Foe

Author: Iain Reid

Published: August 7th, 2018

Pages: 261

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid was one of my favourite books I read in 2025 so I couldn’t wait to start this one. Foe is written in that same unique way, an ambiguous, untrustworthy narrator provides the details. I will need to say as little as possible to not spoil this tale.

We are told the story from the perspective of Junior. He and Henrietta (Hen) live on a farm in the middle of nowhere in a dystopian future where all cars are self-driving, and the mere thought that humans were once given responsibility to drive these hunks of metal is laughable. Junior thinks he is very happy with his groundhog, solitary life. Hen less so. She tries to tell him multiple times, but he won’t even entertain the idea. When Terrence arrives one day out of the blue, they are told that Junior has been selected by lottery to take part in a humanity changing mission and he will be gone for many years. Whilst he his gone someone will be left to look after Hen so she won’t be alone in his absence. Let the uncertainty, what on earth is going on ness, begin!

This is a science fiction; dystopian tale intertwined with the study of a marriage. The marriage of Junior and Henrietta. A domestic observation. How should a long-term partnership look and how can both partners be on the same page? “We used to talk more, when things were still new between us. When we were eager to learn about each other – interacting, observing, experiencing. It takes time. I’ve been trying to remember these earlier moments more, reflect on them, focus on them”. You get the sense that Hen is bored of this life and seeks more whilst Junior wants things to stay just as they are.

This is an unnerving read where clues are laid out for the reader from the start. I will say grammar is quite important to observe, and then there are the beetles and how the characters react to seeing them. Pay attention to these 2 things.

Ultimately, as all dystopian stories tend to do, this poses an ethical question. The more us humans develop technology the more of these kinds of moral questions will be posed. I remember Dolly the Sheep (yes I’m that old) and the ethical dilemmas this brought about. This book will make you have similar thoughts.

I loved how this story gave you all the clues and how it all comes together in the end. Some people have said not a lot happens in this book. It is true that there is not much action. However, the quiet, slow reveal of the characters intentions and motives, there reason for being, was perfect reading for me.

Final thoughts:

A dystopian future mixed with the study of a marriage and some ethical questions posed along the way. Intriguing, dark, gloomy, frustrating and will keep you guessing until the end.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Not quite 5 stars as I didn’t love it quite as much as I’m Thinking of Ending Things, but a strong read I would highly recommend.