🩸 Horror Fiction

Simeon

✍️ Nick Carlson
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$12.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A defector faces a hybrid soldier experiment in a Soviet tundra lab.

Carlson, an independent author publishing through his own press, constructs a tense atmosphere where scientific ambition meets supernatural horror. The story does not rely on external action but rather on the internal unraveling of Diana as she observes the degradation of those around her. The setting serves as a pressure cooker for these themes, forcing characters to confront their own humanity against a backdrop of military secrecy and biological experimentation. The narrative structure focuses on Diana's shifting perspective as the line between human and beast blurs. This approach appeals to readers interested in the psychological aspects of horror fiction rather than pure gore or jump scares.

Key Themes
Soviet isolation biological hybridity existential corruption
Literary Context

The work is set against the backdrop of Cold War tensions, specifically within the Soviet Union's secret military infrastructure. It engages with mid-twentieth-century fears regarding scientific overreach and the dehumanizing effects of state-controlled laboratories in remote regions like Siberia.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
H.P. Lovecraft · Thomas Ligotti · Clive Barker
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Nick Carlson 📅 2020 📖 300 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781393049692

📝 Description: Simeon

Nick Carlson presents Simeon, a narrative centered on Diana, an American who defects to the Soviet Union. After she destroys her own platoon in an act of defiance, she is transported to a secret laboratory located deep within the Siberian tundra. The story follows her integration into this isolated community of workers under the control of Director Ivanov, whose policies are described as both bizarre and restrictive. The facility houses an experiment involving a hybrid creature bred from human and ape DNA, designed to function as the ultimate soldier. As the plot progresses, a mysterious delusion spreads through the workforce. Diana witnesses friends and enemies alike succumb to this madness, leading her to uncover an existential corruption that challenges her beliefs about the human condition. The book draws on gothic and supernatural traditions, utilizing the isolation of the Soviet era to explore themes of psychological decay and biological horror. It suits readers who enjoy character-driven tales of moral ambiguity and institutional dread. Those seeking fast-paced action or clear resolutions may find the slow burn of existential inquiry less appealing. The narrative relies on the tension between personal trauma and the grotesque nature of the experiment.

💎 Our verdict on Simeon

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Carlson crafts a claustrophobic atmosphere where scientific ambition collides with supernatural dread. The narrative excels in depicting psychological decay through Diana’s shifting perspective, forcing characters to confront their humanity amidst biological experimentation. While it lacks fast-paced action or clear resolutions, its strength lies in the tension between personal trauma and grotesque inquiry. It suits readers who enjoy institutional horror and moral ambiguity. The isolation of the setting serves as a pressure cooker for themes of corruption and madness. Those seeking pure jump scares may find it too contemplative, but fans of psychological terror will appreciate the nuanced exploration of the human mind under extreme duress.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for readers who prioritize psychological depth and atmospheric tension over visceral gore or rapid plot progression. It appeals to those interested in the intersection of scientific ethics and supernatural horror, offering a slow-burn narrative that examines the fragility of the human condition. Diana’s internal unraveling provides a compelling study in moral ambiguity and existential decay, making it suitable for enthusiasts of character-driven tales where the true horror lies in the blurring line between humanity and beasthood rather than external action.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Carlson crafts a claustrophobic atmosphere where scientific ambition collides with supernatural dread. The narrative excels in depicting psychological decay through Diana’s shifting perspective, forcing characters to confront their humanity amidst biological experimentation. While it lacks fast-paced action or clear resolutions, its strength lies in the tension between personal trauma and grotesque inquiry. It suits readers who enjoy institutional horror and moral ambiguity. The isolation of the setting serves as a pressure cooker for themes of corruption and madness. Those seeking pure jump scares may find it too contemplative, but fans of psychological terror will appreciate the nuanced exploration of the human mind under extreme duress.

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