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Laundry Files #2.5
Down on the Farm
In Charles Stross’s novel The Atrocity Archive and its sequels, the “Laundry” is a secret British agency responsible for keeping dark interdimensional entitities from destroying the cosmos and, not incidentally, the human race. The battles with creatures from beyond time are dangerous; however, it’s the subsequent bureaucratic paperwork that actually breaks men’s souls. Now, in “Down on the Farm,” Laundry veteran Bob Howard must investigate strange doings at another obscure, moth-eaten government agency—evidently a rest home for Laundry agents whose minds have snapped…
Charles Stross is the Hugo-winning author of some of the most acclaimed novels and stories of the last ten years, including Singularity Sky, Accelerando, Halting State, the "Merchant Princes" series beginning with The Family Trade, and the story collections Toast and Wireless. In 2010, his Laundry story “Overtime,” published on Tor, is a finalist for science fiction’s Hugo Award.
Charles Stross is the Hugo-winning author of some of the most acclaimed novels and stories of the last ten years, including Singularity Sky, Accelerando, Halting State, the "Merchant Princes" series beginning with The Family Trade, and the story collections Toast and Wireless. In 2010, his Laundry story “Overtime,” published on Tor, is a finalist for science fiction’s Hugo Award.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2008
32 people are currently reading
1510 people want to read
About the author
Charles Stross
158 books5,832 followersCharles David George "Charlie" Stross is a writer based in Edinburgh, Scotland. His works range from science fiction and Lovecraftian horror to fantasy.
Stross is sometimes regarded as being part of a new generation of British science fiction writers who specialise in hard science fiction and space opera. His contemporaries include Alastair Reynolds, Ken MacLeod, Liz Williams and Richard Morgan.
SF Encyclopedia: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/...
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Tor: http://us.macmillan.com/author/charle...
Stross is sometimes regarded as being part of a new generation of British science fiction writers who specialise in hard science fiction and space opera. His contemporaries include Alastair Reynolds, Ken MacLeod, Liz Williams and Richard Morgan.
SF Encyclopedia: http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/...
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_...
Tor: http://us.macmillan.com/author/charle...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
February 23, 2018
Re-read 2/23/18
I'm upping the stars on this to a full 5 because it means much more to the later novels, especially with the V. :) It's more humorous as a re-read, too. It just gets better and better. Let's go say hi to the old folks on the farm, shall we? Mad magicians, all! :)
Original review:
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: the juxtapositions are delightful. This time we've got a smidge of Doctor Who, a smudge of Cthulhu, spy fiction, and humorous red tape. Second time reading is still just as good as the first.
I'm upping the stars on this to a full 5 because it means much more to the later novels, especially with the V. :) It's more humorous as a re-read, too. It just gets better and better. Let's go say hi to the old folks on the farm, shall we? Mad magicians, all! :)
Original review:
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: the juxtapositions are delightful. This time we've got a smidge of Doctor Who, a smudge of Cthulhu, spy fiction, and humorous red tape. Second time reading is still just as good as the first.
October 29, 2018
In usual backwards style, I saw this cover while perusing my library and decided to read it even though I've never read anything by this author. Going in blind, and it was entertaining in its 'low man on the totem pole' gets stuck with the job no one wants and discovers some rather disturbing things even for his odd line of work. Geeky with Lovecraftian elements and terrifying Nurse Ratchet Daleks.
Sold me on reading the series, now. Good job, short story.
Love that cover. Love it.
Sold me on reading the series, now. Good job, short story.
Love that cover. Love it.
February 25, 2018
BWAHAHAHAHAHA. This was a delightful little excursion between novels.
Bob is sent to The Farm, a retirement home for Laundry agents that finally got their souls crushed by all the bureaucracy they had to deal with (because demonology has nothing on bureaucracy).
The story is short, but full of wonderfully quiry characters - from the gents inserted for an investigation decades ago to a carnivorous sofa and, of course, the nurses and Matron.
The author was narrating this audio version himself, which was also cool, because he's really good at it.
DIVIDE BY ZERO! :D
Bob is sent to The Farm, a retirement home for Laundry agents that finally got their souls crushed by all the bureaucracy they had to deal with (because demonology has nothing on bureaucracy).
The story is short, but full of wonderfully quiry characters - from the gents inserted for an investigation decades ago to a carnivorous sofa and, of course, the nurses and Matron.
The author was narrating this audio version himself, which was also cool, because he's really good at it.
DIVIDE BY ZERO! :D
October 23, 2015
Down on the Farm is terrifying.
There is humour, as usual.
There is Howard's ingenuity, as usual.
But it all takes place at an asylum. If you thought the common ones are scary and have an irrational fear of being detained there, imagine the one where the Laundry 'takes care of its own'. The Funny Farm even has its own Sisters.
I loved it.
There is humour, as usual.
There is Howard's ingenuity, as usual.
But it all takes place at an asylum. If you thought the common ones are scary and have an irrational fear of being detained there, imagine the one where the Laundry 'takes care of its own'. The Funny Farm even has its own Sisters.
I loved it.
February 13, 2020
A short that is numerically Laundry Files #2.5, but I didn't find any references that tie it into the series time wise.
Short but worth a read as long as you have read some of the other books first and know the background of the series.
I found it available for free on the Tor.com website.
Short but worth a read as long as you have read some of the other books first and know the background of the series.
I found it available for free on the Tor.com website.
March 5, 2017
At what point did magic have to be physics and not just magical?
February 2, 2017
Good paranormal short in which Bob is sent to the Laundry's psychiatric in-patient facility to investigate a patient complaint.
July 25, 2025
Mad sorcerers
Sorcerers go mad. In Charles Stross's LaundryVerse they suffer from K-syndrome (Krantzberg-Godel Spongiform Encephalopathy), a disease that results from running invocations on the neural hardware in your brain, in contrast with the safe practices of modern computational demonologists such as Bob Howard, who use electronic computers. ("Ah, this is obviously some strange use of the word 'safe' that I wasn't previously aware of." -- Arthur Dent.)
Mad sorcerers are a problem. You can't just give them a pension, even with generous health care. Compared to a mad sorcerer, a thermonuclear warhead is no more than a minor annoyance. Mad sorcerers need to be protected from themselves, and we need to be protected from them. Unknown to Bob, the Laundry has a facility, "St Hilda of Grantham’s Home For Disgruntled Waifs And Strays" (as Bob eventually remarks, "most of them aren’t so much disgruntled as demonically possessed"), for mad sorcerers.
Word of trouble at St Hilda's comes to the Laundry, and Bob's supervisor Andy sends Bob to look into it. Andy has visited St Hilda's in previous years, and it is dangerous to visit St Hilda's more than once, at least if you intend to leave the second time. Thus Bob, low man on the totem pole, gets the job. Bob's challenge is to identify the problem, fix it, and get out with an intact, functioning brain. It's a good story, and becomes important to the later development of the Laundry Files.
Down on the Farm was first published in 2008. It's a short story, or perhaps what the Hugo Awards call a novelette. It was recently reprinted along with Overtime (another Laundry Files short) along with the novella A Conventional Boy.
Blog review.
Sorcerers go mad. In Charles Stross's LaundryVerse they suffer from K-syndrome (Krantzberg-Godel Spongiform Encephalopathy), a disease that results from running invocations on the neural hardware in your brain, in contrast with the safe practices of modern computational demonologists such as Bob Howard, who use electronic computers. ("Ah, this is obviously some strange use of the word 'safe' that I wasn't previously aware of." -- Arthur Dent.)
Mad sorcerers are a problem. You can't just give them a pension, even with generous health care. Compared to a mad sorcerer, a thermonuclear warhead is no more than a minor annoyance. Mad sorcerers need to be protected from themselves, and we need to be protected from them. Unknown to Bob, the Laundry has a facility, "St Hilda of Grantham’s Home For Disgruntled Waifs And Strays" (as Bob eventually remarks, "most of them aren’t so much disgruntled as demonically possessed"), for mad sorcerers.
Word of trouble at St Hilda's comes to the Laundry, and Bob's supervisor Andy sends Bob to look into it. Andy has visited St Hilda's in previous years, and it is dangerous to visit St Hilda's more than once, at least if you intend to leave the second time. Thus Bob, low man on the totem pole, gets the job. Bob's challenge is to identify the problem, fix it, and get out with an intact, functioning brain. It's a good story, and becomes important to the later development of the Laundry Files.
Down on the Farm was first published in 2008. It's a short story, or perhaps what the Hugo Awards call a novelette. It was recently reprinted along with Overtime (another Laundry Files short) along with the novella A Conventional Boy.
Blog review.
December 10, 2017
4.5 Stars
Awesome science fiction thriller / horror / mystery. I loved the start of this series it is tailor made to my likes. This is my first Stross novel even though he has been on my to read list for a very long time.
Great characters.
Great world.
Great science fiction.
Lovecraft!
Gadgets.
And more.
I really liked it.
This is a cool novella that features chess!
Awesome science fiction thriller / horror / mystery. I loved the start of this series it is tailor made to my likes. This is my first Stross novel even though he has been on my to read list for a very long time.
Great characters.
Great world.
Great science fiction.
Lovecraft!
Gadgets.
And more.
I really liked it.
This is a cool novella that features chess!
September 24, 2019
Než tohle začnete číst, oblečte si tričko s nápisem Doctor Who a s obrázkem TARDIS jako já 😀
Sestra Převodovka a její kolegyně jakoby Dalekům z oka vypadly. Úplně je vidím jak na svých kolečkách rejdí po podlaze a skandují: "Exterminate! Vyhladit!"
Sestra Převodovka a její kolegyně jakoby Dalekům z oka vypadly. Úplně je vidím jak na svých kolečkách rejdí po podlaze a skandují: "Exterminate! Vyhladit!"
April 16, 2014
for an author who OBVIOUSLY adores Lovecraft and Lovecraftian/Cthulhu fiction, he sure makes fun of the purple prose often used.
June 27, 2022
Bob Howard is sent to the Funny Farm to investigate odd reports on the mentally ill casualties of the covert organisation he works for.
Stross' short story is engaging and fits in well with the novels from 'The Laundry'.
Stross' short story is engaging and fits in well with the novels from 'The Laundry'.
May 13, 2020
This was too short . I need more of those people in the farm and what are they researching ? lol
This is good .
This is good .
February 23, 2012
Another short story set in the Laundry, like Overtime. In this one, our hero Bob is sent to check on the residents of the Funny Farm - Laundry agents who have gone mad from exposure to thaumaturgical energy. When he gets through enough layers of red tape to enter the most secure wing of the facility, he doesn't find a bunch of crazies... but there is an evil computer. This inspired me to start back at the beginning of the series and read the Atrocity Archives.
September 16, 2014
James Bond meets Lovecraft. What fun!
May 19, 2015
Oh wow. I enjoyed that. Hmmm... do I have space on my reading list to pick up another series though...? D:
March 5, 2015
Fun. Not as inventive, humorous, or literary as Equoid, but also less upsetting. I think I prefer Laundry Files novellas to novels.
July 28, 2015
Interesting plot, less than fantastic ending.
January 23, 2016
Ta lehkost a chytrý humor spojené s překvapivými nápady a sympatickými postavami způsobují, že číst příběh je mi potěšením. Laundry je prostě dobrá.
April 26, 2017
Fun little tale.
The story was clever and interesting and gives wonderful world building. I did not see the end.
Good little tale.
Onward to the next book!
The story was clever and interesting and gives wonderful world building. I did not see the end.
Good little tale.
Onward to the next book!
August 29, 2023
Free copy online:
https://www.tor.com/2008/07/20/down-o...
Read previously, but it's pretty opaque this time. DNF the reread. Others like it . . .
https://www.tor.com/2008/07/20/down-o...
Read previously, but it's pretty opaque this time. DNF the reread. Others like it . . .
January 26, 2019
Down on the Farm is a short story from the Laundry Files series written by Charles Stross, which is a story that takes place in-between The Jennifer Morgue and The Fuller Memorandum and is best read after the second book.
Down on the Farm has Bob Howard sent undercover to a Lunatickal Asylum – the Farm, a retirement home of sorts for Laundry agents that finally got their souls crushed – not by the extra-dimensional creatures, but the paperwork and bureaucracy they had to deal with. While there, he has to investigate the oddness that is happening there.
Down on the Farm is written rather well. It has horror and humor in equal portion. A retirement home could be scary on its own, but one made for Laundry Agents ups up the fear factor. The story is short, but full of wonderfully quirky characters – from the agents inserted for investigations decades ago to a carnivorous sofa and the nurses and Matron.
