Foe

What does it mean to be human, to have agency, free will and self determination? I found Foe to be deeply affecting and quite upsetting in the end. It felt like a cruel trick had been played on me.
Junior and Hen live a quiet, settled, life on a farm in a rural location. One evening, a man drives to their farm with surprising news. Junior has been chosen for a special assignment far away. He has no choice but to go. The new arrival, Terrance, presents the opportunity with evangelical zeal.
Cracks appear in Junior and Hen's marriage, as Junior waits to leave. It becomes clear that they don't know each other as well as they think. Junior bases his happiness on things staying as they are, without questioning what Hen would like.
As creepy Terrance spends more time at the farm, the atmosphere intensifies. Nothing will prepare you for the shocking denouement, as troubling as it is brilliant.

My very first five star review
Wow ,original and very unique therefore five stars ,takes a lot to find a refreshing new take and this does that , a fab ,quick read I read it in two days and cdnt put it down ,I was so intrigued with no real ideas of where we were heading ,it reminded me of something that u wd see in a black mirror episode
Great concept leaves u thinking and wondering ,who is who
Could really picture the isolated home they live in and could really get a feel for their marriage
Have had in my wish list the first novel for quite awhile and will Defo be ordering that .
Can’t wait for the next novel ,it can’t come quick enough ,I have myself a brand new fave author right here
Thanks so much netgalley and publishers. I will post on amazon as soon as I am able as tried but not released yet so it hasn’t let me
Keep writing Ian!

was such a huge fan of “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” which was scary and beautiful and thought provoking and left me dazed for days that I entered into “Foe” with not some little trepidation.

I was both delighted and perturbed (because here we go again) to find that Foe was simply another incredible piece of writing from Iain Reid – different themes but the same quirky, unsettling vibe, the same ability to mess with sense and perception, to leave you as a reader feeling nervy yet challenged in your thinking.

What this author does best, a bit like the King, is to imbue the most innocuous seeming narrative with a feeling of menace, the thought that there is something there just out of reach, waiting to pounce. Foe is absolutely immersive, plays on your mind and ultimately asks a very human question, one that digs deep into our sense of self and our perception of others.

It was a fascinating premise to wrap that question up in, the rythym of the storytelling is unique, the sense of place divinely executed and the characters are both odd yet undeniably real.

I won’t say more. Foe, like I’m Thinking of Ending Things, is a small, beautiful literary delight, poetically crafted and wonderfully thoughtful.

Loved it. I’m following this author for the rest of my life. Done deal.

Highly recommended.

As with his I'm Thinking of Ending Things I would strongly recommend that, if possible, you read this in a single sitting - it's a short read, lots of dialogue and internal thoughts so that the number of words is likely fewer than the number of pages indicate. Not that this is a flimsy book in terms of themes and 'plot': it's just that Reid is a writer who doesn't feel the need to explain or expostulate, and the story takes place between the lines, as it were.

This doesn't quite match his previous book for me which was an outstanding 5-stars: this one is... not predictable, but more transparent - I could see where it was going from quite early on. And that's fine because this is more than one of those books which are all about the twist and double-bluff.

While Ending Things was supremely creepy, this one is full of a dark humour while also working in a space which asks questions about marriage, about gender expectations, and about what it means to be human. The quirky range of references that was running through my mind while reading this included the X-Files, The Stepford Wives, The Machine and Never Let Me Go.

A bravura piece of writing that crams in more thought than many books three times its length.

I can genuinely say that I found this a real page-turner. 'Foe' is a very clever novel that kept me guessing constantly and occasionally wrong-footed me.

The first person narrative made me work hard to understand what was happening in each scene, as the unreliable narrator (albeit through lack of self-awareness rather than the deliberate misleading of the 'reader e.g. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd!), ensured I wasn't seeing the full picture. The closed setting, the limited number of characters, the single viewpoint and the constant menace of the visiting official all worked together to create unbearable suspense.

