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Forbidden Anesthesia
In 2176, a war rages on Mars, dating happens in high-tech “parlors,” and humanity lives in citywide megastructures. However, some things never change. Body manipulation for beauty purposes is normalized and lauded, specifically the process of adding blue pigment to your skin through the use of synthetic drugs. While the drugs aren’t chemically addictive, they are emotionally.
Twenty-four-year-old Charlie Asnieres finds these drugs as he attempts to make his way through early adulthood in an ever-isolated world. They help him cope with normal life challenges—the loss of his mother, career disappointments, dating stress, and his continuous battle with depression. He becomes obsessed with how they make him feel, but his use has consequences. Addiction causes him to go down a path of deterioration he never expected to be on, one from which he may never return.
Note: Artificial intelligence (AI) was NOT used in the creation of this book.
Twenty-four-year-old Charlie Asnieres finds these drugs as he attempts to make his way through early adulthood in an ever-isolated world. They help him cope with normal life challenges—the loss of his mother, career disappointments, dating stress, and his continuous battle with depression. He becomes obsessed with how they make him feel, but his use has consequences. Addiction causes him to go down a path of deterioration he never expected to be on, one from which he may never return.
Note: Artificial intelligence (AI) was NOT used in the creation of this book.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2026
About the author
Sam Hohenshell
1 book24 followers(AKA BarelyHuman77 on YouTube)
Hello all :) I live in Minnesota with my dog Saturn. On top of writing, I like spending time with family and friends, computer programming, and reviewing speculative fiction books on my YouTube channel.
Hello all :) I live in Minnesota with my dog Saturn. On top of writing, I like spending time with family and friends, computer programming, and reviewing speculative fiction books on my YouTube channel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 20, 2026
My thoughts on Forbidden Anesthesia by Sam Hohenshell:::::
Charlie has a great job. He's athletic. Charlie's an all around decent human being. Although he has trouble finding a romantic partner to share life with.
In a future Chicago, society is living in underground megastructures. Most everyone seems to have everything they need in life. The dating scenes are especially evolved and game show like. Charlie keeps striking out and can't connect with anyone he tries to date.
In this world there is a substance that helps people to become more attractive to others. Charlie decides to give the drug a try. Eventually it gives your skin an azure hue that is all the rage. Charlie wants to be as blue as possible. He wants to feel good about himself. He thinks this is the way to improve his dating situation and life in general.
As we've seen before, drugs meant to help people in an SF novel that takes place in urban sprawl at a date set in the future don't usually go well for a novel's protagonist.
This is the story of how Charlie deals with his skin deep obsession in a world where manufactured physical beauty is encouraged. The consequences that the drug has on people's lives are largely ignored.
This is Hohenshell's first novel. The impressive world building paints a vivid setting for us to walk around and exist in. All of the setting descriptions are well written and expertly organized. His descriptions of the sport called Rainball are abundant and very precise. Hohenshell has invented a new and interesting fictional sport here that combines elements of other sports, e.g. tennis, basketball.
This is a well meaning tale that describes a state of despair experienced by most young people today. Social media manufactures the need for people to look a certain way. It creates competition where there shouldn't be any. The need to maintain a certain standard of physical beauty has created a volatile and self destructive reality. Forbidden Anesthesia tackles this issue in an interesting and creative way.
Charlie has a great job. He's athletic. Charlie's an all around decent human being. Although he has trouble finding a romantic partner to share life with.
In a future Chicago, society is living in underground megastructures. Most everyone seems to have everything they need in life. The dating scenes are especially evolved and game show like. Charlie keeps striking out and can't connect with anyone he tries to date.
In this world there is a substance that helps people to become more attractive to others. Charlie decides to give the drug a try. Eventually it gives your skin an azure hue that is all the rage. Charlie wants to be as blue as possible. He wants to feel good about himself. He thinks this is the way to improve his dating situation and life in general.
As we've seen before, drugs meant to help people in an SF novel that takes place in urban sprawl at a date set in the future don't usually go well for a novel's protagonist.
This is the story of how Charlie deals with his skin deep obsession in a world where manufactured physical beauty is encouraged. The consequences that the drug has on people's lives are largely ignored.
This is Hohenshell's first novel. The impressive world building paints a vivid setting for us to walk around and exist in. All of the setting descriptions are well written and expertly organized. His descriptions of the sport called Rainball are abundant and very precise. Hohenshell has invented a new and interesting fictional sport here that combines elements of other sports, e.g. tennis, basketball.
This is a well meaning tale that describes a state of despair experienced by most young people today. Social media manufactures the need for people to look a certain way. It creates competition where there shouldn't be any. The need to maintain a certain standard of physical beauty has created a volatile and self destructive reality. Forbidden Anesthesia tackles this issue in an interesting and creative way.
June 20, 2026
Forbidden Anesthesia is a raw, emotional case study of isolation, addiction, and most importantly, another disorder (no spoilers here, though). Charlie is a flawed but relatable main character, and while the environment of The Block megacity is intriguingly futuristic, it provides potent, direct parallels to our world right now.
