We Are Legion

Legion is Sanderson's novella that I put on my e-reader; he has another one coming out soon that takes place in the Elantris universe (I'm hella stoked about that one). My first, strongest impression: it's short. Very, very short. Disappointingly short.

But it's good. The basic story is about a guy who invents various hallucinatory personas that advise him on how to do things. So, essentially, the main protagonist is a well-rounded genius who can know anything, but who's not really sane. And the plot revolves around a 'magic' camera that can take pictures of the past, and a guy who wants to use it to confirm the truth of his religion. I have to say, as far as uses for this camera, go, it's fairly innocuous.

The story was enjoyable and interesting; Sanderson is just too damn talented. It doesn't really come alive the way some of his fantasy novels do, though, and his protagonist was fairly generic (again, it was short). But the most interesting thing I have to say about Legion is this: it shouldn't have been a book.

Some people might see this as a criticism, but it isn't. I might like books more than movies, for example, but no medium is really better than another. But the mediums are different, and they have different strengths. While the novella Legion has a lot of action occurring mentally, it takes place through conversations with imagined people inside his head. Tell me that doesn't sound perfect for a televion show.

The character even lives the life of typical A-Team/MacGyver/USA Channel protagonist, where random people come to him requiring his unique portfolio of skills and abilities. Episodic as hell. I think it could work. The Pretender was years ago, after all, and the mental 'illness' angle of it gives it a potential for more serious drama and meaningful interaction with other people in the world.

Seriously, Sanderson, if you know someone who in television, get on the phone and make your pitch. Actually, don't. I'd rather read one of your books; Alloy of Law was way too much fun.