The Original

The Original is a 4-hour audiobook from Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette Kowal.

It takes place in a world different from either authors' previous series where citizens tailor every aspect of their environment and appearance using augmented reality (AR). The main character, Holly, wakes up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there, and as she learns her situation, has to figure out what reality to believe.

As expected from these two authors, this novella has great worldbuilding explained organically as Holly navigates her situation. This world is different from anything else Sanderson or Kowal have written. Since everything is enhanced by AR, it is almost impossible to tell what is real, and original items are disappointingly dull and underwhelming. I loved how propulsive the action was and how many nods there were to noir detective fiction as Holly continually made mistakes trying to solve this mystery.

Julia Whelan is a consummate audiobook narrator and provided an excellent reading experience. Each character was distinct, and Holly's exasperation as she was continually thwarted really came through.

This audiobook had several music cues which were very unusual. I dislike the majority of music in audiobooks since it often makes the narration more difficult to hear and understand. The music in this book was understated. For example, a scene in a nightclub had soft base thumping underneath the narration. Music in audiobooks often reduces the quality of the book, but in this case the music did not detract from the text.

I really enjoyed this story and would be interested in reading more in this world.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance audio review copy of The Original in exchange for an honest review.

I have actual chills, the sound design and narration here were so well done.

The Original is a sci-fi like you've never seen before. Huge chunky books full of world building? Forget it. We jump right into the action along side Holly as she wakes up to the realization that she's been created as a replica of her original self with exactly 4 days to locate and kill her original. If Holly succeeds, she can take her place. If she fails, she dies. It should be an easy decision, really. Holly's original apparently committed the worst crime Holly could possibly imagine. The problem is, Holly can't imagine a world where she could have possibly done it.

Over the course of 4 fast paced days, Holly unplugs from the illusion she spent her original life hiding behind and hunts for herself and the truth. Did her original do what they said she did? Did someone else? Does it matter.

I was obsessed from beginning to end. I loved all the little details about how, where, and why the government hides things from its citizens and Holly was such a wonderful protagonist to follow because she was just as lost as I was.

I'd definitely recommend giving this a go whether or not you're a Sanderson fan.

Do you like clones? Do you like murder mysteries? Political intrigue? This story has it all.

Summary:

Holly wakes up and she is no longer fully herself. Something very bad has happened. In this world it is common for people to periodically store backups of their memories and personalities as a sort of video game-style save point, so they can be revived in a cloned body if they die. However, not all clones are intended to be permanent. Holly is now a provisional replica of herself, a clone that has most of her original memories, some new personality modifications, and four days to find and kill her original self and take over (take back?) her life before the technology powering her replicated body stops working.

Characters:

Holly - A provisional replica, a type of temporary clone created by the government to deal with serious criminals.

The Original - Holly, originally. She is an artist whose preferred medium is carving designs into orange peels. She’s on the run.

Jonathan – Holly’s murdered husband. He worked for the government as an engineer, in a “real” job, which is unusual in a world where technology has advanced to the point where few few people really need to work and most choose to focus on passion projects and hobbies (like Holly’s orange peel carving)

Opinion:

This novella offers an interesting look into the basis of identity in a world where your entire personality can be stored, replicated, and even edited by request, necessity, or at the whims of the government. The clones in this story don’t just share dna with their originals; they share memories, emotions, and personalities—what makes a person uniquely themself if so much of who they are can be artificially replicated? Holly and her original are both alive at the same time. Is the original more real? The book does a good job of delving into the concept of identity without stagnating in overly philosophical musings.

Interestingly for a sci-fi dystopia, there actually seems to be the implication that capitalism may in fact be a good thing. Part of the problem with this fictional society is a universal basic income which allows them the security to become willfully blind to socio-political issues. I’m not sure how I feel about this low-key moral—I tend to prefer stories that try to resolve and improve the many many problems caused by capitalism, which by and large seems to be the bulk of dystopian fiction. It’s not often that you find a speculative fiction of this sort going around implying that capitalism acts as a restraining force on corrupt governments.


I have been meaning to read Brandon Sanderson for ages. He has been recommended to me countless times over the years, and as such a prolific writer there are so many places to start. Well, this collaborative novella worked well as an entry point into his writing, and I will be sure look for more.

Mary Robinette Kowal was also an unfamiliar author for me, but based on this story appears well deserving of the many accolades she has received from various sci-fi and short fiction awards.

Julia Whelan is the narrator for this audiobook and she does a very good job. Although this story does not feature an overly large character list, she is good at making them sound distinct and recognizable.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for approving my request for a review copy of this book!

You quickly realize that this is the future, we have cloned back up bodies and food printers, we go through life with our own personal themes overlaid in reality. Nanites maintain and renew us while robots keep our bland cities clean and windows washed.

Holly wakes up and is in for a bad week, she is a clone of herself set on a mission to kill herself.

What is even real in this world?

I could have enjoyed another four hours of this story but it still is fully formed even in its brevity.

