The Original
By: Mary Robinette Kowal and THE Brandon Sanderson
My Rating: Four out of five Stars
Best For: 16 and up

The Original: A future ScyFy mystery from the Fantasy King

When you see “THE Brandon Sanderson” (because yes, he’s so good his name is more than just a name, it’s a title) on a book cover, you pick it up. No questions asked. And when you see he’s teamed up with FOUR TIME Hugo Award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal for a sci-fi thriller, you know you’re in for something intriguing. The Original is a fun, futuristic mystery that’s packed with clever ideas, and while it’s a bit different from your typical Sanderson, it’s definitely a compelling read.

What’s it about?

Imagine a near-future where humans choose to live… for a price. Thanks to injectable nanite technology, people can experience life through the lens of their own chosen “theme,” virtually modifying their reality. Weekly check-ins at “renewal stations” offer life-sustaining repairs in exchange for personal privacy, under the gaze of an identity-extracting government surveillance system. But what happens if you resist this immortality and “check out”? You risk being edited. That’s exactly what happens to Holly Winseed. She wakes up in a hospital with her memory compromised and a new identity imposed on her. A team of government agents tells her she is now a Provisional Replica, and her mission is simple: she has one week to hunt down and kill her Original (her former self) for the murder of her husband, Jonathan. Succeed, and she takes her Original’s place; fail, and her life ends. With newly implanted combat and deduction skills, Holly navigates this blank, robotic world, desperately seeking the truth about Jonathan and her own identity.

What did I think?

This story was just clever, but not completely, well, original. The mystery was fun and kept me intrigued throughout. The core concept—a reborn clone hunting her “original” in a world where reality is customized by nanites—was fascinating. Kowal and Sanderson do a fantastic job infusing this concept through every bit of the story. The way “theming” overlays reality and how people interact with it is a brilliant case study in world-building, even in a short book (Classic Sanderson).

Speaking of short, this book is a quick read, clocking in at around 112 pages. For THE Brandon Sanderson, that’s practically a journal entry! I also got the feeling that Mary Robinette Kowal was the primary author here, which isn’t a bad thing at all. It just means it’s not “pure Sanderson,” especially evident in some of the colorful four-letter words, which he’s usually pretty reliable about not using. The story is fast-paced, dialogue-heavy, and full of action, making it a great listen in audio format, too (Julia Whelan’s narration is awesome!).

The ending, in particular, was quite clever, with its open-ended, almost “Inception-esque” feel. While I appreciate a good mind-bender, I’m still a fan of my books being tied up with a pretty bow – and there’s definitely no pretty bow here. Still, the journey to that ambiguous conclusion was intense and thought-provoking.

Sensitive Content:

*Some colorful four-letter words.

Should you read it?

If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced, and genuinely clever sci-fi mystery with unique world-building and a compelling premise, then The Original is definitely worth checking out. It’s a quick dive into a fascinating future, perfect for fans of speculative fiction and intricate puzzles. This dad says The Original is best for 16 and up.

Happy Reading!