Future Skinny by Peter Rosch
What's It About?
Readers enter the dark, psychological existence of a complicated man named Casey Banks who possesses the ability to see the future by binge eatingAs a devout reader of fantasy and dark fiction, one of my most common criticisms of the genres is that they are rife with tropes. While tropes are not inherently negative, as using a proven formula is a logical path to success, overuse can often lead to burnout. Tropes can occur in many different areas, be it the characters, plot structure or setting, but the one consistent result of them, especially when poorly executed, is boredom.
Thankfully Peter Rosch, in his latest novel, Future Skinny, avoids this problem entirely by combining a distinctly unique premise with a timeless conflict that makes for a truly memorable story.
In this book, readers enter the dark, psychological existence of the complicated Casey Banks. Casey is a devoutly anorexic man who is devoted to punishing exercise and an even more punishing diet as he pursues his obsession with remaining thin. The storyline follows Casey as he discovers a ghastly talent: the ability to see the future by binge eating. Customers pay high prices for Casey to deliver their futures. While reveling in his newfound wealth, Casey ignores an important vision—that of his girlfriend’s involvement in a heinous murder. This vision and Casey’s ignorance combine and push him toward not only an uncertain future but also the depths of psychological torment.
A TRULY MEMORABLE STORY
My favorite aspect of the novel is Rosch’s atypical, snappy and engrossing prose. Eschewing the flowery exposition and formal speak found in typical fantasy and other dark fiction, Rosch opts for a quippy and sarcastic, yet just as descriptive and imaginative style that is darkly engaging and draws me in quite literally from the very first page:
“There he is… The hotel room is dim, but Casey isn’t hard to find. His body is a beacon of desperate protest underneath a forgiving silk tee. Bone thin. Skin bagging from every corner of his six-foot frame. A good guess would be 120 pounds. He has more hair, just not on his head. Fuzzy wisps of keratin on his arms and thick on the nape of his neck. Inky around the eyes a dire pigmentation that frames the focus he is straining to hold on the stranger on the at the other end of the makeshift dining table.”
I also particularly enjoyed the narrative. Alternating back and forth between narrative chapters and transcripts of Casey’s intimate, confessional interviews with an unidentified interviewer, Rosch keeps readers both engaged and on their toes. Constantly hinting at what’s to come, subverting expectations, and presenting mysterious outcomes through the confessionals that make the reader beg to find out what events lead up to them, the story is an absolute treat.
AN ABSOLUTE TREAT
In a literary world where real life disorders and hot button issues are often fumbled and are either used as simple plot devices or misrepresented, Rosch also does an excellent job of portraying eating disorders and other psychological problems. Through Casey’s development as a character, we learn about both what has lead to Casey’s anorexia and the effects it not only has on him but also on those around him. The tasteful yet narratively engaging way in which Rosch treated this aspect of the book significantly added to the experience.
Future Skinny is the perfect read for fantasy and fiction fans alike. Reminiscent of the likes of other grounded, mind-bending fiction a la Neil Gaiman and Tim Powers, Future Skinny will linger in the minds of readers for a long time.