All in all, Down on the Farm is a well written short story about Bob Howard dealing with a rather odd situation at one of the scariest places – a retirement home for Laundry Agents – the Farm. It is also a worthy and wonderful addition to the Laundry Files universe – enriching it just a tad more.
Down on the Farm has Bob Howard sent undercover to a Lunatickal Asylum – the Farm, a retirement home of sorts for Laundry agents that finally got their souls crushed – not by the extra-dimensional creatures, but the paperwork and bureaucracy they had to deal with. While there, he has to investigate the oddness that is happening there.
Down on the Farm is written rather well. It has horror and humor in equal portion. A retirement home could be scary on its own, but one made for Laundry Agents ups up the fear factor. The story is short, but full of wonderfully quirky characters – from the agents inserted for investigations decades ago to a carnivorous sofa and the nurses and Matron.
All in all, Down on the Farm is a well written short story about Bob Howard dealing with a rather odd situation at one of the scariest places – a retirement home for Laundry Agents – the Farm. It is also a worthy and wonderful addition to the Laundry Files universe – enriching it just a tad more.
December 22, 2017
Three Tales From the Laundry Files continues the story of a British counter terrorism unit that fights supernatural and alien threats told through the eyes of an employee, Bob Howard. The three novella/short stories are “Down on the Farm (Laundry Files #2.5),” “Equoid (Laundry Files #2.9),” and “Overtime (Laundry Files #3.5).” Two of the stories are in the field and the third is set at HQ with a Christmas theme. Each starts slow, but they all get better the further in you get. All of them are quick, engaging reads, although Stross continues to be enamored with computing jargon and the vernacular of the Laundry’s trade. I plan to continue reading this series.
In “Down on the Farm” Howard investigates a message reporting patient abuse at the ‘Farm,’ a facility to help Laundry agents recover from mental breakdowns or to provide long term care. His bosses send him with the feeling they have been less than forthright with him. As you might expect, not all is what it seems at the Farm. Howard unravels a mystery and barely escapes with his life.
In “Down on the Farm” Howard investigates a message reporting patient abuse at the ‘Farm,’ a facility to help Laundry agents recover from mental breakdowns or to provide long term care. His bosses send him with the feeling they have been less than forthright with him. As you might expect, not all is what it seems at the Farm. Howard unravels a mystery and barely escapes with his life.
September 22, 2019
I enjoyed this - there's a decent scenario, and Stross does a good job with visual storytelling (so that I can imagine each scene). However, the ending felt a bit anti-climactic. Still, as a freebie, it seems churlish to complain.
I liked the programming reference to "call by reference, not call by value". It reminded me of Niklaus Wirth's old joke that you could call him by name (pronouncing his surname correctly as "Virt") or by value (pronouncing it incorrectly as "Worth").
I liked the programming reference to "call by reference, not call by value". It reminded me of Niklaus Wirth's old joke that you could call him by name (pronouncing his surname correctly as "Virt") or by value (pronouncing it incorrectly as "Worth").
February 18, 2019
"La prima legge della burocrazia dice non mostrare curiosità fuori dal tuo cubicolo. È la prima regola di qualsiasi esercito che abbia mai marciato sulla Terra: mai offrirsi volontari. Se fate domande (o vi offrite volontari), verrà interpretato come un segno di inattività e il diavolo, sotto l’aspetto del vostro capo reparto (o sergente) troverà un bel lavoretto per le vostre manine oziose. Inoltre fareste meglio a credere che sarà molto meno piacevole di qualunque cosa steste facendo prima (ozio creativo, per esempio), perché l’inattività è un crimine contro l’organizzazione e deve essere punita."
Una storia fulminante, un gioiellino degno del miglior Stross che sulla misura breve del racconto riesce a condensare al meglio ilarità macabra e azione. Forse la cosa più godibile che ho letto della Lavanderia fino a ora. Consigliatissimo!
Una storia fulminante, un gioiellino degno del miglior Stross che sulla misura breve del racconto riesce a condensare al meglio ilarità macabra e azione. Forse la cosa più godibile che ho letto della Lavanderia fino a ora. Consigliatissimo!
May 5, 2022
3.5 Stars
An engaging vignette from Stross' Laundry Series. Bob Howard is tasked with an annual inspection of the 'Funny Farm', that medical institution where Laundry Operatives who have suffered psychological damage during their service (injudicious abyss-staring an occupational hazard) to the organisation are warehoused until they either recover (not likely) or are no longer in an above ground situation (situation normal).
