Pruning a Psychopath

by A.J. Jameson

Haymond Gunning is a shifter of minds — a seasoned neurological guide leading a group of scientists through the mindscape of a psychopath. Their mission: eliminate the Darkness that’s spreading. But as the team carves a path through the patient’s prefrontal cortex, Haymond gets the notion this expedition is nothing like the others. Shadows emerge bearing cryptic messages. Mutated beasts prowl just beyond the camp’s perimeter. And absurd weather plagues their travels.

But nothing is random. Controlling it is a singular entity, enigmatic and vile, whose sole intention is to repel the team from its dominion. If the experiment fails, the Institute risks dissolution. But luckily Haymond has never failed to complete an expedition, and he’d do anything to keep his record pristine.

As lies and manipulation twist the team’s understanding of reality, paranoia sets in, and their scrutiny turns inward. Can they maintain their current course and complete the experiment, or will they succumb to the very infection they’ve been sent to destroy?

Genres: Horror

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2020

About the author

A.J. Jameson once navigated a M109 howitzer down an icy slope in South Korea; luckily, the tank stayed upright. He learned to scuba dive in a 10-foot pool for college credits, administer IV drips for the dehydrated/hung over, and lost a battle against centrifugal force while doing donuts in a gravel parking lot with a golf cart. When A.J. is not researching safer ways to operate vehicles, he enjoys reading science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Online RPGs and FPSs have also staked a claim in his daily schedule. Home is Pennsylvania with his girlfriend and two cats.

Reviews

[R. M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 'shifter' agrees to enter the mind of a psychopath in order to literally prune away the psychopathy.

An interesting concept that was not well executed. The book is only 180 pages long - really not enough time and space for the amount that was trying to happen. This made some of the plot quite confusing, the characters very bland and undeveloped, and the whole book feel rushed. I would have liked a lot more description, a lot more details about the worldbuilding, and especially a discussion on the ethics of literally pruning someone's brain. Pruning it into what? Why? What effect would this have on the physical brain? What effect would a mistake have? Could the wrong part of the brain be pruned? So many questions, and not enough story to answer them.

[R Grisham-Whitehouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

very strange

I am not a fan. It was an interesting story but the ending didn’t make a lot of sense. I’m sure subsequent books will provide further clues, but I’m not willing to take the ride