The Cipher by Kathe Koja

Edition:

I originally got an E-ARC of The Cipher by Kathe Koja from Net Galley (although I also received a physical copy in a Night Worms package shortly after requesting. So although I read the ARC, I did a bookstagram photo of the physical copy.

Synopsis:

Nicholas is a would-be poet and video-store clerk with a weeping hole in his hand – weeping not blood, but a plasma of tears…

It began with Nakota and her crooked grin. She had to see the dark hole in the storage room down the hall. She had to make love to Nicholas beside it, and stare into its secretive, promising depths. Then Nakota began her experiments: First, she put an insect into the hole. Then a mouse…

Now from down the hall, the black hole calls out to Nicholas every day and every night. And he will go to it. Because it has already seared his flesh, infected his soul, and started him on a journey of obsession – through its soothing, blank darkness into the blinding core of terror…

Awards:

• Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel (1991)
• Locus Award for Best First Novel (1992)
• Philip K. Dick Award Nominee (1992)

My Thoughts:

To start off, this is a reprint of a Dell book which was first published January 5th, 1991 with that phenomenally gorgeous/bizarre cover. It was later picked up and re-published by Roadswell Editions July 13, 2012, and got that second, less-whelming cover. And now we’re here: 2020’s Meerkat Press Edition. I like the new cover a lot. It was never going to beat that original one (I mean, Dell is kind of known for solid horror novel cover art), but it is a good cover.

The story itself is fucking weird. Like truly strange. But I couldn’t/didn’t want to put it down. I love the whole concept of The Funhole. I love inescapable, indescribable, indifferent horror, and this one is definitely all of that. The Funhole may or may not be sentient. Or it may contain sentient beings. Or maybe not. Who the hell knows, really?

I love that there is almost nobody here that you want to root for. Nicholas is one of those people who is basically just existing – there’s nothing particularly interesting or likeable about him. He’s just some listless dude working at a video store. And Nakota – omg this woman. I actually really love/hate her. I mean – she’s fascinating. She’s like a bony, violently psychotic Marla Singer. Okay, she’s actually just a goth Marla. She even has the whole thrift-store extraordinaire thing going on. I also love Marla (who came to be a few years later than Nakota, so I’m solely making a comparison here – not throwing shade, ftr), so I guess in literary settings, I totally have a type. I just love those unhinged, pointy, mean little DIY Trash Queens so god damned much.

“Nakota would rot differently from other people; she would be the first to admit it.”

Nakota is basically the worst. Although all of the divergent bands of sycophants are nearly as bad. Also, I hope you’re paying attention because the Funhole causes there to be DIVERGENT BANDS OF SYCOPHANTS. How awesome is that?

This book is culty, it’s super goopy, it’s bleak, and strange and I absolutely loved it. As a side note, author Kristi DeMeester runs an Etsy shop called ScentFromHell that actually makes a candle inspired by this book. I have a few of her candles, and they smell incredible. Not an ad (I swear), just throwing it out into the universe because I’ve been extremely impressed by her work so far. I don’t have The Funhole, but I just might pick it up. She describes the scent thusly: “A sultry, complex blend of mandarin, jasmine, and rich amber. Take a peek inside the funhole and see what delicious perversion emerges.” You can check out the listing here if you’re interested.

About the Author:

Kathe Koja is a writer, director and independent producer. Her work combines and plays with genres, from YA to contemporary to historical to horror. Her novels – including THE CIPHER, BUDDHA BOY, TALK, and the UNDER THE POPPY trilogy–have won awards, been multiply translated, and optioned for film and performance. She creates immersive fiction with a rotating ensemble of video artists, dancers, musicians and performers.

Her latest novel (in progress) is DARK FACTORY. VELOCITIES, her second short fiction collection, is out from Meerkat Press, to be followed in September 2020 with a reprint of her classic novel THE CIPHER.

She’s globally minded, and based in Detroit USA.

Rating:

It’s gross and fun! What a combination!

The Cipher
By: Kathe Koja
Meerkat Press
Published: September 15, 2020
ISBN: 1946154334
Paperback, E-book
260 Pages
Author's Website
Author's Twitter: @KatheKoja