Bob must dodge robot nursing staff who have unfortunate Dalek diction and ferret out the mystery which is the real reason his creepy boss Angleton has sent him fishing.
That the ending is rather abrupt is probably the only gripe I have. Otherwise the usual Laundry balck humour, in bureaucratese and in roneoed triplicate is de rigeur.
An engaging vignette from Stross' Laundry Series. Bob Howard is tasked with an annual inspection of the 'Funny Farm', that medical institution where Laundry Operatives who have suffered psychological damage during their service (injudicious abyss-staring an occupational hazard) to the organisation are warehoused until they either recover (not likely) or are no longer in an above ground situation (situation normal).
Bob must dodge robot nursing staff who have unfortunate Dalek diction and ferret out the mystery which is the real reason his creepy boss Angleton has sent him fishing.
That the ending is rather abrupt is probably the only gripe I have. Otherwise the usual Laundry balck humour, in bureaucratese and in roneoed triplicate is de rigeur.
August 24, 2025
Continuining the theme of "Bob asked for a more interesting life and must be punished", we have Bob visiting a very, very secure "retirement" home for people in his line of work, treating him to an uncomfortable vision of a potential unhappy future - If he is lucky to survive that long.
I really love the detail Stross puts in to the world and love when the story takes us to these random old warehouses, hospitals, abandoned libraries and so on that the Laundry leave in their wake. I remember I got a bit lost with the big twist at the end but the main part of the story - Bob being sarcastic in horrible situations - was just as great as usual.
I forgot to rate this when I read it a few months ago, don't send demons after me!
I really love the detail Stross puts in to the world and love when the story takes us to these random old warehouses, hospitals, abandoned libraries and so on that the Laundry leave in their wake. I remember I got a bit lost with the big twist at the end but the main part of the story - Bob being sarcastic in horrible situations - was just as great as usual.
I forgot to rate this when I read it a few months ago, don't send demons after me!
November 1, 2017
Love this novella as a continuation of the Laundry Series - very clever examination of what they do with the paranormal spies when they have suffered catastrophic injuries on the job and the price you can pay when Higher Math is the source of summoning demons and you solve an equation in your head! Very clever play on the sad affliction of Alzheimer's, wrapped very carefully in the subtext of the story on how we so easily hospitalise people who we cannot help. Does not need to be read in order (fits in after the second novel) but does nicely fit in after the first book. Love Stross and all his works to date!
May 2, 2019
This is a short story that takes place between books 2 and 3 of the Laundry Files. However, it can be read as a standalone story without any prior knowledge of the Laundry Files.
This book introduces the reader to Bob Howard, your typical Civil Servant from IT, who is tasked to investigated a message smuggles out of the "Farm" requesting help. He finds that things are not as it seems and goes about doing what he does best, saving the day and his life.
I thought the ending was a bit anticlimactic and was hoping for it to be a bit more drawn out. However, it is still a fun book and should be enjoyed by everyone, whether fans of the series or casual readers.
This book introduces the reader to Bob Howard, your typical Civil Servant from IT, who is tasked to investigated a message smuggles out of the "Farm" requesting help. He finds that things are not as it seems and goes about doing what he does best, saving the day and his life.
I thought the ending was a bit anticlimactic and was hoping for it to be a bit more drawn out. However, it is still a fun book and should be enjoyed by everyone, whether fans of the series or casual readers.
September 22, 2019
“Down on the Farm” is a short story set in the Laundry Files Series right after “Jennifer Morgue” but it can be read pretty much anytime after one becomes familiar with the Laundry Files setting.
Our man Bob Howard gets sent to the asylum that Laundry agents get sent off to if exposure to eldritch horrors from beyond finally pushes them over into actual madness. Can’t have them babbling State secrets to people, or worse using their knowledge of the dark arts carelessly! However, something is wrong down on the funny farm, and Bob needs to get to the bottom of it before something bad happens...
Our man Bob Howard gets sent to the asylum that Laundry agents get sent off to if exposure to eldritch horrors from beyond finally pushes them over into actual madness. Can’t have them babbling State secrets to people, or worse using their knowledge of the dark arts carelessly! However, something is wrong down on the funny farm, and Bob needs to get to the bottom of it before something bad happens...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews