, a position akin to a god-emperor in a personally tailored world. But our hero, Kai, gets reminded that an overarching, quasi-governing body called the Wode is really in charge.
The Wode forces him to meet another “real person,” a female, in a neutral simulation in the hope that they will eventually procreate. The story explores the existential friction between a manufactured destiny and the desire for authentic struggle.
Two of the short stories feature some of Sanderson’s earliest works. The earliest is “Defending Elysium,” about a blind senior operative for the “Phone Company,” the people who control FTL (faster than light) communications for all civilization. He must investigate the disappearance of a scientist on a remote space platform. The investigation turns out to be anything but routine.
“Firstborn” is the other early piece. Dennison Crestmar is a junior officer living in the shadow of his legendary older brother, Varion, a tactical genius who has never lost a battle. When Varion unexpectedly turns traitor, Dennison is tasked to study Varion’s perfection and find a way to stop an unstoppable conqueror.
In addition to other shorts, a riveting second novella, “Moment Zero,” is included, featuring a doomsday device that can fracture the entire world by using a wormhole.
Sandersonpalooza
For fans of Sanderson, this book is a no-brainer. Readers hardly need any third-party recommendation to get enthused about “Tailored Realities.” As for others? Yep, it’s definitely worth checking out.An occasional problem with Sanderson’s previous work is that his analytical approach to storytelling sometimes makes it feel rigid or manufactured. Following the rules of composition is fine and dandy, but there’s a lot to be said for natural, messy development.
Having said that, there are reasons the rules exist. Sanderson has been professionally published for 20 years and has been writing for almost twice that long. His success alone demonstrates he can work the formulas to great effect, but pieces like “Snapshot” and “Moment Zero” prove he’s getting even better at it.
An interesting aspect of “Tailored Realities” is that fans can see his progression from his early days to the present. While “Firstborn” and “Defending” are quite good, they don’t display the streamlined efficiency and maturity of his later writing. “Mitosis,” which is set in the world of his relatively weak “Steelheart” series, is, unfortunately, as equally forgettable as the original books.
Shorter works, like “Brain Dump,” “I Hate Dragons,” and “Dreamer,” are a little more experimental in nature, but Sanderson seems to inevitably skew towards entertainment as his primary goal. Like almost all of his efforts, he hits the mark very well.
