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A review by renpuspita
Snapshot by Brandon Sanderson
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4 stars
Kudos to Brandon Sanderson, to again, make an interesting world building with an interesting premise. In the first glance, the technology of the Snapshot kinda remind me of the Matrix, an alternate reality formed with advance technology in the near future. When I read Petrik's review, apparently the concept of Snapshot is already used in video game and movies with same premise. I admit, sci-fi is not my favorite, I'm more like a fantasy gal. But, give it to Brandon Sanderson with his unique take of already familiar concept to make it unique again while left me wanting for more.
Snapshot is a mix of hard sci-fi with police procedural. The advance technology of Snapshot make the system can recreate or reconstructive a crime scene, perfect for investigation. Our characters are Anthony Davis, a weary detective, pairing with his overly enthusiast buddy cop, Chaz. The start of the novella is already catch my interest, with both Davis and Chaz is the only real people in the world of fake. Snapshot can recreate a condition from days before, in Davis's case, 10 days before when crimes take place. Davis and Chaz's assignment is to investigate, to collect data and evidence of the crime and then report it to their superior in precinct so they can solve the case. People in Snapshot is, indeed a fake. A copy of themselves from 10 days ago. However, they have consciousness, and if Davis or Chaz flashed their badges (called reality badges) they will know that they are a fake. This is why I called it interesting, how come people that recreate in alternate reality, from a matter, from a data, can "think"? Can interact like a their IRL counterpart do? Can know that they are just fake and some people can be devastated when they know they are fake?
That's what differentiate Snapshot and The Matrix. The Matrix is a dream, provide by the Machine to the human in Zion, but somehow it can be perceived as reality. Snapshot..I think of it as a parallel world of sort? Reading Snapshot remind me of game I played, Fate Grand Order with its concept of singularity in which the MCs will travel to one point of singularity to correct the history. But the concept of Snapshot is different. Davis and Chaz go into Snapshot not to correct the history that already happen, but to collect evidence to help solve the case. This is when Sanderson also introduce the Butterfly Effect, called The Deviations. Because, there's always something happen that differ from what happen IRL when Davis or Chaz act not accordingly to the plan, therefore create the Deviations. Which, again, come into the question, what is real in the world of the Snapshot?
Sanderson's novella is a miss for me, with Perfect State is one of the example. But Snapshot is otherwise. Sanderson manage to write an unique concept and world building, pair it with a police procedural and buddy cop kind of story. Aside from the world building, Sanderson also manage to write Davis's weariness, how he want to do the right things, with become a cop. How to make a better world. How he really love his son despite he lost his son's custody to his ex wife. The ending itself is very much Brandon Sanderson-esque, like you didn't see it coming. I sure didn't see it coming and maybe I will re-read it again to know what I miss in the first read.
Another good novella from Sanderson that reinforce my interest in his other novella. To said I'm in an awe is an understatement. Because why a novella can make you question, what is real and what is fake in the Snapshot? Is a human in Snapshot can be considered as a human if they are just a copy of their IRL, yet they too have consciousness and can feel devastated to know that their life will end when the Snapshot end?
Kudos to Brandon Sanderson, to again, make an interesting world building with an interesting premise. In the first glance, the technology of the Snapshot kinda remind me of the Matrix, an alternate reality formed with advance technology in the near future. When I read Petrik's review, apparently the concept of Snapshot is already used in video game and movies with same premise. I admit, sci-fi is not my favorite, I'm more like a fantasy gal. But, give it to Brandon Sanderson with his unique take of already familiar concept to make it unique again while left me wanting for more.
Snapshot is a mix of hard sci-fi with police procedural. The advance technology of Snapshot make the system can recreate or reconstructive a crime scene, perfect for investigation. Our characters are Anthony Davis, a weary detective, pairing with his overly enthusiast buddy cop, Chaz. The start of the novella is already catch my interest, with both Davis and Chaz is the only real people in the world of fake. Snapshot can recreate a condition from days before, in Davis's case, 10 days before when crimes take place. Davis and Chaz's assignment is to investigate, to collect data and evidence of the crime and then report it to their superior in precinct so they can solve the case. People in Snapshot is, indeed a fake. A copy of themselves from 10 days ago. However, they have consciousness, and if Davis or Chaz flashed their badges (called reality badges) they will know that they are a fake. This is why I called it interesting, how come people that recreate in alternate reality, from a matter, from a data, can "think"? Can interact like a their IRL counterpart do? Can know that they are just fake and some people can be devastated when they know they are fake?
That's what differentiate Snapshot and The Matrix. The Matrix is a dream, provide by the Machine to the human in Zion, but somehow it can be perceived as reality. Snapshot..I think of it as a parallel world of sort? Reading Snapshot remind me of game I played, Fate Grand Order with its concept of singularity in which the MCs will travel to one point of singularity to correct the history. But the concept of Snapshot is different. Davis and Chaz go into Snapshot not to correct the history that already happen, but to collect evidence to help solve the case. This is when Sanderson also introduce the Butterfly Effect, called The Deviations. Because, there's always something happen that differ from what happen IRL when Davis or Chaz act not accordingly to the plan, therefore create the Deviations. Which, again, come into the question, what is real in the world of the Snapshot?
Sanderson's novella is a miss for me, with Perfect State is one of the example. But Snapshot is otherwise. Sanderson manage to write an unique concept and world building, pair it with a police procedural and buddy cop kind of story. Aside from the world building, Sanderson also manage to write Davis's weariness, how he want to do the right things, with become a cop. How to make a better world. How he really love his son despite he lost his son's custody to his ex wife. The ending itself is very much Brandon Sanderson-esque, like you didn't see it coming. I sure didn't see it coming and maybe I will re-read it again to know what I miss in the first read.
Another good novella from Sanderson that reinforce my interest in his other novella. To said I'm in an awe is an understatement. Because why a novella can make you question, what is real and what is fake in the Snapshot? Is a human in Snapshot can be considered as a human if they are just a copy of their IRL, yet they too have consciousness and can feel devastated to know that their life will end when the Snapshot end?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence