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Abyss
This job will eat you alive.
From the bestselling author of Ascension, Nicholas Binge, Abyss is a creeping, Lovecraftian horror about work, technology and existential dread.
Joe Rice is lost – lonely, disconnected and terminally online. His new job as an administrative assistant at the Ponos corporation seems like just another unfulfilling stop-gap. But from his first day, something is deeply wrong. The vast Canary Wharf office is empty, his line manager is a bundle of paranoid energy, and his work is monitored by WellBot, an AI wellness chatbot that demands total honesty while tracking his every move.
As Joe’s tasks descend into a surreal nightmare, he’ll eventually learn that handing in his notice could have deadly consequences . . .
* * *
Praise for Nicholas Binge
‘Old-school creepy . . . five-star horror’ – Stephen King on Ascension
‘Extremity is a fantastic, twisty, exhilarating novella . . . easily in the running for best novella of the year’ – The Fantasy Hive
From the bestselling author of Ascension, Nicholas Binge, Abyss is a creeping, Lovecraftian horror about work, technology and existential dread.
Joe Rice is lost – lonely, disconnected and terminally online. His new job as an administrative assistant at the Ponos corporation seems like just another unfulfilling stop-gap. But from his first day, something is deeply wrong. The vast Canary Wharf office is empty, his line manager is a bundle of paranoid energy, and his work is monitored by WellBot, an AI wellness chatbot that demands total honesty while tracking his every move.
As Joe’s tasks descend into a surreal nightmare, he’ll eventually learn that handing in his notice could have deadly consequences . . .
* * *
Praise for Nicholas Binge
‘Old-school creepy . . . five-star horror’ – Stephen King on Ascension
‘Extremity is a fantastic, twisty, exhilarating novella . . . easily in the running for best novella of the year’ – The Fantasy Hive
4 pages, Audiobook
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Nicholas Binge
7 books674 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 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.
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April 22, 2026I received this audiobook through NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.
Abyss was such a fun, quick, fast-paced listen. I couldn’t put it down. The concept was great and reminded me a little of A Short Stay in Hell mixed with the Backrooms, but with a touch of current reality that made it hit even closer to home.
The audiobook format also worked well for this kind of story. The pacing kept everything moving, and the narration helped maintain the tension and eerie atmosphere all the way through. I felt completely there with Joe the whole time, which made the story even more effective.
I honestly would have loved this as a full-length novel because the concept had so much room to go even further. Overall, this was an immersive, unsettling listen that left a strong impression.
I would recommend it to listeners who enjoy shorter horror with a strong concept, a creeping sense of dread, and themes that feel a little too close to reality.
Abyss was such a fun, quick, fast-paced listen. I couldn’t put it down. The concept was great and reminded me a little of A Short Stay in Hell mixed with the Backrooms, but with a touch of current reality that made it hit even closer to home.
The audiobook format also worked well for this kind of story. The pacing kept everything moving, and the narration helped maintain the tension and eerie atmosphere all the way through. I felt completely there with Joe the whole time, which made the story even more effective.
I honestly would have loved this as a full-length novel because the concept had so much room to go even further. Overall, this was an immersive, unsettling listen that left a strong impression.
I would recommend it to listeners who enjoy shorter horror with a strong concept, a creeping sense of dread, and themes that feel a little too close to reality.
May 13, 2026
If you liked “There is No Antimemetics Division” by qntm, then you’ll probably enjoy this story. It’s a mix of cosmic and corporate horror, with a dread inducing narrative that makes you feel increasingly claustrophobic.
I did find the characters a bit flat and wanted a bit more from the plot than what it actually gave. You can definitely feel the tension build as things progress, which did help me become more immersed and interested in the fate of Joe. I’d definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and Dreamscape Media for a copy!
I did find the characters a bit flat and wanted a bit more from the plot than what it actually gave. You can definitely feel the tension build as things progress, which did help me become more immersed and interested in the fate of Joe. I’d definitely read more from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the narrator, and Dreamscape Media for a copy!
May 14, 2026
It’s kind of on me that I didn’t enjoy this.
Dissolution
didn’t fully work for me either, but I have this problem where if I really love just one book by an author – in Binge’s case his debut
Professor Everywhere
– I will keep trying and trying the rest of their work, hoping something will click again. Plus a workplace horror story sounded interesting, and Abyss kicks off with an intriguing, fast-paced first chapter.
It’s the pacing that’s part of the problem with this book, though. As soon as our protagonist Joe gets a job at a mysterious company called Ponos, things instantly get weird. It all moves at such breakneck speed there’s barely a chance to get invested in Joe before he, along with some colleagues he (and we) met about 30 seconds ago, are battling horrors on a cosmic scale. It’s more like a scene-setting intro for a videogame than a proper story.
