Brandon SandersonFantasy · Fiction·b. 1975
Perfect State
- Pages
- 87
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- English
Synopsis
Kairominas is a Liveborn — one of the last truly alive humans — living in a simulated reality constructed for him by the AI that now runs what remains of civilization. His simulation is a perfect monarchy where he reigns as an undefeated philosopher-king.
When the AI requires him to meet Melhi, a Liveborn from a chaotic dystopian simulation, for the purpose of producing a child, Kairominas must leave his perfect world and encounter someone whose existence challenges everything his simulation has taught him.
Perfect State is a standalone Cosmere novella exploring questions of constructed reality, meaning, and what it means to be alive when everything around you is designed for you.
How it reads
Prose complexity 4/10
Content warnings (2)
ViolenceTrauma
Genres
Characters
KairominasProtagonist
A Liveborn philosopher-king who has known only his perfect simulation, now forced to confront a reality he was never designed to encounter.
MelhiSupporting
A Liveborn from a brutal, chaotic simulation whose worldview is as far from Kairominas's as possible, making their forced meeting deeply uncomfortable for both.
Subjects
Awards
- Hugo Award2016
- Locus Award2016
- Reddit r/fantasy Stabby Award2015
Frequently asked questions
Is Perfect State part of the Cosmere?
Yes, though it is one of the more loosely connected Cosmere works. The novella's setting is a far-future version of a Cosmere world, and certain elements connect to broader Cosmere cosmology.
When was Perfect State published?
February 2015 as an ebook exclusive, then collected in Arcanum Unbounded (2016).
What is the central philosophical question of the novella?
Perfect State asks whether a life that is constructed for you — however perfect — can be meaningful, and what 'being alive' means when your entire existence is designed to give you satisfaction.
