It Could Be Anything

In Short

This science fiction novella follows Brett Hale, a restless young man who boards a train to see the world, only to find the tracks abruptly end in a desolate, artificial landscape. He discovers a world populated by "golems"—lifeless, imitation people—and controlled by "Gels," gelatinous, translucent predators. As Brett navigates this hollow reality, he realizes the comforts of home and the stories he once trusted were merely illusions. It is a surreal, unsettling meditation on perception, survival, and the terrifying possibility that the world is not what it seems.

The Story

Brett Hale leaves the familiar fields of Casperton, seeking the cities and mountains he has only ever seen in books. Shortly after his train departs, he enters a restroom and finds himself inexplicably trapped. When he finally escapes, he discovers the train has stopped in the middle of a barren, dusty plain where the rails simply vanish. Following a smudge on the horizon, he walks into a city that appears normal at first, filled with bustling crowds and parades. However, he soon notices the silence and the strange, mechanical behavior of the people.

He meets another survivor named Awalawon Dhuva, who explains the danger: the city is a "golem" construct—a hollow shell populated by unthinking human-shaped puppets—and is patrolled by "Gels," amorphous brown shapes that consume any living thing that disrupts their programmed scenes. After Dhuva is swallowed by a Gel, Brett discovers a hidden abyss beneath the city streets, littered with the bones of previous victims. Armed with a gun and a newfound ruthlessness, Brett rescues Dhuva from the depths, burning the Gel to death with gasoline.

The destruction of the Gel causes the nearby "golem" inhabitants to collapse into lifeless husks, revealing the city as a flimsy, paper-thin deception. Brett and Dhuva drive through the desolate landscape, using a radio to find other survivors, only to realize the "undermining" of reality is widespread. As they prepare to return to Casperton, Brett reflects on the nature of truth. He wonders if his own home was merely another stage and if the people he knew were hiding secret lives. The story ends with the two men driving into the unknown, accepting that while they now know the world is an illusion, they must see for themselves if anything—or anyone—they left behind remains real.

How It Unfolds

The sudden departure Brett says goodbye to his aunt and a local man, boarding a train with high expectations of the wider world. The journey is quiet until he enters a train car, becomes trapped, and finds the tracks end in a field of dry, dead stalks.

The discovery of the hollow city Brett walks across a dusty plain to reach a city that looks normal, only to realize it is a theater of shadows. He observes a parade of stiff, expressionless people before a stranger warns him about the dangerous Gels.

The confrontation with the Gels Brett teams up with Dhuva, a survivor who has been trapped for months, and they witness a Gel consume a victim. After Dhuva is taken, Brett descends into the dark, bone-filled pit beneath the city to find him.

The destruction of the illusion Brett rescues Dhuva and uses gasoline and fire to kill a Gel, causing the local golems to fall apart. The two men realize the entire city is a hollow facade built over an abyss, and they resolve to find other survivors.

The final uncertainty The survivors tune a radio to hear desperate voices from across the country, confirming the collapse is global. Brett decides to head back toward his home, wondering if Casperton was just another lie, ultimately concluding that "it could be anything."

The People

Brett Hale is the protagonist, a man driven by a desire to look beyond the surface of his small-town life. Initially naive and romantic, he is hardened by the realization that his reality is artificial. He becomes a man of action, willing to use violence to survive.

Awalawon Dhuva is a wary, cynical survivor who has lived in the hollow city for months. He is fearful and superstitious, representing the struggle to maintain human dignity when one’s understanding of the universe has been shattered.

The Fat Man represents the ultimate conformist. He is a business-minded, "respectable" citizen who refuses to acknowledge the reality of the Gels or the hollow nature of his world. He perceives Brett as a dangerous "troublemaker" because Brett threatens the comfortable, fake reality he clings to.

Aunt Haicey serves as the emotional anchor to Brett’s past. She is a bird-like, anxious woman who represents the domestic safety Brett rejects. By the end, her image becomes a symbol of the uncertainty Brett faces; he no longer knows if she was a person or part of a constructed life.

In Its Own Voice

"Up until now all he knew about anything outside of Casperton was what he'd read or seen pictures of."

Brett contemplates his limited understanding of the world while riding the train toward his unknown future.

"I've always thought it was full of bankers, banking ... Now I don't know."

As he considers returning home, Brett questions the authenticity of the most mundane parts of his past.

What It's Really About

The central argument is that human perception is fragile and easily manipulated by narratives. The book challenges the reader to consider how much of "reality" is simply a collection of accepted stories we tell ourselves to avoid looking into the abyss. It mocks the idea of the "respectable" life, suggesting that those who conform most strongly to societal rituals—like the fat man—are the most invested in maintaining a lie. It asks a haunting question: if you realized your world was a stage, would you seek the truth at the cost of your comfort, or would you retreat into the illusion?

Why Read It Today

This novella is a fascinating relic of 1960s science fiction, feeling less like a traditional space adventure and more like a fever dream or a precursor to modern psychological thrillers. Readers who enjoy existential puzzles or stories that strip away the veneer of normalcy will find its surreal, desolate atmosphere deeply gripping. Its pacing is swift and its tone is consistently eerie, moving from the pastoral warmth of a small town to the claustrophobic, crumbling corridors of a synthetic city.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the mid-century sensibilities reflected in the dialogue and the somewhat stylized, "tough-guy" prose typical of the era. The book does not offer grand explanations for the Gels or the golems; it is interested in the experience of discovering that one’s world is a hollow construct rather than the technical "how-to" of that deception. If you appreciate a story that leaves you with a lingering, unsettling sense of wonder about the fabric of your own daily life, you will likely find this a memorable, haunting read. It is a slim, sharp volume that doesn't overstay its welcome, effectively capturing the terror of a man who realizes that when the mask of the world slips, "it could be anything."