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Exit
"BLACK MIRROR fans will be drawn in by Thomas Davidson's engrossing, hallucinatory tale of a screenwriter who stumbles into another dimension." -- Bella Wright, BestThrillers.com
EXIT, a near-future/supernatural thriller, is loosely based on my short story, "Exit," winner of San Francisco's 2013 Litquake Booktrack Halloween Short Story Competition.
Parallel worlds are best left to theoretical physicists. Not Rayne Moore and her boyfriend, Tim Crowe, co-writing a screenplay for a filmmaker friend. Their passion for movies will lead to an unusual door, where the exit is an entrance. And what's coming next...is "coming soon" to our world.
Tim, home from Massachusetts General Hospital and recovering from retinal surgery, sneaks out one night and sees a movie (with one eye). The film paints a paranoid, near-future that's as impersonal and invasive as a grainy security-camera image. The trailer for coming attractions isn't a tease--it's a warning. But the pièce de résistance is the theater itself. Tim experiences movie magic unlike anything he's ever seen. When he goes missing, Rayne follows his trail. She enters the theater, watches a clip of coming attractions, and spots a familiar face on the screen. Tim? When she walks down the aisle and opens the rear exit, her journey begins.
Because at this theater, you never go out...the way you come in. Now turn off your cell phone, dim the lights.
It's showtime.
(The first half of EXIT was previously published as FLOATERS, a 35,000-word novella. I wrote a sequel, and realized it couldn't be released as a standalone without the reader knowing the back-story. So I combined both parts. EXIT is now a full-length novel at 73,000 words.)
EXIT, a near-future/supernatural thriller, is loosely based on my short story, "Exit," winner of San Francisco's 2013 Litquake Booktrack Halloween Short Story Competition.
Parallel worlds are best left to theoretical physicists. Not Rayne Moore and her boyfriend, Tim Crowe, co-writing a screenplay for a filmmaker friend. Their passion for movies will lead to an unusual door, where the exit is an entrance. And what's coming next...is "coming soon" to our world.
Tim, home from Massachusetts General Hospital and recovering from retinal surgery, sneaks out one night and sees a movie (with one eye). The film paints a paranoid, near-future that's as impersonal and invasive as a grainy security-camera image. The trailer for coming attractions isn't a tease--it's a warning. But the pièce de résistance is the theater itself. Tim experiences movie magic unlike anything he's ever seen. When he goes missing, Rayne follows his trail. She enters the theater, watches a clip of coming attractions, and spots a familiar face on the screen. Tim? When she walks down the aisle and opens the rear exit, her journey begins.
Because at this theater, you never go out...the way you come in. Now turn off your cell phone, dim the lights.
It's showtime.
(The first half of EXIT was previously published as FLOATERS, a 35,000-word novella. I wrote a sequel, and realized it couldn't be released as a standalone without the reader knowing the back-story. So I combined both parts. EXIT is now a full-length novel at 73,000 words.)
- GenresThriller
262 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2014
66 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Davidson
8 books2 followersThomas Davidson is the author of the "Jurassic Jim" Fleetwood series, beginning with THE MUSEUM OF SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCES. The second book, PAST IS PRESENT, won two 2016 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Judges' Choice Awards for Comedy Thriller and Time Travel. These are quirky thrillers mixing mystery, music, mirth, melancholy, mayhem, murder and the missing.
His near-future thriller, EXIT, is loosely based on his short story, "Exit," winner of San Francisco's 2013 Litquake Booktrack Halloween Short Story Competition.
His nonfiction has appeared in "The Boston Phoenix;" and is excerpted in the national bestseller "Missing Beauty" by crime-reporter Teresa Carpenter.
Both Jurassic Jim novels contain invisible illustrations, which appear to the most imaginative of readers.
A Detroit expatriate, Tom lives...well...body in Boston, heart in Detroit, head in clouds.
His near-future thriller, EXIT, is loosely based on his short story, "Exit," winner of San Francisco's 2013 Litquake Booktrack Halloween Short Story Competition.
His nonfiction has appeared in "The Boston Phoenix;" and is excerpted in the national bestseller "Missing Beauty" by crime-reporter Teresa Carpenter.
Both Jurassic Jim novels contain invisible illustrations, which appear to the most imaginative of readers.
A Detroit expatriate, Tom lives...well...body in Boston, heart in Detroit, head in clouds.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 12, 2018
Wow
This is quite an enjoyable read. Very futuristic without being too much. The concept of this story is a new one for me to digest and that's what made me like the story so much.
This is quite an enjoyable read. Very futuristic without being too much. The concept of this story is a new one for me to digest and that's what made me like the story so much.
July 16, 2014
To me, a parallel universe is ALWAYS better than ours: a place where we can be more beautiful, wealthier and smarter; but here in Thomas Davidson’s novella? Enter the dystopian world of Jumpers (call 1-800-Jumper$ to earn rewards), Tinker Bells, drones and violence junkies. Tim Crowe crosses the border and his woman, Rayne Moore, like a female Orpheus, stands up at the gates of hell to lead her just-out- of- eye-surgery man back to the land of the living. Our land. If you slept through English class when “dystopian writers” were taught, think Orwell, Huxley and Bradbury. Thomas Davidson is entitled to join their ranks. This is different from his Jurassic Jim novels that I adore yet his words are still humorous, luminous and “wish I’d said that” perfection. By the way, I get the feeling that he doesn’t like to hear the word, or watch someone actually do, “selfies” so I wouldn’t mention them in any future reviews.
September 19, 2015
This book was all about the plot; inventive and good. But for me I need more character development. You don't really get to know the main characters at all.
August 24, 2015
Exit by Thomas Davidson
I'm of mixed feelings about this book. I really liked huge parts of it, but I really disliked some, too. I'd read two books in this author's Jurassic Jim series and loved them both, so perhaps that experience made transitioning to this new set of characters and time frame more difficult. So, first let's look at the storyline and then we'll see what I liked and talk about what I wasn't so fond of.
The main characters, Tim and Rayne, are writers who are currently working on a screenplay. Tim is a substitute teacher and Rayne a waitress, both putting other careers aside in order to concentrate on writing. They are also romantically involved. Tim has recently undergone eye surgery and the process of keeping his eyesight is an ongoing concern for him. While Rayne is working one evening, Tim goes to a movie theater which is playing an alternative movie called "Gone." It's hard to follow, off beat, and Tim isn't paying a lot of attention to it, and spends most of the time thinking about his eye. The end "coming attractions" are also odd, but for some reason Tim is fascinated by them. They show a very familiar looking area, but the filming was odd - just people's feet, a crowd running, and then a camera angle change to some object in the sky, followed by an ominous voice over. Then a single word is superimposed over the scene: Exit. The theater lights come up. The movie is over. But Tim's attention is drawn to a bright light in the corner -- the back Exit sign is lit. For one reason or another, he chooses to leave by that door.
So starts the adventure. The door is a gateway to a parallel universe in which surveillance drones are a part of everyday life. The drones come in all sizes, from large, vulture like drones, to tiny "Tinks" that are the size of insects. The drones are of two competing companies, Eyesoar and DRI. Once he steps into that world, he is the enemy, a "jumper" who the two companies claim brings pestilence to their world. Anyone who enters is hunted down and exterminated, often by mob justice. Tim must find a way back into his own world if he is to survive.
Meanwhile back in the first world, Rayne must piece together the clues to try and find and save Tim. Once she figures things out, she also enters the parallel universe. Can they escape? If they do, will they bring danger and destruction home with them?
What did I like about this novel?
There is an interesting premise here. The book takes on the fantasy idea of parallel universes while addressing a couple of the more modern real-life concerns, loss of privacy and drones. The characters in this novel, even incidental characters, are well written. You don't have any real problem knowing which characters to like and which to suspect and which to dislike. The two main characters are easy to identify and commiserate with, and the reader is fully vested from the start in their plight.
The plotting is very good. Non-stop action from beginning to end. Real, believable danger to the characters about whom the reader has come to care. Great intermixing of fantasy with real life issues. Much upon which to reflect. Worthy protagonists and despicable antagonists. Natural and believable interactions between characters. Minor characters who, nonetheless, played pivotal roles. And just a slam-bang good story. I hated having to put the book down to do mundane things like cook and clean. I thought about the story when I was dong other things.
A good portion of the book revolves around the tiny drones, the Tinks. This name comes from the Peter Pan myth, with the drones being named for Tinkerbell -- a very evil Tinkerbell. There is a mention of Neverland, and certainly, there is a Neverland feel to much of the story. I did like that one character, a 10 year old child that Rayne interacts with only at the eye surgery emergency room, is named Wendy Darlington. Nice touch!
So, if the book was so good (and it was), why only 3 stars?
The editing and proof-reading wasn't quite as good as in the Jurassic Jim series. There were three things I wasn't fond of in that regard: At location 2206 on my Kindle is this, as Tim describes the ophthalmologist's office: "There's a computer with two monitors, a steel stink, a plastic eye the size of a..." At first I wasn't sure that it wasn't an interjection of humor, but as I re-read it, I was pretty sure it was just an editing/proofing miss. Then, at 3755, there is this really badly written sentence: "What possessed a sub teacher and an artsy waitress to cook someone in their car?" Now, the way it's written makes it sound like Tim and Rayne cooked someone in Tim and Rayne's car. No. That isn't what happened. It would have been clearer if the latter part of the sentence indicated what the reader already knows -- that the "someone" was a man and that the car belonged to that man, not to the main characters. It just needed one word to clarify it: '...to cook someone in his car?' Singular subjects take a singular pronoun. Those two are easily fixable, especially as this is a digital rather than a paper and glue book.
There was one other thing that stopped me, and I'll admit it colored my opinion of the book more than just a little -- at 3724, the author writes: "He assumed the terrorist Buick, after expressing its political grievances at a car wash, reincarnated in paradise where it met seventy-seven virgin Chevrolets." I think the author thought this was humor. It is not humorous. It did not have anything to do with any of the novel's characters, settings, or action. It was just plain xenophobia, maybe racist. It shows a deep disrespect for a specific religion. If this had occurred earlier in the book than it did, I might not have continued reading it. Knocked off one star for this.
Those who know me and read my reviews know I also hate cliffhanger endings. And yes, this one has the worst kind -- where you turn the page expecting another chapter and instead find endnotes and previews of other of the author's works. I didn't believe this to be the start of a new series, so I expected, no, feel entitled to have the story wrapped up. The whole book worked wonderfully as that nightmare we've all had -- we're in danger, being chased, our very lives are at risk and we can't figure a way out. Every way we turn is a dead end. We wake up, shake it off, go back to sleep, back to the dream, wake up, etc., until we finally resolve the issue and save ourselves in the dream. I liked that part -- except, the author doesn't end the dream, he just stops writing. Even if he is leaving the door open for a sequel, at least end this story first, please. Knock off the other star.
So, if you aren't bothered by the things that frustrated me, you'll find "Exit" to be an exciting and thought-provoking read. If, like me, these things bother you, choose something different.
Disclaimer: The author kindly provided me a coupon for this book. I wish I could have given a more positive review in return, but I have to be honest about what I think. My advice is to read the two Jurassic Jim novels. Those I can highly recommend.
I'm of mixed feelings about this book. I really liked huge parts of it, but I really disliked some, too. I'd read two books in this author's Jurassic Jim series and loved them both, so perhaps that experience made transitioning to this new set of characters and time frame more difficult. So, first let's look at the storyline and then we'll see what I liked and talk about what I wasn't so fond of.
The main characters, Tim and Rayne, are writers who are currently working on a screenplay. Tim is a substitute teacher and Rayne a waitress, both putting other careers aside in order to concentrate on writing. They are also romantically involved. Tim has recently undergone eye surgery and the process of keeping his eyesight is an ongoing concern for him. While Rayne is working one evening, Tim goes to a movie theater which is playing an alternative movie called "Gone." It's hard to follow, off beat, and Tim isn't paying a lot of attention to it, and spends most of the time thinking about his eye. The end "coming attractions" are also odd, but for some reason Tim is fascinated by them. They show a very familiar looking area, but the filming was odd - just people's feet, a crowd running, and then a camera angle change to some object in the sky, followed by an ominous voice over. Then a single word is superimposed over the scene: Exit. The theater lights come up. The movie is over. But Tim's attention is drawn to a bright light in the corner -- the back Exit sign is lit. For one reason or another, he chooses to leave by that door.
So starts the adventure. The door is a gateway to a parallel universe in which surveillance drones are a part of everyday life. The drones come in all sizes, from large, vulture like drones, to tiny "Tinks" that are the size of insects. The drones are of two competing companies, Eyesoar and DRI. Once he steps into that world, he is the enemy, a "jumper" who the two companies claim brings pestilence to their world. Anyone who enters is hunted down and exterminated, often by mob justice. Tim must find a way back into his own world if he is to survive.
Meanwhile back in the first world, Rayne must piece together the clues to try and find and save Tim. Once she figures things out, she also enters the parallel universe. Can they escape? If they do, will they bring danger and destruction home with them?
What did I like about this novel?
There is an interesting premise here. The book takes on the fantasy idea of parallel universes while addressing a couple of the more modern real-life concerns, loss of privacy and drones. The characters in this novel, even incidental characters, are well written. You don't have any real problem knowing which characters to like and which to suspect and which to dislike. The two main characters are easy to identify and commiserate with, and the reader is fully vested from the start in their plight.
The plotting is very good. Non-stop action from beginning to end. Real, believable danger to the characters about whom the reader has come to care. Great intermixing of fantasy with real life issues. Much upon which to reflect. Worthy protagonists and despicable antagonists. Natural and believable interactions between characters. Minor characters who, nonetheless, played pivotal roles. And just a slam-bang good story. I hated having to put the book down to do mundane things like cook and clean. I thought about the story when I was dong other things.
A good portion of the book revolves around the tiny drones, the Tinks. This name comes from the Peter Pan myth, with the drones being named for Tinkerbell -- a very evil Tinkerbell. There is a mention of Neverland, and certainly, there is a Neverland feel to much of the story. I did like that one character, a 10 year old child that Rayne interacts with only at the eye surgery emergency room, is named Wendy Darlington. Nice touch!
So, if the book was so good (and it was), why only 3 stars?
The editing and proof-reading wasn't quite as good as in the Jurassic Jim series. There were three things I wasn't fond of in that regard: At location 2206 on my Kindle is this, as Tim describes the ophthalmologist's office: "There's a computer with two monitors, a steel stink, a plastic eye the size of a..." At first I wasn't sure that it wasn't an interjection of humor, but as I re-read it, I was pretty sure it was just an editing/proofing miss. Then, at 3755, there is this really badly written sentence: "What possessed a sub teacher and an artsy waitress to cook someone in their car?" Now, the way it's written makes it sound like Tim and Rayne cooked someone in Tim and Rayne's car. No. That isn't what happened. It would have been clearer if the latter part of the sentence indicated what the reader already knows -- that the "someone" was a man and that the car belonged to that man, not to the main characters. It just needed one word to clarify it: '...to cook someone in his car?' Singular subjects take a singular pronoun. Those two are easily fixable, especially as this is a digital rather than a paper and glue book.
There was one other thing that stopped me, and I'll admit it colored my opinion of the book more than just a little -- at 3724, the author writes: "He assumed the terrorist Buick, after expressing its political grievances at a car wash, reincarnated in paradise where it met seventy-seven virgin Chevrolets." I think the author thought this was humor. It is not humorous. It did not have anything to do with any of the novel's characters, settings, or action. It was just plain xenophobia, maybe racist. It shows a deep disrespect for a specific religion. If this had occurred earlier in the book than it did, I might not have continued reading it. Knocked off one star for this.
Those who know me and read my reviews know I also hate cliffhanger endings. And yes, this one has the worst kind -- where you turn the page expecting another chapter and instead find endnotes and previews of other of the author's works. I didn't believe this to be the start of a new series, so I expected, no, feel entitled to have the story wrapped up. The whole book worked wonderfully as that nightmare we've all had -- we're in danger, being chased, our very lives are at risk and we can't figure a way out. Every way we turn is a dead end. We wake up, shake it off, go back to sleep, back to the dream, wake up, etc., until we finally resolve the issue and save ourselves in the dream. I liked that part -- except, the author doesn't end the dream, he just stops writing. Even if he is leaving the door open for a sequel, at least end this story first, please. Knock off the other star.
So, if you aren't bothered by the things that frustrated me, you'll find "Exit" to be an exciting and thought-provoking read. If, like me, these things bother you, choose something different.
Disclaimer: The author kindly provided me a coupon for this book. I wish I could have given a more positive review in return, but I have to be honest about what I think. My advice is to read the two Jurassic Jim novels. Those I can highly recommend.
February 22, 2023
Tim Crowe goes to the movies one night and doesn't come home. At the Gateway theater, you don't always leave the way you come in. Tim & his girlfriend Rayne Moore are soon drawn into an alternate world where nothing is as it seems.
The pacing of this book is breathtaking. It is just relentless as it go, go, goes. The world-building is flawless. Things make sense in the alternate world, Tim & Rayne's world & the overlap. Both Tim & Rayne are fleshed out well. The dialogue is crisp! Great book!
The pacing of this book is breathtaking. It is just relentless as it go, go, goes. The world-building is flawless. Things make sense in the alternate world, Tim & Rayne's world & the overlap. Both Tim & Rayne are fleshed out well. The dialogue is crisp! Great book!
March 27, 2018
Enter Exit
I highly recommend this book...it's different and engaging with likeable characters...has it's villains,but they aren't that prevalent in my opinion.
Unusual plot with just the right amount of action.You won't be sorry you've read this book and I plan to read other books by this author.
I highly recommend this book...it's different and engaging with likeable characters...has it's villains,but they aren't that prevalent in my opinion.
Unusual plot with just the right amount of action.You won't be sorry you've read this book and I plan to read other books by this author.
October 18, 2020
slow, repetitive, no character development and a very bad ending...
August 11, 2015
I’m a fan of “Black Mirror,” a very imaginative tv show that depicts a dark future. Think techno paranoia. Reviewers of EXIT mention that show and “Twilight Zone.” And they would be correct. No spoilers here. However, if you suspect that commercial drones in America are about to break wide open (they’re here, and coming to your windows), reading EXIT won't change your mind. Highly addictive, fun read.
September 18, 2015
Tried
Tried to get through the whole thing but it lost me about a quarter of the way through. Not a bad premise, actually quite good but repetitive and slow moving, ridiculous names of characters kind of blew it. I like the imagery and concept of the book.
Tried to get through the whole thing but it lost me about a quarter of the way through. Not a bad premise, actually quite good but repetitive and slow moving, ridiculous names of characters kind of blew it. I like the imagery and concept of the book.
December 23, 2014
Interesting overall concept. Just wished the story and characters were fleshed out a bit more.
July 2, 2015
A delightful little twilight-zone style story about a parallel universe where drones Rayne supreme.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews