Basilisk
Matt Wixey (Titan Books, July 1)

I’m manipulating your thoughts. Just by reading this, I have invaded your mind, as each word travels from my heart to yours. I can even conjure unexpected images in your mind—quickly, don’t think of a pink elephant! Whatever you do, don’t visualize it!

Fortunately, there are limits to the influence of mere words and ideas. But what if those limits could be transcended? Imagine a phrase so potent that it could guide your very thoughts toward your own demise. This is the premise explored in Basilisk, an experimental thriller by Matt Wixey, designed specifically for the minds of readers like those of New Scientist.

This novel features a complex narrative structure, reminiscent of House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. It follows ethical hacker Alex Webster, who works with a computer security firm, attempting to breach her client’s network while aiding in their defense, a professional endeavor shared by debut author Wixey.

However, it’s not merely straightforward. Webster narrates her experiences through two intertwined threads. First, we unravel how she and colleague Jay Morton stumbled into the puzzle leading to his death. Then, she reflects on that tragedy and processes its far-reaching consequences.

The narrative doesn’t end there. Webster’s accounts are supplemented with footnotes from both her and the detective investigating Morton’s death, interspersed with correspondence from a mysterious figure known as Helmsman, who sheds light on the puzzle they aim to solve.

If all this sounds overwhelming, Basilisk may not be for you. Personally, piecing together the multifaceted narratives exhilarated me, making my mind race with possibilities.

Helmsman’s correspondences themselves adopt various formats, from bureaucratic emails and scientific reports to conversational dialogues. They tackle numerous topics typically found in New Scientist, covering psychology to artificial intelligence, and I appreciated the precise references to scientific literature. Helmsman details attempts to cultivate a “basilisk,” a concept that can inflict harm merely through exposure, named after the mythical creature said to slay with a glance.

Basilisks are, as far as we know, fictional, yet the concepts they embody are increasingly compelling. Science fiction author David Langford has explored such ideas in his short stories. Basilisk presents the notion of images that may ‘crash’ the human mind akin to deceptive computer code.

A notable example is Roko’s basilisk—a baffling proposition suggesting that all-powerful future AI will punish those who fail to ensure its creation (a more thorough explanation isn’t wise). The latest series of the anthology Black Mirror also references this concept.

Basilisk represents a subset of broader cognitive hazards, which span topics from nuclear weapons to organized religions.

While reading Basilisk, sleepless nights drove me to read yet another chapter, prompting me to question if the book itself qualifies as a cognitive hazard. I found it difficult to stop thinking about even after finishing. Now that you’ve read this review, perhaps you’re at risk, too.

Please proceed. Dive into the book. Wouldn’t you want to discover what unfolds?

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