S.: Includes Loose Page Inserts Contributing to the Story

When you pick up S. the first problem you have is how to read the thing! I believe the title page gives you the clue. Having read the initial correspondence between Jen and the stranger, I followed her route of discovery and read the V. M. Straka Ship of Theseus novel first ignoring all the notations. Early in their conversation, before any of their notes back and forth, Jen finishes the novel in one sitting "Thanks! Read the rest in one sitting - wow." The stranger then teases Jen implying she has not seen the real message in the book whereby Jen goes back doing more of an analysis and leaves the first run of commentary starting their dialogue. The only notes in the book when Jen reads it first are the translator’s footnotes and the stranger’s pencil notes. Firstly, the novel. Ship of Theseus. The story is a strange one and I’m not even sure what genre you would put it in... fiction certainly but adventure/horror/mystery/fantasy/supernatural... it has all these elements but none are defining. We first meet S., the title character, in a city by the sea. He is very wet, has no memory of how he got there or who he is. He wanders aimlessly for a time in a surreal atmosphere before entering a tavern. Here he meets a woman reading a book; she seems familiar but professes she does not know S. It is a trap and S. is shanghaied, next waking on a ship at sea. The ship, the woman and the book reoccur throughout the novel as S. tries to escape but always returns. Sounds strange as I say but to go any deeper here would spoil the experience of reading. While I enjoyed the novel I struggled to devise the meaning, if any, behind the story. It seemed to me to be about many things not least unrequited love and loss as well as the greed of humanity and its propensity for evil to obtain what it desires. If the story was a metaphor for something deeper I’m afraid I missed it although the books and the Island struck a chord. Life perhaps? It was certainly intriguing with a seemingly unending war between good and evil where a balance is maintained by bloody action on both sides, with S. becoming a major player towards the end... certainly worth reading. Secondly, we have the book’s footnotes and the margin notes which are an entire story in their own right. As the original manuscript for Ship of Theseus was not in English the book has been translated by one F. X Caldeira. Many readers (in the fictional world of the book) believe the translator’s forward and footnotes are actually messages in code to the author Straka. The first margin notes in the book are Eric’s pencil ones which are then followed by a dialogue between Jen and Eric as they try to identify Straka and unravel Caldeira’s messages. As they delve deeper a sense of threat develops as unseen enemies try to prevent Jen and Eric revealing the truth. Is it paranoia? Is the threat real? Are they about to reveal a clandestine organisation that kills without compunction? Is it simply academic rivalry? The paranoia, real or imagined, drips from the page as you read, becoming more and more involved in Jen and Eric’s quest to learn the truth. Again I’ll say no more as to do so would spoil the fun. The margin notes are handwritten in two distinct styles; Jen’s are lowercase cursive script while Eric’s are all in uppercase block letters. Several colours are used to indicate the different iterations as the book passes back and forth between Jen and Eric. I don’t believe you need to try and read them in the order they were written, i.e. follow a colour, as some have suggested. Not only would this be an almost impossible task it seemed to me each full set of notes on a particular page moved the narrative of Jen and Eric along correctly in time. In truth it would probably spoil it trying to read a single set of colours first as near the end you would undoubtedly read a future note too early. Then again, I could have it completely wrong, that is the beauty of the whole book. And finally, the book’s production. It is simply astounding. Place this in the hands of any book lover and their heart will melt. It arrives sealed in a functional slipcase to ensure the contents remain intact. You open the cellophane and are presented with a perforated seal embossed with an S.. You break this with a letter opener and slide out Ship of Theseus which is a faithful reproduction of an old 1949 library book (the only giveaway is the smallest copyright panel below the library in/out stamps at the back of the book, and even this is disguised to look like the Library’s lending rules). In the book are numerous pieces of ephemera, old letters, postcards, articles, etc., that all expand the story and relate to Jen and Eric’s notes as they try to solve the mystery of Straka and learn more about one another. S. is a rare thing; individually each element is very good in its own right, however, the sum of the parts is breathtaking and every book lover should own a copy, read it and enjoy the experience. • The story • The foot notes • The margin notes • The ephemera • The codes • The quality of product If you had the time you could spend hours of enjoyment unravelling more and more... and at the end there is one mystery left unanswered... how did we, the reader, get the book?

