Today marks the release of Brandon Sanderson’s new novella, Perfect State, which answers the question “What do you do when you’ve conquered the world?” In the case of God-Emperor Kairominas, you start with a quick robot fight and then tackle something even more daunting: a date with the woman who is your total equal in every way.

Sanderson shared the news on his Facebook page, telling his readers, “This one is a bit different from anything else I’ve written, and I think you’ll enjoy it.” Here’s the blurb:

God-Emperor Kairominas is lord of all he surveys. He has defeated all foes, has united the entire world beneath his rule, and has mastered the arcane arts. He spends his time sparring with his nemesis, who keeps trying to invade Kai’s world. Except for today. Today, Kai has to go on a date. Forces have conspired to require him to meet with his equal—a woman from another world who has achieved just as much as he has. What happens when the most important man in the world is forced to have dinner with the most important woman in the world? Perfect State is an action-filled novella about privilege, culture clash, and expectations.

Perfect State is available as an ebook, and as a double hardcover with Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell. The latter will at first be available exclusively at conventions, with the first opportunity to pick it up coming at Minicon in Minneapolis April 2-5.

In the meantime, you can read an excerpt of Perfect State. And here’s the full cover, with art by J.P. Targete: