It’s part of what makes the deviations (like the camera phone thing) so surprising. Sanderson is careful to follow the rules of his world. For example, someone throws a real thing to an imaginary person, and Stephen has to imagine the “aspect” catching one and dropping another. There are times when the illusion breaks down, and Stephen is at risk of losing his marbles. People like Wilson, his servant, understand how to interact with them, pantomiming handing imaginary drinks or holding the door for people he doesn’t see. Having Stephen interact in a real world while constantly occupied by his entourage of imaginary experts is fun. It’s a subject that gains intensity as we progress through the three novellas. The “aspects” and their behaviors change as time goes on, and Stephen is threatened with losing control over his abilities and his mind. This is an important through line that we follow in the three novellas. It’s scary because we wonder if Stephen might go over the deep end if the rules are broken too much. Stephen’s own mind surprises him often, as “aspects” start doing things previously thought impossible, such as video chatting on a cell phone. Ivy is trypophobic (that thing you’ve seen on the internet with tiny holes creeping people out), Ngozi is a germaphobic forensic scientist, and Tobias has his own imaginary friend. Each one comes packaged with their own neurological disorders. But these “aspects” are far from perfect.
Stephen is aware of his imaginary world, and actively engages in it to achieve whatever task has been set before him. The book presents a fascinating study of the human mind, or “psychology-as-superpower,” which Brandon Sanderson notes is a recurring theme in his writing in the book’s preface.
He is a relatable everyman thrust into extraordinary circumstances because of an inherent talent for learning. Stephen is a likeable character who understandably comes off as a bit kooky to those around him. Any time Stephen needs to learn a new skill or, say, a language, he reads a few books on the subject and a new “aspect” comes into being to harness that information for him. the gun-toting mercenary-type and Tobias, the calming presence who is an expert on architecture, gardening and random histories. Common players are Ivy, the psychologist J.C. Stephen’s subconscious is a vibrant and diverse cast of characters. These imaginary people, called “aspects,” have their own personalities and quirks, and they guide him along on whatever impossible task has been set before him.
Stephen’s solution? He creates imaginary people he can interact with in real time who hold on to various subjects for him. The catch? His brain can’t retain all that massive amount of information without driving him insane. Legion, a novella collection from The Stormlight Archive‘s Brandon Sanderson, is centered around Stephen Leeds, a man who has the amazing ability to learn and become an expert on subjects almost instantly.
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