Despite how short and fast-paced the book is, it finds space to hammer home its message – that the convenience offered by modern tech is causing people to isolate themselves – over and over again, and without any subtlety. I want the horror I read to engage with political and social issues, but I find this crude, bludgeoning approach so patronising. For pulpy horror with a conscience, I preferred Jonathan Sims’ Thirteen Storeys and Kit Burgoyne’s The Captive, and I found Chris McQueer’s Hermit far more effective and entertaining as a portrait of a screen-dependent young man escaping the doomscroll cycle.
I received an advance review copy of Abyss from the publisher through Edelweiss.
It’s the pacing that’s part of the problem with this book, though. As soon as our protagonist Joe gets a job at a mysterious company called Ponos, things instantly get weird. It all moves at such breakneck speed there’s barely a chance to get invested in Joe before he, along with some colleagues he (and we) met about 30 seconds ago, are battling horrors on a cosmic scale. It’s more like a scene-setting intro for a videogame than a proper story.
Despite how short and fast-paced the book is, it finds space to hammer home its message – that the convenience offered by modern tech is causing people to isolate themselves – over and over again, and without any subtlety. I want the horror I read to engage with political and social issues, but I find this crude, bludgeoning approach so patronising. For pulpy horror with a conscience, I preferred Jonathan Sims’ Thirteen Storeys and Kit Burgoyne’s The Captive, and I found Chris McQueer’s Hermit far more effective and entertaining as a portrait of a screen-dependent young man escaping the doomscroll cycle.
I received an advance review copy of Abyss from the publisher through Edelweiss.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Abyss is another striking, thought-provoking release from Nicholas Binge. I went into this having loved his previous work, especially Ascension, so my expectations were high, and once again Binge delivered a story that’s clever, unsettling, and difficult to put down.
One of the things that makes Abyss feel particularly effective is its modern-day setting and an immediately relatable protagonist. He’s someone many readers will recognise: intelligent and capable, but stuck in familiar ruts, prone to habits of self-sabotage, and quietly aware that he has never quite lived up to the productivity and potential that people around him seem to expect. When he’s given a new role, the question hanging over the story is whether this change might finally unleash the productivity and focus that everyone believes he should have.
At first, the book feels like science fiction, but as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Binge is crafting something closer to horror. It reads like a novella very much of its time, tapping into contemporary anxieties such as the rise of AI, the fear of workplace automation, and the unsettling idea of being controlled, monitored, or reduced to a tool by the very systems and employers we work for. Beneath the surface is a quiet but powerful commentary on the influence of elites, corporate power, and the fragile sense of agency many people feel in modern work culture.
On a surface level, Abyss can be read as a strange, eerie office-based horror story set in an oddly mundane but fascinating location. Underneath that is a much deeper exploration of modern life, including productivity hack culture, corporate greed, the pressure to optimise ourselves, and the isolation that persists even in a hyper-connected social media world.
My only real criticism is that I wish it were a longer version of this story, given the number of ideas explored; however, the novella length does keep the pacing tight. It is a short read I genuinely could not put down, but the ideas are rich enough that I would have loved to see them explored in even more depth. Even so, the book’s momentum and immersive atmosphere make it a gripping experience from beginning to end.
Overall, Abyss is another compelling entry in Nicholas Binge’s catalogue, smart, timely, and quietly disturbing in the best way.
One of the things that makes Abyss feel particularly effective is its modern-day setting and an immediately relatable protagonist. He’s someone many readers will recognise: intelligent and capable, but stuck in familiar ruts, prone to habits of self-sabotage, and quietly aware that he has never quite lived up to the productivity and potential that people around him seem to expect. When he’s given a new role, the question hanging over the story is whether this change might finally unleash the productivity and focus that everyone believes he should have.
At first, the book feels like science fiction, but as the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Binge is crafting something closer to horror. It reads like a novella very much of its time, tapping into contemporary anxieties such as the rise of AI, the fear of workplace automation, and the unsettling idea of being controlled, monitored, or reduced to a tool by the very systems and employers we work for. Beneath the surface is a quiet but powerful commentary on the influence of elites, corporate power, and the fragile sense of agency many people feel in modern work culture.
On a surface level, Abyss can be read as a strange, eerie office-based horror story set in an oddly mundane but fascinating location. Underneath that is a much deeper exploration of modern life, including productivity hack culture, corporate greed, the pressure to optimise ourselves, and the isolation that persists even in a hyper-connected social media world.
My only real criticism is that I wish it were a longer version of this story, given the number of ideas explored; however, the novella length does keep the pacing tight. It is a short read I genuinely could not put down, but the ideas are rich enough that I would have loved to see them explored in even more depth. Even so, the book’s momentum and immersive atmosphere make it a gripping experience from beginning to end.
Overall, Abyss is another compelling entry in Nicholas Binge’s catalogue, smart, timely, and quietly disturbing in the best way.
