_9MOTHER9HORSE9EYES9, sometimes abbreviated to 9M9H9E9 or MHE (fl. 21 April 2016 – 28 February 2024), is the screen name of an anonymous writer of creepypasta[1] speculative fiction on Reddit.
_9MOTHER9HORSE9EYES9 | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Writer |
| Years active | 2016-2024 |
| Known for | Reddit creepypastas |
Work
editFrom 22 April to 17 July 2016, the writer posted a science fiction horror story in short installments to apparently random Reddit discussion threads.[1] The story was posted in segments as replies to comments in the discussion threads.[2] The story, sometimes referred to by others as the Interface series, touches on such topics as "Vietnam, Elizabeth Bathory, the Treblinka concentration camp, humpback whales, the Manson Family and LSD", and particularly involves entities called "flesh interfaces".[1]
The story attracted media notice the day after its first parts were published.[3] The Guardian, reporting on the story, described it as "compelling" and "gradually more beautifully and boldly written from multiple narrative perspectives".[1] Vice mentioned the possibility of the whole thing being part of a viral marketing campaign for something yet unknown.[4] The book Immersion and Participation in Punchdrunk's Theatrical Worlds praised the usage of Reddit as a means of horror and noted how within a week of the first post readers had already set up a wiki to document the story.[5] An impromptu fandom collects information about the story in a subreddit and wiki.[4][2]
Identity
editIn a later deleted post, the writer described himself as a "30-something American male", and indicated a history of substance abuse.[4] However, this post also incorporated fictional elements of the story. A BBC article also reported that the author said he is "male, in his thirties, lives in the United States, works as a freelance translator, and was once a heavy user of LSD."[6] The author told Gizmodo that "I live in a home for men and work a little to make ends meet."[7] Both Vice and Gizmodo have speculated that Reddit user /u/Anatta-Phi, prolific conspiracy theorist and moderator of the "ShrugLifeSyndicate", a subreddit of similar themes including psychedelics, psychosis and synchronicity, is the writer of the story.[4][7]
See also
edit- r/nosleep – Subreddit
References
edit- ^ a b c d Alexander, Leigh (5 May 2016). "_9MOTHER9HORSE9EYES9: the mysterious tale terrifying Reddit". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b Skains, R. Lyle (29 December 2022). Neverending Stories: The Popular Emergence of Digital Fiction. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-5013-6492-1.
- ^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (23 April 2016). "Someone is creating a horrifying sci-fi world in Reddit comments". The Verge. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d "'_9MOTHER9HORSE9EYES9' Is Reddit's New, Terrifying Mystery". Vice. 29 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
- ^ Westling, Carina E. I. (14 May 2020). Immersion and Participation in Punchdrunk's Theatrical Worlds. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 177–178. ISBN 978-1-350-10197-5.
- ^ "The mysterious novel in the cat video comments". BBC News. 31 May 2016. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ a b Menegus, Bryan (5 May 2016). "There's a Sci-Fi Novel Secretly Unfolding in Reddit's Comments". Gizmodo.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017.
External links
edit
- Reddit.com: user 9MOTHER9HORSE9EYES9 comments
- Reddit.com: "9M9H9E9"
- Reddit.com: "ShrugLifeSyndicate"