The Simulacra

by Forrest Aguirre

A novel about death, return and doppelgängers. Bewitched. That word defines very well what you feel when reading Forrest Aguirre - in the face of his labyrinths, his twists, his exquisite characters, his strangeness and bizarre obsessions. In The Simulacra, Aguirre reaches a new level in his amazing novels, in his labyrinthine plot, of striking images. A true contemporary masterpiece.

60 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2020

About the author

Forrest's short fiction has appeared in over fifty venues, including Asimov's, Gargoyle, Apex, and Vasterien. He is a World Fantasy Award winner for his editorial work, with Jeff VanderMeer, on the Leviathan 3 anthology. His novel, Heraclix & Pomp was published October, 2014 by the Underland Press imprint of Resurrection House press. His shorter work has been collected in Fugue XXIX (Raw Dog Screaming Press), and is also available at the Kindle store or on Smashwords at:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi...

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful volume from Raphus Press presents a short story (or perhaps a novella) set in the sixteenth or seventeenth century in what is now the Netherlands. Forrest Aguirre's tale is built with an architectural care, and concerns the efforts of two thaumaturgic artists seeking to create doppelgängers of each other. The protagonist is one of those very doubles, and his journey of self-discovery is enriched with elements of philosophy, magic, and steganography.

What's particularly impressive about this specific edition is the work Raphus Press has done to physically reflect the contents of the story, both via illustrations from the work of Giovanni Battista Bracelli, and via faint artifacts of the printing process scattered throughout the text, inspired by the protagonist's discovery of a covertext that becomes key to the resolution of his quest.

I can't claim to have fully understood all of the layers at work in this story on a first read, but it's a wonderful puzzle box that I will certainly open again. In a similar vein to his novel Heraclix & Pomp, Aguirre has concocted an elegant work of historical fiction in The Simulacra, and delivered a tale that resounds with the deep magic and mystery of early modern Europe. Highly recommended all around!

[Allen Svensson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally I thought the title and general theme to be derived from Baudrillard, rather it’s more connected with a rich history of uncanny doubles or clever reinterpretations. Sengher and the Landsknechts are maybe not the most fleshed out characters but it is appropriate for the length of the story. Ludolf and Original Ludolf are the highlight of this story, both sensitive and intelligent protagonists, at least that is how we come to see Original Ludolf. Aguirre’s writing is both whimsical but evocative, he has the ability to make the reader pause and think about the philosophical implications of what’s happening. The old simulacra is possibly more relevant now than it has ever been. Best read of the year so far. Cheers!