The Warren

An interesting premise, but fails in the execution

Synopsis (jacket copy): X doesn't have a name. He thought he had one--or many--but that might be the result of the failing memories of the personalities imprinted within him. Or maybe he really is called X. He's also not as human as he believes himself to be. But when he discovers the existence of another--above ground, outside the protection of the Warren--X must learn what it means to be human, or face the destruction of their two species.

What I thought: I was really looking forward to reading this, based on the jacket copy. I've read at least 32 of the Tor.com novellas now, and although I liked some of them a lot, and some of them not so much, this is the first one where I've actually wondered why it got published. I think that there are a few seeds of a good story here--but that it's seriously undercooked and full of been-done-before. It's like a mashup of Wool, Flowers for Algernon, and Impostor. Not recommended, at least by me.