/lit/ - Literature

>>22358944
The Warren - Brian Evenson (2016)

The opening dedication of The Warren reads, "for Gene Wolfe". That's true in that it's in Wolfe's style of writing stories that are puzzles and has an unreliable narrator. This could also be dedicated to Joseph W. Campbell Jr. or Jeff Vandermeer, as seen on the cover. The story is set somewhere that isn't Earth at some time when some person realizes they exist. The unnamed initial first person viewpoint quickly comes to understand that there are many people within their mind. Some are whole and others are corrupted. Some barely exist and others seek control. Some panic and others are curious. All of them are alive and none of them are. It's difficult to make decisions smoothly and consistently when any action may require consensus. There's also an AI that responds to voiced queries and then one other person who serves as a foil.

I had several theories as to what was going on and why, mostly meta rather than plot level ones. I came upon an interview with Evenson where he discussed his intentions for this novella. I liked it less once after I knew its purpose. Mostly in the confirmation this is entirely about vibes, feels, atmosphere, and little else. Usually I'm unable to enjoy something in exclusively aesthetic terms, which is likely what half of this is. The other half is what Evenson calls epistemological horror. I haven't read Peter Watt's Blindsight, which may be similar, and I was reminded of Victor Pelevin's The Helmet of Horror. As to what happens, it's mostly the viewpoint character(s) going around and pondering their existence and circumstances. That may be sort of like a walking sim horror game made by an indie art videogame studio. Initially I found this to be somewhat reminiscent of the Fallout series, but the similarity is superficial.

A puzzle missing pieces is different from a puzzle that never had the pieces and is considered complete without them. For the latter, which the author says it is, the assembler can appreciate that as an artistic choice, create their own pieces, or feel some other way. I appreciated the pieces that exist, have no interest in creating my own, and think it's an incomplete puzzle. I find myself irritated knowing this was intentional. Up until the ending this was moderately pleasing and maybe I could've been fine with it all remaining a mystery known only by touch in the darkness. The revelatory light of brute force explanation spotlights its true form, and it's unsightly. The ending says only enough to remind you how much is being intentionally withheld and obscured because it's not meant to be relevant.

This was suggested for me to read by someone. I've read four other works of short fiction by Evenson, all horror. I had forgotten that I had read any until I looked at my short fiction spreadsheet. Apparently I disliked them. I won't be avoiding Evenson, but I won't be seeking out what he's written either.

Rating: 3/5