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The Shot
A new hallucinogen known simply as “The Shot” has appeared out of nowhere, gaining rapid popularity among celebrities, drug enthusiasts, and mainstream America alike. The drug, a bright green slime distributed in mysterious, unmarked glass containers, is injected directly into the stomach through a syringe. The experience, users say, is mind-expanding, and that “everything you see becomes something else.”
The Shot leaps to the forefront of the world's attention when an A-list actor has a very public meltdown while high on the substance. He uploads a bizarre two-hour rant to YouTube—which ends up becoming the site's most-viewed video, ever—pleading with the people of the world to take the drug.
The formerly non-religious suddenly have Scripture on their lips (or some skewed version of it), redemption, impending glory … and the imminent arrival of The Mothership, come to save the lost children of humanity.
In this near-future science fiction thriller, Doctor Gaines presents an alarming new vision of addiction, spirituality, and the fate of the human race. The Shot threatens to shake loose the very foundations of the earth, and to unravel the collective sanity of mankind.
Take a hit, if you dare...
The Shot leaps to the forefront of the world's attention when an A-list actor has a very public meltdown while high on the substance. He uploads a bizarre two-hour rant to YouTube—which ends up becoming the site's most-viewed video, ever—pleading with the people of the world to take the drug.
The formerly non-religious suddenly have Scripture on their lips (or some skewed version of it), redemption, impending glory … and the imminent arrival of The Mothership, come to save the lost children of humanity.
In this near-future science fiction thriller, Doctor Gaines presents an alarming new vision of addiction, spirituality, and the fate of the human race. The Shot threatens to shake loose the very foundations of the earth, and to unravel the collective sanity of mankind.
Take a hit, if you dare...
151 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2015
About the author
Doctor Gaines
4 books12 followersJosh is a writer & director living in Portland, OR. He published a few things under the pen name "Doctor" Gaines, a pseudonym he no longer uses.
He wrote "Michigan, Ten Cents," "Clara's Quilt," "The Shot," "The Golden Calf," "White Bark," "Poisonous Snakes of the Midwest," and contributed to the collections "Spooklights" and "High Strange Horror." He also directed an award-winning short film, "Cordial Kill," which can be found here: https://vimeo.com/237987672
He runs a Patreon for his artwork at patreon.com/thejoshgaines
Any other titles bearing the moniker Josh Gaines are by a different author of the same name.
He wrote "Michigan, Ten Cents," "Clara's Quilt," "The Shot," "The Golden Calf," "White Bark," "Poisonous Snakes of the Midwest," and contributed to the collections "Spooklights" and "High Strange Horror." He also directed an award-winning short film, "Cordial Kill," which can be found here: https://vimeo.com/237987672
He runs a Patreon for his artwork at patreon.com/thejoshgaines
Any other titles bearing the moniker Josh Gaines are by a different author of the same name.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 15, 2015
In THE SHOT's opening moments, the state of things is made abundantly clear: our protagonist, one of the last remaining humans not subsisting and hallucinating wildly under the effects of an abundant and mysterious drug, is definitely on the side of the lost. The world has effectively ended already. He's just trying to figure out a place in it.
It's a familiar but seductive template, with echoes of Dawn of the Dead and I Am Legend (at least one of which is directly referenced in the pages), and Doctor Gaines executes the premise deftly, pulling in everything from filmic pastiche (a final against-all-odds showdown on the top floor of an apartment building is a highlight) to the kind of soul-searching you'd expect in a philosophical novel like Nausea or The Stranger.
All of this potentially ascribes a little too much pretension to what is, at its core, a deliberately-pulpy sci-fi horror novel that one can easily blaze through in around three hours or so. It's wildly enjoyable, at times terrifying and grotesque, and has a genius ending that left me both horrified and grinning like an idiot, if that makes a lick of sense. Definitely worth your time.
It's a familiar but seductive template, with echoes of Dawn of the Dead and I Am Legend (at least one of which is directly referenced in the pages), and Doctor Gaines executes the premise deftly, pulling in everything from filmic pastiche (a final against-all-odds showdown on the top floor of an apartment building is a highlight) to the kind of soul-searching you'd expect in a philosophical novel like Nausea or The Stranger.
All of this potentially ascribes a little too much pretension to what is, at its core, a deliberately-pulpy sci-fi horror novel that one can easily blaze through in around three hours or so. It's wildly enjoyable, at times terrifying and grotesque, and has a genius ending that left me both horrified and grinning like an idiot, if that makes a lick of sense. Definitely worth your time.
May 16, 2016
I had a good time reading The Shot. It hooked me right away and I had a hard time putting it down. I liked the narrators style. It conveyed the loneliness and fear of being one of the last (rational) people on earth. There were echoes of The Walking Dead, I am Legend and The 5th Wave but it did not copy any of them. The idea of everyone becoming hooked on an addictive drug isn't so far-fetched given the current heroin problem. I won't spoil the end but I will say I wanted to know more about the purpose of those who engineered The Shot.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks!
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks!
January 12, 2016
This book captures your attention from the start. I could not put the book down, i HAD to finish, I had to know how it ended. The scariest thing about this book is that this could potentially happen, not to the same extent but these days who isn't "trying" new things and experimenting with different drugs. It's a world where EVERYONE is addicted to this drug. They believe in the "Mothership", chant and sing hymns, and speak of twisted words from the bible, searching and forcing non-users to take the shot. The non-users avoid the streets and try to stay hidden while trying to survive. I'm excited to see what other books Dr Gaines come up with next. Won this through Goodreads Giveaway :D
January 24, 2016
So here's the thing- I am a new reader. I should not say new reader...I am a newer "lover of reading". I have relied on Goodreads and Amazon to direct me to different genres to be a diverse reader.
This is the first sci-fi book that was recommended to me, and it is safe to say I am now a "lover of reading sci-fi."
The books flow in the beginning was easy. I followed clear on who was who and what was going on. There was a specific scene where the main character is walking down an alley, attempting to not be seen (you will remember this when you read it), that hooked me. I could not put this book down.
Excited to see what Doctor Gaines puts out next...
This is the first sci-fi book that was recommended to me, and it is safe to say I am now a "lover of reading sci-fi."
The books flow in the beginning was easy. I followed clear on who was who and what was going on. There was a specific scene where the main character is walking down an alley, attempting to not be seen (you will remember this when you read it), that hooked me. I could not put this book down.
Excited to see what Doctor Gaines puts out next...
November 14, 2015
I have read many stories that I can truly say are make believe. When I finished reading this book, I actually felt horror that something like this could happen. I became convinced that I was going to be next.
From the narrator's point of view, he leads us from the beginning of "The Shot", a new addicting drug, through each year, till the final coming.
I won this book on Goodreads. Thank you Doctor Gaines for sharing it with me.
From the narrator's point of view, he leads us from the beginning of "The Shot", a new addicting drug, through each year, till the final coming.
I won this book on Goodreads. Thank you Doctor Gaines for sharing it with me.
February 27, 2016
Very fun read. Should take you one afternoon to read but will certainly fill your head with very strange thoughts of the apocalypse and the emotional torment that comes with it. It reminded me a lot of J.L. Bourne's Day By Day Armageddon but with distorted religious views and the replacement of cliche zombies with a world over run by drug addicts. Definitely recommend reading for anyone new to Doctor Gaines work.
March 22, 2021
Flashback-heavy account of the end of the world via the mass addiction to "the Shot," a hallucinogenic with no known origin and a bizarre high that causes users to spout groupthink about a pseudo-Christian rapture with spaceships. Kind of arbitrary in its effects on the world (as explained by the afterword, the genesis of the story was a nightmare, which is appropriate), but at least it wasn't technically another zombie apocalypse.
Read
February 8, 2024I'm not gonna give it a star rating because I wrote the damn thing, but yes, I think it is good--as good as could be from an angry, sad, often drunk, still-finding-himself twenty-six year old version of myself.
October 7, 2015
The narrator of Gaines’ debut novel is a solitary and compassionate observer to a mysterious drug epidemic threatening humanity. The voice and tone are compelling, and the story is brimming with vivid descriptions that immerse the reader. Gaines reinvents and reshapes popular Science-Fiction tropes to yield something new, imaginative, and fun. What is perhaps the best aspect of The Shot is how it offers clever social commentary and criticisms without becoming didactic. Overall this is a good read, a strong narrative with a unique form that doesn’t sacrifice substance for style. It has camp and consciousness.
October 28, 2015
The Shot by Doctor Gaines is a very well written book that keeps you wanting to know more with every word. The Shot was the first book I had picked up in 6 months and I finished it within a week. You will not want to put this book down once you start! If you're looking to read something pretty strange, fast paced, action packed then you should pick up The Shot!
December 17, 2015
A brisk survival horror/satire novella. Possibly a few too many pop-culture references for my tastes, but the story moves with clear pace and description. This one would be good for fans of zombie lit, post-apocalyptic thrillers, and social satire. Didn't squick me out too much, but I am a supremely jaded reader when it comes body horror.
November 8, 2015
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads giveaways from the author for a honest review. This book is fast paced, descriptive ride that is sure please anyone that likes a good scifi book.
October 20, 2017
this book was great, and had some good description.
Want to Read
November 7, 2015Will read this.
A new hallucinogen known simply as “The Shot” has appeared out of nowhere, gaining rapid popularity among celebrities, drug enthusiasts, and mainstream America alike. The drug, a bright green slime distributed in mysterious, unmarked glass containers, is injected directly into the stomach through a syringe. The experience, users say, is mind-expanding, and that “everything you see becomes something else.”
These are called drugs kids. They induce hallucinations and destroy your body, inwards and outwards....
Do do drugs kids.
A new hallucinogen known simply as “The Shot” has appeared out of nowhere, gaining rapid popularity among celebrities, drug enthusiasts, and mainstream America alike. The drug, a bright green slime distributed in mysterious, unmarked glass containers, is injected directly into the stomach through a syringe. The experience, users say, is mind-expanding, and that “everything you see becomes something else.”
These are called drugs kids. They induce hallucinations and destroy your body, inwards and outwards....
Do do drugs kids.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews