Theseus 34

by Rory Hughes

'Theseus 34 is a dark, narcotic odyssey through the labyrinths of the human psyche. Many writers have tried their hand at transgressive fiction over the last few decades but few have created anything lasting. Provocative and unhinged, this novel sits with a handful of important works that tell us things about ourselves we'd prefer to ignore but would do so at our peril. What Naked Lunch was to the 1950s and Lord Horror was to the 1990s, Theseus 34 is set to be for the 2020s.'
- D.M. Mitchell, Incunabula Media

'A breathtaking descent into a digital urban hell.'
- Sirius Reviews

'An extraordinary writer'
- Charles Pinch, Senior Editor at Fleas on the Dog

'A striking piece of work'
- John Trefry, author of Plats

'Kafka for the 21st Century'
- Sebastian Vice, Outcast Press

268 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2024

About the author

Rory Hughes is a Croydon-based writer, journalist and commercial fisherman. His transgressive novel, Theseus 34 was released through Incunabula Media in 2024, and has been described as "a breathtaking descent into a digital urban hell", and by Incunabula Media co-founder D.M. Mitchell as "the darkest [novel] I've ever published".

His challenging short stories have appeared in publications such as BlazeVOX, Angel Rust, Fleas on the Dog, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, The Rye Whiskey Review, Vine Leaves Press, Literally Stories and Horror Sleaze Trash.

He is the reviews/feature editor for underground music zine Astral Noize, writing album and live reviews, features and interviews; as a guitarist and producer, he has been releasing electronic, noise, rock and metal music since 2007 and is the founder of experimental music label Sun Hole Records.

Reviews

[Lee M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!

From the very first page, it drags you into a nightmare, building an intense atmosphere that doesn't let go. The story pushes boundaries, is absolutely unrelenting, and offers a chilling descent into madness. This is extreme horror at its finest, skillfully balancing shocking violence with a compelling plot and strong writing, which is incredibly rare.

What impressed me the most was how the book managed to evoke such strong emotions, which I rarely experience when reading this genre. It left me genuinely unsettled, yet I couldn’t stop reading. The characters are so vividly drawn that their pain and terror feel disturbingly real. This isn't just a horror story; it’s an experience that lingers long after you've finished reading.

The story is meticulously crafted, and its execution is so immersive that it completely drew me in. I truly adored it.

I'm incredibly grateful I had the chance to read this, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this genre. It's by far one of the best works I've come across.

[Florian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each moment in this book - some I could relate to, some I don't think any human alive could relate to - is a beautifully crafted microsoft nightmare. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of experimental literature, beautiful construction of alternative landscapes and something that will really make you think

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This uses the mythology element perfectly in a new way that worked overall, I thought the characters worked well and was glad everything was what I wanted. The characters were everything that I wanted in a horror dystopian. Rory Hughes wrote this well and was glad I got to read this.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lexi Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Messed me up in the best way; a fetid and ascerbic social commentary which will make you recoil in horror when you see your darkest thoughts - those you don't even admit to yourself - reflected back at you