87 pages
Published March 31, 2015 by Dragonsteel Entertainment, LLC.
As novella's go this was really quick. The story had some interesting concepts, a backstory was being told and then it was over. There was a lot of promise and the sudden ending caught me off guard. I will re-read this down the road to see if my opinion changes but this lacked substance that I know Sanderson can pack in to a novella.
This is a very interesting and very short read with a couple of surprising twists along the way. It was certainly not what I expected when I started reading, nor was it the same by the time I finished it. The setting is certainly where this shines. It's reminiscent of a major franchise which will become apparent quickly as you read the story. Overall, I encourage fans of Sanderson and science fiction in general to check this novella out.
For a full review, see my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2015/11/novella-review-perfect-state-by-brandon.html
Es un relato, de los de dos sentadas y listo, y aún así se las apaña para que el universo te deje con ganas de más, y los personajes al menos dan para entretenidos (muy difícil llegar al nivel de Legion)
Perfect for an extended lunch read.
This novella is set in a medieval fantasy world. Opposite the usual expectations we find the hero at the end of his journey. Emperor Kai has conquered the world. For decades he has enjoyed peace and spent his time studying, and occasionally fighting his nemesis Mehli. But not everything is as it seems in this story. The Wode are a mysterious entity who are somehow commanding Kai to procreate. He is sent a list of compatible women. In his ennui, he chooses the one least compatible with him, and travels to another realm with a whole different set of laws.
The mechanisms behind this story become quickly obvious. The length of a novella doesn't leave too much room for subtlety. But Sanderson still manages a nice twist ending, I didn't see coming.
Not quite as poetic as the Emperor's Soul, the story still manages …
Perfect for an extended lunch read.
This novella is set in a medieval fantasy world. Opposite the usual expectations we find the hero at the end of his journey. Emperor Kai has conquered the world. For decades he has enjoyed peace and spent his time studying, and occasionally fighting his nemesis Mehli. But not everything is as it seems in this story. The Wode are a mysterious entity who are somehow commanding Kai to procreate. He is sent a list of compatible women. In his ennui, he chooses the one least compatible with him, and travels to another realm with a whole different set of laws.
The mechanisms behind this story become quickly obvious. The length of a novella doesn't leave too much room for subtlety. But Sanderson still manages a nice twist ending, I didn't see coming.
Not quite as poetic as the Emperor's Soul, the story still manages to tackle a popular issue - machine sentience - with some depth..
Interesting contemplative short story. Explores how people might entertain themselves in a world where every person is the greatest person of their age.
This book was flawless. Absolutely perfect. Really, I can't think of one single negative thing to say about it.
It starts out a little weird, with a God-Emperor standing atop a giant floating disk, surveying his kingdom while musing to his bodyguard and advisor. For the first page or two, you're not really sure where it's going.
And then it just... explodes (the story, not the world). It turns out that we're part of a distant future, a Matrix-like Earth where everyone experiences something different to everybody else, and where everybody is a God-Emperor of sorts.
Being so short, I can't really divulge any more, for fear of spoiling a major plot point... but that's another plus, actually. It's a long novelette, just under twenty thousand words. If you're not looking to commit a week or more on a book, and you like both Science Fiction AND Fantasy, give this …
This book was flawless. Absolutely perfect. Really, I can't think of one single negative thing to say about it.
It starts out a little weird, with a God-Emperor standing atop a giant floating disk, surveying his kingdom while musing to his bodyguard and advisor. For the first page or two, you're not really sure where it's going.
And then it just... explodes (the story, not the world). It turns out that we're part of a distant future, a Matrix-like Earth where everyone experiences something different to everybody else, and where everybody is a God-Emperor of sorts.
Being so short, I can't really divulge any more, for fear of spoiling a major plot point... but that's another plus, actually. It's a long novelette, just under twenty thousand words. If you're not looking to commit a week or more on a book, and you like both Science Fiction AND Fantasy, give this book a try. You're sure to finish it in under two hours.
Fantastic. Funny. Mind-bending. I loved it. The system of worlds, and how the characters fit into them was utterly unique, and fascinating. Great, but all too short (as are all of Brandon's novellas), read.
