Hello All!
After a brief foray into cozy fantasy, I have returned to my true love of weird horror fiction. I couldn’t be more excited to talk about The Backrooms in particular because it hits a lot of sweet spots for me and ended up being such a timely read.
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My Experience With The Backrooms
I don’t need to tell you at this point, but I did not read any kind of synopsis or a single review going in. I did have some experience with the concept of The Backrooms, however. This was Wildasin’s take on The Backrooms creepypasta, which I had read. I have also played the indie game The Backrooms, which is not related directly to this book, but also draws inspiration from the creepypasta. In terms of returning to horror, this was a fantastic choice. I got into indie horror by reading creepypastas, and similarly inspired fiction, so this was an amazing way to revisit that niche. It was exactly what I needed to get back into horror after a little time away, and I was so excited going in.
I get Sidetracked Easily by Tabletop Games
Speaking of things that got me hyped up for The Backrooms, I felt like the universe was practically shouting at me to read this book. I had already picked it as my next title to review for this platform, when one of my tabletop characters fell into The Backrooms. It started as a joke at the table because I kept failing my movement checks to leave a warehouse I had fallen into. But as I kept rolling nat 1s (the epitome of failure in a tabletop game) we eventually decided that it just had to be canon. So I now feel like I too have experienced this creepypasta horror vicariously through my character.
It was a total coincidence, but it was a fun thing to happen at game night right before I picked up this book.
Now, to the actual story.
What Worked For Me
I am delighted to announce that my streak of fantastic choices for this The Picky Bookworm remains unbroken. This was a pretty safe bet for me, but I still found I was surprised at how many little details I enjoyed about the work.
It’s not enough to just say that though, so let’s get into the specifics.
The Creepypasta
Anyone who has read the original creepypasta, or any subsequent version of it, probably knows the basics of the story. My favorite aspect of this adaptation was that it took the familiar setting and made it its own. The yellow, randomly spawning rooms that have become so iconic were recognizable, but they were twisted enough to really suit the narrative being told. I liked reading this interpretation of the rules and logic, as well as the explanation we’re given for their existence.
The Coding
This was probably apparent from when I went on a tangent about my tabletop character, but I like stories that get a little nerdy. The incorporation of computer code into the Backrooms setting was executed so seamlessly and added an extra layer to the presentation that I appreciated.
The Approach
Speaking of the presentation, I loved the epistolary nature of this book! It works well with the source material, but is also just a weakness of mine generally. Having letters being left behind from the narrator for the reader to “find” was a genius way of exploring the setting, justifying the prose, and heightening the tension.
The Interactive Element
Just to expand on the formatting of the piece a touch more, I loved that I felt like a character. Stories that speak directly to the audience are such a staple of creepypasta writing, and Wildasin executed it so brilliantly here. Your journey through the Backrooms feels guided by what you discover about the other people trapped with you. It puts you front and center for some of the moral complexities that happen as the story unfolds and the situation becomes more dire.
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What More I Wanted
If there was one thing I wanted from The Backrooms that I didn’t get, it was just more story. I feel like I say this all the time. I’m constantly picking up short fiction and then saying I wished it was longer. In my defense, I didn’t realize what a short book this was going to be when I picked it up, and I was sad it was over.
There are a couple things like the narrator’s characterization and a few specific areas of the setting, that I absolutely wanted to see more of. The book was very successful in keeping me hooked from page one and painting a picture in a short amount of time. But like with so many of these short books, I would have read for easily twice the length and I still would have been happy.
Technical Aspects
While this is one of the most coherently formatted indie books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading from my phone, there were a couple typos. Stuff like that seldom, if ever, bothers me, but I have a couple friends who I know are sticklers for this sort of thing, and it feels worth mentioning.
My Recommendation
Unlike many of my horror picks, this one was not borderline traumatizing. It was fun, it was fast, but it had just enough of an existential edge to give it some teeth. With no content warnings on this book, I feel like it would be an acceptable read for anyone. I would recommend it in particular to fans of The Backrooms lore, creepypasta style books, or sci-fi horror as a genre. It does not hinge on you having any familiarity with the concept, so if you have the opportunity to go in blind, I think you’re in for a treat.
Interested? The Backrooms is on Amazon!
Conclusion
All in all, this was another huge win for me. It’s a creepypasta-esque book that I am honored to have in my collection, and a well-executed bit of sci-fi horror that I’m glad to have read. I feel like this is another book that I read at the absolute perfect time in my life. It lined up so well with my current moods and interests, but it was all around a fantastic experience on its own as well.
As always, thanks for bearing with me on this spooky journey.
Happy reading!
More of Cat’s Book Reviews
Cat Voleur is a published writer of dark, speculative fiction and full time horror journalist. In addition to freelancing scripts and articles on the genre, you can find her co-hosting the Slasher Radio podcast. She currently resides in a house with her army of rescue felines. When she isn’t writing, gaming, or consuming horror content, she will undoubtedly be pursuing her passion for fictional languages. You can find Cat’s work on her website, and don’t forget to follow her on Twitter. If you’re interested in learning more about Cat, check out her origin story.