A quick nanotechnology infused whodunnit for fans of sci-fi, thrillers and mystery.

This science fiction novella is a mystery set in the near future. Holly Winseed wakes in a hospital bed and gradually learns that she is a Provisional Replica - a clone of the Original Holly. Provisional Replicas can be created only if the Original has been convicted of a terrible act. In this case, Original Holly has murdered her scientist husband Jonathan and is on the run. Replica Holly has 4 days to track her down and kill her. If she accomplishes her mission she can petition to have Jonathan revived and the two of them can continue with their former lives. If she fails, she dies and Jonathan stays dead. First, Holly needs to figure out if her Original is really guilty.

The book had some really interesting concepts. The replica idea was nice, but I’ve read that before. However, I had not encountered themes, sort of virtual reality bubbles that you can create for yourself. You can visit a crowded beach and adopt a theme that makes it appear that you are there alone. Everything in your daily life is colored by the theme you have chosen. There were other entertaining world building touches. I can see an entire novel expanding on this world, maybe featuring Holly’s “handler”. Both Holly’s were relatable characters. The book has some action sequences and a little philosophizing. The conclusion of the mystery was satisfying.

The Original is currently available as audio only, so I’m sure the producers focused a lot of attention on the quality of the audio. I thought that the narration by Julia Whelan was quite good. Unfortunately, there were a couple of annoyances in the audio. First, there were unusually long breaks between sections/chapters. Since I was listening to an ARC, maybe that will be fixed in the final copy. Second, there was music that seemed to crop up randomly and was underlying the narration. It didn’t enhance anything and was just distracting. It was like trying to watch television while listening to music. I wanted to yell at them to turn the radio off. Underlying music works for me in movies, but it didn’t work well here.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

"The Original takes place over the course of four days and revolves around the murder of a man named Jonathan Winseed by his wife Holly, who then goes on the run. It questions things like identity, what drives a person to be a killer, and what one is willing to do in order to stay alive."

I was excited for this because:
1) This sounded like such a different type of novel from all I had previously read by Brandon Sanderson.
2) It was co-authored and so combined my love for one author, Brandon Sanderson, with one I have yet to read from, Mary Robinette Kowal, but was already intrigued to.
3) The audio narrator, Julia Whelan, is one I had previous success with and was also impressed by the sheer amount of great titles she had relayed.
4) It was only available as an audiobook and I was curious as to just why that was.

My initial intrigue carried me throughout this short audiobook and I loved navigating the way to the truth, alongside protagonist Holly. This futuristic world was only painted in the broadest strokes and yet I managed to garner an evocative depiction of each setting. The audio narration was also the perfect way to consume this book, as Whelan's voice combined with the odd sound effect allowed me to fully immerse myself inside of this story. In all, I spent a morning dog walk largely blind to the world around me, whilst my thoughts were fully consumed by this future one and the bloody mystery featured there.

Review in exchange for an honest review. I went into this book with high expectations. I have read several books by Brandon Sanderson and have never been disappointed. This short novella was excellent. I was impressed with the amount of world building this length of the story allowed. This future world felt fully realized. I hate it but also this is the kinda of sci-fi that scares me. That is a good thing though. I felt for the main character and really enjoyed the ending. I also really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrators were great and I really enjoyed the added sound effects. Sanderson continues to be an autobuy author for me and now I am interested in looking into Mary Robinette Kowal works I enjoyed this one so much.

The Original follows the Provisional Replica of Holly Winseed, as she wakes up to the news of her murdered husband. She has four days to hunt down the original and ultimately make a life-altering decision.

I enjoyed listening to this! Although the novella was short, it packed a punch and every single minute of the audiobook wasn’t wasted.
The plot was fast-paced and we are thrust straight into the action from the start. This kept my attention and I was glued on every single word. Morality and identity were central themes within the story and I enjoyed how the authors discussed it. What makes you you and how do you define yourself? Is it right to sacrifice your privacy for aging? These were the questions that kept swirling around in my brain.

I really liked Holly as the protagonist. She was strong-willed and always questioning the things around her. Her inner conflict was so fascinating to read about and I loved following along with her on her journey to self-discovery. Julia Whelan did a stunning job of bringing Holly to life.

In terms of the audio production, I found the music to be a nice addition. It enhanced my reading experience and I felt like I was watching a movie. However, during one scene the electronic music was a bit too loud and it drowned out the narration. I found it difficult to concentrate on the words. Hopefully, this will be fixed in the final copy. Other than that, the audio was top tier and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Overall, this was such an enjoyable read. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fast-paced sci-fi with interesting concepts.

When Holly WInseed wakes up in a hospital, she realizes that something must be terribly wrong. It is soon made clear that the Original Holly has killed her scientist husband, Jonathan, and fled.

In this new society focused on beauty and convenience, laws have been created to deal with such horrible circumstances. In cases such as these, the government orders a Provisional Replica, a clone, be made of the offender.

