Immortal, Invisible

by Tade Thompson

Robin Hearns has been kidnapped. Or murdered. Or kidnapped and murdered.

He isn’t sure.

What he does know is one moment he’s driving to work; the next, he’s in a pocket universe negotiating temperamental weather, robot guardians, and fireside chats with an improbable assassin. He isn’t hurt, and, barring liberty, all his needs are met. Is it the afterlife? Is he in a coma somewhere dreaming this?

Maybe he’ll stay.

Or Maybe he’ll gather others like himself and try to escape…

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories

25 pages, ebook

First published April 21, 2024

About the author

Tade Thompson is a British born Yoruba psychiatrist who is best known for his science fiction novels.

Reviews

[RatGrrrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, punchy, and rather sweet.

A well-written and engaging bit of almost cartoonish sci-fi about a particular strange kind of future assassin.

The absolute whirlwind end with all and no answers is a headscratcher and could make this marmite for some, but I had fun.

This was a wonderful thing to randomly stumble upon during a bout of insomnia and is freely available here: https://subterraneanpress.com/immorta...

[readundancies · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Oh how I wish this was longer.

I wanted more character development - which is to say, I loved what had been cultivated in the few pages we got and I wanted the chance to really revel in the characters and see them grow a bit more naturally and over a longer period time. Especially Gita. I imagine if this was even a fully fledged novella I would be saying the same about Robin too, it’s just Gita made a murderously masterful entrance and I adored her to bits.

I wanted more science - the small explanation at the end regarding portal technology was screaming for an opportunity to lay down some physics and really have it from a sci-fi perspective.

I wanted more villainy - Buki was just asking to be delved into further to analyze his convictions and motivations and general background as to how he came to be a serial kidnapper. He came across as wanting to be revered as a god but nothing ever really breached into cult vibes or culture which was fascinating, and I would’ve loved to see what this could’ve evolved into.

This was such an interesting world we only got a glimpse to see as readers, but I would’ve happily gone down the rabbit hole if it had developed into a longer, more drawn out story, and I’m a bit bummed it didn’t.

Still had a fun time though.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I need a little time to sit with this and digest it because it was a mind screw, but in a really fun, Tade Thompson way.

Free ebook from Subterranean Press

[Venneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eerie short story. Honestly, big ups to Subterranean Press for commissioning these. I like the way Thompson leaves us to just sit with what happened.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tade has a cool way of taking a weird premise through all of its possibilities (see: Molly Southbourne), and Immortal, Invisible starts off well, and then just comes to an end. It doesn't help that the ending raises more questions than the story. Sometimes, that's a good thing, sometimes it's a bad thing; here, it's really neither, since the questions beg for another story to explore them. I just wish it had felt a bit more complete.

[Chris Branch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe the electronic copy was offered free from a publisher, and it sounded intriguing. It’s a very short story; mildly interesting. Gita is a more engaging character than Robin, who seems intentionally bland. The mechanics of the situation are ill-defined, making me think the intention was to engage in some philosophizing, but if so, I can’t say that I really got the point of it. A quick read anyway.

[Netty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this one was fun.

I loved the concept of the unexplainable almost prisoner plain of existence that is revealed until the end. we focus in on two characters specifically who are desperate to get free no matter how much the will of the fellow prisoners has been broken. the capture in a futuristic suit leads them to believe he is the world's foremost assassin who doesn't like killing and instead hides people here. it is revealed that none of that is true and he's just crazy and lonely.
but my god is this well done. it is such a fun read, and I genuinely am happy that the strange science and creations are not explained. let me just believe that portals and constructs exist I am more than happy to.
all the reveals are well placed and the interactions between the two characters help us to pieced it together before all is revealed which is as it should be.
the pacing is perfect the writing is smooth the imagery is interesting. it's a blast through and through
anyways go read this. its work the 30 mins it takes.

[Ada]

***downloaded for free from the Subterrean Press website ***
Illustration By Alison Sampson

I tried to read The Wormwood Trilogy by this author but I wasn't in the right head space at the time. Hopefully this time around I will get better on with the writing style because look at that cover...Oomph. That's one sexy cover. Subterranean Press has some of the most beautiful cover art for their books.

[Mayumi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queria ter gostado mais. A premissa do conto me pegou muito, o desenvolvimento foi muito intrigante, mas o final foi meio ... sei lá. Chegou num ponto da história que acabou. Só isso mesmo. Gostei muito de não entender quem era Buki, de desconfiar da Gita, de sentir pena do Robin... mas esses 5% finais não acompanharam o começo do conto.

[Kam Yung Soh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about Robin Hearns, who wakes up in an unknown place, apparently kidnapped and now presumed dead. His captor hides in a suit that hides his features and is apparently invulnerable: until he meets with another captor, and they plan an escape together. It is only at the end do we learn more about the where they have been kept.

[Tomasz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started rather strong, and seemed to be a set-up for an interesting novel, but suddenly the author lost steam, or all enthusiasm for the project, anyway, and wrapped the thing up gracelessly. A bit of a wasted opportunity there.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting idea, but didn't feel like it did enough with it.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

A bite-sized sci-fi story. I need to check out this author! You can read this story for free with Subterranean Press’s free ebooks program: https://subterraneanpress.com/free-eb...

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

[Mwenya · Rating 5 out of 5]

When ever in doubt if I enjoy reading. Tade Thompson shows up.