-
Perfect State
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 2 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $6.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Snapshot
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: William DeMeritt
- Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From New York Times number-one best-selling author Brandon Sanderson comes a detective thriller in a police beat like no other. Anthony Davis and his partner, Chaz, are the only real people in a city of 20 million, sent there by court order to find out what happened in the real world 10 days ago so that hidden evidence can be brought to light and located in the real city today. Within the re-created Snapshot of May 1, Davis and Chaz are the ultimate authorities.
-
-
Creative World and Fantastic Mystery Story
- By Sophia Rose on 02-18-17
-
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
- A Cosmere Novella
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the familiar and seemingly safe turns lethal, therein danger lies. Amid a forest where the shades of the dead linger all around, every homesteader knows to follow the Simple Rules: "Don't kindle flame, don't shed the blood of another, don't run at night. These things draw shades." Silence Montane has broken all three rules on more than one occasion. And to protect her family from a murderous gang with high bounties on their heads, Silence will break every rule again, at the risk of becoming a shade herself.
-
-
Wow, What A Great Short Story!
- By Cheri on 10-18-15
-
Infinity Blade
- Redemption
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Samuel Roukin
- Length: 4 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long months have passed since Siris and the God King, enemies betrayed together, were left to rot in the prison at the Vault of Tears. Their true enemy - the Worker of Secrets, creator of the Infinity Blade itself - now reigns. Upon finally obtaining freedom, Siris must unravel plots that seem to make no sense, lead a rebellion with no direction, and fight against the division within his very heart. The secrets unraveled will dig backward in time toward the origins of the deathless and the true nature of the world itself....
-
-
meh
- By seamus on 04-11-18
-
Mitosis
- A Reckoners Story
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Words of Radiance, coauthor of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and creator of the internationally bestselling Mistborn Trilogy, Brandon Sanderson comes Mitosis, a short story set in the action-packed world of Steelheart: the Reckoners series, exclusively available in the digital format. Epics still plague Newcago, but David and the Reckoners have vowed to fight back.
-
-
Great short story.
- By Gawaine on 01-16-15
-
Legion
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
- Length: 2 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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 personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.
-
-
The only flaw...
- By Joshua on 12-09-12
-
Skyward
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From Brandon Sanderson, the number one New York Times best-selling author of the Reckoners series, Words of Radiance, and the internationally best-selling Mistborn series, comes the first book in an epic new series about a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot in a dangerous world at war for humanity's future.
-
-
One of the best books I've listened to
- By Joel on 01-06-20
-
Snapshot
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: William DeMeritt
- Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From New York Times number-one best-selling author Brandon Sanderson comes a detective thriller in a police beat like no other. Anthony Davis and his partner, Chaz, are the only real people in a city of 20 million, sent there by court order to find out what happened in the real world 10 days ago so that hidden evidence can be brought to light and located in the real city today. Within the re-created Snapshot of May 1, Davis and Chaz are the ultimate authorities.
-
-
Creative World and Fantastic Mystery Story
- By Sophia Rose on 02-18-17
-
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell
- A Cosmere Novella
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When the familiar and seemingly safe turns lethal, therein danger lies. Amid a forest where the shades of the dead linger all around, every homesteader knows to follow the Simple Rules: "Don't kindle flame, don't shed the blood of another, don't run at night. These things draw shades." Silence Montane has broken all three rules on more than one occasion. And to protect her family from a murderous gang with high bounties on their heads, Silence will break every rule again, at the risk of becoming a shade herself.
-
-
Wow, What A Great Short Story!
- By Cheri on 10-18-15
-
Infinity Blade
- Redemption
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Samuel Roukin
- Length: 4 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long months have passed since Siris and the God King, enemies betrayed together, were left to rot in the prison at the Vault of Tears. Their true enemy - the Worker of Secrets, creator of the Infinity Blade itself - now reigns. Upon finally obtaining freedom, Siris must unravel plots that seem to make no sense, lead a rebellion with no direction, and fight against the division within his very heart. The secrets unraveled will dig backward in time toward the origins of the deathless and the true nature of the world itself....
