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Obsidian Worlds #11
The Experience Machine
The skullcap sits to one side of the chair. Its snaking wires and sensors throw a Medusa shadow against the basement wall. I touch its plastic. Stroke its wiry hair.
The Machine gives me everything I want. Or the one thing I want. Life in a woman’s body, under the tangerine glow of the Spiral Arm Nebula. But nothing remains the same for long, not even in the timeless worlds of the Experience Machine.
From the author of HEDON, The Experience Machine is a brutal story of identity found and lost. Plug in, baby. You won’t regret it.
The Machine gives me everything I want. Or the one thing I want. Life in a woman’s body, under the tangerine glow of the Spiral Arm Nebula. But nothing remains the same for long, not even in the timeless worlds of the Experience Machine.
From the author of HEDON, The Experience Machine is a brutal story of identity found and lost. Plug in, baby. You won’t regret it.
24 pages, ebook
First published August 25, 2015
19 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Jason Werbeloff
60 books326 followersHuman. Male. From an obscure planet in the Milky Way Galaxy. Sci-fi novelist with a PhD in philosophy. Likes chocolates, Labradors, and zombies (not necessarily in that order). Werbeloff spends his days constructing thought experiments, while trying to muster enough guilt to go to the gym.
He's the author of the sci-fi thriller trilogy, Defragmenting Daniel, two novels, Hedon and The Solace Pill, and the short story anthology, Obsidian Worlds. His books will make your brain hurt. And you'll come back for more.
Subscribe to his newsletter to receive a free book, and a lifetime of free and discounted stories.
**Amazon Author Page - download all of Werbeloff's fiction from Amazon.
**Facebook and Twitter - follow Werbeloff for release date information on upcoming novels.
**Website - read about the author, and the philosophy behind his fiction.
He's the author of the sci-fi thriller trilogy, Defragmenting Daniel, two novels, Hedon and The Solace Pill, and the short story anthology, Obsidian Worlds. His books will make your brain hurt. And you'll come back for more.
Subscribe to his newsletter to receive a free book, and a lifetime of free and discounted stories.
**Amazon Author Page - download all of Werbeloff's fiction from Amazon.
**Facebook and Twitter - follow Werbeloff for release date information on upcoming novels.
**Website - read about the author, and the philosophy behind his fiction.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 4, 2021
A twisted, but very good story.
September 8, 2015
Ideal Revenge
Mature, colourful, wonderfully visual, and often suggestive of olfactory titillation The Experience Machine is a must have. Jason Werbeloff has presented another gut twister. The transitional dream from Manfred to Mascara is well paced, provocative and primitively satisfying. The subtext is – beware the cold anger of the delicate, bullied, and sensitive individuals we meet and casually discard – each has their own Experience Machine in their personal cellars to deal with you. Do not miss this read – it is life changing.
Mature, colourful, wonderfully visual, and often suggestive of olfactory titillation The Experience Machine is a must have. Jason Werbeloff has presented another gut twister. The transitional dream from Manfred to Mascara is well paced, provocative and primitively satisfying. The subtext is – beware the cold anger of the delicate, bullied, and sensitive individuals we meet and casually discard – each has their own Experience Machine in their personal cellars to deal with you. Do not miss this read – it is life changing.
September 12, 2015
Werbeloff positions his writing in the family of The Handmaid’s Tale and A Brave New World, which is to say: sci-fi that paints a bleak view of the future. Like Atwood, he also seeks to deal with issues of sexuality against this backdrop.
In his new story – would we call it a novella? – we meet a young man who has built a machine enabling him to viscerally explore his transgender identity. The Experience Machine is literally that – a device offering out of body experiences of the gender-bending, other-worldly sort.
Manfred is, from the outset, a disturbed individual. A computer programmer in a dead-end job, living with an abusive father and in an Oedipal entanglement with a dead mother. It is little wonder he seeks to escape. The idealised world that lies beyond the veil pierced by the Experience Machine seems, at first, to offer this escape.
The story takes place against the backdrop of a world war. The Bhutanese (of all people) are relentlessly attacking the city in which Manfred lives. Maybe I missed it, but I was never quite sure what city this was. Manfred’s thuggish father sports what sounds like some kind of UK accent so I’m guessing Scotland?
In any event, the locale is never more than a backdrop to what is a personal story. This short book is a prequel to Werbeloff’s previous work "Hedon", which I gather goes more deeply into the conflict and context of this world. Reading it without that earlier work might be doing it an injustice.
This is a small work, but an interesting one. Science-fiction is often the domain of teenage boys and, as such, can deal with adult themes in a sanitised fashion – a problem with which even the greats like Asimov struggled. At its best, it is a genre that allows adults to conduct thought experiments which push our understanding of the world into unexplored places. Werbeloff, as a skilled and accomplished academic philosopher, knows how to seamlessly blend his narrative with metaphysics and other branches of philosophy.
If there are negatives here they lie in the area of character, and the laborious need to contain this story in a sci-fi future.
Whilst Manfred/Mascara is well-drawn and she/he offers many opportunities to explore gender issues, as well as issues of abuse, the rest of the characters feel two-dimensional. This may be due to the slightness of the book which would have benefited from a lot more backstory and fleshing out.
Proceeding from an alluring Kafkaesque premise, I couldn’t help feeling that many of the same insights could have been drawn more easily outside of this dystopian future environment. The world which Werbeloff needs to create and define in such a short book becomes too burdensome and distracting when at heart this is a story that requires none of that.
Still, Jason Werbeloff is an important voice in South African literature. His importance lies not in the genre he has chosen but in his courageous depiction of sexuality, and his unabashed intellectualism which enables The Experience Machine to speak with a unique voice.
In his new story – would we call it a novella? – we meet a young man who has built a machine enabling him to viscerally explore his transgender identity. The Experience Machine is literally that – a device offering out of body experiences of the gender-bending, other-worldly sort.
Manfred is, from the outset, a disturbed individual. A computer programmer in a dead-end job, living with an abusive father and in an Oedipal entanglement with a dead mother. It is little wonder he seeks to escape. The idealised world that lies beyond the veil pierced by the Experience Machine seems, at first, to offer this escape.
The story takes place against the backdrop of a world war. The Bhutanese (of all people) are relentlessly attacking the city in which Manfred lives. Maybe I missed it, but I was never quite sure what city this was. Manfred’s thuggish father sports what sounds like some kind of UK accent so I’m guessing Scotland?
In any event, the locale is never more than a backdrop to what is a personal story. This short book is a prequel to Werbeloff’s previous work "Hedon", which I gather goes more deeply into the conflict and context of this world. Reading it without that earlier work might be doing it an injustice.
This is a small work, but an interesting one. Science-fiction is often the domain of teenage boys and, as such, can deal with adult themes in a sanitised fashion – a problem with which even the greats like Asimov struggled. At its best, it is a genre that allows adults to conduct thought experiments which push our understanding of the world into unexplored places. Werbeloff, as a skilled and accomplished academic philosopher, knows how to seamlessly blend his narrative with metaphysics and other branches of philosophy.
If there are negatives here they lie in the area of character, and the laborious need to contain this story in a sci-fi future.
Whilst Manfred/Mascara is well-drawn and she/he offers many opportunities to explore gender issues, as well as issues of abuse, the rest of the characters feel two-dimensional. This may be due to the slightness of the book which would have benefited from a lot more backstory and fleshing out.
Proceeding from an alluring Kafkaesque premise, I couldn’t help feeling that many of the same insights could have been drawn more easily outside of this dystopian future environment. The world which Werbeloff needs to create and define in such a short book becomes too burdensome and distracting when at heart this is a story that requires none of that.
Still, Jason Werbeloff is an important voice in South African literature. His importance lies not in the genre he has chosen but in his courageous depiction of sexuality, and his unabashed intellectualism which enables The Experience Machine to speak with a unique voice.
September 9, 2015
I was given this in exchange for an honest review - I don't do any other kind!
I haven't read Hedon (yet), so I had no preconceptions about anything in the story.
The Experience Machine
So real
So vivid
So addictive
Another time, away from the hell of now
Another space, away from bombs and war
Another life sans parent, sans male gender
A Mascara and Forever Love story
The Machine teases and never lets you get the sexual climax
The real climax for others is death
A deliciously sexy, violent, revengefully enjoyable story. Loved it!
I haven't read Hedon (yet), so I had no preconceptions about anything in the story.
The Experience Machine
So real
So vivid
So addictive
Another time, away from the hell of now
Another space, away from bombs and war
Another life sans parent, sans male gender
A Mascara and Forever Love story
The Machine teases and never lets you get the sexual climax
The real climax for others is death
A deliciously sexy, violent, revengefully enjoyable story. Loved it!
September 13, 2015
Another thought provoking, imaginative short story by Jason Werbeloff. Like a lot of his short stories, there is a haunting air of melancholy underlying the tale which makes the characters stick with you beyond the end of the book. As a huge fan of his novel Hedon, I really enjoyed the tie-in with that story, and recommend that you go purchase Hedon to learn more about what happens in Mascara's life.
