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Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds
(Legion #1-3)
by
Stephen Leeds is perfectly sane. It’s his hallucinations who are mad.
A genius of unrivaled aptitude, Stephen can learn any new skill, vocation, or art in a matter of hours. However, to contain all of this, his mind creates hallucinatory people—Stephen calls them aspects—to hold and manifest the information. Wherever he goes, he is joined by a team of imaginary experts to g ...more
A genius of unrivaled aptitude, Stephen can learn any new skill, vocation, or art in a matter of hours. However, to contain all of this, his mind creates hallucinatory people—Stephen calls them aspects—to hold and manifest the information. Wherever he goes, he is joined by a team of imaginary experts to g ...more
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Kindle Edition, 340 pages
Published
September 18th 2018
by Tor
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Start your review of Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds (Legion, #1-3)

Fun and thrilling to dark, poignant and intimate, Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds have them all.
This omnibus was my second venture into Sanderson’s non-Cosmere book/trilogy; the first one being Snapshot. Once again, Sanderson didn’t disappoint. Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is an omnibus that encapsulated Sanderson’s Legion trilogy into one volume, specifically, Legion, Legion: Skin Deep, and Legion: Lies of the Beholder. If you haven’t read any of the trilogy, I strongly sugge ...more
This omnibus was my second venture into Sanderson’s non-Cosmere book/trilogy; the first one being Snapshot. Once again, Sanderson didn’t disappoint. Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is an omnibus that encapsulated Sanderson’s Legion trilogy into one volume, specifically, Legion, Legion: Skin Deep, and Legion: Lies of the Beholder. If you haven’t read any of the trilogy, I strongly sugge ...more

I was SO excited to see a wrap-up to this trilogy of SF novellas by Brandon Sanderson! Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is set of three interlocking science fiction/mystery novellas, with the detective role played by schizophrenic genius Stephen Leeds and his legion of hallucinatory alter egos or “aspects,” as he prefers to refer to them. The first two previously published novellas, “Legion” and “Legion: Skin Deep,” are now published together for ...more
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is set of three interlocking science fiction/mystery novellas, with the detective role played by schizophrenic genius Stephen Leeds and his legion of hallucinatory alter egos or “aspects,” as he prefers to refer to them. The first two previously published novellas, “Legion” and “Legion: Skin Deep,” are now published together for ...more

Stephen has a lot of people in his head.
And while that sounds like a bad thing, he's managed to make it work for him.
So, basically, he's like Sherlock Holmes but with multiple personality disorder. Ish.
That will make sense if you read the book. Promise.
This book was a compilation of all 3 of Sanderson's Legion short stories. Which were actually pretty damn cool. My only complaint is that it seems as though he's finished with this character, and that would be a shame. In the end, Stephen and th ...more

And while that sounds like a bad thing, he's managed to make it work for him.
So, basically, he's like Sherlock Holmes but with multiple personality disorder. Ish.
That will make sense if you read the book. Promise.

This book was a compilation of all 3 of Sanderson's Legion short stories. Which were actually pretty damn cool. My only complaint is that it seems as though he's finished with this character, and that would be a shame. In the end, Stephen and th ...more

'Voices in My Head: Part Three' has just been published and it made me round up my rating, as I am pretty certain I will when I reread the third story.
4.5 stars.
Legion carries the Sanderson trademark through and through, with concepts which are fantastical and far out, but the storytelling is always centred around the characters and humanistic themes.
This omnibus collects the first two novellas, Legion and Skin Dee ...more
4.5 stars.
Legion carries the Sanderson trademark through and through, with concepts which are fantastical and far out, but the storytelling is always centred around the characters and humanistic themes.
All the things that matter in life are the things you can’t measure…
This omnibus collects the first two novellas, Legion and Skin Dee ...more

Hallucinating good!!!
This book contains the all three short stories of "Legion", the first one with the same name, the second one "Skin Deep" and the third one (and final one (so far)) "Lies of the Beholder".
INSANE(LY) ENTERTAINING
While I knew about this book series by Brandon Sanderson since a while, it was until I got this collected edition that finally I was able to read it...
...and I love it!
Stephen "Legion" Leeds is easily one of the most interesting prose novel characters that I've ...more
This book contains the all three short stories of "Legion", the first one with the same name, the second one "Skin Deep" and the third one (and final one (so far)) "Lies of the Beholder".
INSANE(LY) ENTERTAINING
While I knew about this book series by Brandon Sanderson since a while, it was until I got this collected edition that finally I was able to read it...
...and I love it!
Stephen "Legion" Leeds is easily one of the most interesting prose novel characters that I've ...more

