I obtained a overview copy from the writer. This doesn’t have an effect on the contents of my overview and all opinions are my very own.

Tailor-made Realities by Brandon Sanderson

Mogsy’s Ranking (Total): 4 of 5 stars

Style: Science Fiction, Younger Grownup

Sequence: Anthology

Writer: Tor Books (December 9, 2025)

Size: 448 pages

Writer Data: Web site

I’ve at all times discovered myself considerably on the fence in the case of Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere. Don’t get me fallacious, I benefit from the books themselves, however following the ever-expanding net of connections has by no means been an enormous a part of my curiosity. I simply care that the tales stand effectively on their very own, which is why Tailor-made Realities, a group of Sanderson’s non-Cosmere quick fiction, felt particularly interesting. As I’ve at all times stated, he’s additionally one of many uncommon authors whose storytelling and world-building usually go away an enduring impression, whether or not he’s writing ten pages or a thousand.

There are just a few exceptions to that, after all. The next are my ideas on every story, although a pair have already been beforehand reviewed on their very own, and you may seek for these earlier opinions for extra element. As well as, Tailor-made Realities contains three brand-new tales showing for the primary time.

Snapshot (4.5 stars)

Reviewed beforehand, and even higher the second time round.

Mind Dump (4 stars)

A really fast and intelligent sci-fi vignette that wastes no time attending to the purpose. Think about a close to future the place potential mother and father can actually store for a designer baby, shopping via genetic fashions in a showroom. Whereas the idea isn’t particularly groundbreaking, it’s the execution that makes this story work. For one factor, it embraces brevity, and although Mind Dump reads nearly like a thought train, typically that’s precisely what sci-fi wants: a easy setup, a transparent social query, and the restraint to step away earlier than it turns into overly trite and pretentious. Sanderson’s trademark humor additionally helps make his level with out bogging issues down, and regardless of its quick size, this was one in every of my favorites.

I Hate Dragons (3 stars)

Talking of experimental, this story a couple of boy’s magical expertise for smelling good to dragons in addition to his capacity to listen to spelling and punctuation makes for a enjoyable little story, and never surprisingly, it was born out of a writing train. Not a lot else to say about this one, however I did discover it helpful as a solution to present my center schooler what efficient dialogue appears to be like like.

Dreamer (2.5 stars)

Dreamer is a horror story about physique snatchers, but it surely’s dealt with in a delicate manner that’s much less about what’s taking place on the web page and extra involved with making readers uncomfortable via concepts. In a manner, this conceptual method could be very typical Sanderson, messing together with your thoughts as a substitute of counting on shock worth. That stated, this story didn’t do a lot for me. It’s merely a lot too quick to go away an enduring impression, and whereas the concepts are attention-grabbing in concept, they aren’t explored deeply sufficient to make them significantly memorable.

Excellent State (3.5 stars)

Excellent State explores perceived realities and asks, what if nothing is actual and our brains are merely dwelling in totally simulated worlds tailor-made to our desires and desires? That is the case with the protagonist of this story, who guidelines a fantasy kingdom in a simulation created only for him. He may be the hero he desires to be, even when it’s solely in his personal digital existence. However does it actually matter? This story examines consciousness and ambition, in addition to the methods one measures satisfaction and achievement. In comparison with the earlier entries, this one is thematically heavier and denser in its world-building, which made it a bit more durable to get into. Whereas the idea itself is fascinating, the execution didn’t fairly maintain my curiosity and finally felt slightly too sluggish to completely have interaction me.

Chance Zero (1.5 of 5 stars)

Ugh, I hate flash fiction, so take my ranking with a grain of salt, however this story exemplifies why. Once more, this one is instructed totally in dialogue however has not one of the attraction of I Hate Dragons. At beneath 500 phrases, I barely see a degree in reviewing this one, but it surely follows a human chosen by aliens to be uplifted, and except for a intelligent little twist on the finish, it handed by with barely a blip on my radar. I’ve to say, I bought way more perception from Sanderson’s creator’s notice for this story, which ended up being extra pleasurable than the story itself.

Defending Elysium (3 stars)

I like the Skyward collection, so I used to be giddy with a good bit of anticipation by the point I bought to Defending Elysium which apparently lays the groundwork for the Cytoverse. That stated, the age of it exhibits, and as that is early Sanderson nonetheless growing his craft, the writing can really feel a bit tough across the edges, as in heavier on description and telling slightly than displaying. Whereas I’m fascinated by what feels just like the origin seeds for the Skyward books, the thriller plot itself was pretty underwhelming, and the storytelling often drags beneath an excessive amount of element. Nonetheless a neat little learn although, particularly if you’re a Cytoverse completionist.

Firstborn (2.5 stars)

That is one I want I had loved extra, and perhaps I might have had I been extra of a brief fiction fan. Nevertheless, I are inclined to battle with novelettes, particularly once they attempt to cram a lot into such a small house. Firstborn is a couple of younger man who follows within the footsteps of his legendary older brother, a superb and admired army strategist he is aware of he won’t ever stay as much as. With a lot potential for human battle alone, the story barely has room to discover the characters as soon as the epic battles are factored in. Any messages about inherited expertise versus private circumstance are fully overshadowed alongside the best way.

Mitosis (4 stars)

Beforehand reviewed, this mini-story takes place within the Reckoners universe after the occasions of Steelheart. A fast, enjoyable learn that stands alone from the remainder of the novels however price studying for the supervillain and his cool powers alone.

Second Zero (4.5 stars)

Second Zero is the longest story and sure the gathering’s promoting level as it’s also a brand-new, never-published-elsewhere-before novella. Half detective story, half time journey journey, and half zombie apocalypse, it follows two police investigators and former lovers as they attempt to cease the identical catastrophic occasion from taking place, however from reverse instructions in time after one is transported just a few days into the previous whereas the opposite is thrown forwards into the long run. The twin-timeline construction right here is intelligent, however like all time journey tales, it’s in all probability finest to not suppose too onerous in regards to the mechanics behind them. Nonetheless, what’s pretty about Second Zero is its longer web page size, which supplies readers extra time to know the 2 essential characters. The connection between them carries a shocking quantity of emotional depth, hitting more durable than I anticipated for a novella. This one is arms down the perfect story in Tailor-made Realities—not solely essentially the most memorable, however essentially the most satisfying as effectively.