May 15, 2026
GASP! Nicholas Binge has done it yet again. Delivering a short, twisty tale that explored greed, control, loneliness, and isolation, Abyss was not only a powerful look at the modern world through a satirical lens, but also a thought-provoking critique of the society’s rapidly declining sense of humanity and connection. Fast-paced, immersive, and an absolute fever dream of a read, this psychological horror-meets-speculative fiction novella dissected a handful of timely themes with surgeon-like skill. You see, between the invasion of AI into every part of daily life, social media’s ability to alienate us from one another, and feeling like just a cog in the machine in today’s corporate culture, this novella was a chilling thought experiment that I couldn’t put down. And that ending! What can I say? It was a pure *chef’s kiss* revelation that only an author like Binge could deliver. Ultimately, this Severance-slash-Truman Show mashup served up a hefty dose of existential horror that will surely live rent-free in my head for a very long time. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you Nicholas Binge and Tor Nightfire for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 12, 2026
Content warning: body horror, gun and knife violence, violence, blood, cannibalism
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you Nicholas Binge and Tor Nightfire for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 12, 2026
Content warning: body horror, gun and knife violence, violence, blood, cannibalism
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!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Review on the April 2026 issue of Library Journal
Three Words That Describe This Book: intense disorientation, Lovecraftian, Tech/corporate horror combo
Other words, rise of machines, terrifyingly realistic, first person-- Joe.
Draft Review: Opening with a single-page chapter ominously set “Inside, Second Instance, 27 Seconds,” that replays a conversation between Joseph and “Wellbot”, a conversation ending with Joseph reaching forward to type back, “perhaps for the last time.” Unsettled and shaken, readers are transported back to the beginning, when Joseph, a young man slowly losing his connection to the real world, finds a job that seems too good to be true. Arriving at an empty building on his first day, Joseph struggles to find his desk and upon logging in, is forced to deal with WellBot’s demands. When his human supervisor slips Joseph a piece of paper with an elaborate equation, things quickly move from odd to intensely disorienting to existentially terrifying. Readers will get swept up in Joseph’s epic battle with the monster at the heart of the building, all to keep hold of his humanity, no matter the cost to the wider world.
Verdict: The accurate Severance meets Lovecraft marketing will help the right readers find this novella. For fans of books as different as The Dead Take the A Train by Richard Kadrey and Cassandra Khaw, The Warehouse by Rob Hart, and Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram.
First, read this novella in as few sittings as possible-- it is meant to be experiences. You will feel the disorientation as Joe gets trapped in his new place of work and cannot get out.
Now on the rest of the review.
Binge sets the disorientation from the start with a chancer labelled -- Inside, Second Instance 27 second. It is ominous. Then we pull back to meet Joe. A young man who has lost connection in the real world. He has no job, no friends, barely talks to his mother who he loves but doesn't seem to have time after all his internet scrolling to visit or call back.
He gets a job that seems easy enough. When he goes to work no one is there but he finds his way, logs into the WelBot AI a 2001 HAL like program that seems to know everything about him.
And well, things are not as they seem as this is a horror novel. The few people he meets are odd and never seem to leave. And now Joe can't seem to leave eaither-- nothing that he even wants to.
Those "Inside" mini chapters pop up a few more times as well.
Readers follow Joe even as time becomes more of a construct. But there is adventure here and there is a monster at the heart of it all.
Despite the disorientation-- done on purpose by the author to help the reader be in synch with Joe-- the story moves swiftly and easily. The details come at the right pace. A solid 1 -2 sitting story that is not what readers will expect going in-- in a good way.
Readalikes-- 100% for fans of The Dead Take the A Train by Kadrey and Khaw. Also Blake Crouch, The Warehouse by Rob Hart. Any corporate techno or Lovecraftian horror. Also Travlers Rest by Kieth Lee Morris (a backlist fav of mine). Coup de Grace by Ajram as well-- but Abyss is was more techy.
Three Words That Describe This Book: intense disorientation, Lovecraftian, Tech/corporate horror combo
Other words, rise of machines, terrifyingly realistic, first person-- Joe.
Draft Review: Opening with a single-page chapter ominously set “Inside, Second Instance, 27 Seconds,” that replays a conversation between Joseph and “Wellbot”, a conversation ending with Joseph reaching forward to type back, “perhaps for the last time.” Unsettled and shaken, readers are transported back to the beginning, when Joseph, a young man slowly losing his connection to the real world, finds a job that seems too good to be true. Arriving at an empty building on his first day, Joseph struggles to find his desk and upon logging in, is forced to deal with WellBot’s demands. When his human supervisor slips Joseph a piece of paper with an elaborate equation, things quickly move from odd to intensely disorienting to existentially terrifying. Readers will get swept up in Joseph’s epic battle with the monster at the heart of the building, all to keep hold of his humanity, no matter the cost to the wider world.
Verdict: The accurate Severance meets Lovecraft marketing will help the right readers find this novella. For fans of books as different as The Dead Take the A Train by Richard Kadrey and Cassandra Khaw, The Warehouse by Rob Hart, and Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram.
First, read this novella in as few sittings as possible-- it is meant to be experiences. You will feel the disorientation as Joe gets trapped in his new place of work and cannot get out.
Now on the rest of the review.
Binge sets the disorientation from the start with a chancer labelled -- Inside, Second Instance 27 second. It is ominous. Then we pull back to meet Joe. A young man who has lost connection in the real world. He has no job, no friends, barely talks to his mother who he loves but doesn't seem to have time after all his internet scrolling to visit or call back.
He gets a job that seems easy enough. When he goes to work no one is there but he finds his way, logs into the WelBot AI a 2001 HAL like program that seems to know everything about him.
And well, things are not as they seem as this is a horror novel. The few people he meets are odd and never seem to leave. And now Joe can't seem to leave eaither-- nothing that he even wants to.
Those "Inside" mini chapters pop up a few more times as well.
Readers follow Joe even as time becomes more of a construct. But there is adventure here and there is a monster at the heart of it all.
Despite the disorientation-- done on purpose by the author to help the reader be in synch with Joe-- the story moves swiftly and easily. The details come at the right pace. A solid 1 -2 sitting story that is not what readers will expect going in-- in a good way.
Readalikes-- 100% for fans of The Dead Take the A Train by Kadrey and Khaw. Also Blake Crouch, The Warehouse by Rob Hart. Any corporate techno or Lovecraftian horror. Also Travlers Rest by Kieth Lee Morris (a backlist fav of mine). Coup de Grace by Ajram as well-- but Abyss is was more techy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am rounding my rating up to 4 stars.
If you enjoy psychological, surreal, Lovecraftian horror, and have been run down and defeated by late stage capitalism, then this novella is for you.
Joe finds himself in a lonely and depressive state in his life. He wasn't always jobless, friendless, and anxious, but he is now. When Joe lands a job as an administrative assistant, without ever interviewing with a live person, he's skeptical. When he arrives at the office for his first day he doesn't see a single soul around. He roams the halls of each floor before finally finding his boss and office.
Joe also finds it strange that the only interaction he has is with WellBot, the company's wellness software, and his boss, Virgil. Things get stranger when Virgil asks him to make copies of a elaborate, handwritten mathematical equation. While working to complete this task he finally runs into a coworker, who seems to live in her office. Her erratic behavior puts Joe more on edge. What follows next is a bizarre and terrifying quest to defeat the evil within and escape from the office alive.
This story is really weird and disorienting. I liked most of the book, even when the author is quite blatant in his views of capitalism, social media culture, and general state of the world. Joe's character growth was awesome to experience, especially with all of the horrors that he faces. His change from a dejected, self-deprecation mindset to being determined to take eliminate the evil entity at all costs was very well executed.
I loved the first two thirds of the book. The ending of the story didn't quite hit the right notes for me though. It felt a little rushed, which made for some confusion about the overall resolution of the story. But this novella is short enough to read in one sitting (which I recommend) and was entertaining and engrossing.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
If you enjoy psychological, surreal, Lovecraftian horror, and have been run down and defeated by late stage capitalism, then this novella is for you.
Joe finds himself in a lonely and depressive state in his life. He wasn't always jobless, friendless, and anxious, but he is now. When Joe lands a job as an administrative assistant, without ever interviewing with a live person, he's skeptical. When he arrives at the office for his first day he doesn't see a single soul around. He roams the halls of each floor before finally finding his boss and office.
Joe also finds it strange that the only interaction he has is with WellBot, the company's wellness software, and his boss, Virgil. Things get stranger when Virgil asks him to make copies of a elaborate, handwritten mathematical equation. While working to complete this task he finally runs into a coworker, who seems to live in her office. Her erratic behavior puts Joe more on edge. What follows next is a bizarre and terrifying quest to defeat the evil within and escape from the office alive.
This story is really weird and disorienting. I liked most of the book, even when the author is quite blatant in his views of capitalism, social media culture, and general state of the world. Joe's character growth was awesome to experience, especially with all of the horrors that he faces. His change from a dejected, self-deprecation mindset to being determined to take eliminate the evil entity at all costs was very well executed.
I loved the first two thirds of the book. The ending of the story didn't quite hit the right notes for me though. It felt a little rushed, which made for some confusion about the overall resolution of the story. But this novella is short enough to read in one sitting (which I recommend) and was entertaining and engrossing.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to Recorded Books (and Tor Books) for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
★ 2.77 stars ★
Abyss had such potential. In a world where capitalism is growing increasingly more rampant and cruelly all-consuming, a horror novel that turns the soul-destroying workforce into a literal creature to be afraid of sounded AMAZING.
Unfortunately, this whole novel felt kind of half-baked. I don't think these ideas can be well portrayed in novella form. They were worthy of a full-length novel and I'm not entirely sure why Binge decided against going that direction. Because of the short length, the ideas, characters, and plot all felt very rushed.
And because of that, the social commentary (which, again, had potential to be amazing) felt at times either heavy handed or understated... which was weird.
I also didn't find this novel particularly scary either. It reminded me quite a bit of There Is No Antimemetics Division but where that book manages to sow existential dread, this book moves to quickly to let readers really chew on the deeply disturbing realities they themselves live in.
Overall, in theory this book could've been absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, the execution felt a bit too rushed.
★ 2.77 stars ★
Abyss had such potential. In a world where capitalism is growing increasingly more rampant and cruelly all-consuming, a horror novel that turns the soul-destroying workforce into a literal creature to be afraid of sounded AMAZING.
Unfortunately, this whole novel felt kind of half-baked. I don't think these ideas can be well portrayed in novella form. They were worthy of a full-length novel and I'm not entirely sure why Binge decided against going that direction. Because of the short length, the ideas, characters, and plot all felt very rushed.
And because of that, the social commentary (which, again, had potential to be amazing) felt at times either heavy handed or understated... which was weird.
I also didn't find this novel particularly scary either. It reminded me quite a bit of There Is No Antimemetics Division but where that book manages to sow existential dread, this book moves to quickly to let readers really chew on the deeply disturbing realities they themselves live in.
Overall, in theory this book could've been absolutely amazing. Unfortunately, the execution felt a bit too rushed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fun, eerie lil sci-fi novella with a solid message.
Full review to come
*Have NOT read this twice. GR gets more frustrating every day.
Full review to come
*Have NOT read this twice. GR gets more frustrating every day.
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!
May 15, 2026
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Format: Audiobook ALC via NetGalley
Abyss by Nicholas Binge is advertised as “Severance meets Lovecraft in this surreal tale of corporate horror and existential dread,” and that description is extremely accurate. This is a novella set in a modern-day 2026, and the way it captures Joe’s very current, everyday problems felt almost unsettling. That only made the story work even better.
Since this is a novella, I don’t want to give much else away, but I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a short read or listen with a relatable modern setting, cosmic horror, sci-fi elements, and plenty of existential dread. The audiobook narration was also done very well.
Thank you, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Format: Audiobook ALC via NetGalley
Abyss by Nicholas Binge is advertised as “Severance meets Lovecraft in this surreal tale of corporate horror and existential dread,” and that description is extremely accurate. This is a novella set in a modern-day 2026, and the way it captures Joe’s very current, everyday problems felt almost unsettling. That only made the story work even better.
Since this is a novella, I don’t want to give much else away, but I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a short read or listen with a relatable modern setting, cosmic horror, sci-fi elements, and plenty of existential dread. The audiobook narration was also done very well.
Thank you, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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.
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.
May 8, 2026
#ad much love for my advance and finished copies @tornightfire #partner
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
Abyss
Severance meets Lovecraft
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎. (37).
𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎.𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚑𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚐𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎,𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜. (143).
It’s Joe’s first day of work - but it’s a job that will follow him for the rest of his life. It’ll give him a run for his money - and his sanity. He’s only an admin assistant, it was supposed to be an easier job. He wasn’t prepared for this.
Okay! This book was a pleasant surprise! Loved the AI horror - and was not expecting it to be that type of book! But I also found it to be hilarious too.
Mem
The redacted signs 😂😂
The amount of fks
Keeping busy - busy busy busy, productivity targets to meet. I love how the author used real world issues and mixed in the horror side. Capitalism, anxiety, and AI tech all made this book bingeable.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and enjoyed this audiobook and def recommend it - you can listen at 2x just fine. After you get used to it. Might recommend 1.5-1.7x. John Lee was the perfect narrator for this book and I fully enjoyed listening to him.
I know I always complain about shorter books but it’s because of stories like this one - I always want … need … moreeeeeee! I have his other book Ascension but haven’t read it yet, so that’s on my soon-TBR list now!
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC
Abyss
Severance meets Lovecraft
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚗𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢'𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎. (37).
𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜.𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔. 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚙𝚎.𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚑𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚐𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚎,𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜. (143).
It’s Joe’s first day of work - but it’s a job that will follow him for the rest of his life. It’ll give him a run for his money - and his sanity. He’s only an admin assistant, it was supposed to be an easier job. He wasn’t prepared for this.
Okay! This book was a pleasant surprise! Loved the AI horror - and was not expecting it to be that type of book! But I also found it to be hilarious too.
Mem
The redacted signs 😂😂
The amount of fks
Keeping busy - busy busy busy, productivity targets to meet. I love how the author used real world issues and mixed in the horror side. Capitalism, anxiety, and AI tech all made this book bingeable.
🎧: Also followed along with the audio and enjoyed this audiobook and def recommend it - you can listen at 2x just fine. After you get used to it. Might recommend 1.5-1.7x. John Lee was the perfect narrator for this book and I fully enjoyed listening to him.
I know I always complain about shorter books but it’s because of stories like this one - I always want … need … moreeeeeee! I have his other book Ascension but haven’t read it yet, so that’s on my soon-TBR list now!
May 13, 2026
Nicholas Binge is an author I first heard about last year after discovering his novel 'Ascension' in the book aisle of an HMV. I've been intrigued to read it, but when I saw he had a Lovecraftian novella on the way I knew I couldn't pass up 'Abyss', so let's sure what I think of it.
Joe Rice is lost, the pandemic has hit him hard, taken everything away from him and now he can't settle back into life. He finally has a job, but when he arrives for his first shift, he finds there's something very wrong about this office block and that it holds a very dark and devastating secret that holds the fate of us all. You thought capitalism was bad? Whatever is at the centre of it is far, far worse.
Nicholas Binge has written an imaginative Lovecraftian nightmare that throws a very unique and horrible spin on capitalism and why it exists. I wasn't too sure on this one at first and was a little worried where it was going, but once all the pieces started to fall into place, I realized just how clever and delicately written this smart novella really is. It's a scary, fantastical and nightmarish story that feels very original. It's very much an anti-capitalist book and has a lot to say how it changes our lives for the worst
Overall: A brilliant novella. 10/10
Joe Rice is lost, the pandemic has hit him hard, taken everything away from him and now he can't settle back into life. He finally has a job, but when he arrives for his first shift, he finds there's something very wrong about this office block and that it holds a very dark and devastating secret that holds the fate of us all. You thought capitalism was bad? Whatever is at the centre of it is far, far worse.
Nicholas Binge has written an imaginative Lovecraftian nightmare that throws a very unique and horrible spin on capitalism and why it exists. I wasn't too sure on this one at first and was a little worried where it was going, but once all the pieces started to fall into place, I realized just how clever and delicately written this smart novella really is. It's a scary, fantastical and nightmarish story that feels very original. It's very much an anti-capitalist book and has a lot to say how it changes our lives for the worst
Overall: A brilliant novella. 10/10
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My Rating is 4.5
Abyss by Nicholas Binge is a cool mix of sci-fi and psychological horror. The story unravels this big mystery, and it keeps you guessing the whole time. It can get a little confusing here and there, but that actually adds to the vibe. There’s a good balance between mind-bending ideas and emotional moments, so it doesn’t feel too cold or technical. The characters keep this story interesting. Joe is the every man, his first day at his new job is not going well. Hilda brings emotion to what could be just a clinical story and Virgil is the one in the "know". Things start to happen VERY fast, adding to the confusion is the Welbot/AI controlling the employees, with the office building at it's heart, and no one can leave. Not perfect pacing-wise, but still a really interesting and creepy read.
John Lee is terrific as our narrator. He can do no wrong in my eyes and his performance here is top tier. He ensures that while the story is a bit confusing, we can't stop listening.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC to review. My thoughts are my own.
Abyss by Nicholas Binge is a cool mix of sci-fi and psychological horror. The story unravels this big mystery, and it keeps you guessing the whole time. It can get a little confusing here and there, but that actually adds to the vibe. There’s a good balance between mind-bending ideas and emotional moments, so it doesn’t feel too cold or technical. The characters keep this story interesting. Joe is the every man, his first day at his new job is not going well. Hilda brings emotion to what could be just a clinical story and Virgil is the one in the "know". Things start to happen VERY fast, adding to the confusion is the Welbot/AI controlling the employees, with the office building at it's heart, and no one can leave. Not perfect pacing-wise, but still a really interesting and creepy read.
John Lee is terrific as our narrator. He can do no wrong in my eyes and his performance here is top tier. He ensures that while the story is a bit confusing, we can't stop listening.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this ALC to review. My thoughts are my own.
Did Not Finish
April 24, 2026Thank you NetGalley for the ALC of Abyss.
I was really interested in the premise of this book and the narrator was delightful. However I found myself at 33% of the way through and just not caring at all. The book had not gotten its hooks in me. Which is weird, since I love horrors that focus on capitalism. And life is simply too short to push through books when I feel no compulsion to read them.
I was really interested in the premise of this book and the narrator was delightful. However I found myself at 33% of the way through and just not caring at all. The book had not gotten its hooks in me. Which is weird, since I love horrors that focus on capitalism. And life is simply too short to push through books when I feel no compulsion to read them.
May 12, 2026
Abyss is a creepy fever dream of a novella. Described as Severance meets Lovecraft, this corporate horror story is a horrifying descent of existential dread within a job that wants you to forget everything you’ve ever known and produce, produce, produce!
I really enjoyed this short little audiobook! I knew this one was a corporate horror going in, but knew little to nothing else about it and it totally exceeded my expectations!! A lot was filled in this short little story, but it was done well with just enough details to leave you satiated.
Thank you @netgalley and @tornightfire for this ALC!
I really enjoyed this short little audiobook! I knew this one was a corporate horror going in, but knew little to nothing else about it and it totally exceeded my expectations!! A lot was filled in this short little story, but it was done well with just enough details to leave you satiated.
Thank you @netgalley and @tornightfire for this ALC!
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!!**
May 16, 2026
The most effective horror stories are always those that seem the most plausible. Nicholas Binge, in his latest book, has woven a tale so familiar that one doesn’t even need to look outside his own door to catch a glimpse of what he is talking about.
Ever since the onset of the COVID pandemic, people everywhere have gone to great lengths to isolate themselves. We no longer go out to work, eat, shop, or socialize. We log into our company networks from the comfort of our own sofa. We call DoorDash when we are hungry. Amazon relieves us of the stress of going out to buy things. As for socializing, we have created AI avatars that can satisfy any need we have for companionship. We have begun to live in a world that eschews any semblance of human interaction.
Joe lives in such a world when he takes a job with Ponos, a company he knows nothing about. When he arrives at the office, he finds it all but empty. His instructions lead him to his workstation where he is greeted by a friendly and oh-so empathetic AI bot who helps him get started with his many mostly meaningless duties. It doesn’t take long, though, for things to get very strange when a supervisor is murdered right in front of him. His world heads downhill quickly from this point.
Abyss is a nietzscheisticly satirical look at an all to familiar world which makes its horror all too potent. Added to it is Binge’s philosophical ramblings about modern life, posing the question of why, in a world where technological progress is advancing at a never-before-seen rate, why has so little improved? Why does a family need both parents to be working multiple jobs just to eke out a living? Shouldn’t all of the progress of the last century make our lives easier instead of more difficult?
Bottom line: Binge has written a magnificent little novella that not only terrifies, but inspires. I highly recommend it.
Also, John Lee's narration of the audio version is spectacular, as always.
*The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
Ever since the onset of the COVID pandemic, people everywhere have gone to great lengths to isolate themselves. We no longer go out to work, eat, shop, or socialize. We log into our company networks from the comfort of our own sofa. We call DoorDash when we are hungry. Amazon relieves us of the stress of going out to buy things. As for socializing, we have created AI avatars that can satisfy any need we have for companionship. We have begun to live in a world that eschews any semblance of human interaction.
Joe lives in such a world when he takes a job with Ponos, a company he knows nothing about. When he arrives at the office, he finds it all but empty. His instructions lead him to his workstation where he is greeted by a friendly and oh-so empathetic AI bot who helps him get started with his many mostly meaningless duties. It doesn’t take long, though, for things to get very strange when a supervisor is murdered right in front of him. His world heads downhill quickly from this point.
Abyss is a nietzscheisticly satirical look at an all to familiar world which makes its horror all too potent. Added to it is Binge’s philosophical ramblings about modern life, posing the question of why, in a world where technological progress is advancing at a never-before-seen rate, why has so little improved? Why does a family need both parents to be working multiple jobs just to eke out a living? Shouldn’t all of the progress of the last century make our lives easier instead of more difficult?
Bottom line: Binge has written a magnificent little novella that not only terrifies, but inspires. I highly recommend it.
Also, John Lee's narration of the audio version is spectacular, as always.
*The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
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.
May 13, 2026
Talk About A Corporate Hellscape!
Abyss is a novella that you will never see coming. Abyss follows a painfully relatable character who takes a dead-end admin job at a sketchy corporation, only to realize almost immediately that the building, the job, and everything happening inside it is very, very wrong. This one grabbed me fast because it feels so grounded at first. Joe is lonely, terminally online, kind of drifting through life. So when he lands this random job at Ponos, you think you know exactly what you’re getting: boring office life, awkward first day energy, maybe some light satire about corporate culture. But the second he walks into that building, everything takes off. His boss is weird, his tasks make no sense, and this invasive AI wellness bot is suddenly all up in his business like it owns his soul. It’s claustrophobic in that very specific in the worst corporate sense.
And then it just keeps going. The psychological unraveling is already doing a lot, but then Binge starts stretching the edges of reality itself, and suddenly, you’re not just questioning the job, you’re questioning everything that is happening. The shift into cosmic horror is so smooth it’s almost rude, because by the time you realize what kind of story you’re actually in, you’re already trapped in it with Joe. By the end, I was just sitting there flabbergasted. I will never trust a corporate job, an AI chatbot, or frankly, existence itself ever again.
Abyss is a novella that you will never see coming. Abyss follows a painfully relatable character who takes a dead-end admin job at a sketchy corporation, only to realize almost immediately that the building, the job, and everything happening inside it is very, very wrong. This one grabbed me fast because it feels so grounded at first. Joe is lonely, terminally online, kind of drifting through life. So when he lands this random job at Ponos, you think you know exactly what you’re getting: boring office life, awkward first day energy, maybe some light satire about corporate culture. But the second he walks into that building, everything takes off. His boss is weird, his tasks make no sense, and this invasive AI wellness bot is suddenly all up in his business like it owns his soul. It’s claustrophobic in that very specific in the worst corporate sense.
And then it just keeps going. The psychological unraveling is already doing a lot, but then Binge starts stretching the edges of reality itself, and suddenly, you’re not just questioning the job, you’re questioning everything that is happening. The shift into cosmic horror is so smooth it’s almost rude, because by the time you realize what kind of story you’re actually in, you’re already trapped in it with Joe. By the end, I was just sitting there flabbergasted. I will never trust a corporate job, an AI chatbot, or frankly, existence itself ever again.
February 9, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.
Joe is an anxious young man who, like many, is struggling with staying in touch with people, socializing, and doomscrolling. He finds a new job and everything is bizarre from the start. Once he starts, he quickly realizes things are not as they seem, and it becomes a race to save himself, or be eaten by the machine.
This was a super quick read, packed with action, creepy vibes, and unreliability. It reminds me of creepypastas, SCP type stories, and the video game Control (mostly the setting). Part one and part two give very different energy. I flew through part one because the set up was just that good. Imagine going to work, which can be a nightmare already, but imagine this AI chatbot that won’t leave you alone, and the building wants you to stay forever? Work anxiety to the max.
Part two though felt a bit rushed. I would probably have liked some more insight into the history, the villains, and even Virgil. I also understand this is a novella so gotta keep it on the short and straightforward end. I quite liked the ending, even though it was kind of ambiguous. Did he do the right thing? I have no idea.
Would recommend to horror readers and to those who need to feel better about their corporate jobs, probably.
Joe is an anxious young man who, like many, is struggling with staying in touch with people, socializing, and doomscrolling. He finds a new job and everything is bizarre from the start. Once he starts, he quickly realizes things are not as they seem, and it becomes a race to save himself, or be eaten by the machine.
This was a super quick read, packed with action, creepy vibes, and unreliability. It reminds me of creepypastas, SCP type stories, and the video game Control (mostly the setting). Part one and part two give very different energy. I flew through part one because the set up was just that good. Imagine going to work, which can be a nightmare already, but imagine this AI chatbot that won’t leave you alone, and the building wants you to stay forever? Work anxiety to the max.
Part two though felt a bit rushed. I would probably have liked some more insight into the history, the villains, and even Virgil. I also understand this is a novella so gotta keep it on the short and straightforward end. I quite liked the ending, even though it was kind of ambiguous. Did he do the right thing? I have no idea.
Would recommend to horror readers and to those who need to feel better about their corporate jobs, probably.
February 18, 2026
Thank you to Nicholas Binge and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Abyss. This book was steeped in dread and themes of existentialism. I found the writing to be clear and the pacing of the story felt natural. I empathized with the viewpoint characters anxieties and struggles with life and I easily found myself rooting for him early on. The story was strange and wonderful and I genuinely enjoyed both the horror elements and the critiques of capitalism baked in. This is one of those books that feels like pressing a reset button for your brain and really puts the value of life into perspective.
April 22, 2026
Thanks to dreamscape media, rb media and net galley for a copy of this ALC
3.5 stars rounded up for good reads
To me John Lee feels like listening to a story from your grandfather. I think that will really work for some listeners but for me it broke emersion. I never really quite felt like it was HIS story.
I think I would have preferred this story in another format
The abyss is chock full of corporate dread. Its confusing and banal in the same measure and as an office worker myself i found it to be particularly effective flavor or horror.
I think if you like this you’d also enjoy the employees by olga ravin, a light most hateful by hailey piper and morsel by carter keane
3.5 stars rounded up for good reads
To me John Lee feels like listening to a story from your grandfather. I think that will really work for some listeners but for me it broke emersion. I never really quite felt like it was HIS story.
I think I would have preferred this story in another format
The abyss is chock full of corporate dread. Its confusing and banal in the same measure and as an office worker myself i found it to be particularly effective flavor or horror.
I think if you like this you’d also enjoy the employees by olga ravin, a light most hateful by hailey piper and morsel by carter keane
April 29, 2026
Huh… I’m not entirely sure what to make of this one. It felt like an episode of Black Mirror.
It was a creepy use of liminal spaces and definitely had a lot of symbolism surrounding capitalism and productivity, but I have to say… I didn’t entirely get it.
I felt like chapter to chapter, something new would be happening and I didn’t grasp how we got there or what was going on. I also entirely did not understand the ending or what was actually happening in the story.
It did keep me entertained when I’d get my footing on what was happening in the moment, but overall I didn’t grasp a coherent story.
It was a creepy use of liminal spaces and definitely had a lot of symbolism surrounding capitalism and productivity, but I have to say… I didn’t entirely get it.
I felt like chapter to chapter, something new would be happening and I didn’t grasp how we got there or what was going on. I also entirely did not understand the ending or what was actually happening in the story.
It did keep me entertained when I’d get my footing on what was happening in the moment, but overall I didn’t grasp a coherent story.
May 9, 2026
I thought that this short audiobook, Abyss by Nicholas Binge, would hook me more than it did. I felt the anxiety about starting a new job. I felt the dread when learning what the job entails. I’m glad that Wellbot, the AI program had my back and that I didn’t succumb to the pressures of the job. ALC was provided by Dreamscape Media via NetGalley. I received an audiobook listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 16, 2026
In Nicholas Binge's *Abyss*, Joe, an ordinary office worker, finds himself thrust into an unsettling new role at a mysterious company. This job quickly turns into something far more sinister, blurring the lines between the mundane realities of corporate life and the chilling realm of psychological horror.The book is both clever and deeply unsettling, skillfully tapping into prevalent modern anxieties surrounding work, identity, and the pervasive feeling of a lack of control.
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