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mapally's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, I don't know what I was expecting, but this was a dark and disturbing piece. The basic premise was to create an experiment in Pavlov's conditional response theory using boys that were sold by their parents to the artist. The content was creepy in that a man was willing to pay a LARGE sum of money to witness this piece of "behavioral art". This story also supports the theory that the boy's reality was completely dictated by their perception of their environment. Being held in a maze in complete darkness with portions changing on a regular basis. In order to get food they needed to listen for bells to ring and then get to that location to be able to get food.
One of the more ironic portion of this story is that the boys in this deranged environment though that the people giving them food were "angels". Instead of understanding that they were being held captive for MANY years against their will, they looked at their caretakers as angels.
I think this is a story that I will think about probably more than I would like to. I will say that some portions were disturbing to me as a mother of 3 boys, but I was still intrigued to understand what the actual activity would be as the ultimate performance of this overall art experience.
Overall, the content was disturbing, but I thought the author did a great job telling the story and giving a lot of detail to let the reader truly understand the conditions of the process.
Note: I was provided a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
One of the more ironic portion of this story is that the boys in this deranged environment though that the people giving them food were "angels". Instead of understanding that they were being held captive for MANY years against their will, they looked at their caretakers as angels.
I think this is a story that I will think about probably more than I would like to. I will say that some portions were disturbing to me as a mother of 3 boys, but I was still intrigued to understand what the actual activity would be as the ultimate performance of this overall art experience.
Overall, the content was disturbing, but I thought the author did a great job telling the story and giving a lot of detail to let the reader truly understand the conditions of the process.
Note: I was provided a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
nannyf's review against another edition
3.0
This book is due for release on March 26th 2013.
This is an advance review via netgalley.com
The basis of this short novella is an art project.
An everchanging maze hidden somewhere underground, children roaming around in the darkness following bells from 'the angels' to find food. These children have been in the maze for 10 years, they remember nothing more than living in the maze, finding food, waiting for 'the angels'.
Into the mix the author throws a few more characters - Mr No One, a fan of the occult wanting to invoke the spirit of the Great Dark Mouth; Mr MacPherson, a fan of the artist, Krieg, curious as to what this latest project is all about, but with his own hidden agenda for being there; Mr Krieg himself, who shows MacPherson his art project; and Mr Kitterman, Kriegs right hand man.
The story is a dark, quite disturbing one, which ,if I'm perfectly honest, scared the hell out of me. The themes within it range from poverty and wealth, to sadism and insanity, the occult to murder.
For such a short book it stirs up emotions within the reader, the descriptions giving a picture which is difficult to shake once the reader finished the story.
I'm not sure who I would recommend this book to. It does give the reader a lot to think about within just a few pages, but isn't your easy to read story.
I enjoyed it but it was definitely a difficult one to read.
This is an advance review via netgalley.com
The basis of this short novella is an art project.
An everchanging maze hidden somewhere underground, children roaming around in the darkness following bells from 'the angels' to find food. These children have been in the maze for 10 years, they remember nothing more than living in the maze, finding food, waiting for 'the angels'.
Into the mix the author throws a few more characters - Mr No One, a fan of the occult wanting to invoke the spirit of the Great Dark Mouth; Mr MacPherson, a fan of the artist, Krieg, curious as to what this latest project is all about, but with his own hidden agenda for being there; Mr Krieg himself, who shows MacPherson his art project; and Mr Kitterman, Kriegs right hand man.
The story is a dark, quite disturbing one, which ,if I'm perfectly honest, scared the hell out of me. The themes within it range from poverty and wealth, to sadism and insanity, the occult to murder.
For such a short book it stirs up emotions within the reader, the descriptions giving a picture which is difficult to shake once the reader finished the story.
I'm not sure who I would recommend this book to. It does give the reader a lot to think about within just a few pages, but isn't your easy to read story.
I enjoyed it but it was definitely a difficult one to read.
jasonsweirdreads's review against another edition
4.0
Children of No One is a great piece of weird literature. The problem for me, however, is that I felt that there should have been more, that this story could have been expanded upon a bit more. More importantly, I would have liked to have known the characters more.
But that's a really bitchy thing to complain about, isn't it? Because what this book is is an ode to all the great classic weird fiction that has had an incredible influence on horror fiction today. It also has a lot of philosophical food for thought and a fantastic setting: a new form of art that encapsulates human cruelty and a nihilistic way of experiencing life.
Children of No One is a fascinating novella that I highly recommend, but one that could have been so much more had we the chance to explore just a little further.
I'm really looking forward to see what Nicole Cushing is capable of presenting to us in the future.
But that's a really bitchy thing to complain about, isn't it? Because what this book is is an ode to all the great classic weird fiction that has had an incredible influence on horror fiction today. It also has a lot of philosophical food for thought and a fantastic setting: a new form of art that encapsulates human cruelty and a nihilistic way of experiencing life.
Children of No One is a fascinating novella that I highly recommend, but one that could have been so much more had we the chance to explore just a little further.
I'm really looking forward to see what Nicole Cushing is capable of presenting to us in the future.
charshorrorcorner's review
5.0
When this arrived in my email from the Darkfuse Kindle Club, I was excited because I loved the cover. Then I thought I would just crack it open and read the first few sentences. Yeah, right-an hour or so later, I was done!
This was a dark tale set in Nowhere, Indiana. A rich, twisted man (Mr. McPherson)is looking for something new in the world of art. Mr. Krieg is just the man to deliver it. He has been working for years on a new LIVE exhibit. Mr. Krieg's assistant is a nihilist named No One. Together he and Mr. Krieg will create this new exhibit with Mr. McPherson as the very excited audience of one. After all, there is no art without an audience, right?
Together all three men descend into the labyrinth, which is where I leave off from the plot description. You will have to read it to find out what this exhibit was and if it was successful. :)
I will say that this was a dark fiction story, with a science fiction slant. It was unique and extremely well written. The characters were so well defined that I had no problem picturing them in my mind. This is also a story about humanity, and what some of us could become. Is it possible that our desire to be entertained could eventually evolve into something dark and twisted? Or has it already ?
Read this novella and see what your conclusions are!
This was a dark tale set in Nowhere, Indiana. A rich, twisted man (Mr. McPherson)is looking for something new in the world of art. Mr. Krieg is just the man to deliver it. He has been working for years on a new LIVE exhibit. Mr. Krieg's assistant is a nihilist named No One. Together he and Mr. Krieg will create this new exhibit with Mr. McPherson as the very excited audience of one. After all, there is no art without an audience, right?
Together all three men descend into the labyrinth, which is where I leave off from the plot description. You will have to read it to find out what this exhibit was and if it was successful. :)
I will say that this was a dark fiction story, with a science fiction slant. It was unique and extremely well written. The characters were so well defined that I had no problem picturing them in my mind. This is also a story about humanity, and what some of us could become. Is it possible that our desire to be entertained could eventually evolve into something dark and twisted? Or has it already ?
Read this novella and see what your conclusions are!
ctgt's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting, twisted story about art and social experimentation but I was never able to connect with the people in the maze so it never really moved me.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
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