Users by Colin Winnette. Published February 21st 2023 by Penguin Random House. 288 pages.
After seeing this cover and reading the synopsis that gave myself a Severance vibe, Users sounded like the kind of book I’d enjoy. This one is a mind-boggling ride. In my opinion, it feels like a Charlie Kaufman- sketched out nightmare of a fable. A work that is breathtaking and mind opening and more original than anything being produced for a semi large audience. The best books could make you forget that your house is on fire. Except maybe House on Fire.
In the typical thriller (or whatever genre this is), bad things happen because there is an evil corporation (or underground organization, or sinister government agency) that has lots of power, hidden motivations, and a plan. This is a very appealing story structure because people like to think that life is controllable, so if bad things are happening, it’s because someone is causing them to happen for some sinister reason. I feel that bad things happen because ambitious people are in over their heads and don’t even realize it. On the surface Users is about a man (Miles), who has a central role at a virtual reality company. Following some scandal he begins receiving death threats. We get a look into his life, his work and his relationships. But there is quite a lot more going on. As he spirals further and further into the paranoia-driven abyss, he detects other areas of life are also beginning to crumble at their foundation.
The book has some “out there” happenings, and yet the writing is so easy and flows so comfortably that it is grounded in something recognizable while also being unputdownable. Accessible and understandable, I read this in one go. The mystery of the story was something propelled me straight to the end. Author Colin Winnette touches on so many things; technology, scandal and being held accountable in an evolving political climate, life and its meaning, dreams and what they can mean, and the troubles in our most intimate relationships. The book teeters very well on the three pulls between work, family, and danger/threats in a very engaging way. I really loved that balance and I think it takes a very skilled author to do so. It was full of wonderful and poignant lines. Not to mention, it’s also humorous. It’s not “trying to be funny”, which can often fall flat or be cringey. Instead it has a sense of humor and lightness to cut through the dark (and there are some dark things.)
If you’re looking to locate the story in space and time that also may be challenging—there’s no exact year and there’s not enough world building to know what other technology, government structures etc exist. There are some extremely intriguing sci-fi elements, and I found myself wishing for more. Especially with it being so concurrent with our very own Metaverse. Users is a unique, compelling read and I look forward to more work by this talented artist. The story will force you to consider the meaning of authentic experience, and it might punch you in the gut.