Don’t be afraid to try it, even if science fiction is not your go-to genre. While it provides a unique and creative environment, science fiction works more so as a vehicle for pushing the themes of the book.
Also, I’m the author 🙂Check out my short announcement video for a bit more of a book explanation, author/book inspirations, etc. here: https://youtu.be/cDik0a45mV4
Don’t be afraid to try it, even if science fiction is not your go-to genre. While it provides a unique and creative environment, science fiction works more so as a vehicle for pushing the themes of the book.
Also, I’m the author 🙂Check out my short announcement video for a bit more of a book explanation, author/book inspirations, etc. here: https://youtu.be/cDik0a45mV4
June 21, 2026
Great Read, Would Recommend! Charlie is a relatable main character, even if you have not struggled with drug addiction necessarily. Relatable for all types of obsession and maladaptive coping.
June 23, 2026
This was such a fun read and a great change of pace!
June 21, 2026
Fantastic Read!
June 24, 2026
Very compelling personal journey in a sci-fi setting! It's like Holden Caulfield was born 200 years later.
July 14, 2026
Read this in one day, I couldn’t put it down!
Set in the future, Charlie is a recent college graduate living in the afterglow of his successful college athletic career. While he considers himself happy enough with his normal job, his apartment in Chicago, his garden, his friend Emily, his current athletic ability, and himself in general, his wounds of his mother’s death, slow decline of athletic ability, unfulfilled dreams of living and working in NYC, and shallow relationship with his dad haunt him.
His haunts prove to be powerful, and lead him to taking a legal drug that alters skin to a high-status blue appearance. After initially taking the drug recreationally, Charlie finds himself taking more and more of it, falling deeper into his use and his haunts. Eventually his life is completely taken over, even claiming one of his eyes.
This story is a very raw exploration of mental health & addiction. It goes deeply into the fear of failed self-expectation. Why can’t I achieve what I had dreamed of for myself? What is wrong with me that made me fail? What is life worth living for without having dreams and hope for the future? How do I stand out among others? How can I feel the love of another person? This raw exploration is very resonate and made me feel deeply for Charlie. His loneliness grows and grows over the novel, and the absence of his mother made me empathize with Charlie.
The setting for this book is very distinct; a futuristic Chicago that is essentially a Coruscant. I was able to very easily place myself into Charlie’s apartment and office.
All in all, I was moved by Charlie’s struggle throughout the novel and was racing to finish the book. The twist of Charlie losing his eye was shocking in a great way. Must read if you like dystopian, social sci-fi, or books that explore mental health!
Set in the future, Charlie is a recent college graduate living in the afterglow of his successful college athletic career. While he considers himself happy enough with his normal job, his apartment in Chicago, his garden, his friend Emily, his current athletic ability, and himself in general, his wounds of his mother’s death, slow decline of athletic ability, unfulfilled dreams of living and working in NYC, and shallow relationship with his dad haunt him.
His haunts prove to be powerful, and lead him to taking a legal drug that alters skin to a high-status blue appearance. After initially taking the drug recreationally, Charlie finds himself taking more and more of it, falling deeper into his use and his haunts. Eventually his life is completely taken over, even claiming one of his eyes.
This story is a very raw exploration of mental health & addiction. It goes deeply into the fear of failed self-expectation. Why can’t I achieve what I had dreamed of for myself? What is wrong with me that made me fail? What is life worth living for without having dreams and hope for the future? How do I stand out among others? How can I feel the love of another person? This raw exploration is very resonate and made me feel deeply for Charlie. His loneliness grows and grows over the novel, and the absence of his mother made me empathize with Charlie.
The setting for this book is very distinct; a futuristic Chicago that is essentially a Coruscant. I was able to very easily place myself into Charlie’s apartment and office.
All in all, I was moved by Charlie’s struggle throughout the novel and was racing to finish the book. The twist of Charlie losing his eye was shocking in a great way. Must read if you like dystopian, social sci-fi, or books that explore mental health!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 24, 2026
Forbidden Anesthesia completely captivated me from beginning to end. It is one of those rare books that creates such a singular atmosphere that I felt consumed by it while reading. The entire novel carries this overwhelming sense of unease. And yet, I am sure nobody would call it horror. In many ways, I think the fact that it isn’t traditional horror is exactly what makes it so effective. It’s uncomfortable and terrifying, but in a very real way.
June 28, 2026
Top of my books I've read this year. FORBIDDEN ANESTHESIA delivered the uncomfortable, immersive display of addiction I was looking for. I will return to this book in the future.
October 15, 2026
The author does a great job building a world where human interaction is limited and access to the nature is through a huge television screen. It is both fascinating but horrifying. Immediately, we are sucked into the main character, Charlie's, physical and inner world. We learn about his insecurities, his desires, and later, the vain, judgmental thoughts shaped by his addiction. The moving goalpost of what Charlie deems as beautiful, "wavy", and worthy of value (either within his life or within himself) draws out a feeling of despair. I felt like I was descending into the chaos with Charlie while wanting to scream at him to STOP!