-
-
meh
- By seamus on 04-11-18
-
Mitosis
- A Reckoners Story
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews
- Length: 1 hr and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Words of Radiance, coauthor of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and creator of the internationally bestselling Mistborn Trilogy, Brandon Sanderson comes Mitosis, a short story set in the action-packed world of Steelheart: the Reckoners series, exclusively available in the digital format. Epics still plague Newcago, but David and the Reckoners have vowed to fight back.
-
-
Great short story.
- By Gawaine on 01-16-15
-
Legion
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
- Length: 2 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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 personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.
-
-
The only flaw...
- By Joshua on 12-09-12
-
Skyward
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Suzy Jackson
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From Brandon Sanderson, the number one New York Times best-selling author of the Reckoners series, Words of Radiance, and the internationally best-selling Mistborn series, comes the first book in an epic new series about a girl who dreams of becoming a pilot in a dangerous world at war for humanity's future.
-
-
One of the best books I've listened to
- By Joel on 01-06-20
-
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell & Perfect State
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel, Kate Reading
- Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shadows for Silence in the Forest of Hell is a novella set in the Cosmere. Who names their daughter Silence, and what does it imply? Perfect State sets God-Emperor Kairominas on a date.
-
-
Two Perfect Sanderson Miniatures
- By Alex Levine on 10-27-15
-
The Original
- By: Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal
- Narrated by: Julia Whelan
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Holly Winseed wakes up in a hospital room, her memory compromised and a new identity imposed on her, a team of government agents wastes no time stating their objective. With intent to infiltrate and defeat the terrorist group ICON, the agents tell Holly that she is now a Provisional Replica and has one week to hunt down and kill her Original for the murder of her husband, Jonathan. If she succeeds, she’ll assume her Original’s place in society. If she fails, her life will end.
-
-
Good story, but something ruined it for me...
- By jturner on 09-16-20
By: Brandon Sanderson, and others
-
The Rithmatist
- By: Brandon Sanderson, Ben McSweeney
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 10 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings - merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.
-
-
Laughed until I couldn't breathe
- By Trip Williams on 08-21-14
By: Brandon Sanderson, and others
-
Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer, Kate Reading
- Length: 22 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An all-new Stormlight Archive novella, Edgedancer, is the crown jewel of Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection, the first audiobook of short fiction by number New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson.
-
-
Where to Find It (chapter #'s for stories)
- By V. Smith on 07-25-18
-
The Hope Of Elantris [Dramatized Adaptation]
- Elantris
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: full cast, Colleen Delany, Kimberly Gilbert, and others
- Length: 38 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Notes from the author: The following is a short story I wrote in the Elantris world back in January of 2006. There were always a few holes in Elantris where I decided not to include viewpoints or sections of explanation in the name of streamlining, particularly at the end. In the back of my mind, I knew what happened. This story talks about one of those holes; it is meant to be heard after you’ve finished the novel and takes place during the events of the climax.
-
-
Difficult to hear
- By D. Oaks on 01-23-21
-
Warbreaker
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan
- Length: 24 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Warbreaker is the story of two sisters who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can be collected only one unit at a time.
-
-
Good but Not Great
- By Gregory E. Clifford on 07-15-19
-
The Way of Kings
- The Stormlight Archive, Book 1
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Kate Reading, Michael Kramer
- Length: 45 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the 10 consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor.
-
-
Great Story!! Cons: slow start & poor narration
- By Monica on 01-17-17
-
The Dark Talent
- Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Ramon de Ocampo
- Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alcatraz Smedry doesn't seem destined for anything but disaster. On his 13th birthday, he receives a bag of sand, which is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians plotting to take over the world. The sand will give the Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.
-
-
Listen to the end!
- By avery on 09-09-16
-
Unfettered III
- New Tales by Masters of Fantasy
- By: Shawn Speakman - editor, Lev Grossman, Mark Lawrence, and others
- Narrated by: Khristine Hvam, Natasha Soudek, Mark Bramhall, and others
- Length: 27 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lacking health insurance when he was diagnosed with cancer, Shawn Speakman asked friends in the science fiction and fantasy writing community to donate short stories he could use to counter mounting medical debt. The result was Unfettered, an anthology offering tales from some of the best authors working today. Now, in Unfettered III, Speakman continues to pay forward the aid he received, raising money to combat medical debt for SF&F artists and authors.
-
-
Unfettered continues...
- By Travis Cole on 05-04-19
By: Shawn Speakman - editor, and others
-
White Sand: Volume One [Dramatized Adaptation]
- White Sand, Book 1
- By: Brandon Sanderson
- Narrated by: Terence Aselford, Alexander Strain, Dawn Ursula, and others
- Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On the planet of Taldain, the legendary Sand Masters harness arcane powers to manipulate sand in spectacular ways. But when they are slaughtered in a sinister conspiracy, the weakest of their number, Kenton, believes himself to be the only survivor. With enemies closing in on all sides, Kenton forges an unlikely partnership with Khriss - a mysterious Darksider who hides secrets of her own.
-
-
Audiobook of a graphic novel!!
- By Ryan V on 12-08-20
-
Shadows Beneath
- The Writing Excuses Anthology
- By: Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and others
- Narrated by: Full Cast, Terence Aselford, Colleen Delany, and others
- Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the Hugo Award-winning hosts of the Writing Excuses writing advice show comes a collection of all-new stories of the fantastic, with beautiful illustrations and a behind-the-scenes look at each story’s creation.
-
-
Fun Stories and a Great Look at the Process
- By Pat on 10-19-20
By: Brandon Sanderson, and others
-
Unsouled
- By: Will Wight
- Narrated by: Travis Baldree
- Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world. Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan. When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known...and forge his own Path.
-
-
Buy Then Binge! Worth every penny
- By John on 10-28-19
By: Will Wight
Publisher's Summary
From the author of Legion and the number-one New York Times best-selling Stormlight Archive comes an action-filled novella about privilege, culture clash, and expectations.
God-Emperor Kairominas is lord of all he surveys. He has defeated all foes, has united the entire world beneath his rule, and has mastered the arcane arts. He spends his time sparring with his nemesis, who keeps trying to invade Kai's world.
Except for today. Today Kai has to go on a date. Forces have conspired to require him to meet with his equal - a woman from another world who has achieved just as much as he has. What happens when the most important man in the world is forced to have dinner with the most important woman in the world?
More from the same
What listeners say about Perfect State
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Cheri
- 10-16-15
A Perfect Five Star!
Brandon Sanders is a fantastic author, and one of my favorites. Whether he is writing a short story or full length novel, his stories are always an adventure with a great plot, and characters.
I really enjoyed this story, and the ending blew my mind.
I've listened to Christian Rummel narrate other audiobooks and he always does a great job.
This was a five star story, and I recommend it to any Sci-Fi fan.
20 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David J. Molinari
- 11-03-15
What if the first Matrix had worked?
Great book, if too short. Matrix meets population control meets existentialism. My only issue is that it was great -' more please!
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Carol
- 10-17-15
The Matrix and the Mind of Sanderson
Brandon Sanderson's mind must be an amazing place. Where does this astonishingly prolific author come up with all these worlds? And how does he juggle all these sci fi/fantasy tropes so elegantly and effortlessly, even in a short novella, while still maintaining the focus on wonderful characters?
The first scene of Perfect State is set on a flying platform reminiscent of the "floating islands" of the Light Eyes of the "Stormlight Archives" world. It made me think this story was part of what Sanderson terms the Cosmere, the universe that links most of his major works, including Elantris and the Mistborn and Stormlight books. But after finishing it, I think it's a standalone world (with the portal left open for future visits).
The influence of "The Matrix" is clear in this brief but vivid tale. I'd say the movie influenced Brandon, but then I'm not at all sure he didn't give the core idea of "The Matrix" to the producers back when he was in high school. (I'm kidding--but I'll bet he could have.) Look hard and you could see a touch of "Transformers." And a little of the urban fantasy of Harry Dresden.
There are light touches and humor that turns bittersweet, just as in Sanderson's "Legion" novellas. Great narration by Christian Rummel. Perhaps a little overpriced for a mere two hours, but Sanderson is so generous with his work on the Web and in general, that I'm happy to pay for this one.
17 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Adam
- 10-14-15
Great taste
What made the experience of listening to Perfect State the most enjoyable?
I love these short stories from Brandon, it is a quick listen and reminds me of the first book of his I ever read, Legion. If you are afraid to commit to a saga of 100 hours, start with this book, you will quickly go buy everything he has written.
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Hassan
- 10-14-15
Where Does He Come Up With These Worlds
A quick review, it was a good short read, really interesting world and would have loved to learn more about it... It was a quick look into the Brandon's brain and what kind of worlds he can come up with.. so good...
I have really enjoyed this short story
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- JC
- 10-15-15
Amazing mix of Fantasy and Sci-fi!
Any additional comments?
Perfect State was a really good listen. Characters were amazingly well developed for such a short story. The way it mixed in the various genres was very interesting. My only complaint is really that the ending came too soon.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Aaron
- 10-15-15
Mini matrix novel
Lots of fun. I recommend Brandon Sanderson's short works to everyone. His stories accomplish more than some trilogies.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jim "The Impatient"
- 03-08-16
FANTASY MAN
Sanderson is the man, the man who invents a new world with each story. I will admit that this one was not as unique as some of his others and I did not love it, like most of his others, but it was not a wasted listen. It could be the prequel to a bigger novel, and I would be interested.
Rummel is like usual, great.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David
- 12-01-15
Please write more...
Loved it! Reminds me a lot of questions I had when watching Matrix for the first time. The powers that be must be benefitting somehow to go to the trouble of maintaining such elaborate simulated existences. I really hope Sanderson writes more about Kai and his world(s).
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Eric
- 10-19-15
Great piece!
I am a huge Sanderson fan and this is a good beginning to a new story. Good teaser hope there ends up being more.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sithrandil
- 10-26-15
Neither story nor narration on a par with other titles
I really enjoy most of Brandon Sanderson's works. This particular production left me somewhat cold. The narration was lacklustre after the other stories done by Michael Kramer.
The plot was mildly interesting, but the characters and worlds were not intriguing.
Overall, this serves only to highlight the great strength of the other works.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Inga Auðbjörg Straumland
- 12-22-18
Not Sanderson's best
It was fine and entertaining but not as captivating as Brandon's other books. Doubt I'll ever re-read it.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 06-23-21
This is Sanderson's worst so far...
The author teaches that ideas are cheap, and a good author can write a good book based on bad ideas... Well as someone who listened to Stormlight Archive, Skyward, and Mistborn series as well as Warbreaker and enjoyed it I respectfully disagree! This one is based on bad ideas, topped with an unsatisfying ending, so it didn't work for me at all. :-/
The narration is ok, but not as good as for Sanderson's other books.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Panos
- 09-01-20
Short yet great!
Narration 8/10
Overall the narration is pretty good. Not the best especially when compared to Michael Kramer's narration from most of Sanderson's books, but still pretty good and manages to breathe life to the characters and show their personality.
Story 9/10
This story reminded me "The Matrix" a bit. Humans are pretty much just brains plugged into an alternate - virtual reality where they'll live their lives and the whole world evolves around them. It's a really good concept and even though the story is really short Sanderson managed to give lots of character evolution until the end.
The story is really dense, yet really slick at the same time. It's really well put together and it's one of the very few short novels that manages to tell a complete story this well on such a short duration.
Overall I found it great, though the credit cost is pretty high considering the duration of it. I'd recommend it to any Sci-Fi fan.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Phil Alton
- 02-08-19
Short story at its very best.
Fantastic narrative, packed full of content.
Always have time for Sanderson, and left wanting more.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- David
- 11-04-15
Fantastic short story
Loved the twists that Sanderson managed to get into the story. Bit short, but still delightful. Would recommend to any Cosmere fan!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- George
- 10-08-15
An excellent mix of scifi and fantasy!
This was an excellent listen. Turns out when audible gives you a book for free it goes into the library not the preorders so I got to listen to this early!
Mr Sanderson has a way with words I don't think many writers do. He has once again created worlds so vivid it's hard to believe it possible with such a short listen.
This is a story of a man who thinks he has everything and is truly only missing the one thing he really needs and how it feels for that one thing to slip right out of your grasp.
1 person found this helpful