If you have enjoyed watching 'Black Mirror' or 'Ex Machina' the you will enjoy this.

You get a certain feeling of ill ease from page one of this book. You know something is wrong in this story set just a little into our future, but like the main character you have a problem working it out!
And that is why you have to keep reading.
The sensations it caused reminded me of reading 1984, or Brave New World, if you like that kind of thing then this is a pleasant little tale for you.

This may be a short novel which can be easily completed in one or two sittings but this should not detract or disguise from the fact that it is a most profound and thought provoking work that looks at subjects that include the very meaning of the human condition, can this be replicated outside nature, self determination and how relationships change over the course of time as someone's hopes and aspirations change which may not necessarily be in accordance with that of their partner. The novel begins when there is a visitor to an isolated farm where Junior and Henrietta a married couple live. It has a prairie mid western feel about it although the actual geographic location is never revealed.

Set sometime in the not too distant future in a world that is both recognisable but somehow different from the one that we presently inhabit we learn that the visitor Terrance is from a pervasive and all powerful corporation and is there to advise of a fantastic opportunity to Junior that he really can't refuse. If it materialises in the future this opportunity will entail Junior leaving the farm for some considerable amount of time. Told in the first person by Junior we see how perhaps his interpretation of the strength of his relationship with Henrietta may be different from the reality and there is something about his memory of the past that is slightly disconcerting.

This is both a psychological and a philosophical thriller with a twist at the end that will long stay in the mind. Most of the book takes place in the confines of the farmhouse which adds to the claustrophobic and unsettling atmosphere. At times with just three main characters interacting over a confined space with intense dialogue it reminded me of a theatre play. The Canadian author Iain Reid has produced works of fiction and non fiction with his debut novel, I'm Thinking of Ending Things published in 2016 to critical acclaim for which there will be a forthcoming film adaptation on Netflix. I'm sure that Foe will equally be the subject of a similar enterprise. A rewarding and thought provoking read that would be ideal for a book group discussion.

Somethings not quite right, but who do you trust when everyone seems to have something to hide?

Juniors' comfortable life is about to take a dramatic turn when presented with an opportunity that he cannot say no to. He's along for the ride whether he wants to or not.

Instead of a physical expedition, this book will take you on a mind-bending, soul-searching, uncomfortable journey into the unknown.

Foe is a surprising read, and one i feel will be best read without a strong sense of plot or direction, and ideally in as close to a single setting as possible. Unsettling, unpredictable and quietly devastating, Foe strikes at the heart of relationships and our sense of humanity. This may sound unlikely in such a short book, but the structure, characterisation and ratcheting of tension all contribute to making this irresistible..

It doesn’t happen very often but when it does it’s such a treat.. I pick up a book and start reading, there’s no effort needed and the words just flow of the page. This is one of those rare books that did just that. I really enjoyed it. Believable? Oh most definitely and so well written it grabbed my imagination straight away. Brilliant.

Foe is not a book I've heard much about. It popped up on my NetGalley dashboard, and I was intrigued by the description.

I've never read anything by Iain Reid before, or even heard of him, so I started Foe with an open mind.

It follows Hen and Junior, living out in the sticks, who get a visitor one night who tells them Junior has been chosen by a lottery to go to space. He has no choice in this matter. Hen will not be going with him. And they have to react to that news.

It's an interesting concept, but for a book where I was wholly unsure how I felt about it throughout, I spent days after finishing it thinking about it.

There are only three characters - Junior, Hen, and Terrance, who comes to break the news to the couple. Yet it's such a character heavy book. Little happens plot wise. They get told Junior is on the long list, then the short list, and they must start preparing. It's very much driven by the characters reactions reactions to this news, the possibility that they would have to spend years apart, the unfairness and injustice of not having choice in the matter, and the intrusion of Terrance in their lives when they're so used to being just the two of them.

