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Abyss
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26Severance meets Lovecraft in this surreal tale of corporate horror and existential dread.
Joe always had potential, but he doesn't expect much, and he hopes that his new job as an admin assistant won't expect much of him. But when he enters the offices of Ponos—a company he's never heard of and knows nothing about—he discovers that potential is exactly what they want from him.
A feverish dive into the inhumanity of both late-stage capitalism and the crippling anxieties of modern life, Abyss adds a new level of meaning to 'wage slave'.
Joe always had potential, but he doesn't expect much, and he hopes that his new job as an admin assistant won't expect much of him. But when he enters the offices of Ponos—a company he's never heard of and knows nothing about—he discovers that potential is exactly what they want from him.
A feverish dive into the inhumanity of both late-stage capitalism and the crippling anxieties of modern life, Abyss adds a new level of meaning to 'wage slave'.
160 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 12, 2026
732 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Binge
6 books584 followersNicholas Binge is a bestselling author of speculative thrillers that blend big sci-fi concepts with psychological horror. His latest novel, Dissolution, was hailed as one of the best thrillers of 2025 by The New York Times and is being adapted into a major motion picture by Sony Pictures, with Oscar-nominated screenwriter Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Birdbox) penning the script.
His breakout novel Ascension was a New York Times Editor's Choice Pick, finalist for the Goodreads' Choice Awards and Ignotus Award, and named a best book of 2023 by Vulture, Goodreads, The LA Times, and The Sunday Times. It is also being adapted for film. His work has been translated into over a dozen languages and featured across major international outlets from The Guardian to Entertainment Weekly.
Binge has lived across Asia and Europe — from Singapore to Switzerland to Hong Kong —before settling in Edinburgh, where he lectures in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University and co-hosts the Binge Reading Book Club podcast. Beyond fiction, he has written for The Guardian, Literary Hub, and other leading outlets, and is a regular speaker at book festivals across Scotland and the UK.
His next novel, Extremity, arrives September 2025.
His breakout novel Ascension was a New York Times Editor's Choice Pick, finalist for the Goodreads' Choice Awards and Ignotus Award, and named a best book of 2023 by Vulture, Goodreads, The LA Times, and The Sunday Times. It is also being adapted for film. His work has been translated into over a dozen languages and featured across major international outlets from The Guardian to Entertainment Weekly.
Binge has lived across Asia and Europe — from Singapore to Switzerland to Hong Kong —before settling in Edinburgh, where he lectures in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University and co-hosts the Binge Reading Book Club podcast. Beyond fiction, he has written for The Guardian, Literary Hub, and other leading outlets, and is a regular speaker at book festivals across Scotland and the UK.
His next novel, Extremity, arrives September 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 16, 2025
ARC for review. To be published May 12, 2026.
3 stars
The story of a loner who goes to work in what appears to be a nearly empty office building and all the insanity that follows. The story had promise in a THERE IS NO ANTI-EMETICS DIVISION way but this didn’t have the scope of that superior book. There were parts that were interesting, though.
3 stars
The story of a loner who goes to work in what appears to be a nearly empty office building and all the insanity that follows. The story had promise in a THERE IS NO ANTI-EMETICS DIVISION way but this didn’t have the scope of that superior book. There were parts that were interesting, though.
November 24, 2025
I read this fun, freaky little novella in one sitting! If you like your existential dread in bite-sized packages, this is perfect for you!
Joe had a lot of promise but got lost somewhere along the way. Now he's lonely, struggling, and jobless, but his new position at a mysterious corporation may take him to horrific new depths.
Severance is probably a good comp but I haven't watched it, so I'm going to say this book is like The Stanley Parable but specifically that one bit where you get trapped walking in a loop in the basement like Silent Hill. Now that I have compared this book to two video games, I can proceed with the review! Anyway, this was a fun cosmic/existential/corporate horror with a lot of themes that will resonate with you if you've become numb to the parasitic effect of large corporations and social media on your health and well-being. It's got great liminal vibes and some moments of body horror which I'm a fan of. It ended really abruptly and in a way that doesn't really make it clear how Joe escaped the Big Bad, but it doesn't sour the book as a whole or anything.
If you just need a little horror pick-me-up (or a put-me-down) I think tis is a great pick and it makes me want to check out Nicholas Binge's other stuff!
Thank you to Nicholas Binge and Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Joe had a lot of promise but got lost somewhere along the way. Now he's lonely, struggling, and jobless, but his new position at a mysterious corporation may take him to horrific new depths.
