bookishactor's review against another edition
5.0
I read Subcutanean by Aaron A. Reed with the HOWL Society book club, and I’m so glad I did. This is, perhaps, the ultimate book club book. This book is many things: queer, sci-fi, horror, and above all it is unique. You see, every version of Subcutanean is unique*. Throughout the book there are numerous places where the text can read one of many ways, and every seed (version) of the book is different than every other seed. Variations ranged from very minor differences in syntax or word choice, to significant differences impacting character development, backstory and world building, and plot. So it was an amazing incredible delight to read this book with a large group of people online and compare notes. I listened to the seed on Spotify (Seed 01893) while following along in my print edition (Seed 42707). I noticed a lot of differences, many minor but some a bit more significant, between the two, but when discussing the book with others the variants really multiplied. It was a lot of fun to see how this story about love, college, and a weird house could differ from seed to seed. In every version the overall story was basically the same, but that didn’t make comparing notes any less exciting. I’ve vaguely hinted at some of the details of the plot, and I don’t want to spoil the book (in as much as that’s possible) but I’ll just say that the many unique versions of the book that exist reflect one of the key ideas of the plot. Beyond that I think readers who have enjoyed 14 and The Fold by Peter Clines, The Between by Ryan Leslie, and/or The Hike by Drew Magary will enjoy this book. Although I really loved the concept of the book and how it’s uniquely created for each reader, I will say that there were some elements of the plot and characters that seemed a bit muddy to me. I don’t know if that’s because I was trying to follow two different seeds, or if it’s because there are so many possible variants in the text that some details just didn’t get too clearly nailed down. Narratively I might rate this book 3.5-4 stars, but factoring in the amazing uniqueness of this work, it’s an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars).
*There are some static seeds available. So if you listen to the version on Spotify or order from Amazon, for example, that will be the same seed as everyone else who gets it from that source. If you want your own unique seed you can order it from the publisher/author directly as an ebook or in print.
#subcutanean #bookstagram #bookreview #aaronareed #queerhorror #scifihorror
*There are some static seeds available. So if you listen to the version on Spotify or order from Amazon, for example, that will be the same seed as everyone else who gets it from that source. If you want your own unique seed you can order it from the publisher/author directly as an ebook or in print.
#subcutanean #bookstagram #bookreview #aaronareed #queerhorror #scifihorror
georgia5xg's review
3.5
i’d like to revisit this sometime with a different version of the story before making a full judgement on it.
for now: cool concept, glad i read it
for now: cool concept, glad i read it
paperback_heart's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.75
ghostreadin's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
pumpkinspice4ever's review
5.0
Podcast version, read by the author.
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3N1YmN1dGFuZWFuLnRleHRvcmllcy5jb20vYXVkaW8vaW5kZXgucGhwL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC8
https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL3N1YmN1dGFuZWFuLnRleHRvcmllcy5jb20vYXVkaW8vaW5kZXgucGhwL2ZlZWQvcG9kY2FzdC8
dharmlost's review
5.0
I found out about this book from a random rabbit-hole I had descended to on the internet. From there, I saw there were two copies on Amazon, with different "seeds." That intrigued me, being familiar with the idea of random number generators in software engineering, and in searching other retailers I saw the numbers. I needed to know if what I thought they were was what they actually were, and it was not long before I found the author's website. My mind was blown away, because my suspicion was true.
Here, I was staring at a book whose premise was that it changed based on what seed you had and that astounded. Immediately my brain started to think along the lines of how that would work and what it could mean. I also saw on his site that I could have my own seed, my own personal copy of this book, a version of the story that no one else could have. Ever.
I was sold three times over by that point, and ended up ordering a copy directly from the author. I love the idea of having my own personal version of this book, and I have to say it did not disappoint.
That's a heck of a review so far, and I have yet to even touch on the contents of the book itself. Those I am still contemplating, still chewing on and mulling over, and I am still recovering from what I read. It left me shaken at points, and feeling like I was right there in that basement with the two main characters. They felt alive, they felt like someone I knew, they reminded me entirely too much of parts of myself.
I love this book, and I wish I could experience it again for the first time. I may need to reread my copy, and I might have to pick up another seed. Just to see, just to experience another version.
And then another, and another, and another.
Here, I was staring at a book whose premise was that it changed based on what seed you had and that astounded. Immediately my brain started to think along the lines of how that would work and what it could mean. I also saw on his site that I could have my own seed, my own personal copy of this book, a version of the story that no one else could have. Ever.
I was sold three times over by that point, and ended up ordering a copy directly from the author. I love the idea of having my own personal version of this book, and I have to say it did not disappoint.
That's a heck of a review so far, and I have yet to even touch on the contents of the book itself. Those I am still contemplating, still chewing on and mulling over, and I am still recovering from what I read. It left me shaken at points, and feeling like I was right there in that basement with the two main characters. They felt alive, they felt like someone I knew, they reminded me entirely too much of parts of myself.
I love this book, and I wish I could experience it again for the first time. I may need to reread my copy, and I might have to pick up another seed. Just to see, just to experience another version.
And then another, and another, and another.
prettyodd's review
2.0
incredibly interesting concept, but did not catch my attention. Some of the twists seemed forced.
knicke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I love the concept of this book, and I will forever cherish my copy. <3
ghostbird12's review
5.0
ummmmmm yeah i will be thinking about this for the rest of my life
insanely creepy, i loved it
v excited to re read and i expect i will enjoy it even more the next time.
edit:
insanely creepy, i loved it
Spoiler
POOR NIKO…wtf…i am so sad knowing orion ended up without him even though that was the point of the book lol. my only complaint is i wish we had gotten more development and insight into nikov excited to re read and i expect i will enjoy it even more the next time.
Spoiler
loved how the format of the book tied into the ending…truly stunningedit:
Spoiler
just read the info page about my book…IS THERE a copy where orion swims through with niko lol?? or keeps his original niko?? now very interested in the possible endings.caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review
4.0
An inventive and creepy queer horror thriller about a gay college student and his straight(ish?) best friend who find a baffling, neverending world accessed through the floor of their house. At first they think it's just a weird second basement with empty rooms and appliances and floor angles that don't make sense, but they soon discover that it's much more dangerous. At the same time their complicated friendship is tested to a breaking point.
Very cool meta-narrative details: given that the book deals with themes of parallel universes and alternate timelines, the author has published the book as various copies that slightly differ from each other. My copy, for example, had a note at the end explaining some of the differences, such as the way my narrator expressed himself (more wordy and less slang), that the final fight took place in a certain room, and the characters found a certain space in the "Downstairs", etc. What a fascinating, unique spin!
Very cool meta-narrative details: given that the book deals with themes of parallel universes and alternate timelines, the author has published the book as various copies that slightly differ from each other. My copy, for example, had a note at the end explaining some of the differences, such as the way my narrator expressed himself (more wordy and less slang), that the final fight took place in a certain room, and the characters found a certain space in the "Downstairs", etc. What a fascinating, unique spin!