Tailored Realities

by Brandon Sanderson

Spanning the genres of fantasy and science fiction, this collection features stories from beyond the bounds of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere universe.

Along with the never-before-seen novella 'Moment Zero', Tailored Realities will include 'Snapshot', 'Perfect State', 'Defending Elysium' (a novella set within the world of Skyward), and five other stories that were originally published individually elsewhere - never before collected into one volume, and many never before available in print.

The collection will also include a stunning black-and-white illustration for each story.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult, Anthologies

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 9, 2025

About the author

I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers.

The release of Wind and Truth in December 2024—the fifth and final book in the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive series—marks a significant milestone for me. This series is my love letter to the epic fantasy genre, and it’s the type of story I always dreamed epic fantasy could be. Now is a great time to get into the Stormlight Archive since the first arc, which begins with Way of Kings, is complete.

During our crowdfunding campaign for the leatherbound edition of Words of Radiance, I announced a fifth Secret Project called Isles of the Emberdark, which came out in the summer of 2025. Coming December 2025 is Tailored Realities, my non-Cosmere short story collection featuring the new novella Moment Zero.

Defiant, the fourth and final volume of the series that started with Skyward in 2018, came out in November 2023, capping an already book-filled year that saw the releases of all four Secret Projects: Tress of the Emerald Sea, The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and The Sunlit Man. These four books were all initially offered to backers of the #1 Kickstarter campaign of all time.

November 2022 saw the release of The Lost Metal, the seventh volume in the Mistborn saga, and the final volume of the Mistborn Era Two featuring Wax & Wayne. Now that the first arc of the Stormlight Archive is wrapped up, I’ve started writing the third era of Mistborn in 2025.

Most readers have noticed that my adult fantasy novels are in a connected universe called the Cosmere. This includes The Stormlight Archive, both Mistborn series, Elantris, Warbreaker, four of the five Secret Projects, and various novellas, including The Emperor’s Soul, which won a Hugo Award in 2013. In November 2016 all of the existing Cosmere short fiction was released in one volume called Arcanum Unbounded. If you’ve read all of my adult fantasy novels and want to see some behind-the-scenes information, that collection is a must-read.

I also have three YA series: The Rithmatist (currently at one book), The Reckoners (a trilogy beginning with Steelheart), and Skyward. For young readers I also have my humorous series Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians, which had its final book, Bastille vs. the Evil Librarians, released in 2022. Many of my adult readers enjoy all of those books as well, and many of my YA readers enjoy my adult books, usually starting with Mistborn.

Additionally, I have a few other novellas that are more on the thriller/sci-fi side. These include the three stories in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, as well as Perfect State and Snapshot. These two novellas are also featured in 2025’s Tailored Realities. There’s a lot of material to go around!

Good starting places are Mistborn (a.k.a. The Final Empire), Skyward, Steelheart, The Emperor’s Soul, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians. If you’re already a fan of big fat fantasies, you can jump right into The Way of Kings.

I was also honored to be able to complete the final three volumes of The Wheel of Time, beginning with The Gathering Storm, using Robert Jordan’s notes.

Sample chapters from all of my books are available at brandonsanderson.com—and check out the rest of my site for chapter-by-chapter annotations, deleted scenes, and more.

Reviews

[Clace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanna write a review for each of the stories sooo rtc
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You guys should have seen my state when I got accepted for a Brandon Sanderson arc 😭 Can't wait to read the new stories and reread the ones I already have 🤸

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of non-cosmere stories, some new, some old, also features a brand-new novella. Since I had already read the previously released stories, I have only read the newly published ones this time. I have reposted my (modified) reviews of the old stories and written new ones for the three new additions, Moment Zero, “Brain Dump,” and “Probability Approaching Zero.”


SNAPSHOT (4 stars)

In Snapshot, detective story meets cyberpunk; except instead of technology a fantastical element is used. That‘s where the superhero abilities featured in the Reckoners series come in; even if only used to set up the premise of the story – you’ll find no epic Epic fights here! Originally, both stories were intended to be part of the same universe. Because film rights are with different companies, however, Sanderson had to put that on hold (as of 2017).

All of this to say that not only is Snapshot totally different from the Reckoners, you really do not have to read the Reckoners series beforehand: the being with superpowers that creates the snapshots (tangible recreation of a past day, used here for the sake of criminal investigation) is new to this story and there’s virtually no overlap at all; just some minor references that could really be explained away given another context.

A fast and fast-paced 90 pages you should definitely read!

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NEW: “BRAIN DUMP”(3.5 stars)

Though not altogether new, this is a brief (11 pages) but fun exploration of genetic engineering, showing a couple shopping for what they think is a "perfect“ brain for their child. It becomes clear, though, that each designer brain model has some drawbacks which the saleswoman tries to sugarcoat. The sales pitch then leads toward an unexpected ending.

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“I HATE DRAGONS”(4 stars)

Here you find a version of three too-short chapters of wonderful tongue-in-cheek writing that originally started out as an even shorter dialogue-writing exercise.*

The premise involves Skip‘s (magic) knack for smelling delicious to dragons which makes him the perfect bait in the dragon-hunting business – a dangerous job he understandably wants to quit.

Another knack he has is hearing spelling and punctuation, which I just found a delightful idea. Though I’m glad that’s not a gift I have as it would drive me insane, it was really fun to read about:

“Climb on up here.”
“You’ll eat me.”
“That’s the idea.”
“Then I think I’ll decline.”
“Oh, come now. It won’t be so bad as you think. They’re will he hardly any pain at all.”
“I don’t care if there’s pain or not. I’ll still be dead. And you used the wrong version of ‘they’re.’ You wanted there instead.”
“I did? How can you tell? They’res no difference in the sounds they make.”
“Actually, I can hear apostrophes.”
“What, really?”
“Yes. I can hear spelling too, actually.”

If you want to read more than what is published in Tailored Realities, check out the link below for the free, full version:
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/i-ha...

*Rules for the writing exercise as stated on his website:

“Write a five- to ten-page two-character dialogue with no tags or blocking. Try to evoke character, conflict, and plot using only dialogue. Include: a problem, two distinct individuals, a fantasy/sf element. Avoid: long monologues, exposition. Use context, not explanations.“
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/writ...

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“DREAMER” (3.5 stars)

You’d best go in into this 20-page short story mostly blind – most observations will spoil it for you. Just know this was originally published in a horror anthology, but don’t expect blood and gore (though people will die); it’s Brandon‘s definition of horror, something that deals with a “concept that is horrifying.“ I also don’t think it spoils too much to tell you it involves body snatching.

Brandon states that the short story was received well by the anthology readers unfamiliar with his work but that Peter Ahlstrom, his editor, didn’t particularly like it. I’m afraid I’ll have to side more with Peter; while it was a quick, entertaining read, it was quite average compared to Brandon‘s work.

PS: Even if you’re probably reading this as part of Tailored Realities, there is also this really cool edition with dual covers, which includes both “Dreamer“ and Snapshot.

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PERFECT STATE (4 stars)

If you want to go into this blind, please don’t read any further. I will only explain the basic world building, which is why I‘m not labeling this as a spoiler.

In this science fiction novella Sanderson is giving a creative new spin to the central idea of the Matrix – most notably, it appears to nix the dystopian angle: human beings are not turned into batteries for world-dominating machines. The underlying concept is similar though: the humans‘ brains are stored in jars, as so-called Liveborn, and are each given a State, a simulated world, to live in. However, here this State is based on the individual personality, aiming to make the person happy while being cognizant of the situation. As an example, our MC Kairominas is God-Emperor of his world, long-lived, having magical powers.

But there are also so-called Machineborns, which constitute the majority of people, Simulated Entities, basically AI constructs that make up the population of a State.

There is even more to this world, however: in addition to Personal States like Kai’s, there are also Communal ones, which can be visited by the Liveborns. Kai is content in his Personal State until something unexpected prompts him to go to a Communal State: he is forced to go on a date!

I have to admit that it took me a while to familiarize myself with the complex world building and I don’t think I grasped it all, mainly where the so-called Machineborn were concerned. Still, I had a lot of fun with the story. Exploring that entire world was incredibly entertaining, fascinating, and thought-provoking: Perfect State – or is it?

PS: All this left me wondering what my Personal State would look like. I’d have some magical powers, that’s for sure. What a fun thought experiment.

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NEW: “PROBABILITY APPROACHING ZERO” (3 stars)

A flash fiction piece (less than 500 words), dialogue only, which only made complete sense to me after reading the postscript. If you want to know the premise keep on reading, but if you’d rather puzzle it out for yourself, stop here. Aliens pick people from different worlds and "uplift“ them – granting them greater intelligence. You are shown the dialogue of an alien with an uplifted person.

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“DEFENDING ELYSIUM” (4 stars)

Considering the fact that this novelette, set in the same universe as the Skyward series, is one of Brandon’s early works, written in 2001/2002, before Elantris was published, I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore really; recently reading and enjoying Dragonsteel Prime, which predates Defending Elysium by about two years, which once again shows what an extraordinary talent Brandon has, already been honed by writing about a dozen novels before this novelette.

I would actually recommend reading this 70-page-long story after you’ve read Skyward; you’ll get the most enjoyment out of it that way as it functions as a sort of prequel, set hundreds of years earlier. We get to know the origins of Jason Write of the Phone Company (PC), the origins of Faster Than Light communication and travel; we also learn how alien species view humans as threatening, as an undeveloped civilization and, most importantly, as creatures of lesser intelligence, setting the stage for the conflict in Skyward. On the surface, however, this story is a mystery: Jason Write is dispatched to investigate the disappearance of one of the PC’s agents.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced novelette and the insight into the Cytoverse it provides; even if some questions remain unanswered (to my mind at least). The ending was very satisfying nonetheless.

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“FIRSTBORN” (4 stars)

This sci fi novelette is an enjoyable, entertaining, quick 40-page read. At its core, it is about not meeting familial/paternal expectations and being forced into a career for which one has neither aptitude nor inclination.

Dennison, our viewpoint character, is supposed to emulate the success of his brother Varion, tactical master and an undefeated Great High Officer and High Admiral, but he fails no matter how hard he tries; and he does try. His repeated failures, however, make him cynical and pessimistic, understandably so. In an attempt to mold him into a successful copy of his brother, he then is forced to extensively study Varian’s battle strategies which make Dennison increasingly wonder about Varian, who is 20 years his senior and whom he has never met. The events then take an unexpected turn and lead to a climactic conclusion I did not see coming. All in all, a nice mix of human interest and space battles I thoroughly enjoyed.

If you don’t plan on buying Tailored Realities, you can read this novelette for free here: https://reactormag.com/firstborn/

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MITOSIS (4 stars)

This novelette is set in the Reckoners alternate earth and can be read after Steelheart. Mitosis is an Epic (superpowered villain) who wants to take control of Newcago. As the name suggests, his superpowers can split himself into multiple beings. The Reckoners, regular humans, among them our MC David, need to find a way to defeat Mitosis. A very brief; entertaining read.

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NEW: MOMENT ZERO (3.5 stars)

This novella starts out like a regular detective story, following two such detectives, Lisa Sterling and Andrew Dane, both experienced and in their forties, following up on a missing person‘s case. When they get there, however, it’s not as simple as that; it’s about an experiment involving a wormhole about to go wrong.

The timeline that we follow is not linear because we time travel, but you get information about the plotline with regard to Moment Zero, the moment which warped time. Lisa is sent a few days into the past before Moment Zero and Dane some undetermined time after that. He gets the worse end of the deal because his timeline includes talking zombies. Yep, you read that right. There will be zombies, called revenants here, that consume a person‘s spirit/soul/heat rather than their flesh. Both Lisa and Dane now have to work to stop Moment Zero from either side of the timeline from happening.

The premise and the characters were engaging and interesting, and I enjoyed most of the novella, but I had a hard time figuring out the physics involving the time travel. Brandon notes in the Postscript that he decided to leave out most of the mechanics and I’m glad he did as time travel is something I often have trouble keeping straight and that was already the case here. But hey, maybe that’s just me and you will be totally fine. All in all, a fun but sometimes confusing experience.

[Korynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall rating of this collection: 3.15/5 stars.
This is firmly a science fiction collection of stories. They are written well because Brandon is a good writer, but I find that I prefer his fantasy stories to his science fiction stories, and most of those tend to be set in the Cosmere and thus not included in this collection.

Snapshot 4/5
I enjoyed this story just as much upon reread as I did when I first read it six years ago. This is a serial killer thriller where two detectives enter a “snapshot” of a day so that they can investigate a crime that occurred during that day. It’s a very cool concept and one that I would love to see adapted to film. This was a strong start to this collection.

Brain Dump 4/5
A very fun little sci-fi story about what it’s like if you could buy a designer-built brain for your child. This one is new to this collection. I don’t think it’s a particularly unique concept, and the ending doesn’t feel like a Sanderson ending, even though I did like it. But the story overall was a fun one to read.

I Hate Dragons 3.5/5
A boy who can HEAR spelling and punctuation?? Yes please. That’s the most interesting story idea I’ve ever heard. I’ve been into LitRPG stories lately, and this story has a LitRPG feel to it. The version included in Tailored Realities is the dialogue-only version, but there is an extended version on Sanderson’s website that includes some narrative and worldbuilding elements. I read the extended version many years ago and remember liking it a lot. It includes an added bit about the protagonist wanting to make the world’s first dictionary, which was very cool to me. I would love a longer version of this story (longer than the extended version) because the concept here is very interesting.
Read my original review here.

Dreamer 3/5
A fast-paced, action-packed adventure story about body-jumpers hunting each other through a city. I have read this story previously, and I think I liked it better on my first read-through because I didn’t know how it ended. It’s definitely worth a read, but it’s also not my favorite in this collection.
Read my original review here.

Perfect State 2.5/5
Unlike some other stories in this collection that I wish were longer, this story is one that I wish were shorter. I read it years ago but I’m glad I was able to reread it because I had forgotten a lot of details. Sanderson takes classic sci-fi tropes and turns them on their heads: what if you were just a brain in a jar and living in a simulated full-dive where you could create the perfect life for yourself? The postscript here is important as it gives a lot of context to the story, and in it, Brandon states this is his favorite idea in this collection. It certainly is an interesting idea, but it just didn’t have the emotional impact for me personally that I think he wanted it to.

Probability Approaching Zero 3/5
Brandon’s first flash fiction piece and a new story to this collection. It’s very short, and another dialogue-only story about a human who is “uplifted” to gain greater intelligence. This is a story that I really think requires the postscript to understand. I thought I understood the narrative’s implications when I finished, but I’m really glad Brandon explained what he said between the lines because I didn’t fully grasp the meaning until I read the postscript.

Defending Elysium 4/5
The origin story of humans discovering faster-than-light technology and their first contact with aliens. This is not a new story, and in fact it’s one I’ve read multiple times now and I enjoy it more on each reread. This story is imperative if you are planning on reading the Skyward books as they take place in the same universe and there are lots of references here that will really help you out in that series, although both can be read on their own just fine. This is one of the stronger stories in this collection, in my opinion.
Read my original review here.

Firstborn 2/5
I did not like this story when I originally read it years ago, and I didn’t like it this time around either. It wasn’t memorable as I had forgotten nearly everything about it. It’s giving Ender’s Game vibes with commanding the spaceship battles and the cast of primarily male characters, and I’m just not into that. This is the kind of story I think about when I think about how I don’t like sci-fi. This story is not one I would necessarily recommend going out of your way to read.

Mitosis 2/5
Rereading this story made me want to reread the whole Reckoners trilogy. I want to emphasize that Mitosis is 1.5 in the Reckoners series and it does spoil the ending of Steelheart. I do not personally think this story should have been included in this collection since it can’t really be read on its own like the other stories can. All of the worldbuilding and character development occur in Steelheart, so if you skip that book, this story will feel like it’s missing a lot of details. The story was alright but ultimately felt unnecessary to the overall series.

Moment Zero 3.5/5
I didn't expect to get a zombie time travel story from Brandon, but alright. This was good and brand new to this collection. Two cops are trying to stop the apocalypse from happening on either side of it in the timeline. I like that Brandon subverted some tropes here. The physics of the story got a little lost on me, and thus the ending didn't 100% make sense, but I trust that Brandon knew what he was doing when he wrote it and that I'm the dumb one here. I think this story would make a good tv show. Overall this was a fun read.


I received a digital copy of this book for review from the publisher via Edelweiss.

[Krysta ꕤ]

safe to say I’ll read anything Sanderson writes 🙂‍↕️

[Melanie (meltotheany)]

♡ signed b&n copies (available as of august 9th)

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a handful of these before, so I've noted those, and I do have separate records of them on here. The rest I've just read in these past few days. I have also read the postscripts for every story including the ones I'd already read as these give background information about them.

Snapshot - read Dec 11 2022. 4 stars. This style of character and plot is something Brandon always does well.

Brain Dump - 3 stars. A very short exploration into an interesting concept that unfortunately isn't even that far-fetched as far as sci-fi goes. It's the next step in eugenics.

I Hate Dragons - 3 stars. A dialogue-based story, unusual, quite funny and light in tone. It gave me some Pratchett vibes.

Dreamer - 3.5 stars. A really interesting concept, but it all went a bit fast; I'd be interested to read a longer exploration of this.

Perfect State - read August 14 2022. 4 stars. Such a cool concept and thought-provoking story.

Probability Approaching Zero - flash fiction, so it's hard to rate this more than 3 because it's just so short, but it is a really compelling idea.

Defending Elysium - read July 28 2022. 4 stars. A really useful companion read to the Skyward series.

Firstborn - read May 31 2022. 4 stars. Very compelling sci-fi. Really enjoyed it.

Mitosis - read March 6 2019. 3 stars. Part of the Reckoners series which I really enjoy, a fun read but not an essential addition.

Moment Zero - 5 stars. This is the longest of the stories that are new to me, about 150 pages. It's an excellent sci-fi action thriller that had me in tears at the end, I absolutely loved this time bending story.

Overall - I'm really happy to have all of these short stories combined into another book, with great illustrations too, to go with Arcanum Unbounded which is of course Cosmere focused and this one isn't. The ones I'd already read were as ebooks and I like being able to own his works physically. It's a solid collection overall.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection! I’m already a huge Sanderson fan, but wow, this just reminded me why I think he’s one of the best writers out there. These sci-fi stories are so creative, all with totally different vibes, but still feel distinctly Sanderson in the way he builds concepts, twists expectations, and delivers emotional beats even in short form.

Some of the stories were strong on their own, but what really took this collection to another level for me were his notes after each one. You absolutely have to read those! Each one adds context and gives insight into his inspiration, world-building decisions, or what he wanted the reader to take away. They deepen the meaning behind the stories and honestly made me appreciate them so much more. It felt like he was letting us peek inside his thought process, and as a fan, that was such a treat.

I loved the variety of stories some more speculative, some leaning emotional, some more action-driven and it kept the reading experience fun and unpredictable. A couple stories completely grabbed me (Moment Zero is a standout!!), but I genuinely enjoyed the whole collection.

If you like sci-fi, experimental story formats, clever ideas, and especially if you’re already a Sanderson fan, I highly recommend picking this up. And if you aren’t yet… honestly, this might be a great place to start. Just promise me you’ll read the author notes too—they really elevate the experience. Thanks to Tor publishing for the ARC.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brandon Sanderson has built his reputation on intricate magic systems and sprawling epic fantasies within his Cosmere universe. Yet some of his most daring storytelling exists outside those familiar boundaries. Tailored Realities assembles ten stories spanning twenty-five years of creative evolution, offering readers a window into the experimental playground where Sanderson tests narrative techniques that eventually shape his larger works.

Beyond the Cosmere: Stories That Push Boundaries

This collection deliberately steps away from the interconnected mythology that defines much of Sanderson's bibliography. Instead, these standalone pieces explore science fiction concepts, philosophical questions about consciousness and reality, and genre-blending experiments that reveal an author comfortable taking risks. The absence of familiar Cosmere elements becomes the collection's strength, forcing Sanderson to construct entirely new frameworks for each story while maintaining the precision readers expect from his worldbuilding.

The title story "Snapshot" exemplifies this approach through its noir-influenced detective narrative. Detectives Anthony Davis and Chaz navigate a perfect recreation of a single day, an underground simulation where they solve crimes by literally revisiting the past. Sanderson constructs a morally complex scenario where millions of artificial people populate this recreated city, existing only to be destroyed when the simulation ends. Davis struggles with the ethical weight of his work, questioning whether actions in a Snapshot carry genuine moral consequences. The story's tension derives not from action sequences but from Davis's internal conflict as he recognates the humanity of people the system defines as temporary and expendable.

Sanderson's prose in "Snapshot" demonstrates his evolution toward leaner, more economical storytelling. Where his epic fantasies luxuriate in detailed magic systems and political machinations, this novella trusts readers to grasp concepts quickly. The Snapshot technology remains partially mysterious, its mechanics less important than its philosophical implications. This restraint marks a significant departure from the exhaustive explanations characteristic of his Cosmere works.

The Crown Jewel: Moment Zero's Temporal Complexity

The collection's centerpiece, the never-before-published novella "Moment Zero," represents Sanderson's most ambitious short-form narrative structure. Two detectives approach the same apocalyptic event from opposite temporal directions: Lisa Sterling moves backward from a devastated future while Andrew Dane investigates forward from the past. Their separate timelines converge on "Moment Zero," the instant when a scientist's experiment fractured reality itself.

Sanderson orchestrates this dual-timeline narrative with remarkable precision, alternating between Lisa's post-apocalyptic desperation and Dane's pre-disaster investigation. Each chapter heading counts hours toward or away from the central moment, creating mounting tension as both protagonists race against time itself. The structure demands careful attention from readers, but Sanderson provides enough contextual anchors to prevent confusion.

What elevates "Moment Zero" beyond clever temporal mechanics is its exploration of partnership dynamics. Lisa and Dane represent former detective partners whose relationship has frayed, their communication restricted to phone calls across fractured timelines. Sanderson writes their deteriorating connection with unexpected emotional depth, using the apocalypse as backdrop for examining how professional partnerships evolve and sometimes necessarily end. The story refuses the expected reconciliation, instead honoring the realistic outcome where two people simply grow incompatible despite mutual respect.

Philosophical Depth in Perfect State

"Perfect State" tackles questions about consciousness, achievement, and the nature of heroism through God-Emperor Kairominas, who rules a fantasy world designed exclusively for him. Every citizen exists as programming; every quest serves to reinforce his sense of accomplishment. When Kai meets Sophie, a revolutionary from another simulated world, both confront the hollowness underlying their greatest achievements.

Sanderson uses this premise to interrogate modern gaming culture and virtual existence without heavy-handed moralizing. Kai's heroism feels genuine to him, even when revealed as orchestrated gameplay on the easiest difficulty setting. Sophie's revolutionary accomplishments ring hollow because her world was intentionally designed without the rights she fought to establish. The story asks whether subjective fulfillment matters when objective circumstances undermine those feelings.

The narrative's twist—revealing Sophie as an elaborate deception—initially seems to reduce her agency to a plot device. However, Sanderson's revised ending restores her complexity by suggesting layers of manipulation extending beyond Kai's awareness. The result examines power structures within seemingly utopian systems, questioning who benefits from giving everyone their perfect world.

Range and Experimentation

The collection's remaining stories demonstrate Sanderson's willingness to experiment with form and genre:

"Defending Elysium" serves as the Cytoverse's origin story, introducing biological faster-than-light travel and questioning humanity's place in a galactic community. Written in 2001, it showcases Sanderson's early attempts at dense, idea-driven science fiction that influenced his later Skyward series.
"Mitosis" returns to the Reckoners universe with David Charleston facing an Epic who multiplies endlessly. The story balances superhero action with David's characteristic humor, providing a complete arc for existing fans while remaining accessible to newcomers.
"Dreamer" explores body-swapping mechanics through a horror lens, examining how people might abuse consequence-free existence. Though brief, it effectively disturbs through implications rather than explicit content.
"Firstborn" presents military strategy through the lens of nature versus nurture, asking whether genius derives from genetics or environment. The clone of history's greatest military commander becomes an ordinary man, suggesting potential originates from circumstances rather than inherent capacity.
Technical Excellence and Style Adaptation

Sanderson's technical proficiency shines throughout these varied narratives. His signature clear prose serves different purposes across genres—building dread in horror pieces, establishing noir atmosphere in detective stories, and maintaining propulsive pacing in action sequences. The author's distinctive ability to construct logical systems appears even in stories like "Perfect State," where the "rules" governing simulated realities create narrative structure.

The collection benefits from generous author postscripts following each story, providing context about composition, revision decisions, and how individual pieces influenced later works. These annotations transform the reading experience into a master class in craft, revealing Sanderson's evolution from unpublished writer to genre-defining author.

Minor Imperfections Within Excellence

Not every story achieves the same impact. "Brain Dump" and "I Hate Dragons" function more as creative exercises than fully realized narratives. "Probability Approaching Zero" compresses its concepts into flash fiction that may leave readers wanting more development. These shorter pieces feel like sketches rather than finished paintings, though Sanderson's postscripts acknowledge their experimental nature.

The collection's genre diversity, while demonstrating range, may challenge readers seeking consistent tone. Moving from "Snapshot's" noir melancholy to "I Hate Dragons'" absurdist humor requires mental gear-shifting. However, this variety arguably represents the collection's intention—showcasing an author refusing creative stagnation.

Essential Reading for Sanderson Enthusiasts

Tailored Realities offers something beyond typical short story collections. It functions as both retrospective and creative laboratory, demonstrating how constraints breed innovation. Sanderson's willingness to experiment outside his established universe reveals an artist continuously evolving his craft. The stories succeed not despite their differences from Cosmere works but because those differences illuminate approaches that eventually enhance everything Sanderson writes.

For readers familiar only with Sanderson's epic fantasies, this collection provides fresh perspective on his versatility. Those already appreciating his science fiction will find "Moment Zero" and "Defending Elysium" particularly rewarding. The collection earns its place among Sanderson's essential works, proving that sometimes creative freedom flourishes most when working outside familiar boundaries.

[Alex Z (azeebooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is firmly a science-fiction/speculative fiction collection of stories from Brandon Sanderson. Something to mix it up a bit!

I find that Sanderson’s non-cosmere works can be a bit hit or miss for me, but I found this collection of short stories to be well-curated and I flew through it! I appreciated the end notes provided and the special history these stories all have. It was also interesting to see earlier works and see how Sanderson’s craft has grown.

Definitely a must read for Sanderson fans! There’s a lot to love here!

Note, I did not read Mitosis as that is from the one series of his I haven’t read yet and I didn’t want spoilers!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Available December 9, 2025

Thank you to Tor for a free advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Shaghayegh · Rating 4 out of 5]

بعضی داستاناشو قبلا خونده بودم
و همه‌شون به نظرم جالب نبودن، به خاطر اونایی که دوست داشتم بهش ۴ می‌دم

[FM Wylde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estupendo compendio de relatos imprescindibles para los amantes de la ciencia ficción

[Kate (BloggingwithDragons) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I’m going to be honest, I’m not sure what I was thinking when I requested Tailored Realities. There are two wolves inside of me: The one that hates short stories and the one that loves Brandon Sanderson and wants to read all of his work. The second wolf came out on top, so I requested the ARC. Was Tailored Realities enjoyable with Brandon’s signature world-building and magic systems? Yes. Did it make me like short stories? No.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed a lot of the short stories in Tailored Realities. Unfortunately, the inherent truth is that I personally hate getting invested in a story and its characters and then it coming to an end much sooner than it would in a book. As someone who lives for character development and tension, I feel like short stories just don’t have enough time to let things marinate or build, in my opinion, which naturally leads to less of an impactful read. Though I found these stories enjoyable (definitely some more than others) I had the problem that the moment I felt like things in the story were cooking, so to speak, it was over. I feel like much of the pacing has to go into setting up the characters, world, and magic systems quickly, and then it gets to the actual story events, resolves them in one fast-paced sequence after another, and then it’s on to the next work. Though this was less of an obvious issue for me in the longer works.

“I believe Nazeem’s experiment ripped a hole in reality and opened a portal to another dimension—a dimension where the rules of physics are different.”

Personally, I just find that frustrating, like one tease after another. Though for readers who don’t have a lot of time or prefer shorter reads (god knows Sanderson’s normal full-length novels are intimidatingly large), Tailored Realities could be a really great starting point to dip one’s toes into Sanderson’s work. Be forewarned, the lengths of each work in this collection greatly vary, which made it even more jarring for me, personally. When I started the next story, I wasn’t sure if I was sitting down for a couple of pages, or over 100. There were stories where I literally did a double take and said, “wait. It’s over?”

But if a work’s biggest downfall is that there simply isn’t more of it, then how can I really complain? And Tailored Realities has stories spanning Sanderson’s career. I could definitely see the experience and growth in his craft in his later works, as there was more description and even more showing versus telling. Something that Tailored Realities does that is really cool is that it provides an author’s note at the end of every work. Reading author’s notes is one of my favorite parts of reading any book, so this was something I really enjoyed and don’t think I’ve experienced in other collections. I love getting a glimpse inside of how an author's mind works and where they get their inspiration or ideas and why they decided to take the story in the direction they did. So even when I wasn't necessarily a big fan of the particular short story I had just read, knowing I got to read Brandon's notes about it kept me excited.

Like all of Sanderson’s stories, they all take place in very original worlds with normal characters doing extraordinary things. I found that most of these works really leaned more science fiction than fantasy, which admittedly, disappointed me a bit as a reader with a fantasy preference. But for familiar fans, there are stories taking place in worlds we’ve visited in the past, with one story relating to the Skyward universe and another to The Reckoners (the latter of which I haven’t read in years and feel like I might be due to reread after enjoying the short story, Mitosis, so much). Another work pays clear homage to Ender’s Game in Sanderson’s own interesting take on the drama. There’s also plenty for new readers to enjoy, as Sanderson explains his worlds deftly every time, meaning if you aren’t already familiar with the world or its magic system, you will be. Plus, there’s stories that are truly standalones too.

“In here they were the only ones with rights. In here, they were gods.”

One of the standouts for me was Snapshot, the very first short story in this work. I wish I could have read a full length novel of this book. Both the world building and its concept are so interesting and unique. Snapshot follows two police detectives who enter a recreation (the eponymous "snapshot") of a day and are able to investigate crimes. However, the main characters end up stumbling across mass murders that the police department doesn’t seem to want them to solve. It was really interesting to read a mix of a crime/police procedural story mixed in with science fiction and Sanderson’s superb world building. The twist basically blind sided me and I can only imagine the impact this story would have had if the story and characters had even more time to build tension. (I think in the author’s note, Sanderson mentioned this work is being optioned for a movie or TV show and it's very easy to see why.)

Several of these stories have twists, which admittedly, I have a love/hate relationship with in all forms of media (definitely wasn’t traumatized by the last season of Game of Thrones or anything). Though Sanderson does a good job of setting up these pivots in this collection, I felt a little betrayed by them. I would get attached to what I thought was the reality of the characters or a situation to only be jerked in another direction in what feels like a, “well, actually” moment. I think this feeling was exacerbated by the fact that most of the stories ended right after the twist was revealed. I was happily surprised when Sanderson commented on the nature of twists in one of his own author’s note, saying:

“Sometimes I worry that with twists, we writers need to be a little less preoccupied with whether or not we can do something, and a little more focused on whether that’s good for the story.” I couldn’t agree more. Readers can decide for themselves how they feel about the twists in this novel and whether they were done for pure shock value or not."

There is another police procedural story in Tailored Realities, called Moment Zero, which involves some good ole fashioned time travel, with one partner, Lisa, in the past and another, Dane, in the dystopian present. This was one of the longer works of Tailored Realities, and actually reminded me of one of my favorites of Sanderson’s other works, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter but with less of its charm and emotional payoff. Similarly to Yumi and Painter, Lisa and Dane are connected to each other despite different worlds. Unfortunately, I lost a lot of my investment when Lisa and Dane, who clearly had formerly been romantically involved finally make time to talk about their unresolved issues and they decide—while Dane is fighting off zombie-like creatures called Revenants in his timeline, and Lisa is trying to avoid life-threatening accidents because the past doesn’t want her deviating from what she did originally—that they were terrible romantic partners.

I felt like the wind was completely taken out of my sails after the short story went in this direction. My investment in their relationship was pretty high. Sanderson did a great job hinting at their past history, with Dane being a father figure to Lisa’s daughter and beating the shit out of her actual father, and Lisa internally commenting on the messy socks strewn about at his apartment again. So readers found out about their connection piecemeal, making each next discovery more interesting. With Dane leaving the force to join SWAT, and Lisa clearly disheartened by his departure, I was curious how their last investigation together would work out. I wasn’t expecting time travel, quantum stuff, zombies, and two exes stumbling around trying to save the world. I was thrilled when it seemed a reconciliation was on the horizon for Lisa and Dane, but alas, it was not to be. Sanderson said in his author’s note that he felt the “Hollywood writers” would be disappointed that they didn’t get back together and remarked that he wanted to show the natural, human experience that a lot of people go through when they realize they weren’t right for each other, but I found myself agreeing with the Hollywood writers, and though the impact of the story would have been much greater if they had gotten together after all.

"But deep down, there was something in all of them. Something about wanting to fix the world.”

Though Tailored Realities didn’t render me a fan of short stories (honestly, an insurmountable task), it was probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had reading a collection of them. I really enjoyed the glimpse into Sanderson’s mind, especially when he was reflecting on what he was thinking about when writing his past work and how he would portray it differently if he was writing now. As someone who is interested in more than just the final draft, I wish all authors would give us this window into their world. The stories themselves are all pretty enthralling, and a must-read for fans of Sanderson who want to know every little bit of lore of returning worlds and to see the new ones Sanderson has managed to write on top of all of his Cosmere novels, which require less artistic freedom. It was fun to see him tackle stories that at first glance appeared to be police thrillers, only for the fantastical elements to get thrown in or enmeshed so deftly.

The different stories and genres—including but not limited to brain shopping, simulations, police investigations, starship battles, cytonic powers—show off all of the hallmarks of Sanderson’s works—his humor, his originality, and relatable characters who find themselves in realities unlike what. Those looking for reads that suck you in from the very first page and keep you guessing or returning fans of Sanderson will love Tailored Realities.

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[Brandon B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson is a delightful anthology that compiles ten of his non-Cosmere short stories and novellas, blending science fiction and fantasy in ways that highlight his boundless creativity outside his famous epic universes. From the intriguing early piece “Firstborn,” which echoes space opera classics like Ender’s Game with its tale of sibling rivalry among starship commanders, to the Hugo-nominated “Perfect State,” a mind-twisting exploration of virtual godhood and simulated realities, the collection offers a refreshing mix of ideas that feel both innovative and accessible. Standouts include “Snapshot,” a novella about detectives reliving past days to solve crimes in a simulated world, and the brand-new “Moment Zero,” a lengthy, action-packed story involving time travel, alternate dimensions, and undead threats that ties the book together with clever twists and frenetic pacing. While some entries come across as writing experiments shorter or less polished than Sanderson’s novels the insightful postscripts after each story provide fascinating behind-the-scenes context, making this a must-have for dedicated fans and a solid entry point for newcomers curious about his shorter works, though it shines brightest for those already invested in his style.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this is a Brandon Sanderson collection of short stories. Of course it’s GOOD.

Granted, none of the stories in this collection connect to the Cosmere. So, for me, it’s the first of his writing I’ve read in a while that is separate what I consider one of the greatest of fantasy worlds. I feel like I got a glimpse into who Sanderson is as a storyteller when he’s “out of his usual element”. Which, as a reader, is always interesting. Like, can this guy tell more than one good story?

The answer is—yeah? For the most part.

I enjoyed this collection. I’m not a big sci-fi fan by any stretch but Sanderson has grown on me. Here, I’d probably say my favorite of the bunch is “Firstborn”. It had the most shocking but thematically pleasing ending.

Aside from that though, this is a collection of sci-fi shorts.

If you enjoy that, you’d probably like this. Sanderson is a consistent writer. His stories have structure and distinct themes—even the short ones. He knows how to spin a story. You won’t be wasting your time~

[Derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story collection is a bit all over the place, but I enjoyed the opportunity to catch up on some older works of Sanderson (as well as the new Moment Zero novella that I quite enjoyed). The notes at the end sharing the context surrounding the writing of each story is also a fun peek into his history. A worthy read for any more-than-casual Sanderson fan.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tailored Realities is a collection of new and previously published Sanderson stories that skew towards science fiction. After each story, there’s a postscript written by Sanderson that gives readers insight into his thought process while writing and the context in which the story was written.

While a few of the stories featured in Tailored Realities are writing exercises, I’ll still point to Tailored Realities as evidence of Sanderson’s writing prowess and progression. Sanderson’s dialogue is one of my favourite aspects of his writing and the story ‘I Hate Dragons’ is the perfect example.

If you’re looking to test out Sanderson’s writing, Tailored Realities is a great place to start.


Snapshot
I read Snapshot back in 2017 after I discovered Sanderson then read everything of his I could get my hands on. I forgot how GOOD Snapshot is. Reading Snapshot now felt like I read it for the first time again.

Snapshot is a fantastic detective novella with a futuristic twist I didn't see coming. I would definitely recommend reading it to anyone looking for a quick and interesting read between books to shake things up!


Brain Dump
Brain Dump is a mini story about a couple shopping for an altered (designer) brain for their future child. Each altered brain advertises enhanced functioning in a specific area.

Brain Dump is a showcase of speculative fiction. The highest of high praise: it reminded me of something Margaret Atwood would write.


I Hate Dragons
I Hate Dragons is a dialogue only story about a character who is used as bait to hunt dragons. The main character has the magical power of being able to see dialogue.
Sanderson will forever be one of my favorite writers and that’s because of his skill with dialogue. In a story with only dialogue, I understood who the characters were, who was saying what, and the setting. Also, contractions in dialogue are your friends! Something Sanderson is clearly aware of.


Dreamer
Dreamer is a story following beings who can jump from body to body. The story follows these beings as they jump from body to body through a city as they hunt a fellow body jumper.

In the postscript, Sanderson’s explanation of the story shines new light on it that invites a reread.


Perfect State
Perfect State is another story I read in 2017, but I remember nothing about it. It’s a short novella that has world building some authors only dream of creating in a full length novel.

In the postscript Sanderson writes at length about the epilogue. I, personally, love the inclusion of the epilogue.


Possibility Approaching Zero
Possibility Approaching Zero is flash fiction. A very interesting concept with an ominous undertone.


Defending Elysium
Defending Elysium is another story I read in 2017. Set in what is now the Cytoverse, Defending Elysium is an excellent story worth the reread after reading the Skyward series.


First Born
First Born is another story I read in 2017. It’s an exciting story that showcases Sanderson’s skills. In the postscript, Sanderson acknowledges the ending and how his view of these types of ending has changed.


Mitosis
Mitosis is set in The Reckoners world.


Moment Zero
The moment we’ve all been waiting for, Moment Zero. Moment Zero follows two detectives as they’re sent to two different timelines after an explosion that brings the apocalypse.

While the story is infused with an investigation, action, and mystery, Sanderson also offers readers a meaningful relationship between the two detectives. Both have their own motivations and desires that significantly impact their relationship and the story at large.

[Jordan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars

I've never really vibed with Sanderson's non-cosmere books, which is why I'm surprised how much I liked some of these. I thought I had read almost everything he had written, but there are a few on here I hadn't read, which made this a treat. Some of the new ones are actually pretty fantastic. Since it's a collection, I'll go through each one briefly with my rating and a brief thought.

Snapshot: 3/5 stars - Brilliant concept that honestly would be great if it were longer or in a different medium. I felt like the villain and his ability were wildly underused and the ending twist just didn't feel like it worked for me.

Brain Dump: 4/5 stars - For how short this is and how generic the idea is, it's actually pretty thought provoking.

I Hate Dragons: 1.5/5 stars - Brandon's funny book. No thanks. Feels like it was written for and/or by a child, sorry if that was harsh.

Dreamer: 2/5 stars - interesting concept that was kind of ruined for me by the ending. Not that it's a bad ending, but the rest of the book feels like a waste of time with that revelation. I would still love a full length version of this where this is story is the prologue chapter.

Perfect State: 3/5 Stars - I skipped this one since I've read it before and didn't care for it that much the first time.

Probability Approaching Zero: 5/5 Stars - This is a tiny story but with the last line I'm suddenly considering all the possibilities of this worth and the implications of what is happening and has happened. Love it!

Defending Elysium: 2/5 Stars - in the time it took my to finish the rest of the story I forgot almost everything that happened in this. And this is already my second time reading it. I think it has an interesting ending but genuinely can't even remember what it was.

Firstborn: 5/5 stars - absolute home run on this one. The sub genre of two geniuses trying to outwit each other is one of my favorites, and this has a really fun take on that story. The ending feels a bit unlikely, but I can forgive that since the rest was great and it wasn't all that bad.

Mitosis: 2/5 Stars - I skipped this one again since I've read it, didn't like it, and I really don't care for the reckoners series all that much.

Moment Zero: 4.5/5 Stars - This story is the main reason I got this book, and it was great. It's a Time Travel Zombie story. What more could you want? I feel similarly to this as I do with Snapshot, which is that there is a whole world of possibilities that I feel could have been explored here with a longer length, but unlike Snapshot, I think this dove into a few really interesting ideas in pretty good depth. It did breeze past a few plot elements that I would have loved to explore more, but I don't feel cheated by the short length. Also, we need to come up with a name for Sanderson characters that get named, do next to nothing for a few chapters and then disappear from existence. There's a few of those here and I laughed when they were introduced and thought immediately that I wasn't going to remember their names in 5 minutes, and that was accurate.

[Paopao🎀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

es la nota más baja que le he dado a sanderson pero es que no estoy segura de que llegue 4 estrellas 😩
Es una recopilación de historias cortas que ha ido escribiendo desde que empezó todo , y hay algunas que simplemente meh .

No ha sido un mal libro ni mucho menos, y hay historias muy buenas pero vaya , que no pasa nada si no se lee 😅

[Liz Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing collection of 10 ‘short’ stories! They each had Sanderson’s detailed world building and unique take on classic trope making them all so different. Most of the stories were sci-fi and many were crime fiction.
I did enjoy the postscripts after each story to understand more about why they were written.

I received an ARC from the GR giveaway.

[Adah Udechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Tailored Realities

The "Designer Brain" story was really cool and I wonder why no one has really explored the idea

I was cackling all through when I read "I hate Dragons"

"Dreamer" was an idea I had encountered before but the way it was executed was interesting

The creativity involved in "Perfect State" was astounding

"Firstborn" and "Moment Zero" can be expanded

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/24/2024 beta of new story Moment Zero
6/20/2025 gamma of collection

[Joe Kessler · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Disclaimer: I am Facebook friends with this author.]

This is Brandon Sanderson's second collection of short fiction, following Arcanum Unbounded in 2016. That earlier volume collected all the writer's smaller works in his expansive Cosmere setting, while this one contains the opposite: ten tales expressly not set in that particular fantasy multiverse. Instead they lean more towards science-fiction (and, oddly enough, detective stories), with several entries concerning virtual Matrix/Holodeck-like constructs that give the project its title.

Most of these contents were already available elsewhere, either as standalone novellas or in mixed-author anthologies or magazines. I know I'd previously read at least half of them myself -- Snapshot, Perfect State, Defending Elysium (prequel to the Skyward series), Firstborn, and Mitosis (midquel to the Reckoners series) -- and none of them were examples I'd highlight as among Sanderson's best, although Snapshot and Mitosis are probably my favorites of the options here. In his defense, the book spans a full quarter-century of his writing career, dating back to some of his earliest published pieces, and you can tell how he's improved as a storyteller over time. Still, that doesn't make this exercise itself any stronger, and I'm a little confused about the criteria for inclusion, since other non-Cosmere curiosities like the Infinity Blade tie-ins have been left out.

I'm not going to review all ten of the stories individually, and I do think they're interesting from a Sanderson fandom perspective to see him trying out new ideas, no matter how unsuccessfully. But overall, it's a bit grim for my tastes. There's a lot of gun violence and gore, including multiple suicides, and a tendency to overexplain the worldbuilding mechanisms rather than just step back and let the plots and characters flow. It's a quintessential three-star read for me, unfortunately.

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[Yev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing in this is Cosmere related.

Snapshot
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I didn't read this again as I didn't like it at all. I also don't like what I wrote about it at the time, so I've revised that.
Meh

Brain Dump
A couple with natural brains are shopping for a designer brain for their child. This a pragmatic story of using a disfavored system to one's own advantage for personal enrichment and influence.
Ok

I Hate Dragons
An almost dialogue-only meta-comedy about a person whose role is to be bait for dragons realizing that maybe it's not the best role. The bait's magic is to be able to hear speech as text, essentially he's able to read the story itself as it goes along. Sanderson says you can pretend this is almost a LitRPG. It's an amusing idea, though Sanderon's humor still doesn't work all that well with me. Still, it's on the borderline of Ok and Enjoyable.
Ok

Dreamer
This is a horror story where a group of body possessors are playing a 5 vs 1 game and end up causing a good bit of death and destruction as they switch from body to body. Sanderson says it was inspired by the callousness of teenagers on Xbox Live.
I've read this before, but I couldn't find any evidence that I had. Apparently I forgot to add it to my short fiction spreadsheet.
Ok

Perfect State
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I didn't care for this either and didn't read it again, except for the epilogue which I hadn't read. It's not my kind of wish-fulfillment power fantasy with RPG elements. I never wrote about anything about this aside from the discussion at the time when I read it with someone else. I do appreciate the lengthy postscript here and with the others though.
Meh

Probability Approaching Zero
A flash fiction story about aliens uplifting humans and what that feels like for them, then explaining why it was done. It's the sort of story that made me want to simultaneously shake my head and facepalm.
Blah

Defending Elysium
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I didn't read this again and don't remember enough to write about it. It eventually became the basis for the Cytoverse. I appreciated the postscript far more than the story itself. Sanderson considers this story the start of his professional career.
Meh

Firstborn
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This is another I didn't read again and don't remember much about. The postscript is again very interesting, especially how it made much more money selling for $1 on Amazon than what he was paid for it to be on Tor.com, now Reactor.
Meh

Mitosis
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In retrospect, I like The Reckoners series much less than I did at the time. Not sure what happened there.
Meh

Moment Zero
This centerpiece story is by far the longest work in this collection. It's novel length even. There are two police officers who are coming to terms with their romantic and personal relationships having come to an end and go on one last case together. What they find is an insane woman, who with the help of various scientists has created a device that has distorted the space-time continuum. The two officers become separated in time and space, one to the future and one to the past. Together, by using a phone that can cross time and space, they must prevent the apocalypse from happening again. More than anything else, this read to me like a survival horror shooter for the future and maybe a stealth-action thriller for the past. I think it'd do well as a game. As a book, not so much. It's lacking and rather silly.
2.5/5 (2)

[leedsdevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit up front that I have not read any Brandon Sanderson prior to this short story amd novella collection. That being said, I found Tailored Realities to be an entirely engaging collection of scence fiction based narratives with some fantasy injected where appropriate. After all, doesn’t every science fiction tale involve a little fantasy to get it going?

The strongest selections are the long novellas that bookend the collection, although Snapshot, the first, does seem a bit derivative of the Dennis Lahane novel Shutter Island. But it uses a different modality in creating the world and ends with an Inception-esque result. The last, longer novella, Moment Zero, looks at a wormhole created apocalypse, multi-universe theory, and a little fantasy planted in the form of the true menace. It was compelling and I found it to be the strongest piece in the collection. All the remaining stories are varying levels of good, but that undersells some of them to refer to them as “good”. The world building ranges from adequate for the tale, to lush and full, generous for a short story or novella.

The postscript for each story is a welcome touch. Brandon Sanderson indulges the reader with the germ of the story and/or some information about its publication if it appeared elsewhere in the past.

I wholeheartedly recommend the volume to any fan of imaginative literature and look forward to dipping my second toe into other Sanderson worlds. I think I have the forst volume of The Stormlight Archive in my stacks somewhere. Wish me luck…

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super diverse collection of short stories and was a nice little detour outside of the Cosmere. Lots of the stories have really cool concepts, and are based off some neat writing exercises. Overall, a really fun read and helped get me out of my reading slump.

Tailored Realities individual reviews:

- Snapshot 4/5
- Brain Dump 3/5
- I Hate Dragons 3/5 (close to being Lift, but this is like the first time Brandon has made a quirky character actually kinda funny) also made me think of the hobbit.
- Dreamer 3/5
- Perfect state 4/5
- Approaching Zero - Flash fiction 2/5
- Defending Elysium - 3/5
- Firstborn - 2/5
- Mitosis - 3/5
- Moment Zero 4/5

“Best way to catch someone is to not let them know they’re being chased.”

3.75/5

[Kev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tailored Realities is a sci-fi Sanderson collection that sits outside of his Cosmere work and features some new and old short stories and novellas, some I have read before but others I haven’t.

The stories are pretty good but the standout one for me was Snapshot, which I read a while ago and loved it so was fun to read again. Same with Perfect State.

Moment Zero, which is a new novella and the one I was most looking forward to, was ok but with a bit of a boring slump in the middle section which really ruined the fast paced flow for me but sped up again towards the end. Still a decent story overall.

Shame I’d read a majority before but still good to revisit them and have them all collected in a very nice hardback. I would definitely recommend this one.

[Brinna B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I immediately pre-ordered this book when I saw the cover. Sanderson’s love of Foundation is well known, and I appreciated seeing that influence reflected in the design. I’ve often felt that his novels can be a bit indulgent and don’t always earn their page count, so I was genuinely excited to see him working in the short story format. The first two stories in the collection were strong and engaging, but as the book went on, my interest waned, and by the end I found myself ready for it to be over. I think longtime fans of Sanderson will likely enjoy this collection, but overall, it just wasn’t for me.

[Alexis Savoie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️ This was quite underwhelming for me unfortunately.

Apart from I Hate Dragons, none of the stories really clicked with me. Some are decent, while others are outright forgettable and have been washed away from my memory already.

This is quite clearly my least favorite Sanderson book I’ve read but I had no expectations for this, so I’m not that disappointed.

Here are my ratings for the individual stories composing the collection:

Snapshot (3 ⭐️)
Brain Dump (2 ⭐️)
I Hate Dragons (4 ⭐️)
Dreamer (2 ⭐️)
Perfect State (2.5 ⭐️)
Probability Approaching Zero (2 ⭐️)
Defending Elysium (3.25 ⭐️)
Firstborn (2.75 ⭐️)
Mitosis (3 ⭐️)
Moment Zero (3 ⭐️)

[Temi (temisreads)]

Tailored Realities is a sci-fi collection of ten different stories, some old some new from Brandon Sanderson. I still think I prefer his fantasy stories over his science fiction ones but nonetheless, I still enjoyed this!

I had read some of these stories previously but there were a few that were new to me as well. It’s hard to rate a collection of short stories but my favorites were definitely Snapshot, Defending Elysium, and Moment Zero!

[Sabrina Laura Pardina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro de relatos cortos, y aviso rápido: casi todos son una maravilla.
Hubo solo uno que no terminó de atraparme… y ni siquiera diría que es malo. Simplemente no era para mí.
Pero “Instantánea” y “Momento cero”… uf. Épicos. Sanderson en modo cirujano del tiempo y la realidad.
El libro empieza y termina con lo mejor de lo mejor. Amé fuerte.
⭐ 4/5 estrellas