Twisty Little Novels, All Different
Oct 7, 2019
Queneau, Telltale, The Princess Bride, and why you’d write a story that changes each time it’s read.
Subcutanean
A horror novel of parallel realities
where no two copies are the same
New Bulk Pricing for Book Clubs/Stores!
“may be the most unique book of 2020—or perhaps ever”
“Lurking inside this generative horror novel is a deeply felt and strangely moving coming-of-age story.”
“I wish I could read it again for the first time, and it's so fucking cool that I actually could.”
“I tore through this book in 2 sittings. I literally can't remember the last time that happened.”
“Compulsively readable, profound and pleasingly ambiguous. Absolutely recommended.”
“I don't even know how to praise this book properly. Damn. DAMN. If you like suspense/horror, read it. If you like procedurally generated content, read it. If you like page-turners, read it. If you like queer rep and a touch of angst, read it. The world ceased to exist around the edges of the book and I just had. To keep. Going.”
4.5 / 5 stars and 97% positive score on Goodreads!
Possible worlds, impossible desires
Insecure college senior Orion loves music, books, and his best friend Niko. When the two of them find a secret basement in their rambling old off-campus house, at first Orion’s thrilled. It’s another secret to share, another adventure to maybe, at last, bring them closer together.
But something's wrong: the basement doesn't end.
Read the full plot summary on Goodreads
A book that's different every time
Subcutanean is a book from award-winning interactive fiction author Aaron A. Reed. Not a book where you make choices: instead, each copy has its own unique pathway through the story. The master text contains hundreds of places where words, sentences, even entire scenes can play out in different ways. Some texts affect others, setting up foreshadowing in earlier chapters and payoffs later. There are countless ways each book can be rendered. No two copies are ever quite the same.
The book's text is procedurally assembled but human-authored. Nothing is written by AI. Read more about how it works.
Start reading online
Read Subcutanean #01893 online for free on Wattpad, Royal Road, or Tapas.
Or listen to it as an audio book podcast!
Two Twitter bots did live readings of alternate versions of the novel.
Three Ways to Get Your Own Subcutanean
1. Custom Book with a Unique Seed
Order direct from the author to get a custom Subcutanean generated from a seed that will never be re-used. Each is a unique version of the novel. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of this custom item.
Custom Paperback:
$27
+ shipping
8.5" by 5.5" paperback book, between 209 and 232 pages.
Pair of Paperbacks:
$49
+ shipping
Two paperbacks with different seeds, generated with special code to increase their distinctiveness. Read with a friend & compare notes! (More)
Custom Ebook:
$9.95
(PDF, epub, & mobi; generally delivered in 1-3 days)
(PDF, epub, & mobi; generally delivered in 1-3 days)
Pair of Ebooks with Distinct Seeds:
$16.95
2. Pre-generated Books
Several static versions of the book are also available on Amazon. These aren't unique copies, but will ship more quickly and may be cheaper to ship to addresses outside the US.
Paperback
$19.95
+ shippingEbook
$9.95
Seed #30287
Seed #36619
3. Buy in Bulk
Need a bunch of Subcutaneans for a book club, store, or class? You can buy 4 or more unique copies shipped to a single US address for $25 each with free shipping. Click the button below, click "Send" then enter an amount: please also "add a note" confirming the number of copies and your US shipping address. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to ship bulk orders outside the US.
Collector's Edition USB Keys [SOLD OUT!]
These custom-made metal and glass USB keys were created as a deluxe reward for the crowdfunding campaign. Each key contained the full master source text from which every version of Subcutanean was generated, all the project's custom source code, and ten thousand different versions of the novel. No kidding!
The materials on the USB will be released into the public domain five years after Subcutanean's original publication date, in February 2025.
Design Blog
A Minimal Syntax For Quantum Text
Oct 10, 2019
How a geeky novelist found a way to write procedural prose without sacrificing the flow of his writing process.
Why I Made Subcutanean
Oct 28, 2019
I've always loved underground places. My new procedural novel Subcutanean makes surviving underground a metaphor for living.
Links
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