Joe was supposed to have a bright future, but somewhere along the way, he got lost. Now he’s stuck in his apartment playing video games and “getting around” to calling his mom, meeting up with friends, getting a good job, just everything. Joe would stay in his apartment forever if he could, but he has bills, so when a job finally calls him back, he jumps at the offer. But you know what they say, “look before you leap”. By the time Joe realizes that something is wrong, he’s already trapped. Joe always had potential, too bad someone else is going to use it now. Get dragged into the Abyss with Joe in Nicholas Binge’s newest horror piece, out May 12th.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Nightfire for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of Abyss contains some spoilers!]
When it comes to potential: use it or lose it
Joe has great intentions. He’s going to call his mom, he’s going to hang out with friends, and he’s going to get to bed on time. But he can always call her later, meet his friends on a different night, and get to bed after one more video. But he can’t wait any longer to get a job, so when Ponos offers him one, he accepts. What does it matter if he can’t remember what kind of company Ponos is or what the job is for? He’s applied for hundreds of jobs, and this is the first one to call him back, so off to work he goes.
Things are off right from the beginning. Ponos headquarters doesn’t look like a thriving business, and Joe has to double-check the address before going in. When he gets inside, the building seems to be empty. After a few wrong turns, he finds his new boss and office and gets started on his daily tasks. The tasks seem boring and irrelevant, but as long as he’s getting paid, Joe figures it could be worse.
The empty building is really odd, though. And his boss doesn’t seem to quite have it all together either. Then he kills a coworker right in front of Joe. And after that, things get really weird. The only way out is in, and Joe isn’t sure he’ll ever make it back out again, but he has to try. Because if he doesn’t, he’s dead. And not just him, but all of humanity is slowly being lost to the strange conspiracy at the center of Ponos. Defeat seems inevitable, but there’s always the potential to turn things around if Joe can remember what really matters.
Abyss is a terrifying commentary on modern work culture
Have you ever felt like life is a treadmill? You keep going and going but never get anywhere. We were promised that the technological revolution would leave us with nearly limitless free time and resources. Instead, we’re working harder and harder for less. Where is all that energy going? Economic models show that most of that work is raising up the very top of the pile, while the rest of us slowly get shoved down. Binge takes this concept and creates his own theory on just where all that wonderful potential goes. Joe’s horrifying experience might be a little more intense than what most of us go through, but that doesn’t mean it’s not relatable. The isolation that Joe feels is especially topical in today’s world. We hide behind the internet. Liking posts and Facebook stalking create a false sense of closeness with others, but without meaningful human interactions, we’re feeling lonelier than ever. This is bad from a psychological standpoint. But also from a work standpoint, too, interestingly enough. You see, when we’re isolated, that allows a company to more easily control, manipulate, and exploit us (yep, I sound like a teamster, but it is true, with or without a union). Joe learns the importance of human contact as he fights to escape Ponos. Humans are inherently pack animals, that’s how we’ve evolved, forget that at your own peril. That’s part of the message behind Abyss.
Binge could have improved Abyss with a higher page count
Abyss is a short little novella. Weighing in at under 150 pages, it delivers more of a horror quick jab than a beating. Now I don’t often say this, but Abyss was really too short. Joe is thrown into the weirdness too fast for it to really feel scary. Binge offers more jump-scare horror than the psychological horror that lends itself so well to the written word. If there had been a slower lead-up to the discovery of the basement, it would have had a bigger impact. Fifty more pages at the beginning would have really taken this book to the next level.
Maybe your job isn’t so bad after all
If you like existential horror, then Abyss will quickly scratch that itch for you. If you’re feeling like your job is just the worst, Abyss might make you feel a little better. Your job might be bad, but I promise you, Joe’s is worse. Abyss is a perfect little one-sitting read. Or if you don’t have quite that much time to spare at once, a couple of days will be plenty to get through this quick read. So if you want a quick shot of dread, pick up Abyss on May 12th and let the anxiety sink in.
Rating: 7/10
Abyss by Nicholas Binge is available from Nightfire on May 12, 2026.
Learn more about the book at the official website for the title.
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