Schism

by Andrew Biss

As a boy, Horatio Higgins was ignored by the other children, but that didn't stop him having lots of friends...friends only he could see and whom he'd regale with tales of his fantastical exploits. Eventually, though, his parents became concerned at the inordinate amount of time their son appeared to spend talking to himself and took him for treatment, which, in time, proved successful...almost. One friend remained. Unfortunately it was the spiteful one. Years later, living alone in his tiny London flat, Horatio's loneliness is mitigated only by his acid-tongued friend and the company of what he affectionately refers to as "my wife". After losing his job, however, his life begins a rapid downward spiral...that is, until he meets a sweet, impressionable young woman named Nore. As their relationship lurches unsteadily forward, Horatio finds himself struggling against a riptide of conflicting realities he's ill-equipped to cope with. Can Nore save him from himself or will she, too, be dragged into a world where the line between fantasy and reality becomes increasingly and perilously blurred? Weaving together dark humour with shocking, unsettling twists, Schism is sure to stay with you long after you've turned the last page. This book contains Adult Subject Matter.

Genres: Fiction

85 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2011

About the author

The works of award-winning author and playwright Andrew Biss have been produced in New York, London, Los Angeles, and many other cities across North America and Europe. His plays have won awards on both coasts of the U.S., critical acclaim in the U.K., and are an Off-Off-Broadway mainstay.

He is published by Smith & Kraus, Inc., Meriwether Publishing Ltd., and JAC Publishing & Promotions.

He is a graduate of the University of the Arts London, and a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.

Reviews

[Robert Mynatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay, kinda mediocre

The story didn’t have much depth and was filled with tropes. Everything was too predictable and it got pretty boring a quarter into the story. But it was definitely legible and coherent, so I do appreciate the author’s brevity.

[SoDark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful short story!

[Nikki "The Crazie Betty" V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to a psychologically disturbing read but unfortunately this one just didn't deliver. The set up was good as we basically know from the start the MC is schizophrenic and is seeking help for it. In his adult years he still continues to have issues but not of the same caliber.

I really appreciated the damaged psyche of the character for the most part but the ending with his new "wife" was way overboard to me. I didn't believe his actions as a character given he was not really prone to violence up to that point and the sudden change in character can't just be chalked up to schizophrenic behavior. There is usually a pretty steady decline into that sort of violent and paranoid behavior. It doesn't just happen for no reason. Especially since the violent act he commits had nothing to do with the voice in head or anything. He was acting completely of his own accord when nothing really remarkable was happening.

However, I think if you go into this read with the idea that it's not well researched but does has some psychologically disturbing events, it would be enjoyable for that reason alone if you like those kinds of stories.

[Reynolds S · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short story that describes the main character's descent into madness. It is a rambling disjointed narrative that can be difficult to follow. This appears to be an effective illustration of how someone would lose all connection with reality. There is no logical progression, just someone jumping from point to point as the madness completely takes over. It is not an easy read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite book to date! I couldn't put it down! The story hooked me right away! From Horatio's conversations with his imaginary "friend" and his "wife" to the clever internal monologue... If you are looking for a psychological thriller that gives you the exposure to what it is like to be schizophrenic this is the way to go... I highly recommend

[Lori Henrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a short story which as I was reading it, wished would have been alot shorter. You can tell from the beginning that Horatio is not right and you know something is going to happen... eventually. I think it dragged out some and the end result was expected. It was weird.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schism felt more like a short story. Very, very disturbing. my only gripe was the minimal interaction Horatio had with his "other self". Definitely worth the read. I just wish it had been a little more fleshed out.

[Julie Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sick. Just sick. Well written, inventive idea but absolutely repellant. I did not enjoy this at all. What happened with Nore was enough that I would've stopped reading it if it were a full length book. Definitely disappointed with this one.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, starts out rather cheeky and ends with a delightfully gruesome twist. Really enjoyed it.

[Caedy Eries · Rating 3 out of 5]

---Review Pending---

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um... odd. Quite disconcerting

[Michelle L. Sanderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

So so

it was a quick interesting read. I had some difficulty following the main characters line of thought...but who wouldn't all things considered :)