As I was reading, I felt a deep resistance and frankly, a discomfort, Charlie's spiral into chaos and despair. It was a challenge for me to allow myself to release my desire to cling onto "what should be" and let myself feel the intense emotions through the author's descriptions of Charlie's self-talk and actions.
This book effectively highlights mental health struggles relating to depression and addiction. It provides a unique perspective that challenged me to sit with the deleterious impacts of addiction. What I learned from this book was that sometimes, you just have to accept the emotions that come up. It's not always about change or improvement, it's about sitting with those emotions and challenges, and seeing them for what they are. That is how you get to empathy and understanding.
As I was reading, I felt a deep resistance and frankly, a discomfort, Charlie's spiral into chaos and despair. It was a challenge for me to allow myself to release my desire to cling onto "what should be" and let myself feel the intense emotions through the author's descriptions of Charlie's self-talk and actions.
This book effectively highlights mental health struggles relating to depression and addiction. It provides a unique perspective that challenged me to sit with the deleterious impacts of addiction. What I learned from this book was that sometimes, you just have to accept the emotions that come up. It's not always about change or improvement, it's about sitting with those emotions and challenges, and seeing them for what they are. That is how you get to empathy and understanding.
June 29, 2026
I loved this book. It was one I was immediately excited with once I heard about it, and reading it brought me out of a reading slump.
The plot was very compelling, one of the most "human" books I've read in a long while. The characters, especially Charlie, felt very real. From their dialogue, emotions, reactions, and failures. A lot of details came back into play, everything was connected well. And the plot towards the end made me misty at a minimum, had me holding back a tear. I know that the plot is relatable to most people.
It was well written. I believe the story was written in a very digestible way while still having an expansive vocabulary. I don't think the prose was anything to win awards with, but being this isn't Cormac McCarthy, just a person writing to get their story out there, it was great.
My only real complaint is that the novel feels novice, but that's too be expected, and going into the book expecting novice writing I was blown out of the water. This author obviously pays attention to the authors and stories they read, and they tried very hard to write an amazing book.
Very Philip K Dicky.
This book was great, I will be buying a hardcover once it's released and I will be telling my friends to read it as well.
I hope my rambling helps.
The plot was very compelling, one of the most "human" books I've read in a long while. The characters, especially Charlie, felt very real. From their dialogue, emotions, reactions, and failures. A lot of details came back into play, everything was connected well. And the plot towards the end made me misty at a minimum, had me holding back a tear. I know that the plot is relatable to most people.
It was well written. I believe the story was written in a very digestible way while still having an expansive vocabulary. I don't think the prose was anything to win awards with, but being this isn't Cormac McCarthy, just a person writing to get their story out there, it was great.
My only real complaint is that the novel feels novice, but that's too be expected, and going into the book expecting novice writing I was blown out of the water. This author obviously pays attention to the authors and stories they read, and they tried very hard to write an amazing book.
Very Philip K Dicky.
This book was great, I will be buying a hardcover once it's released and I will be telling my friends to read it as well.
I hope my rambling helps.
June 23, 2026
10/10 - I highly recommend this book! One of my favorite things about reading is putting myself in someone else’s shoes and learning how they would feel and act. This book uses the sci-fi world for us to understand another person, in this case, Charlie, the main character. I don’t generally read much sci-fi, but this creatively drawn, sci-fi world is interesting and different in a way that makes us see Charlie and his situation in a way I wouldn’t have been able to if it was not written in the sci-fi world. I was drawn in by the plot and the world and emotionally hit hard by the characterization and reality of Charlie. I think lots of readers will know people like Charlie or recognize things about him that are similar to people they know even though it is set in a different, future world than ours. This book does things that great books do, gives us a vision through someone else’s lens. I highly recommend this book.
June 29, 2026
the future is blue
This is an honest, heartfelt indie book about a future where everything is artificial and interactions are based on superficial characteristics and status. Having blue skin is associated with elite starfreighter cruise vacations and a young man with ambition starts taking a pill to simulate this status symbol. He puts everything after this quest for status, losing the few authentic connections and meaningful aspects he has in his life to the addiction to status and looking good. A painful and thoughtful cautionary tale, highly recommended!
This is an honest, heartfelt indie book about a future where everything is artificial and interactions are based on superficial characteristics and status. Having blue skin is associated with elite starfreighter cruise vacations and a young man with ambition starts taking a pill to simulate this status symbol. He puts everything after this quest for status, losing the few authentic connections and meaningful aspects he has in his life to the addiction to status and looking good. A painful and thoughtful cautionary tale, highly recommended!
June 25, 2026
This book leaves you uneasy and slightly confused in some parts. But it’s written beautifully while being accessible, even if a lot of the decisions made can be confusing. I’d recommend this to any reader interested in sci-fi, or who has interest in understanding addiction or addiction-related disorders. Looking forward to re-reading in the future.
September 8, 2026
Intense and full of vivid descriptions. I really wasn’t sure to expect from this one and I don’t know exactly what I’ve come away with, but I had a hard time putting it down. The tension builds such that it’s difficult to read at times, and the ending is… a lot to take in.
October 4, 2026
Big fan
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews