Legion
Reading Order.
Start Legion by Brandon Sanderson with "Legion--the Many Lives Of Stephen Leeds", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.
A series of novellas following Stephen Leeds, a wealthy investigator whose mind generates multiple imaginary personalities, each with specialized knowledge.
Short Answer:
Start with "Legion--the Many Lives Of Stephen Leeds"
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.
Community Consensus
"The provided comments do not contain any discussion or recommendation regarding 'Legion.' The conversation is a broad analysis of fantasy genre evolution, focusing heavily on defining and critiquing subgenres like New Weird (Miéville, Harrison), Progression Fantasy (Xianxia/LitRPG), Epic Fantasy, and Romantasy. There is general agreement on the importance of exploring non-Tolkien-inspired secondary worlds and recognizing the influence of webnovels and games on modern fantasy."
No reading order for 'Legion' can be determined from these comments. Key reading advice provided across the discussion includes: 1. Explore pre-LotR fantasy (e.g., Howard's Conan, Leiber's Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser). 2. For Progression Fantasy, read examples of both the Xianxia tradition (like Cradle by Will Wight) and the LitRPG tradition (like Dungeon Crawler Carl). 3. For New Weird, read M. John Harrison's Viriconium and China Miéville.
At a Glance
- First Book:Legion--the Many Lives Of Stephen Leeds
- Latest Book:Legion & The Emperor's Soul
- Timeline:2018 - 2014
Why This Order Is Confusing
Many reading lists for Legion 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. 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--the Many Lives Of Stephen Leeds" 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.
Recommended Reading Order Strategy
The authoritative way to read the "Legion" 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.
Complete Series Reading Order
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Is it okay to skip books in the Legion 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?
The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Legion--the Many Lives Of Stephen Leeds" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Brandon Sanderson intended.
Can I read Legion 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 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.