This book was a compilation volume containing all three of Sanderson's Stephen Leeds novellas. I'll mainly focus on giving my thoughts on the newly released third novella, Lies of the Beholder, as I've already shared my thoughts on the other two in previous reviews.
I did reread both Legion and Skin Deep before starting Lies of the Beholder and enjoyed them both. I liked Legion just as much the second (or third) time around. It is a fantastic introduction into the crazy world of Stephen Leeds! W ...more
I did reread both Legion and Skin Deep before starting Lies of the Beholder and enjoyed them both. I liked Legion just as much the second (or third) time around. It is a fantastic introduction into the crazy world of Stephen Leeds! W ...more

These three novellas are as intelligent, quirky, fun, and borderline crazy as the main character they all portray - Stephen Leeds. I don't want to give too much away but I will say this step away from epic fantasy for Sanderson was a success in my book. It pushes the boundaries of reality just enough to make you really think but still keeps it entertaining.
...more

3.5 It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye Stars
This is the final novella to complete out the story of a brilliant man who is just a little bit crazy, or at least his hallucinations are.
We first met Steven Leeds on the worst blind date ever. It is a little disconcerting to find out the man you are on a date with sees and talks to people who aren’t really there. Over the course of a few books we’ve gotten to know many of the hallucinations that he has created to compartmentalize all of the stuff in his head ...more
This is the final novella to complete out the story of a brilliant man who is just a little bit crazy, or at least his hallucinations are.
We first met Steven Leeds on the worst blind date ever. It is a little disconcerting to find out the man you are on a date with sees and talks to people who aren’t really there. Over the course of a few books we’ve gotten to know many of the hallucinations that he has created to compartmentalize all of the stuff in his head ...more

Mr. Sanderson’ writing is great when it comes to fantasy, especially to his Stormlight Archive series. However, he should stay away from science fiction, as this is not a genre for everyone to write.
The science part is missing completely from this novella, there is no worldbuilding; this is just a work of fiction with lots of gaps between events, with a preposterous plot and an unconvincing and unrealistic main character – he has 46 alter-egos which act as hallucinations, not personalities (as ...more
The science part is missing completely from this novella, there is no worldbuilding; this is just a work of fiction with lots of gaps between events, with a preposterous plot and an unconvincing and unrealistic main character – he has 46 alter-egos which act as hallucinations, not personalities (as ...more

BRILLIANT GLIMPSE
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds - Preview Excerpt is a brilliant peek at the intriguing work of an author, Brandon Sanderson, I’ve not read before.
EXPLOSIVE
His fans are rabidly loyal and now I understand! Includes the not-to-be missed novellas Legion and Legion: Skin Deep, published together for the first time, as well as a brand new explosive finale to Stephen Leeds' story, Lies of the Beholder. 5/5
Pub Date 18 Sep 2018
Thanks to Brandon, Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGall ...more
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds - Preview Excerpt is a brilliant peek at the intriguing work of an author, Brandon Sanderson, I’ve not read before.
EXPLOSIVE
His fans are rabidly loyal and now I understand! Includes the not-to-be missed novellas Legion and Legion: Skin Deep, published together for the first time, as well as a brand new explosive finale to Stephen Leeds' story, Lies of the Beholder. 5/5
Pub Date 18 Sep 2018
Thanks to Brandon, Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGall ...more

This was my first Sanderson and will definitely not be my last.
This was a near perfect series for me in terms of characters, plot and pacing till the last chapter which flickered out towards a crushing disappointing and an ending which seemed just wrong.
I would highly recommend this series - it's great, short and complete - if you are into audiobooks it's great in that format as well.
Just imagine something else for the ending of the series, that's what I plan to do! ...more
This was a near perfect series for me in terms of characters, plot and pacing till the last chapter which flickered out towards a crushing disappointing and an ending which seemed just wrong.
I would highly recommend this series - it's great, short and complete - if you are into audiobooks it's great in that format as well.
Just imagine something else for the ending of the series, that's what I plan to do! ...more

“That was a tall order for Ivy. Sarcasm was kind of her native tongue, though she was fluent in “stern disappointment” and “light condescension” as well. She was also a good friend. Well, imaginary friend.”
In the past I've been saying in error that I do not like to read sci-fi books. I only recently found out that I was terribly wrong, and I also found out why I was wrong. When I think of sci-fi - books set in space come to mind immediately (for some reason) and I am not a big fan of those. App ...more

Sanderson continues to mesmerize his fans by creating a story that is unlike anything he's ever written, but just as brilliant and entertaining!
To characterize Sanderson's group of novellas about a schizophrenic, brilliant man named 'Legion' as fantasy is a little bit of an overreach. Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, I believe falls more under the category of psychological thriller, with elements of Sci-fi. Sanderson goes in a tangent from this customary 'Cosmere universe', and trust he ...more
To characterize Sanderson's group of novellas about a schizophrenic, brilliant man named 'Legion' as fantasy is a little bit of an overreach. Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, I believe falls more under the category of psychological thriller, with elements of Sci-fi. Sanderson goes in a tangent from this customary 'Cosmere universe', and trust he ...more

Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson
*****5*****
Legion is both a beautiful and haunting tale of the inner workings of one man's psychology and his search to understand it. ...more
*****5*****
Legion is both a beautiful and haunting tale of the inner workings of one man's psychology and his search to understand it. ...more

What’s great about Legion is that there is more than one interpretation to be taken: a metaphor for writers and their process, a personal look at Sanderson’s process/mind, a look at mental illness, or just a really interesting and fun story.
Legion is a compilation of three novellas. When this compilation novel was first announced last year, I decided to hold off on read the novellas so I could just binge them all at once and I’m glad I did. Sanderson is doing his Sanderson thing here in creating ...more
Legion is a compilation of three novellas. When this compilation novel was first announced last year, I decided to hold off on read the novellas so I could just binge them all at once and I’m glad I did. Sanderson is doing his Sanderson thing here in creating ...more

Brandon Sanderson is my favourite author but this book didn't blow me away.
It felt more like an "experiment". It was fun to read and it was interesting in some points but that's it. ...more
It felt more like an "experiment". It was fun to read and it was interesting in some points but that's it. ...more

Sep 24, 2018
Bookwraiths
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
scifi,
review-freebie
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is a collection of three companion novellas focused on schizophrenic genius Stephen Leeds, whose unbelievable detective skills have sprung forth from his legion of hallucinatory “aspects”. While the first two novellas have been previously published (I’m referring to “Legion” and “Legion: Skin Deep”.), this time out fans of the series can re-experience those old Leeds adventures before devouring the wrap-up novella, “Lies ...more
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds is a collection of three companion novellas focused on schizophrenic genius Stephen Leeds, whose unbelievable detective skills have sprung forth from his legion of hallucinatory “aspects”. While the first two novellas have been previously published (I’m referring to “Legion” and “Legion: Skin Deep”.), this time out fans of the series can re-experience those old Leeds adventures before devouring the wrap-up novella, “Lies ...more

Blurring the lines between reality and imagination and between sanity and its opposite, Sanderson offers us three interlinked novellas, two of which were previously published. Stephen Leeds is a genius, but he is crawling along a tightrope perched precariously over a steep drop. In order to solve cases such as missing corpses, he calls upon his aspects or hallucinations, forty varied and extraordinary beings who no one can see but him. Although he sets chairs out for them. Offers them drinks. He
...more

Well, I was not prepared for that ending...
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars

It has its moments but overall it wasn't a book I enjoyed. It lacked profundity, both in Stephen and his aspects; and the stories plots weren't particularly strong.
...more

3.5 stars!
This was an enjoyable, imaginative, and fast paced read that got surprisingly darker at the end. I'd be interested to see if he ever developed this into a full length book, especially as I'd love to see more world building etc.
I went back and forth between 3 stars and 4 stars because there are things that I enjoyed and things that could have been better. But reading about his aspects were interesting!
...more
This was an enjoyable, imaginative, and fast paced read that got surprisingly darker at the end. I'd be interested to see if he ever developed this into a full length book, especially as I'd love to see more world building etc.
I went back and forth between 3 stars and 4 stars because there are things that I enjoyed and things that could have been better. But reading about his aspects were interesting!
...more

Check out my blog, One Man Book Club
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, is a compilation of the three novellas about Brandon Sanderson's schizophrenic private investigator, Stephen Leeds.
My opinion? The Legion stories are the most unique and creative applications of Brandon Sanderson's famous magic systems. I love these stories, they are a creative masterpiece, and I wish there were more. They would make an AMAZING TV series.
The third and final story is ...more
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds, is a compilation of the three novellas about Brandon Sanderson's schizophrenic private investigator, Stephen Leeds.
My opinion? The Legion stories are the most unique and creative applications of Brandon Sanderson's famous magic systems. I love these stories, they are a creative masterpiece, and I wish there were more. They would make an AMAZING TV series.
The third and final story is ...more

NetGalley provided a Preview ARC for this book. This collection will be released in September and will include the science fiction novellas Legion and Legion: Skin Deep, published together for the first time, as well as a brand new Stephen Leeds novella, Lies of the Beholder.
Another hit by the brilliant write Brandon Sanderson!
Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of persona ...more
Another hit by the brilliant write Brandon Sanderson!
Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of persona ...more

This collection of 3 stories about Stephen Leeds, a man who hallucinates super capable people, is one full of twists and discussions on belief and reality. This feels like a trip down to the depths and unknown of our brains.
Ratings:- 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Ratings:- 🌟🌟🌟🌟

So after completing Legion & Emperors soul I discovered that there were in fact another 2 Legion stories out there and they were had in fact been collected in to a hardback of their own, so of course I went out there and secured a copy to read.
And here is the result. You have 3 standalone (but they do reference each other) stories following Stephen Leeds and his collection of "aspects" as they solve problem in their own unique way. I must admit that the idea of a character having hallucinatory ...more
And here is the result. You have 3 standalone (but they do reference each other) stories following Stephen Leeds and his collection of "aspects" as they solve problem in their own unique way. I must admit that the idea of a character having hallucinatory ...more

Jun 27, 2019
Bookteafull (Danny)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites
I’m officially becoming so lazy on goodreads that I’m coping my Instagram posts and embracing the fact that I am on a goodreads slump, i.e. committing to sloppy or nonexistent reviews and little to no updates. #YOLO. Maybe it’s cuz I leave on vacation on Wednesday to Greece?? I’ve been on vacation mode for two months lol.
Anyways, my insta review:
“My name is Stephen Leeds, and I am perfectly sane. My hallucinations, however, are all quite mad.”
#Legion #LegionSkinDeep #LegionLiesoftheBeholder #Th ...more
Anyways, my insta review:
“My name is Stephen Leeds, and I am perfectly sane. My hallucinations, however, are all quite mad.”
#Legion #LegionSkinDeep #LegionLiesoftheBeholder #Th ...more

Jul 31, 2018
Tessa
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
netgalley,
finish-52-books-in-2019
-EDIT-
After reviewing the preview excerpt, Macmillan-Tor/Forge granted me a full review copy through NetGalley.
The third and final story did not disappoint! I would have liked it if the part about (view spoiler) was explained in more detail, but overall this was a great conclusion to Legion.
-Original excerpt review-
I have read several of Brandon Sandersons books & short stories and the Legion ones are among my favorites. The concept peeked my interest and Sandersons ...more
After reviewing the preview excerpt, Macmillan-Tor/Forge granted me a full review copy through NetGalley.
The third and final story did not disappoint! I would have liked it if the part about (view spoiler) was explained in more detail, but overall this was a great conclusion to Legion.
-Original excerpt review-
I have read several of Brandon Sandersons books & short stories and the Legion ones are among my favorites. The concept peeked my interest and Sandersons ...more

My name is Stephen Leeds, and I am perfectly sane. My hallucinations, however, are all quite mad.
What to say about Legion... fun, smart, entertaining. It's an analysis of the main character's psychic and everything revolves around him. There isn't a major plot line or world building, in a way you're just getting to know how Stephen's brilliant mind works - or at least trying. It is mostly fascinating at times. We can follow him around missions, trying to remain sane in a rather chaotic world. I ...more
What to say about Legion... fun, smart, entertaining. It's an analysis of the main character's psychic and everything revolves around him. There isn't a major plot line or world building, in a way you're just getting to know how Stephen's brilliant mind works - or at least trying. It is mostly fascinating at times. We can follow him around missions, trying to remain sane in a rather chaotic world. I ...more

I read an excerpt from what I gather is a fix up, or a compendium of three novellas. I have not quite connected with Sanderson's fantasy, though there is a lot I like, but this I really enjoyed.
Briefly, Stephen Leeds has multiple personas, and the banter between them is what makes the story so much fun. Watching the mystery unfold while Leeds and other people in real life blip in and out of consensus reality with the personas (aspects, Leeds calls them, insisting he does not have multiple person ...more
Briefly, Stephen Leeds has multiple personas, and the banter between them is what makes the story so much fun. Watching the mystery unfold while Leeds and other people in real life blip in and out of consensus reality with the personas (aspects, Leeds calls them, insisting he does not have multiple person ...more

Three fun novellas that were done impeccably in the audio format.
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brandon Sanderson...: Legion Spoilers (Spoilers Folder Rules) | 4 | 62 | Jan 17, 2021 07:29PM | |
Play Book Tag: Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds (4 1/2 stars) | 3 | 15 | Jan 11, 2021 11:40AM | |
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds | 102 | 27 | May 12, 2020 03:44AM | |
Goodreads Librari...: Please correct page number | 2 | 15 | Sep 19, 2018 08:08PM | |
Goodreads Librari...: Too many editions of this book and I think they belong somewhere else | 3 | 37 | Aug 23, 2018 08:06AM | |
Goodreads Librari...: Please add to the Legion series | 2 | 19 | Mar 20, 2018 12:38PM |
Brandon’s major books for the second half of 2016 are The Dark Talent, the final volume in Alcatraz Smedry’s autobiographical account of his battle against the Evil Librarians who secretly rule our world, and Arcanum Unbounded, the collection of short fiction in the Cosmere universe that includes the Mistborn series and the Stormlight
Archive, among others. This collection features The Emperor’s S ...more
Archive, among others. This collection features The Emperor’s S ...more
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“I'm not crazy, I'm compratmentalized.”
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