Severance is probably a good comp but I haven't watched it, so I'm going to say this book is like The Stanley Parable but specifically that one bit where you get trapped walking in a loop in the basement like Silent Hill. Now that I have compared this book to two video games, I can proceed with the review! Anyway, this was a fun cosmic/existential/corporate horror with a lot of themes that will resonate with you if you've become numb to the parasitic effect of large corporations and social media on your health and well-being. It's got great liminal vibes and some moments of body horror which I'm a fan of. It ended really abruptly and in a way that doesn't really make it clear how Joe escaped the Big Bad, but it doesn't sour the book as a whole or anything.
If you just need a little horror pick-me-up (or a put-me-down) I think tis is a great pick and it makes me want to check out Nicholas Binge's other stuff!
Thank you to Nicholas Binge and Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
November 16, 2025
Y’all already know how much I love a creepy little novella. Abyss delivered SO MUCH in under 200 pages and it hit incredibly hard while it did so.
This story centers around corporate greed with a focus on losing individuality to efficiency, and how being human just…. Isn’t enough anymore. With automation looming in so many industries I think this is an incredible read for the current times, and it had me saying “YUPP!!!” at so many points.
On top of all the “real” talk in this book it is also a bat$hit crazy ride of cosmic/Lovecraftian horror. I love an absurd look at current times, and the social satire elements in this one reminded me of a cross between Vonnegut/Palahniuk (two of my favorites!!)
Here is my favorite quote that had me hollering:
“Life can be more efficient and convenient for you, if you want. All you have to do is sacrifice everything.”
Alright, that’s the end of my rave but please check this one out if you hate corporate greed, love corporate horror, social satire, and sometimes question everything while you are running in the rat race of survival!
**Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the eARC of this title, you guys have so many bangers coming out!!**
This story centers around corporate greed with a focus on losing individuality to efficiency, and how being human just…. Isn’t enough anymore. With automation looming in so many industries I think this is an incredible read for the current times, and it had me saying “YUPP!!!” at so many points.
On top of all the “real” talk in this book it is also a bat$hit crazy ride of cosmic/Lovecraftian horror. I love an absurd look at current times, and the social satire elements in this one reminded me of a cross between Vonnegut/Palahniuk (two of my favorites!!)
Here is my favorite quote that had me hollering:
“Life can be more efficient and convenient for you, if you want. All you have to do is sacrifice everything.”
Alright, that’s the end of my rave but please check this one out if you hate corporate greed, love corporate horror, social satire, and sometimes question everything while you are running in the rat race of survival!
**Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the eARC of this title, you guys have so many bangers coming out!!**
November 10, 2025
Nicholas Binge's The Abyss is such an appropriate story for today! This is a compact, chilling novella that blends psychological horror with speculative fiction, offering a sharp critique of corporate culture and the alienation of modern life. Set in a sterile office tower in Canary Warf, the story follows Joe Rice, a low-level employee at the mysterious Ponos Corporation, who begins to unravel as his workplace, and his mind, descend into surreal chaos. Joe is a quiet, unambitious man who lands a job at Ponos, a company that promises to unlock his "potential." But the office is eerily empty, is manager is paranoid, and his only companion is WellBot, an AI wellness chatbot that monitors is emotions and behavior. As Joe tries to navigate the increasingly bizarre demands of his job, he begins to experience hallucinations, time distortions, and a creeping sense that something monstrous lurks beneath the surface of his reality. The novella critiques how technology used to enforce emotional transparency and productivity, turning wellness into a tool of control. Joe's decent into madness mirrors the loneliness and disconnection of modern life, especially with the ever-growing reliance on technology. This was a haunting, thought provoking read that will resonate with anyone who ever felt lost in the machinery of modern life! I loved every minute of it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
November 2, 2025
This one blends a lot of genres into a short book- there’s science fiction, a tormented and bored MMC, a mamas boy mentality, and a new job on the horizon. When Joe finds himself working in a regular office setting, he immediately discovers he bit off more than he can chew and I’ll leave it there to avoid spoilers. This is one I’d never read in the dark again- some of the moments in it were viscerally terrifying. I enjoyed the plot, premise, and how the quickly the plot moved- my only complaint was I’d have liked a touch more description for the “why” of it all. Thanks so much to the author and Tor Nightfire for the chance to read and review this EARC!
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October 8, 2025"A story about the evils of A.I. in the workplace and the inhuman beings that rely on it"
terrifying
terrifying
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Joe, recently unemployed, exists only through his phone and has pushed away friends and his mum, though he desperately would like to reconnect with all of them. He finally gets a new job, but when he shows up for his first day, the office building is completely empty. Weird. He manages to make his way to his room, where his Wellness Bot awaits to track his attitude throughout the day to ensure he's happy and productive. Totally not creepy at all.
Eventually he learns that he's not actually alone in the office, but plot twist, this place is actually a kind of hell. Like, literally. It's up to him to fight the monster and save the world!
An engaging and relatable parable about the dystopia of modern life and capitalism. We sacrifice our lives to the pursuit of productivity and promotions and become empty shells of ourselves, nothing but producers. With our screen addictions and all their promises of efficiency and connection, we're left isolated and lonely, more disconnected from our friends and family than ever. We hate the inanity and insanity of workplace culture, and yet are continuously driven (forced?) to give more, do more, sacrifice what's really good in life: real connection with others, simple pleasures.
Is this a call to action? Not sure, but maybe it should be. It's certainly relatable to anyone who has or has ever had an office job, a phone addiction, and felt alone in the world—and it's a really fun read.
Thanks to Tor Publishing Group for this ARC, via NetGalley.
Eventually he learns that he's not actually alone in the office, but plot twist, this place is actually a kind of hell. Like, literally. It's up to him to fight the monster and save the world!
An engaging and relatable parable about the dystopia of modern life and capitalism. We sacrifice our lives to the pursuit of productivity and promotions and become empty shells of ourselves, nothing but producers. With our screen addictions and all their promises of efficiency and connection, we're left isolated and lonely, more disconnected from our friends and family than ever. We hate the inanity and insanity of workplace culture, and yet are continuously driven (forced?) to give more, do more, sacrifice what's really good in life: real connection with others, simple pleasures.
Is this a call to action? Not sure, but maybe it should be. It's certainly relatable to anyone who has or has ever had an office job, a phone addiction, and felt alone in the world—and it's a really fun read.
Thanks to Tor Publishing Group for this ARC, via NetGalley.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group for providing a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Nicholas Binge has become one of my go-to authors for sci-fi that’s both emotionally layered and formally inventive — stories that take big swings with structure while still delivering heart. So I went into Abyss expecting his signature blend of ambition and intensity. Instead, what I got felt like the made-for-TV version of a Nicholas Binge story.
The setup has promise: Joe, an aimless new hire at a mysterious company, finds himself swallowed by an office that’s far weirder — and far more sinister — than anything he read in the employment contract. There’s corporate horror, surreal twists, and the creeping sense that capitalism might literally be eating us alive.
But unlike Ascension or Dissolution, which married high-concept ideas with surprising emotional depth, Abyss never quite pushes beyond the expected beats of a “weird office” story. The themes — exploitation, identity, alienation — are resonant but well-trodden by now, and the plot unfolds with a predictability that kept me at arm’s length.
All told, Abyss is a fine slice of corporate horror — quick, moody, clever — but it didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I’ll happily keep reading Nicholas Binge, because I know what he’s capable of. This novella just wasn’t one of the ones that best showcases his talent.
Nicholas Binge has become one of my go-to authors for sci-fi that’s both emotionally layered and formally inventive — stories that take big swings with structure while still delivering heart. So I went into Abyss expecting his signature blend of ambition and intensity. Instead, what I got felt like the made-for-TV version of a Nicholas Binge story.
The setup has promise: Joe, an aimless new hire at a mysterious company, finds himself swallowed by an office that’s far weirder — and far more sinister — than anything he read in the employment contract. There’s corporate horror, surreal twists, and the creeping sense that capitalism might literally be eating us alive.
But unlike Ascension or Dissolution, which married high-concept ideas with surprising emotional depth, Abyss never quite pushes beyond the expected beats of a “weird office” story. The themes — exploitation, identity, alienation — are resonant but well-trodden by now, and the plot unfolds with a predictability that kept me at arm’s length.
All told, Abyss is a fine slice of corporate horror — quick, moody, clever — but it didn’t leave much of an impression on me. I’ll happily keep reading Nicholas Binge, because I know what he’s capable of. This novella just wasn’t one of the ones that best showcases his talent.
December 3, 2025
Abyss is a compact read, one you can easily finish in a single sitting, but it packs in a surprising amount of atmosphere for its length. I found the first half especially compelling. It’s vague and eerie in all the right ways, the kind of unsettling slow burn that pulls you in and makes you eager to figure out what exactly is happening beneath the surface.
The second half, though, veers into territory that was a bit more bizarre than I was expecting. While I more or less understood what the ending was aiming for, I also walked away feeling like I didn’t entirely “get” it at the same time. There were a few intriguing threads woven through the story that I would have loved more explanation or closure on.
Still, the writing itself is strong, and the pacing kept me interested throughout. Even with my mixed feelings about the later twists, this was a quick, engaging read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The second half, though, veers into territory that was a bit more bizarre than I was expecting. While I more or less understood what the ending was aiming for, I also walked away feeling like I didn’t entirely “get” it at the same time. There were a few intriguing threads woven through the story that I would have loved more explanation or closure on.
Still, the writing itself is strong, and the pacing kept me interested throughout. Even with my mixed feelings about the later twists, this was a quick, engaging read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 5, 2026
This book had me hooked from chapter 1. Story about a man who was looking for work and trying to find work that does not require a lot of effort. This is a very interesting read as it identifies today’s world of wage salary and the corporate world and how you get sucked into it. As he continues to work for the company, strange things begin to happen. There are some areas within the book that seem to be missing details but the moral of the story is very unique. This is a fast and easy read and will keep you guessing throughout the book. I enjoyed the read as it was fast paced and kept you guessing. I write this a 3.5 star only because of the lack of detailing to specific areas within the book however, overall I did enjoy it.
This book publishes on May 2026 and I received it from Netgalley. Thank you Nicholas Binge and Netgalley for this great ARC.
This book publishes on May 2026 and I received it from Netgalley. Thank you Nicholas Binge and Netgalley for this great ARC.
November 25, 2025
An anxious under-achiever takes an entry-level job at a company that he quickly finds to exist in a realm outside of reality that he struggles to escape.
A bit heavy-handed allegory of corporate greed and AI depersonalization. Definitely delivers on the Severance-meets-Lovecraft promise. I had more fun with the world-building and exposition than I did with the action, but I tend to feel that way with most sci-fi/fantasy. The author did a good job making me feel the unease that the main character felt when first exploring Ponos. Overall, this story was well-suited for the novella length we were given.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the author and the publisher for the ARC.
A bit heavy-handed allegory of corporate greed and AI depersonalization. Definitely delivers on the Severance-meets-Lovecraft promise. I had more fun with the world-building and exposition than I did with the action, but I tend to feel that way with most sci-fi/fantasy. The author did a good job making me feel the unease that the main character felt when first exploring Ponos. Overall, this story was well-suited for the novella length we were given.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the author and the publisher for the ARC.
November 30, 2025
ARC for review; to be published on 12 May 2026.
This book is short and can be read in one sitting. I really enjoyed the first half of the story. It was just vague and unsettling enough to pull me in and wonder what was going and then looking forward to finding out.
The second half became a bit more bizarre than I had wanted, I also felt like, while I ��got” the ending, I also didn’t quite get it at the same time. There were some threads in the story that I would have liked more information on.
All in all, I would read more by this author. This was well-written and a quick, mostly interesting read.
This book is short and can be read in one sitting. I really enjoyed the first half of the story. It was just vague and unsettling enough to pull me in and wonder what was going and then looking forward to finding out.
The second half became a bit more bizarre than I had wanted, I also felt like, while I ��got” the ending, I also didn’t quite get it at the same time. There were some threads in the story that I would have liked more information on.
All in all, I would read more by this author. This was well-written and a quick, mostly interesting read.
November 6, 2025
This one really creeped me out. The loss of control and the coming in and out of coherence of the perilous situation these characters were in really affected me with this one… in the best way!
There isn’t much you can say without revealing spoilers, so just check it out. This is creepy existential horror with some great psychological horror and some gore thrown in. I definitely recommend this one.
There isn’t much you can say without revealing spoilers, so just check it out. This is creepy existential horror with some great psychological horror and some gore thrown in. I definitely recommend this one.
December 18, 2025
I actually enjoyed this story quite a bit more than I thought I would. The world building in this novella is very well done and so much was accomplished within its pages without feeling rushed. It was creepy and unsettling and I wasn’t exactly sure how it would end but I was satisfied with where it left us as readers!
November 13, 2025
Binge won me over with Ascension, and I've been disappointed to various degrees ever since by his inability to live up to the promise of that amazing book.
Dissolution, which I've just read, sort of dissolved under the weight of its own convolutions and sappiness.
Binge's first novella with Tor was as crappy as its cover--very. This, his second one, is much better. It actually corresponds to its "meets" tag and indeed strongly echoes both Severance and cosmic motifs.
Bine has even woven a sociopolitical message into the fabric of this story. The haves exploit the have-nots in a rather creative fashion.
You can follow the adventures of a semi-sympathetic loser on a new job and find out exactly how.
This one was rather fun, and Binge writing well and engagingly, but the ending was something of a letdown.
Still, a quick, entertaining read. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
Dissolution, which I've just read, sort of dissolved under the weight of its own convolutions and sappiness.
Binge's first novella with Tor was as crappy as its cover--very. This, his second one, is much better. It actually corresponds to its "meets" tag and indeed strongly echoes both Severance and cosmic motifs.
Bine has even woven a sociopolitical message into the fabric of this story. The haves exploit the have-nots in a rather creative fashion.
You can follow the adventures of a semi-sympathetic loser on a new job and find out exactly how.
This one was rather fun, and Binge writing well and engagingly, but the ending was something of a letdown.
Still, a quick, entertaining read. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
December 5, 2025
Joe is isolated, never socializing, staring at his phone all day. Joe then takes an admin job but finds that it isn't what it seems. Productivity is all that matters to something in this building he finds he cannot leave.
Shades of Severance. Quick read.
Shades of Severance. Quick read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
So glad I got to check this out before it’s published! The story is compelling and relatable as hell. Some of the mechanisms lost me a bit and it may have benefited from reading in one sitting. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 30, 2025
FLAWLESS. I stayed up until 3:40 am reading this, so review to come.
Read
December 9, 2025Had a good time with this one! Will definitely be reading more Nicholas Binge. Full review to drop in 2026.
Want to read
December 30, 2025Oooh, I love a quick read! Thanks to Tor Nightfire for offering me this ARC through NetGalley! Abyss by Nicholas Binge comes out on May 12, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4⭐ Full review to be posted shortly
December 9, 2025
Hello, who??
Okay, I am officially spooked, and now harbor more disdain for AI. Yep, I'm an AI-hater, and saddle that up with my anger towards billion-dollar corporations, and you'll find the horror story that is Abyss by Nicholas Binge.
I am so thankful to Tor Nightfire, Netgalley, and Nicholas Binge for access to this horrific novella before May 12, 2026.
Joe is out of work, pushed all his loved ones away, and is rotting away in his flat, until he receives a job offer from a company he can't remember applying to and quite honestly doesn't know anything about. The admin assistant role came with virtually no explanation as well. On his first day, he was greeted by NO ONE in the corporate office, that is, until a phone call from an AI-generated guide appeared to lead him to his itinerary.
But there is something wonky going on within the walls of this employer. People can hardly look away from their computer screens; there's no camaraderie or work culture at all, and it's probably for the best you never wander through the hallways alone... Something sinister is at play, and you'll never guess what's lurking beneath the stairwells of this seemingly productive workplace... perhaps a conjured presence so devious you'll lose your sense of self? hmmmmmm... metaphorical much???
Okay, I am officially spooked, and now harbor more disdain for AI. Yep, I'm an AI-hater, and saddle that up with my anger towards billion-dollar corporations, and you'll find the horror story that is Abyss by Nicholas Binge.
I am so thankful to Tor Nightfire, Netgalley, and Nicholas Binge for access to this horrific novella before May 12, 2026.
Joe is out of work, pushed all his loved ones away, and is rotting away in his flat, until he receives a job offer from a company he can't remember applying to and quite honestly doesn't know anything about. The admin assistant role came with virtually no explanation as well. On his first day, he was greeted by NO ONE in the corporate office, that is, until a phone call from an AI-generated guide appeared to lead him to his itinerary.
But there is something wonky going on within the walls of this employer. People can hardly look away from their computer screens; there's no camaraderie or work culture at all, and it's probably for the best you never wander through the hallways alone... Something sinister is at play, and you'll never guess what's lurking beneath the stairwells of this seemingly productive workplace... perhaps a conjured presence so devious you'll lose your sense of self? hmmmmmm... metaphorical much???
December 23, 2025
Thank you to Edelweiss and TOR for the ARC!
A nice palette cleanser of a short story, but one that really makes you think (and examine your own lifestyle). It ramped up in tension and detail admirably. There were a few goofier scenes, but that felt true to the cosmic horror roots of the genre as well.
A nice palette cleanser of a short story, but one that really makes you think (and examine your own lifestyle). It ramped up in tension and detail admirably. There were a few goofier scenes, but that felt true to the cosmic horror roots of the genre as well.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews