Echos Underground
I’ve been on a Russian sci-fi kick this year, so Metro 2033 is a natural stop on this subway line. If this is Lovecraftian horror, sign me up—sensory deprivation and phenomena beyond human understanding create an experience that literature seems best to exploit. Much like Silo, the claustrophobic and dark environment feels both alien and familiar at the same time. The tunnels of the metro system become an oppressive force, heightening the tension and paranoia that define the experience. I experienced at least one sleep deprived night because of the adrenaline brought on by supernatural horrors, and that’s rare.
Most of the plot is around encountering the different microcosms of culture that exist at each metro station. Society, like mushrooms and pigs, will grow anywhere. But in Metro 2033, many of the horrors stem from mini-societies that emerge in the underground rather than the harsh conditions of the dystopian world itself. The book is a grim picture of humanity’s ability to adapt, sometimes in disturbing ways.
Surprisingly, there isn’t anything particularly special about the world-building or even the main character, Artyom. Yet, the game’s atmosphere and philosophical underpinnings make it an intriguing journey through a world that is as terrifying as it is immersive. 8th book of 2025