Brandon Sanderson might be even better at science fiction

At the tail end of 2025, Brandon Sanderson left his massive Cosmere fantasy universe behind for his new short story collection Tailored Realities. The book largely leaves the fantasy genre behind as well: there’s a single tiny story about dragons, while most of the collection focuses on big science fiction concepts like simulation theory, time travel, and humanity’s place in the universe.

Sanderson’s science fiction is notably less mechanically driven than his fantasy, putting aside the complex world-building he’s famous for in favor of twisty, character-driven mysteries. Tailored Realities includes stories such as “Perfect State,” which uses simulation theory to explore heroism and resistance; “Moment Zero,” a post-apocalyptic time-travel mystery whose detailed quantum rules were largely left out so the focus could stay on characters; and “Snapshot,” a serial-killer thriller about detectives who use a simulation of a recent day.

His work has long blended science fiction and fantasy.

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