September 8, 2015
Vivid, imaginative descriptions. Gripping, suspenseful plot. Complex, emotionally-involving characterization. I didn't realize this is a prequel to 'Hedon' till it was stated at the end, then I remembered the character, and it was interesting to find our more about them..
July 16, 2019
Awesome
I love science fiction and I love lgbt+/ saga topics. This story was sad but was also empowering. Highly recommend.
I love science fiction and I love lgbt+/ saga topics. This story was sad but was also empowering. Highly recommend.
September 15, 2015
There is always a villain and hero in every story, sometimes though they are one and the same...
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else for a day or even just an hour? Someone rich, powerful, an explorer, a clown, or even a homeless person. I myself have had day dreams of what it would be like to be a man for one whole day. The things I would do, the places I would go, and the people I would meet. I would love the chance to be a man and experience the ordinary day from a man's perspective. While it is just a fun day dream for me, here in "The Experience Machine" it is an actual option for the main character, to be someone totally different than who he really is, or is it there in his virtual reality that he can finally be who he really is...
In the synopsis for this book it says "identity found and lost" but it was more than that for me, it was identity found and lost and found again. We all have parts of ourselves that may never see the light of day without certain people or situations bringing that part of ourselves out. In this story we are introduced to a young man who has scrimped and saved, worked overtime and through lunch to afford a virtual reality machine where he can be his true self. The lengths he will go through not only to be able to purchase and assemble but also to just continually use this VR machine clue you in right away that he is miserable in his everyday life. His first foray into his VR world broke my heart, he was overjoyed with things I take for granted everyday, just being accepted.
This story is a must read! Jason Werbeloff has cleverly woven in the real world problems that we are facing here and all over the world everyday, and he spun them into a ss in such a way that you can not ignore the unfairness of it all, in the story or in real life. He has created a character in Manfred that we all know, pass on the street, or hear about through friends or on the news and given him life. There is so much more I could say but I really think this story should be read without to much foreknowledge. Go and download it now while it is free and you will not regret it!
Happy Reading!!!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else for a day or even just an hour? Someone rich, powerful, an explorer, a clown, or even a homeless person. I myself have had day dreams of what it would be like to be a man for one whole day. The things I would do, the places I would go, and the people I would meet. I would love the chance to be a man and experience the ordinary day from a man's perspective. While it is just a fun day dream for me, here in "The Experience Machine" it is an actual option for the main character, to be someone totally different than who he really is, or is it there in his virtual reality that he can finally be who he really is...
In the synopsis for this book it says "identity found and lost" but it was more than that for me, it was identity found and lost and found again. We all have parts of ourselves that may never see the light of day without certain people or situations bringing that part of ourselves out. In this story we are introduced to a young man who has scrimped and saved, worked overtime and through lunch to afford a virtual reality machine where he can be his true self. The lengths he will go through not only to be able to purchase and assemble but also to just continually use this VR machine clue you in right away that he is miserable in his everyday life. His first foray into his VR world broke my heart, he was overjoyed with things I take for granted everyday, just being accepted.
This story is a must read! Jason Werbeloff has cleverly woven in the real world problems that we are facing here and all over the world everyday, and he spun them into a ss in such a way that you can not ignore the unfairness of it all, in the story or in real life. He has created a character in Manfred that we all know, pass on the street, or hear about through friends or on the news and given him life. There is so much more I could say but I really think this story should be read without to much foreknowledge. Go and download it now while it is free and you will not regret it!
Happy Reading!!!
September 8, 2015
I got a free ARC of this in exchange for an honest review
I'm really enjoying the work of Jason, he does tend to flip between really dark, and humorous stories, this really falls in the former category. If you've read his novel Hedon, you may remember the experience machine that played a fairly large part in the story. This is the tale of the invention of the machine, and the early life of Mascara, the character who was also in Hedon. Imagine a machine that will let you be anywhere, or anything you want to be, could you ever leave it?
It is entirely possible to read this without knowing any of the back story, it's an interesting add on thought.
As usual the characterisations are beautifully done, the plotting is tight, with a couple of wonderful little twists and turns. As with Hedon, it's a particularly dark story, although without the lightness that the novel has for contrast. Once again he shows why he's on top of his game
I'm really enjoying the work of Jason, he does tend to flip between really dark, and humorous stories, this really falls in the former category. If you've read his novel Hedon, you may remember the experience machine that played a fairly large part in the story. This is the tale of the invention of the machine, and the early life of Mascara, the character who was also in Hedon. Imagine a machine that will let you be anywhere, or anything you want to be, could you ever leave it?
It is entirely possible to read this without knowing any of the back story, it's an interesting add on thought.
As usual the characterisations are beautifully done, the plotting is tight, with a couple of wonderful little twists and turns. As with Hedon, it's a particularly dark story, although without the lightness that the novel has for contrast. Once again he shows why he's on top of his game
September 16, 2015
This review is based on a complimentary advanced reading copy but the opinions are my own. I've read a handful of Werbeloff's short stories and both of his novels published to date. This was among my favorite of the bunch and quite a bit darker than the rest. The plot is a blend of science fiction and horror, with a nice exploration of gender-identity issues thrown into the mix. Rarely have I read a story in which a serial killer is written so relatably - Mascara is both victim and monster. There's some nice tie-in to Werbeloff's recent novel Hedon, as well. A fun story that will also be included as part of his upcoming short-story collection.
September 4, 2015
As usual with Jason Werbeloff the story was well written, with a main character that was well-depicted and that I could relate to (even though he was very different from me).
But the story was a bit too dark to my taste and left me feeling quite uneasy. So not a read for everyone, you have to be ready for something dark and disturbing - but interesting.
But the story was a bit too dark to my taste and left me feeling quite uneasy. So not a read for everyone, you have to be ready for something dark and disturbing - but interesting.
December 31, 2017
The Experience Machine: A Metaphysical Horror by Jason Werbeloff is a short story that is fascinating. I gave it five stars because it opened my mind to pondering what would happen if I could have all my desires fulfilled. It reminded me of the adage 'Be careful what you wish for.'
"The blush is well on its way to my face now. I feel it run along my upper arms. Freckles. Every freckle on my skin gleams when I blush. Just one more way I won the genetic lottery."
I received a complimentary Kindle copy in an Amazon promotion. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013KCXQRS
"The blush is well on its way to my face now. I feel it run along my upper arms. Freckles. Every freckle on my skin gleams when I blush. Just one more way I won the genetic lottery."
I received a complimentary Kindle copy in an Amazon promotion. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013KCXQRS
October 12, 2017
This short story deserves 6/5 stars. Every page, every paragraph, every sentence was literary perfection. I ate this book up. The story was riveting, the characters rich and solid and the machine a mystery within a mystery.
November 8, 2017
Superbly twisted and macabre. I love it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Actually I always enjoy any story I read that is by Jason Werbeloff. His imagination is undefinable genius.
January 17, 2018
Short, but brilliant. A little brutal, but this is a 'just desserts' tale I definitely enjoyed.
September 25, 2019
Not sure what I was expecting but that was very different from my usual collection of books.
A short story about an emotionaly unbalanced cross dresser in a slightly futuristic world.
A short story about an emotionaly unbalanced cross dresser in a slightly futuristic world.
September 24, 2015
A very creative sci-fi short that explores someone's greatest desire, and helps them 'live' it out mentally while wearing a cap attached to a machine.
If it's one thing Manfred always wanted, it was to live as a woman. With this machine he gets to do that, if only temporarily.
After Manfred's mother never comes home one night, his abusive drunk father and co-workers keep picking on him it seems his only outlet is the machine. However if left on too long (if you're "in" the machine too long) it causes sever headaches and nosebleeds. A small price to make your enemies pay for their sins, eh?
Good potential for a full length novel.
If it's one thing Manfred always wanted, it was to live as a woman. With this machine he gets to do that, if only temporarily.
After Manfred's mother never comes home one night, his abusive drunk father and co-workers keep picking on him it seems his only outlet is the machine. However if left on too long (if you're "in" the machine too long) it causes sever headaches and nosebleeds. A small price to make your enemies pay for their sins, eh?
Good potential for a full length novel.
October 8, 2015
What an Experimental Machine Horror It is!
Very unique and hard to set down once one gets to sit down and read it! An unusual Sci-fi ebook! I would recommend it for those perhaps in their teenage lives and adults who love Sci-fi for future happenings. But for those reasons that I stated in the first sentence and the fact that it was a clean reads ebook I am giving it a five star rating. I received this ebook for free and in return for this I am giving an honest review in return. Very good job Jason!
By Angela
Very unique and hard to set down once one gets to sit down and read it! An unusual Sci-fi ebook! I would recommend it for those perhaps in their teenage lives and adults who love Sci-fi for future happenings. But for those reasons that I stated in the first sentence and the fact that it was a clean reads ebook I am giving it a five star rating. I received this ebook for free and in return for this I am giving an honest review in return. Very good job Jason!
By Angela
October 25, 2015
An interesting short story. I haven't read this series, so I may have missed much of it, but it is well written and describes an interesting world.
October 4, 2017
Living life through a virtual reality experience to escape your day to day life. Seems about right in today's society. Mascara is super creepy.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews