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The Mariner
He awoke with a buzzing in his head, lost at sea…
Hidden amidst the fractured remains of a sunken world are the answers the Mariner craves. The ocean is endless and yet he has the tools for such a hunt; an antique slave ship infested with Tasmanian devils, a crate of semi-automatic weapons, and a dreamlike clue formed loosely in his mind. Sinister impulses, however, gnaw at his soul, unravelling his sanity; a proclivity for violence and a hunger for rape.
Surrounded by mindless zombies, flesh-eating eels and dangerous cults, this sadomasochist could be humanity’s last chance at unlocking the secrets of the crumbling universe. He’s a pervert, an addict and a monster, but might just hold the key to finding a route home…
Pioneering Ade Grant’s signature genre of pornographic philosophy, “The Mariner” weaves together atrophied concepts within a fragmented landscape, taking the reader on a journey through the bile-ridden gutter of the human psyche.
Hidden amidst the fractured remains of a sunken world are the answers the Mariner craves. The ocean is endless and yet he has the tools for such a hunt; an antique slave ship infested with Tasmanian devils, a crate of semi-automatic weapons, and a dreamlike clue formed loosely in his mind. Sinister impulses, however, gnaw at his soul, unravelling his sanity; a proclivity for violence and a hunger for rape.
Surrounded by mindless zombies, flesh-eating eels and dangerous cults, this sadomasochist could be humanity’s last chance at unlocking the secrets of the crumbling universe. He’s a pervert, an addict and a monster, but might just hold the key to finding a route home…
Pioneering Ade Grant’s signature genre of pornographic philosophy, “The Mariner” weaves together atrophied concepts within a fragmented landscape, taking the reader on a journey through the bile-ridden gutter of the human psyche.
- GenresHorror
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2012
4 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Ade Grant
10 books15 followersAde Grant was born in Croydon and has never fully recovered.
Raised by wild beasts and nourished by the leavings at squat parties, Ade was finally rescued by Doctor Hayes and smuggled to a rehabilitation facility for ex-Croydonites in a secret Brighton location. Slowly, over the course of several years, Ade was taught the basics of human interaction.
Ade Grant now writes fiction, poetry and politics, and can be found outside pharmacies in London, rooting through bins.
Raised by wild beasts and nourished by the leavings at squat parties, Ade was finally rescued by Doctor Hayes and smuggled to a rehabilitation facility for ex-Croydonites in a secret Brighton location. Slowly, over the course of several years, Ade was taught the basics of human interaction.
Ade Grant now writes fiction, poetry and politics, and can be found outside pharmacies in London, rooting through bins.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 2, 2013
THIS REVIEW CAN ALSO BE FOUND AT MY BLOG.
RATING: 5/5
The Mariner is lost at sea – has forgotten everything about his life before waking up on the Neptune, an old ship that was used to transport slaves – with nothing for company but some devils, foul thoughts and self reflections; they are his own, but are horribly confusing to him, as he can’t remember where they come from or why he has them (or why they make him feel the way he does). Lust plagues his entire being and, disgusted, he fights to control his urges. He comes upon many people and places – all a part of this new, Shattered world – that, while not quite as lost as he is, face the extremely difficult task of piecing together what’s happening around them; through religion, philosophy, science, and superstition, they all have their own understanding of what’s happened to the world and how to get it back to the way it was. We follow the Mariner on his – sometimes monstrous, sometimes heroic, sometimes disgusting – journey to discover the truth.
I haven’t felt so many wonderfully conflicting emotions while reading a book in a long time. This story is the wildest of rides – fast paced, energetic, unafraid, relentless, exhilarating, disturbing, and smart. I absolutely loved it. The plot was magnificent and revealed its points in such a way that was always exciting, always changing, always moving forward into some new territory. There are so many interesting ideas thrown into it that not only kept me entertained, but intellectually interested in what was being said. The language flowed beautifully; never overly flashy or showy though never simplistic or shallow, it doesn’t call attention to itself but adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the storytelling.
While reading, I truly believed in this world the author has created. I believed in all of the characters. Every single person in The Mariner had depth; their actions were authentic, and the things they said were real and convincing. Each one stood out from the others. There were times when characters would do something – something that I knew they were capable of doing – that would literally infuriate me. Or make me love them, or care for them, or despise them, or pity them, or empathize with them. I genuinely felt things for each and every character and I was fully immersed and invested into who they were as people, and where they were going.
There is a lot more that I could say about this book. I was so completely disturbed at times, and at others times I was disgusted. At times I hated the Mariner character – wanted to end his wretched life myself – and at times I empathized with him greatly, wanted to protect him. It was a very difficult book to read at times, though the story was so engrossing I couldn’t stop. And when the end came around – though still some things were left deliberately without answers – I was completely fulfilled and left the story, in my opinion, a better person than when I started.
The Mariner will undoubtedly force your morals into submission but – if you’re able to ride it out – will reward you for your courage tenfold. It is definitely not for everyone, but is very much worth it if you give it a chance. It is a story of the search for truth and oneself; a story of broken philosophies, of sexuality, of life, of death, of knowledge, of love and hate, and of collective consciousness. Honestly, The Mariner is one of my new favorite books, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.
RATING: 5/5
The Mariner is lost at sea – has forgotten everything about his life before waking up on the Neptune, an old ship that was used to transport slaves – with nothing for company but some devils, foul thoughts and self reflections; they are his own, but are horribly confusing to him, as he can’t remember where they come from or why he has them (or why they make him feel the way he does). Lust plagues his entire being and, disgusted, he fights to control his urges. He comes upon many people and places – all a part of this new, Shattered world – that, while not quite as lost as he is, face the extremely difficult task of piecing together what’s happening around them; through religion, philosophy, science, and superstition, they all have their own understanding of what’s happened to the world and how to get it back to the way it was. We follow the Mariner on his – sometimes monstrous, sometimes heroic, sometimes disgusting – journey to discover the truth.
I haven’t felt so many wonderfully conflicting emotions while reading a book in a long time. This story is the wildest of rides – fast paced, energetic, unafraid, relentless, exhilarating, disturbing, and smart. I absolutely loved it. The plot was magnificent and revealed its points in such a way that was always exciting, always changing, always moving forward into some new territory. There are so many interesting ideas thrown into it that not only kept me entertained, but intellectually interested in what was being said. The language flowed beautifully; never overly flashy or showy though never simplistic or shallow, it doesn’t call attention to itself but adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the storytelling.
While reading, I truly believed in this world the author has created. I believed in all of the characters. Every single person in The Mariner had depth; their actions were authentic, and the things they said were real and convincing. Each one stood out from the others. There were times when characters would do something – something that I knew they were capable of doing – that would literally infuriate me. Or make me love them, or care for them, or despise them, or pity them, or empathize with them. I genuinely felt things for each and every character and I was fully immersed and invested into who they were as people, and where they were going.
There is a lot more that I could say about this book. I was so completely disturbed at times, and at others times I was disgusted. At times I hated the Mariner character – wanted to end his wretched life myself – and at times I empathized with him greatly, wanted to protect him. It was a very difficult book to read at times, though the story was so engrossing I couldn’t stop. And when the end came around – though still some things were left deliberately without answers – I was completely fulfilled and left the story, in my opinion, a better person than when I started.
The Mariner will undoubtedly force your morals into submission but – if you’re able to ride it out – will reward you for your courage tenfold. It is definitely not for everyone, but is very much worth it if you give it a chance. It is a story of the search for truth and oneself; a story of broken philosophies, of sexuality, of life, of death, of knowledge, of love and hate, and of collective consciousness. Honestly, The Mariner is one of my new favorite books, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future.
August 1, 2013
This book is excessive; excessively bleak, excessively gross, excessively violent, excessively sexual, and excessively sexually violent. It is a story about excess and addiction and faith and betrayal and loss and so many other terrible and surreal and glorious things that I don't want to write about because I wouldn't want to spoil anything for, what I’d imagine to be, the small niche audience this book was written for. It’s an excessively ambitious and uncompromising book, too. I only wish that I’d read a slightly more compressed version of it. Yes, there was some excess that could have been trimmed. I didn't expect it to be a fast-paced thriller of a read going in. But there is really only so much time anyone would want to spend in 'Crazy Town.' I think there are readers out there who will like this sort of thing. I did. Just make sure you know going in that your stay in 'Crazy Town' will be an extended one.
Note: This is one of those novels filled with reprehensible characters (especially the titular character). So, if you’re not a reader who can stomach the “horrible people stuck in a horrible world” genre, then it’s best you steer clear.
Note: This is one of those novels filled with reprehensible characters (especially the titular character). So, if you’re not a reader who can stomach the “horrible people stuck in a horrible world” genre, then it’s best you steer clear.
April 28, 2013
The plot of this amazing book, in a nutshell, is that in a post-apocalyptic future a psychopathic alcoholic who suffers from twisted sexual fantasies is the captain of a haunted boat filled that is filled with the ghosts of dead slaves while searching for answers as to why the world has gone mad. On his ship, the Neptune, he has his crew: Grace, the Tasmanian devil, and her twelve offspring. This is a hero’s quest, but without a hero. Just a broken shell of a man who is lost at sea and trying to keep his demons at bay through drinking and self-flagellation. The sad man with haunted eyes traverses the remains of a world gone mad with the singular thought that he can fix things if he just finds someone called The Oracle.
Yes, this story is as bizarre as it sounds.
And yet this book is about so much more than all of that. Without going into spoilers, I’m going to give some of my thoughts on this amazing read.
This is an odyssey, a religious allegory, a psychological horror story, an existentialist drama, and at it’s heart a love story.
The description of the titular character being a rapist will turn the majority of readers off, thinking this to be a cheap exploitation novel, and I think Mr. Grant is smart enough to realize this fact. He has deliberately crafted an odious lead character that only the more adventurous readers will invite in. I downloaded this as a freebie on my Kindle a couple months ago and doubted I’d ever read it but something behind the audaciousness of having a lunatic as it’s protagonist struck me as funny so I decided to give a whirl last week. I finished the book a few hours ago and I don’t think I’ll be able to shake it anytime soon.
You don’t read a book with such bleak subject matter looking to be uplifted and when you find yourself giddy, soaring with hope for redemption of this character, it’s a very perplexing moment. Grant uses his character of the Mariner as a stand-in for all males, and the darkness that lies within us, but without focusing only on the darkness itself. There are brilliant glimmers of hope that illuminate the fact that even the worst of us have something worthy of loving or living for.
There will be points in which you will not want to read anymore. A little half-way over through the novel some really disturbing content had me contemplating as to if I wanted to continue my voyage with The Mariner. I decided that I might as well see what happens since I spent so much time with it already and for my persistence I was greatly rewarded with what I feel is an instant classic.
Of all the books I’ve ever read, very few have left me feeling as though I were a better person for having done so. The Mariner is one of the few to fall in that category.
I really hope this book does well because Ade Grant is a brave new voice in experimental horror fiction and it will be very interesting to see what he writes next.
Yes, this story is as bizarre as it sounds.
And yet this book is about so much more than all of that. Without going into spoilers, I’m going to give some of my thoughts on this amazing read.
This is an odyssey, a religious allegory, a psychological horror story, an existentialist drama, and at it’s heart a love story.
The description of the titular character being a rapist will turn the majority of readers off, thinking this to be a cheap exploitation novel, and I think Mr. Grant is smart enough to realize this fact. He has deliberately crafted an odious lead character that only the more adventurous readers will invite in. I downloaded this as a freebie on my Kindle a couple months ago and doubted I’d ever read it but something behind the audaciousness of having a lunatic as it’s protagonist struck me as funny so I decided to give a whirl last week. I finished the book a few hours ago and I don’t think I’ll be able to shake it anytime soon.
You don’t read a book with such bleak subject matter looking to be uplifted and when you find yourself giddy, soaring with hope for redemption of this character, it’s a very perplexing moment. Grant uses his character of the Mariner as a stand-in for all males, and the darkness that lies within us, but without focusing only on the darkness itself. There are brilliant glimmers of hope that illuminate the fact that even the worst of us have something worthy of loving or living for.
There will be points in which you will not want to read anymore. A little half-way over through the novel some really disturbing content had me contemplating as to if I wanted to continue my voyage with The Mariner. I decided that I might as well see what happens since I spent so much time with it already and for my persistence I was greatly rewarded with what I feel is an instant classic.
Of all the books I’ve ever read, very few have left me feeling as though I were a better person for having done so. The Mariner is one of the few to fall in that category.
I really hope this book does well because Ade Grant is a brave new voice in experimental horror fiction and it will be very interesting to see what he writes next.
September 8, 2014
I read this book as it was Book of the Month in the Random and Speculative Indie Authors group. The Mariner is a book that is as visceral as it is well-crafted. The Mariner is no easy read - the themes and subject matter are challenging, possibly too challenging for some readers. The depictions of violence physical, sexual and psychological, are at the extreme end of what I have read. Moreover, these depictions are only partly compensated for by the fact that the book takes place in a nightmarish world where what is and isn't real is constantly in question. It is to the author's credit that the savagery on display never comes across as gratuitous or shocking for its own sake. Equally bold is the increasingly difficult nature of the main character, whose actions repeatedly threaten to lose the sympathy of the reader
The novel is set in a world that seems to be a post-apocalyptic Earth, but with rules that are oddly off. Some of what the main character - a wanderer without a memory - encounters seems dreamlike and unreal, even impossible. At other times, his experiences are so hard-edged and substantial that the reader can never be entirely sure exactly what kind of book they are reading. Is it a fable about the disconnection of modern life or post-apocalyptic sci-fi involving a breakdown of the laws of reality?
Ultimately, the book will reward those who persist, as, without giving too much away, the narrative finally makes sense on its own terms. The Mariner is recommended as a sometimes difficult, often epic navigation of a sea of horrors scattered with islands of hope.
The novel is set in a world that seems to be a post-apocalyptic Earth, but with rules that are oddly off. Some of what the main character - a wanderer without a memory - encounters seems dreamlike and unreal, even impossible. At other times, his experiences are so hard-edged and substantial that the reader can never be entirely sure exactly what kind of book they are reading. Is it a fable about the disconnection of modern life or post-apocalyptic sci-fi involving a breakdown of the laws of reality?
Ultimately, the book will reward those who persist, as, without giving too much away, the narrative finally makes sense on its own terms. The Mariner is recommended as a sometimes difficult, often epic navigation of a sea of horrors scattered with islands of hope.
June 26, 2013
I'll start by saying that this is an incredible book. Really I should just be able to say that and people will read it :-) Where to start? Well the story is of the Mariner, lost at sea in a world that has fractured into islands seperated by a vast ocean. The Mariner himself is not a nice character, in fact he indulges in terrible acts and fantasy's, but he's on a quest.
The journey he takes is fascinating and while I kind of figured what was going on it still kept me guessing to the end. The writing itself is superb, it really captures the confusion and perversion of the world the Mariner finds himself in.
On the note about perversion be warned this book does contain some extreme sex scenes, some of a violent nature. On the face of it the story is one of pysocho-sexual fantasy (not a good kind of fantasy), but lurking in the words is something a bit more profound.
As well as the Mariner there is a number of secondary charcters who all fit into the story nicely and provide a greater understanding of the world. The Tasmanian Devils are wonderful and add a bit of needed humour to often bleak world.
The conceit used is one I have encountered only once before, but it is presented much better in this book than my previous encounter (I won't reveal the exact nature as that would spoil the book!). Suffice to say that some thinking has gone on in how the story has been layered together.
As I said at the beginning this is an amazing book.
The journey he takes is fascinating and while I kind of figured what was going on it still kept me guessing to the end. The writing itself is superb, it really captures the confusion and perversion of the world the Mariner finds himself in.
On the note about perversion be warned this book does contain some extreme sex scenes, some of a violent nature. On the face of it the story is one of pysocho-sexual fantasy (not a good kind of fantasy), but lurking in the words is something a bit more profound.
As well as the Mariner there is a number of secondary charcters who all fit into the story nicely and provide a greater understanding of the world. The Tasmanian Devils are wonderful and add a bit of needed humour to often bleak world.
The conceit used is one I have encountered only once before, but it is presented much better in this book than my previous encounter (I won't reveal the exact nature as that would spoil the book!). Suffice to say that some thinking has gone on in how the story has been layered together.
As I said at the beginning this is an amazing book.
August 25, 2014
3.5 stars but to be honest please take into account the subjectivity of my review, I think this is an excellent book but ultimately the subject matter turned me off more often than on, in a literary sense. It is beautifully written, well evoked and genuinely mind bendy. Reading it was an experience - there was something very ambiguous about the whole thing. I've never been for black and white plots but this wove in and out of perceived darkness and light, good and evil so many times that I genuinely felt uncomfortable. I can laud this book as a great achievement but I can't honestly say that I enjoyed it. However it made me think and will stay with me a long time. I'd call that a win.
If you like your horror very off the wall and non traditional, this book is definitely for you. A truly skilful manipulation of latent morality and perception.
If you like your horror very off the wall and non traditional, this book is definitely for you. A truly skilful manipulation of latent morality and perception.
January 14, 2013
The Mariner is a Freudian nightmare, whose tale touches on subjects such as the inner turmoil between self-loathing and self-worth, the fear of a better life and the ease at which one can hide from existence at the bottom of a bottle. For anyone who has experienced a moment of self-doubt, it is easy to identify with The Mariner himself, which makes his actions, and the reactions of the other characters all the more damning.
The Mariner is a challenging but engrossing read. Ade Grant's particular brand of psychological horror is a corrosive assault on the reader's morals, which repeatedly promises reprieve, only to smash all hopes with a barrage of harrowing imagery and bitter-sweet revelations. At times both despicably vile and heart warmingly comforting, The Mariner suggests that even at our most debased and vicious, there may be a shred of humanity worth saving.
If you are willing to see this book through to the end, you will find the conclusion to be uplifting, and although not entirely absolving of some of its most depraved inhabitants, it is genuinely fulfilling.
The Mariner is a challenging but engrossing read. Ade Grant's particular brand of psychological horror is a corrosive assault on the reader's morals, which repeatedly promises reprieve, only to smash all hopes with a barrage of harrowing imagery and bitter-sweet revelations. At times both despicably vile and heart warmingly comforting, The Mariner suggests that even at our most debased and vicious, there may be a shred of humanity worth saving.
If you are willing to see this book through to the end, you will find the conclusion to be uplifting, and although not entirely absolving of some of its most depraved inhabitants, it is genuinely fulfilling.
August 27, 2022
I could not get into this book, much as I wanted to. The opening chapters were visceral and engaging but at about a third of the way through, I had to tap out. I couldn't follow anything that was happening or why and it all seemed too disjointed to come together properly, or I would have tried harder. Still, I enjoyed the writing style of what I read, hence the current rating.
February 16, 2020
This book was sick at times and not in a good way. It made my stomach turn and not in a good way, yet I was intrigued to keep reading.
October 9, 2017
Very good . Real.
April 29, 2013
Wavering between 2 and 3 stars. Gonna think on it--sticking with two. I can see that the author put in hard work, but it is what it is.
This is a deep read. My high school diploma barely let me process this religious, philosophical, questionable read, but alas, the synapses started firing and I got it, the meaning, behind this read. The gist: Without love and goodness, man shall fall. Love is there whether it is acknowledged, accepted, or understood. Man should be held accountable for his sin, and move on from acts committed against them. To wallow in your fears and anguish is a no-no.
Hmm. That's not even half of it.
The story could have been tightened up a lot. For the majority of the first half the reader is left wondering where the heck the story is going and what's the point. We, the reader, do find out, but it is very late in the read, making this story confusing and...unrewarding. Alternating chapters of The Shattering and real life would have been better than the non-cohesive chapters and viewpoints we get; giving the reader clues about what's real and who's who. I could go on, but this read wore me out.
This is a deep read. My high school diploma barely let me process this religious, philosophical, questionable read, but alas, the synapses started firing and I got it, the meaning, behind this read. The gist: Without love and goodness, man shall fall. Love is there whether it is acknowledged, accepted, or understood. Man should be held accountable for his sin, and move on from acts committed against them. To wallow in your fears and anguish is a no-no.
Hmm. That's not even half of it.
The story could have been tightened up a lot. For the majority of the first half the reader is left wondering where the heck the story is going and what's the point. We, the reader, do find out, but it is very late in the read, making this story confusing and...unrewarding. Alternating chapters of The Shattering and real life would have been better than the non-cohesive chapters and viewpoints we get; giving the reader clues about what's real and who's who. I could go on, but this read wore me out.
Read
April 12, 2013Sailing through an endless ocean on an antique slaver, the Mariner is hopelessly alone. The few remaining settlements are broken husks peppered with survivors and dangerous cults, each and every one as lost as he. Fixated upon a need for answers in a world full of rot and with a deep sadomasochist streak, he’s a pervert, an addict and a monster, and might just hold the key to finding a route home.
A post-apocalyptic jaunt through a psycho-sexual nightmare, Ade Grant’s debut novel takes an uncomfortably honest appraisal of male sexuality and acts as an enema to the very darkest elements that lurk within us all.
March 25, 2013
I liked this book for the most part. It was written very well with interesting and unique characters. I think that some of the concepts may have been a bit over my head, but I may have been trying to read too deeply into them. I look forward to reading more of Ade Grant in the future. The character The Mariner is one that I will not soon forget...that is for sure.
April 24, 2013
this book is too deep, reading it is hard for my simple mind. yet it's captivating enough to compel me to read till the final page. its world has that thin line that differentiate between awesome and depressing. maybe it's both.
November 22, 2013
This book reminded me, in no particular order, of Gulliver's Travels, Crime and Punishment, Donny Darko, The Island of the Day Before, and Gould's Book of Fish. I'm still staring into space at the wonder of it.
May 24, 2014
Had to stop reading this, did not like the graphic sexual violence.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews