Snævrs

Snævrs is a fictional concept that appears in the works of author M. John Harrison, most notably in his novel "Light" and its sequels. It refers to a peculiar and unsettling phenomenon that affects individuals, causing them to become physically and mentally altered. The exact nature of Snævrs is not fully explained, adding to its mysterious and often horrifying quality.

Those afflicted with Snævrs experience a gradual detachment from their former selves, their bodies becoming distorted and their minds plagued by strange visions and compulsions. The transformation is often described as a form of existential decay, where the individual's reality begins to unravel. This process is not necessarily painful in a physical sense, but rather a profound and terrifying loss of identity and connection to the world.

The cause of Snævrs remains ambiguous within Harrison's narratives. It is hinted to be an effect of exposure to certain alien technologies or perhaps a consequence of cosmic energies that permeate the universe he has created. The phenomenon serves as a potent metaphor for themes of alienation, the breakdown of identity, and humanity's struggle to comprehend incomprehensible forces. Characters who encounter Snævrs often find themselves grappling with the limits of their understanding and the fragility of their existence.