A really interesting and original reading experience. More than just a book. You will need to focus to fully enjoy this and keep up with the multiple concurrent storylines.

​is a truly unique and immersive reading experience. The physical book itself is a work of art, and the story within is a complex and fascinating puzzle. It's a must-read for those who love a challenge and want to be fully immersed in a narrative.

This is a book that you experience in many ways, some are simply tactile; the way you bring it out of its box to read; the vintage, old library feel to it and the experience of turning the pages and discovering 'things' that have been added and slipped inside. What about the story? Well, there are no spoilers here; I haven't read very far into it yet. From what I can tell, you have the story contained in the book - the typeset story and you also have a second story that takes place in the book's margins. The scribblings of two people who both regularly take the book from the library and have entered into a dialogue together that, from what I have read, turns into a love story. It is these two people who leave the 'things' slipped between the pages - photocopied documents, postcards and so on. How do you read it? It is not straightforward, nor, so it seems, is there a 'right' way; they say it is for everyone to find their own way. I have read the introduction by trying to keep pace between the typed words and the scribbled conversations, unsure which to give priority to. Moving forward, I have decided to read a chapter of the 'book' and then revisit it and read the scribblings. I think by doing this I will get more out of the typewritten story and also the second, sub-plot. This is the first 'real' book I have bought since I bought my Kindle all those years ago and, whilst I can take my Kindle everywhere and read it anywhere, this book needs to be read somewhere; you need somewhere you can sit and turn the pages; where you can put down the book's case and the book on the occasion when you come across an inserted document. Is this an inconvenience? Not really, I have it on a coffee table next to a comfy sofa and an open fire; reading a chapter is something I more consciously take time out to do. Is it any good? I don't know, I haven't read very far into it yet. But, it is very JJ in concept, so I am looking forward to the reading experience.

I come at this review having not yet finished the book but I am more then happy to rave about it - I can't help but describe it as a testament to the written word and recommend it should absolutely be brought in hardback! The idea is brilliant in its simplicity but stunning in its execution - within the box of S is a library book called The Ship of Theseus "written" by the author V M Straka, who in true Shakespearean style has a mystery surrounding his identity. That is one story because within the margins of the "library book" are notes left by 2 people who use this book to communicate - as well as trying to uncover the great literary mystery of who V M Straka is they also discover each other; and its not just the notes they leave in the margins but the bits of paper they have stuffed within said pages that go towards fleshing out the story and add to the deepening mystery. Conceived by JJ Abrams (yes he of Star Trek, Alias and Super 8 fame) and Doug Dorst this is a book that should be owned by anyone who loves to read - my only regret is that I couldn't read this in one sitting! I wish there were more books like this!!

Well nothing much to say about this book that tiktok hasn’t covered already. I missed these books that comes with this little extra things to add to the story, and really made me feel as I was part of the history.

This may contain some spoilers of the book: just know you NEED to buy it if you are unsure. The inserts are much detailed and the notes on the edge resemble actual hand-writing, this is not a book but a literary masterpiece - regardless of its plot and/or style of the author, which one may or may not like. When I discovered this book I wasn't sure I was going to buy it because of its price, but then I just HAD to order it: I refused to settle for the e-book, for this is a book you need to have in your own hands. It requires a lot of concentration, because it has you connecting one story to another: while reading a sentence you are asked to stop and read the notes to it, then the notes to the notes, and then the related inserts, and so on. But it's totally worth it. At first I bought without even reading the plot: its format was unique and that was enough for me, but the more I read the more I loved it too. I liked how the book challenged me into understanding it, giving me hints, helpers, tools to solve the mystery it is. It's like you read Ship of Theseus and only once you've completed and understood it all - and the word around its author, you can say to have read S.

I sought out this book after learning that JJ Abrams was not only the creator of lost and EP of the latest Star Wars film, but also an author. Ok...so he's not exactly the author, but he is a critical and named part of the duo who conceived of and brought this marvel of a book to the masses. What's so great about it? Well, I'm only into the second chapter and am having a wonderful time. As a long, long, LONG time owner of a Kindle (2008), I have very limited contact with "BOOK" books anymore. This is the perfect antidote to the digital page and an ultimate reward for doing so. I remember falling in love with the "Griffin and Sabine" format 20 years ago, in which a story was meted out via simulated correspondence between the two lovers. The cool letters and pieces of paper were so tactile, so satisfying! So like snooping through old forgotten desk drawers and uncovering a hidden compartment. I also grew up under crystal clear governance about how to care for and respect a book: never write in it (except on the cover page to indicate ownership), never dog-ear the pages, don't get food smears on the pages, keep it out of the bath, etc.. So as a University student, I was even hesitant to highlight my textbooks or annotate in the margins. Now as an adult, I am thrilled to the core to hold this masterful, magical transport vehicle in my hands and struggle to read between the lines, to match the story that is happening in the margins with the story on the typeset page, to follow the mystery as it unfolds. Other reviewers have left tips within their reviews on how best to read and enjoy this creation. I will say that they are right and that I am following their advice. The wonderful, life-like clues and support resources that are folded within the pages of the books spill out (as such things do) and it's very convenient to devise a method to remove them while reading AND keep track of them in order. One reviewer suggested using page-numbered post-it notes to do so. I took that idea and am using post-it flags: remove item, affix numbered flag, add coloured flag to page in book, place item aside. Now I'm alerted by a flag while reading to unpack my stack of references and find the corresponding item. I then move the flag from the top of the book page to the side and know that I've passed it by. I have one clipped stack of used references and one of those I've yet to need. Another tip is to read the book in chunks, at first pass without trying to follow the footnotes and the annotations/references, then going back and reading the annotations. I agree with this and it has worked fantastically for me. I'm going chapter by chapter. SO. MUCH. FUN. I'm astonished at the creativity and intention that went into designing the book itself. From the library stamps on the cover and end leaves to the actual SMELL of the thing, it's a prop worthy of movies, films, and libraries. I love leaving it open on my bed or chair and seeing it there. It looks so loved, so intellectual, so old school. The clue/resources are varied and thoughtful. There is even a coffee /tea stain on a corner of one of the letters. If I were Abrams and Dorst, I would have cried tears of satisfaction and joy at seeing the first editions come off the presses. I may exaggerate, but it must be like the classical art forger (restorer?) who recreates a masterpiece down to the last authentic detail. Gift givers looking for something unusual and delightful to give book lovers and dedicated readers need look no further. I'm sure that with express shipping, you can still get this mind-blower of a present before Christmas. It's also available in a number of languages!

I haven't finished reading this book yet but wow what an amazing piece of art this is. It's so interactive and revolutionary. This novel has 3 stories within it (a story about the made up author who wrote the book, the actual story in the book, and a story about 2 people who communicate via writing inside of the book's margins). There are lots of "props" in the book like news paper articles, photographs, cards TONS! It's really super neat. Definitely recommend anyone picks this up. You will not regret it. I just wish there were more books like it out there as I am now addicted to these interactive novels lol.

Je ne vais pas critiquer le livre pour son contenu littéraire. Chacun peut se faire une idée en le lisant et personne n'a les mêmes appétences. La lecture est très différente (plus difficile?) d'un livre plus classique. Si vous commencer à lire les annotations et les cartes postales, coupures, etc... Vous cerrez que ça prend beaucoup de temps 😁 En revanche, l'objet qu'est ce livre le rends unique. Il y a plein de petites choses dans le livre, des annotations, des commentaires utiles ou pas. J'aime bien le feuilleter et voir des coupures de presse ou des lettres tomber d'entre ses pages. C'est un livre qui ne peut être apprécié que sous sa forme physique.