Like I mentioned, I spent a large portion of this book being unsure what I thought of it. I wasn't convinced by the characters, I wasn't sure where it was going to go, but I sure wasn't disappointed once I'd finished. I don't want to say too much and spoil it, but if you are reading this and feeling a bit off, I implore you to carry on. It's the kind of story that stays with you for a while. The writing is easy and wandering, there was never a point while reading when I thought I would put it down and give up on it. Every issue I thought I was having with this book was soon resolved as I kept reading.

I rated this 4 out of 5 stars. It's tagged as 'horror' on Goodreads, but I wouldn't agree with that. It's a science fiction, mystery, almost a thriller, very unsettling and skin crawling at times. I'll definitely be keeping this author on my radar, and will be checking out his debut novel 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things.'

I received an advanced readers copied in exchange for an honest review. This book was very unusual, not quite what I was expecting. However it is an enjoyable sci-fi thriller. You kind of see what’s coming, the characters are a little black-and-white, but the conceit is interesting so the book works. 3.5 rounded up

Thanks to NetGalley for this quite interesting book.

I love books like this one, where a lot of things are not explained. Why are Junior and Hen living like they do? Why are chicken illegal? Why does Junior have to go to the space station?
Although the book is a bit slow at points, and the solution to the biggest question is not difficult to figure out, I had a good time reading this book.

A new Iain Reid novel! When I laid my eyes on this one I was squeeling and doing a happy dance inside my head! I loved his debut novel I'm Thinking of Ending Things and I knew I was going to enjoy this one as well.

Talking about the cover, it immediately impressed me. The house in the middle of nowhere and the bleak look had me sold. Also the description prepared me for an amazing sci-fi mind bender ride!

The story is about a guy who lives a happy life with his wife in the countryside when suddenly a mysterious man enters their lives and things start changing. He starts questioning his relationship with his wife, the man's intentions, their life and also about himself.

I loved the mysterious plot, the bleak atmosphere throughout, the pace of the story(kept me on the edge) and the characters. Every character has an air of mystery around him/her. Although I thought the ending was a little predictable. If only I hadn't guessed it I would have enjoyed it even more. But overall I enjoyed it thoroughly. I'm really glad I read it.

Thank you Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for the ARC.

I love si fi and psychological thrillers so this one hti both nerves, all though not quite brilliantly on either. I missed the suspense, and the imaginative leaps that both genres can supply. but i also really did enjoy this. So 3.5-4 stars

This was my first Ian Reid and I wasn’t greatly impressed. I was intrigued by the blurb on the plot but the actual story just left me feeling let down a bit. I think the genre isn’t my favourite so perhaps that’s partly why I wasn’t too keen but I found the characters flat and the story too predictable.

Hugely original and deeply surprising, while maintaining a thought-provoking dread throughout. Highly recommended.

Junior and Hen live on a remote farm in the country. Junior is selected in a random lottery to head into space to help set up/install a habitable community for future settlers. A lot of time is spent preparing Junior and Hen for the trip. He is expected to be gone a couple of years and his wife, Hen (Henrietta) is expected to wait for him, only she won't be alone. This book is probably classed as a sci-fi thriller. It is set in the near future and is a meaty character-driven book, exploring marriage, beauty, dependency on another and what it means to be human. Little happens by way of a plot. I didn't rush to pick it up but when I was reading it I didn't want to put it down. I wasn't expecting the ending and thought it was very good.

Junior and Henrietta live at one end of the field, a place where there are no visitors. One fine day they have a strange visitor with a strange news. Junior is part of a space program that will require him to leave his wife and home for a few years, and in his place, will live a replacement. A replacement that looks and talks like him, a replacement that his wife Hen will be living with.

The worth of the book lies in the writing style. Ian Reid presents us with a puzzled, troubled mind of a husband and a wife. The plot challenges their individuality, thereby turning them into a complex being. As a reader, it was very important to monitor everything they said or did, because that’s what the story is all about. The plot also explores what it means to have a meaningful existence and how people only realize that when they are facing a crisis. The pace is somewhat decent and most of the story chooses its own direction, making it unpredictable.

Throughout the book, I wondered what could be the purpose of this book. The answer lies in the latter half of the book, where the author drops one tiny bomb and that’s the BIG climax I was expecting. ‘Foe’ is ‘impressive’ followed by ‘monotonous’ and finally ‘pointless’.

'Foe’ is a strange book. Maybe some of you love books that give you information about the characters behaviors where you are supposed to notice minor changes but I find it extremely frustrating.

‘Foe’ is for the readers who excel in character study and would be thrilled to get into their head and just explore.

"We don’t get visitors. Not out here. We never have."

Junior and Henrietta (Hen) live in the middle of nowhere...One day a man called Terrence arrives. He's from a company working with the government. He declares himself as the bringer of good news. Oh, annoying he seems, he speaks professionally. He knows the best.

Junior has been selected/long listed as a possible candidate to go to space to start installation of a new settlement. This will take a long time, if he actually gets selected. So he will need to leave Hen alone. But they've thought everything. They have a solution for Hen, so that she doesn't feel lonely.

Oh, god this was such a good read. Spot on to say it's for fans of Black Mirror, so true. Even the names of the characters are beautifully put, Hen(!) and Junior.

It's not an eventful book, but a psychological and philosophical story set between 3 characters, a touch of science fiction but not heavy on sci-fi side at all. Could easily be adapted to a theatre play. There are a few surprises in the end, which you can actually guess if you read really carefully.

I love it when a writer captures a situation in 250-ish pages, not using one unnecessary word. This is one of the short and powerful books.

I am happy to discover Iain Reid, will be reading more from him in the future.

Thanks for the publisher, and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Following on from his wonderfully unsettling I'm Thinking of Ending Things comes Iain Reid's new novel Foe - another example of a strange situation in which nothing is as it seems.
in the near future, Junior and Hen live quietly in a remote rural area when their simple life is thrown awry by the arrival of Terrence. He informs them that Junior is on the shortlist to visit space and that tests are required before he can leave.
Reid has a real skill in creating a creeping sense of dread. The reader knows something isn't right, but can't quite put the finger on what.
Little happens in Foe, but it is a real page turner, right up to an explosive and shocking finale.
Excellent.

Oooh I liked this one... despite it being a little uncomfortable to read... because you knew something was coming... 
I also felt uncomfortable at the ease with which Terrance story was accepted and he was let into their home and they just did what he asked.
All the clues were there,there was nothing surprising about the reveal... but it was done well. 
Not an author I've read before,but definitely one I'll look for again.
A book that on surface level doesn't have a lot goung on,but actually leaves you thinking on it a lot.

Foe by Iain Reid is a very, very unusual read. Actually, unusual is an understatement for this novel.

I loved the layout of this novel. It was different from other book that I'd read before. It wasn't set out chapter by chapter, and that was refreshing. Also, the dialogue was different as well. The main character's speech wasn't set out like the other characters. It showed Junior to be different from everybody else, which had my interest piqued.

This novel is incredibly mind-tripping. At certain parts of the novel, I felt confused as to where the story were to be going. It managed to keep me intrigued, but at certain parts, I didn't feel as connected to the story. The gaps seemed to occur to often, and, sometimes, it just took me away from the story.

The ending was not what I was expecting it to be. The story was unpredictable as it was, but the ending was just completely bizarre. I could not have guessed it from a mile away.

Although unusual, I really enjoyed this book. I've not read something like this novel before, and I have a feeling that this novel will be with me for quite a bit of time.

After being visited by a stranger one night, Junior and Hen’s lives change. Junior has been randomly selected by the Government to live on a man-made planet for years. Terrance, the visitor disrupts their lives as soon as he drives up to their house. Hardly any information is given, he avoids their questions, the only thing he does make clear is that when Junior is gone… Hen won’t have to be alone, there will be a “replacement”. As soon as he leaves Hen just wants to be alone, the thoughts of her husband going away for years just like that, is unexpected and big news to take in, she becomes uneasy and anxious. As time goes by they hear nothing from Terrance, their lives go back to normal, Hen goes back to normal, until one day he drives up to the farm again, to disrupt their idyllic lives once more.

I kept thinking to myself who even is this man? Why do they believe a stranger? He hardly tells them anything, yet they believe everything he does say. Is he just messing with their minds? Why has he waited all these years to return?

Terrance makes Hen, Junior and you as a reader uncomfortable and anxious. As the novel goes on his intentions and agenda become more intense, he follows Junior everywhere, he knows his every move, constantly asks him very personal questions, records his answers to thigs, takes photos of him. He slowly takes over their lives and becomes suffocating. Every time Junior wakes up the first thing he sees is Terrance staring down at him evading his personal space, evading his home, evading his relationship with his wife. How much information does this stranger need?

This novel is haunting and thought provoking, I loved how it made you think about and question marriage, relationships, loneliness, desires, future dreams and love. It wasn’t your average sci-fi novel, it made me really think and question things, I love it when books do that to you. My mind was constantly trying to rationalise what was going to happen, who was this Terrance guy, what is happening to this couples pretty “perfect” life? Is it a social experiment? My mind was working overtime and I just needed to know what was going on.

I don’t want to give too much of the book away all I can say is it had me on the edge of my seat throughout, Foe was a creative, eerie, surreal psychological thriller and I enjoyed it very much. If you like the programme Black Mirror or the book 1984 this is for you. Reid is certainly a superb storyteller, the writing was dark, edgy, full of twists and tension and I lapped up every page. As uneasy as this book made me feel, I didn’t want it to end.

Foe comes out in the UK on 24th January 2019. I urge you to read this novel, even if you are not a huge sci-fi fan this is a brilliant and unique story. You can get the Canadian edition on Amazon following this link. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

*Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Fiction for an ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.*

Was looking forward to getting my hands on the next Iain Reid book, and thankfully this didn’t disappoint at all. Very quick and absorbing read. Almost reads like an episode of the Twilight Zone.

Foe comes in a sci-fi coating but I’d hesitate to classify it as such because at its heart it’s much more of a drama about relationships and the human condition itself. As with Reid’s previous novel, there is a sense of unease running throughout the story which builds nicely towards the conclusion. Most people will see where the plot is going but as with I’m Thinking of Ending Things, it’s the journey there that is the most important and compelling part.

Think the story will stay with me a good long while.

This was a ARC from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK Fiction. Kind thanks to both.

I really loved this book, I was seriously hooked by the description, I love anything along the lines of this novel. So gripping, haunting and mysterious from the very start.

A snapshot of two years in one couple’s life

Junior and Henrietta have lived in an isolated house far away from the congested city. They moved there after marriage, but it’s unclear as to whether it was a formal purchase or whether they just took over an abandoned building. Junior works at a local mill about which we learn very little.

Life on the surface is idyllic, but one evening a stranger arrives. His news turns their cosy world upside down. Junior has been chosen to join The Installation and will be away for years. Hen will stay at home but will be taken care of. Any questions?

Well, I had loads of questions, but neither Junior nor Hen seemed to be asking the right ones. Hen seemed to be in a state of continual, passive acceptance and Junior appeared initially to enjoy acting as a subordinate. This was a frustration, but it also drew me further into the story and left a real desire to learn more and to determine what was actually happening.

The plot seems to be set in a nebulous future epoch as there is reference to driverless vehicles and genetically modified crops but the exact time in the future basically doesn’t matter as the reader is only concerned with the action (or rather inaction) taking place between the three individuals – all others being peripheral to the main plot.

I dislike labels and am not going to attempt to pigeonhole the genre of this book. It has been described in various ways in the hype which always surrounds a book release. Quite simply it’s the story of 3 people. It’s fascinating and worth reading.

PS. I never did understand the significance or intended imagery of the beetles.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.