BookPath
Home/Authors/Brandon Sanderson/Legion (Stephen Leeds)

Legion (Stephen Leeds) Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Brandon Sanderson
3 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start Legion (Stephen Leeds) by Brandon Sanderson with "Legion", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

A series of novellas concerning Stephen Leeds, a man whose unique brain creates mental hallucinations he calls 'aspects,' each specializing in a different skill set.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Legion"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

Begin Reading Path →
Audible VersionBest for commuting

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for Legion (Stephen Leeds) conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for Legion (Stephen Leeds). The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Legion" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "Legion (Stephen Leeds)" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "Legion"Explore all by Brandon Sanderson

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order3 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Legion

Pub: 2020Optional

The shocking conclusion to Brandon Sanderson's Legion novella series, on its own for the first time. Stephen Leeds is perfectly sane. It’s his hallucinations who are mad. A genius of unrivaled aptitude, Stephen can learn any new skill, vocation, or art in a matter of hours. However, to contain all of this, his mind creates hallucinatory people—Stephen calls them aspects—to hold and manifest the information. Wherever he goes, he is joined by a team of imaginary experts to give advice, interpretation, and explanation. He uses them to solve problems . . . for a price. When Stephen gets an unexpected cry for help from the woman who taught him how to control his aspects—right when one of his aspects suddenly and violently disappears—it will send him on a case the likes of which he could never have imagined. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

2

Legion: The Lost City

Pub: 1996

Plot details hidden until you finish "Legion".

3

Legion--lies Of The Beholder

Pub: 2018Optional★ 4.33

Plot details hidden until you finish "Legion: The Lost City".

Stephen Leeds, also known as 'Legion', has a unique mental condition. He can become an expert on any subject in hours... and with every new area of expertise a new 'aspect' of Stephen is created. Is he schizophrenic? Possibly. Does that make him an incredible intelligence agent? Definitely. And this is his final, and perhaps his strangest, adventure. It begins with two unrelated events: the disappearance of Armando, one of Stephen's many "aspects," and an unexpected cry for help from Sandra, the woman who, many years before, helped him learn to live with his condition... and the combination of the two leads to a sinister high-tech firm specializing in advanced methods of human incarceration. An original, challenging, and utterly absorbing story, this unmissable novella showcases Stephen Leeds at his best: a compelling hero, and a man constantly struggling to understand and control his own divided nature.

Prefer Listening?

Best if you commute

Get the professional narration of "Legion" free with an Audible trial.

Try Audible →

Own the Physical Copy

Best value option

Add "Legion" to your library. Curated links ensure you get the correct edition.

View on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the Legion (Stephen Leeds) series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read Legion (Stephen Leeds)?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Legion" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.

Can I read Legion (Stephen Leeds) books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the Legion (Stephen Leeds) universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.