'Public Access Afterworld' Review: Jane Schoenbrun's Debut Novel Is a Brilliant Mess About Obsession and Escape

Filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun, known for the acclaimed 'I Saw the TV Glow,' makes a bold leap into fiction with 'Public Access Afterworld,' a sprawling debut novel that trades the camera for unlimited scale. The book dives deep into themes of obsession and escape, following characters who become consumed by a mysterious public access television show that seems to offer a portal to another reality. Schoenbrun's signature blend of analog horror, queer identity, and nostalgia for 1990s media culture is on full display, but the novel's ambition often leads to a brilliant mess of tangled plotlines and shifting perspectives. Fans of 'Camp Miasma'—Schoenbrun's earlier web series—will find familiar obsessions with liminal spaces, doppelgängers, and the blurry line between fandom and identity. While the novel's sheer scale may overwhelm some readers, its emotional core remains powerful: a meditation on how media can both trap and liberate us. For those ready to get lost in a labyrinthine narrative that rewards patience, 'Public Access Afterworld' is a must-read. Schoenbrun proves once again that they are one of the most daring voices exploring the intersection of pop culture and the supernatural.