The PR Holly is told what Original Holly has done and is given 4 days to find Original Holly and killer her. If she succeeds, she will get to resume Original Holly's life and even petition to have her husband revived, despite his wishes. If she fails, Jonathan will remain dead and PR Holly will also die.

This was a great sci-fi look at person utopia contrived and sustained through government action. Personal themes to remove all the negativity from our sight and hearing and experience, nanite technologies to keep us healthy and young and vibrant.

Until... something happens and the veil is lifted, even if only slightly.

Now PR Holly is torn between fulfilling her mission and killing Original Holly or going with what she KNOWS to be true and proving that Original Holly is innocent.

Narrated by Julia Whelan, this audio novella developed the plot an premise in a believable way with the listener learning as PR Holly put the pieces of her past and her mission together with the help of her handler.
I could see this as an opener for a series set in this world, with the differing factions, the government involvement, the check-outs, the PRs that were successful in their missions all having a role.

Very well done. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for this audio-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Well that was... interesting. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it. It was just okay. I liked the concept and the ending was an AHA of course moment but til that point it was pretty okay. I wish there had been more world building or building on the concept of the characters. I know that there is this air of confusion and secrecy that drives the story but it was just not enough to get me that interested.

Many might be excited that Sanderson has a new novella coming out. I was -way more- excited that Mary Robinette Kowal had a new novella. And that Julia Whelan was narrating it and she is as always a delight to listen to.

I mean, I read a handful of Sanderson's novels but won't say that I'm as big as a fan as it seems that all the other Sanderson readers are.
Robinette Kowal, I have only read two novels of and yet I would probably say that she is a favorite. The way she draws me into a story is just amazing.
I first saw Whelan's name on this and got excited, then Robinette Kowal and at last Sanderson.

This is such a short novella that I would suggest not knowing anything about this before listing. But let me say this, it's a wild ride that takes unexpected turns and full of interesting thought about how the future could look.
I listened to this in one go and after the first chapter I was totally hooked. I wish there was more but at the same time, I salute Sanderson's and Robinette Kowal's way to keep it short. A whole and very developed story in about four hours of listing.

I would say give it a go, if you like sci-fi. Even if you haven't read anything by the authors. It really is great.

The Original by Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette Kowal, a good book. Some parts felt a tad off, but as always an enjoyable listen/read. These novelettes usually make you go Hmmmmm.

Interesting SF story, what would you do if you find out you are an enhanced copy that was made because the original has killer her husband. And you have to kill the original within four days...
Some interesting ideas for the future, but a lot of them I hope that won’t be true...


Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Mystery meets Science Fiction in this compelling novella by Brandon Sanderson.

In this world, technology is well advanced to the point that a person can have their consciousnesses downloaded into a new body, becoming an AI, but their original "self" ends where the AI begins. The AI effectively becomes a new version of a person, which is a very interesting concept. What if the government used this technology for effectively assassinating target individuals? What if a "copy" and an "original" are indistinguishable? What if you woke up in a hospital thinking you were an original, to find out you are a copy convicted of murdering your husband with no memory of doing it or why?

I received this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this novella we follow Holly, who is a Provisional Replica or clone of her original self. Holly was created by government decree after her original was convicted of murdering her husband and is now on the run. It is Holly’s responsibility to hunt down The Original.

I really enjoyed the concept of chasing after yourself but also trying to avoid your obvious decisions. I also liked the idea of theming. Basically everything in the world is generic and people theme places and people to what they want. For example, a nightclub is silent with white walls, but some people have make it look like a jazz club while others make it appear as a techno party.

This novella discusses what is real. Real clothes vs theming. Real oranges vs printed ones. And real people vs clones.

The audiobook also has a lot of additional soundtrack, along with the amazing narration from Julia Whelan. For example, during action sequences, music will begin slowly in the background, but get louder as the fight goes on. I found that this helped keep my attention and made my heart race, similar to fight scenes with soundtrack in movies. I really enjoyed that aspect.

Without spoilers, the ending is satisfying, but also leaves you thinking. I will definitely be picking up these authors’ other works.

Do you like science fiction set in worlds we recognize or worlds similar to ours now? Worlds not in space, yet very technologically advanced? Then this is the world for you. This audiobook only novella creates that futuristic world yet still has elements of things we know today. Cloning has been controversial for awhile and yet in this story we are met with clones aka Provisional Replicas created only under certain circumstances.

I was happy to go into this story without knowing very much about the storyline so I could experience the true impact of finding out why Holly wakes up with some memory loss as well as why a new identity had been imposed upon her. and what happened to her husband. There's an element of mystery in this story as well which held my attention to find out exactly what was going on.

The audiobook itself was excellent!! I loved the ominous background music and the narration by Julia Whelon was SUPERB as usual! She's one of my favorite audiobook narrators.

This short novella packs a punch of adventure, thrill, and social commentary bound to have any avid reader (or audiobook listener) hooked from the first word.

I appreciated how much this book had to say about identity, and the way it handled the topic.