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Raindancer Protocol: The solution to the problem
412 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2025
9 people want to read
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January 5, 2026
Wow. What an absolute joy this was to read. So much work went into the structure of this novel, it truly is the solution to the problem (of being unimpressive) because I am so impressed. Notably the part about the assassin sneaking into the mansion - wow.
Raindancer Protocol is clearly inspired by Mark Z. Danielewski's works, but this isn't a shameless copy, or style over substance. The format is weirder and more involved than any ergodic novel I've read so far. And the story, though a little hard to follow (intentionally, artistically), is still so enjoyable. I love every moment with the groups of soldiers and friends - the banter is so smartly written and genuine in its ridiculousness. I kept making my partner stop what they were doing to read parts of this book (allow me to quote out of context: "You stabbed a wizard--and took his cheese?")
For the most part, Buchanan trusts the reader to be able to figure out how to read the book. There are almost no quotation marks in dialogue scenes, like a transcription where the names were removed. But through font change and context, the reader can figure out who's speaking. It makes the conversations feel natural and fast-paced in a way I really liked. The only exception to trusting the reader is the "interpretations" part of the introduction, which is a bit long and over-explains some of the format. The first page of the introductions is sufficient, in my opinion.
Raindancer Protocol is self-published on Lulu, and the print quality is pretty good! The book is hefty, nice paper quality, matte cover. There are more typos compared to a traditionally published book (some intentional, some not) and a few format issues, but with one exception, none of it affects readability.
Whoever is reading this review - go buy this book. If you like Danielewski, medieval fantasy, weird literature, a touch of family trauma, a unique reading experience - this is for you.
Raindancer Protocol is clearly inspired by Mark Z. Danielewski's works, but this isn't a shameless copy, or style over substance. The format is weirder and more involved than any ergodic novel I've read so far. And the story, though a little hard to follow (intentionally, artistically), is still so enjoyable. I love every moment with the groups of soldiers and friends - the banter is so smartly written and genuine in its ridiculousness. I kept making my partner stop what they were doing to read parts of this book (allow me to quote out of context: "You stabbed a wizard--and took his cheese?")
For the most part, Buchanan trusts the reader to be able to figure out how to read the book. There are almost no quotation marks in dialogue scenes, like a transcription where the names were removed. But through font change and context, the reader can figure out who's speaking. It makes the conversations feel natural and fast-paced in a way I really liked. The only exception to trusting the reader is the "interpretations" part of the introduction, which is a bit long and over-explains some of the format. The first page of the introductions is sufficient, in my opinion.
Raindancer Protocol is self-published on Lulu, and the print quality is pretty good! The book is hefty, nice paper quality, matte cover. There are more typos compared to a traditionally published book (some intentional, some not) and a few format issues, but with one exception, none of it affects readability.
Whoever is reading this review - go buy this book. If you like Danielewski, medieval fantasy, weird literature, a touch of family trauma, a unique reading experience - this is for you.
Displaying 1 of 1 review