Wanderers (Wanderers, #1)

by Chuck Wendig

The Biggest Thriller of The Year Has Arrived.

A decadent rock star. A deeply religious radio host. A disgraced scientist. And a teenage girl who may be the world's last hope. From the mind of Chuck Wendig comes an astonishing tapestry of humanity that Harlan Coben calls "a suspenseful, twisty, satisfying, surprising, thought-provoking epic." Shana wakes up one morning to discover her little sister in the grip of a strange malady. She appears to be sleepwalking. She cannot talk and cannot be woken up. And she is heading with inexorable determination to a destination that only she knows. But Shana and her sister are not alone. Soon they are joined by a flock of sleepwalkers from across America, on the same mysterious journey. And, like Shana, there are other "shepherds" who follow the flock to protect their friends and family on the long dark road ahead. For on their journey, they will discover an America convulsed with terror and violence, where this apocalyptic epidemic proves less dangerous than the fear of it. As the rest of society collapses all around them-and an ultraviolent militia threatens to exterminate them-the fate of the sleepwalkers depends on unraveling the mystery behind the epidemic. The terrifying secret will either tear the nation apart-or bring the survivors together to remake a shattered world.

• ISBN10: 1781088101
• ISBN13: 9781781088104
• Publish Date: 11 July 2019 (first published 2 July 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Solaris
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 800
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Wendig’s relevant, apocalyptic tale touches on technology, extreme religious groups, end of times, and the fear of the unknown. From political maneuvering to using fear as a tool we see and experience it all as a young girl follows her sister and others across America’s flyover states.

It’s a normal sunny morning on the farm when Shanna sees her younger sister walking aimlessly towards the road. She follows and quickly realizes something is wrong. By the time she gets her father another walker has joined her sister. They are walking, eyes wide-open fixed straight ahead and unseeing. Attempts to stop the walkers are met with horrific consequences and that is when disgraced former CDC scientist, Benji is called in and introduced to a predictive computer. The tale that unfolds crossed into our reality making the story absolutely disturbing and at times terrifying.

The tale is told primarily through Benji’s POV, but be also get Shanna who never leaves her sister’s side. We meet Matthew a small town preacher who becomes caught up in one of many conspiracies. Then we have Ozark Stover. He is a radical militia leader who backs the current presidential opponent and is willing to use fear to further his cause. This man will give you nightmares. Then we have Peter Corley, a rocker with a secret who finds his way to the walkers and the shepherds who follow them.

We get to know these characters and throughout the journey see them working together as the outside world struggles to understand, stop and use them for their own agenda. What is causing this? Is it a terrorist act? Where are they going? Meanwhile a horrific new virus is spreading globally. Is there a link to the walkers? It was all so addictive!

Wendig uses all of these characters and their threads to weave an apocalyptic tale that touches on key political and climate issues, but also weaves in technological advancements and more to create a story that delivered an edge of your seat thriller. I could totally see this story being told on the big screen or maybe Netflix needs to pick it up.

Nothing is more terrifying than a story whose headlines mirror our own. While the scientific advances may not happen for years, the concept combines with today’s advances and climate made it feel wholly conceivable. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Quirky Cat]

I received a copy of The Wanderers through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Wanderers is the latest novel by Chuck Wendig, and it's been getting a lot of attention. Before the novel was even out people were fighting over the rights to adapt the novel into a series. Which is pretty huge (QC Entertainment won the rights, for those that are curious). And honestly, this novel will adapt well to a series, so I'm looking forward to seeing it.
The Wanderers is a post apocalyptic novel, but not quite. More like it's a story following the dreadful spiral downward. The use of multiple perspectives helps to tell the tale, and it's a dark and disturbing one.
It's a survival novel, but also a study in human nature and reactions. That's what makes it so standout amongst other novels in the same genre. It wasn't quite like anything else I've read, and I mean that in the best way possible.
I'm not kidding when I call this novel dark, but it's also brilliantly written. Every detail held my attention, and had me eager for more. Though sometimes I was afraid to see what was going to be revealed next.


Warnings: As mentioned above, this novel can get pretty dark at times. There is a mass contagion that poses a major threat to humanity. So if you're suffering from nosophobia, or any other variant of being afraid of disease, this is a novel you should skip. And as with many post apocalyptic novels, this novel portrays the worst side of humanity, including racism, sexism, and so much more.
The Wanderers was a thrilling and fast paced novel of epic proportions. It's dark and disturbing, and will probably give you nightmares. But it is so absolutely worth it. If you've been looking for a new post apocalyptic novel to try, I'd strongly recommend this one.
There was a lot to love in this novel. The tone itself was amazing – to me it felt similar to Hot Zone, but maybe I just had that on my mind (I am rereading it next – I don't know why I'm doing that to myself). The switches in perspective help to tell the story, while keeping the plot moving forward at a steady pace. But it also gives different levels of insight as well, all due to how different each of the characters were.
The Wanderers started off at an interesting point, but it did a great job of pulling me into the narrative. Looking back on it, I can see how the introduction was an allegory for what was going to happen to the characters in Chuck Wendig's novel.
I mentioned above that this novel is not for the faint of heart, and I do mean that. Chuck Wendig's description of diseases and outbreaks were so detailed they felt real...which may not be the best thing for the mental state of those reading! I know I for one will likely flinch at the sound of sniffles for the next few weeks. But all of that speaks to how immersive The Wanderers really is.
Mentally, I'm still working my way through the conclusion. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, but that's okay. In fact, maybe it's a good thing that it left me feeling conflicted. I love novels that make me think, so I have to appreciate this one as well.
I'm really curious to see how the adaptation of The Wanderers will go. The hardest part to get right – but also the most vital piece – will be the tone itself. Everything else will hopefully fall into place with it. No matter what, I'm sure that I'll give the series a try. I'm not sure I could resist.
On the whole, I have to say that this is another hit from Chuck Wendig. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!


For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight .

4.5*

Not only did I read this whole 800 page book in a pretty reasonable amount of time, I enjoyed every minute. And if you take nothing else away from  my review, take away that. It seems intimidating when you first begin; I was certainly intimidated. But I shouldn't have been. It was engaging, entertaining, and I never once felt it drag. 

We start out in a quaint Pennsylvania town (not unlike my own, if we're being honest- the beginning is set not far from my area) with a young woman who has no idea that she's quite literally going to stumble upon the end of the world when she finds her younger sister in a trace-like state. The book begins with Shana and her sister, and they feel like the epicenter throughout. But we also experience several other very key players' points of view as the book goes along. I didn't know that I would care for or about them when I first read their chapters, but shortly knew I had been wrong. Each character was incredibly well developed, and each had a role to play in the greater story. No one is a throwaway, so fret not. 

The plot itself is incredibly gripping. The author delves into a lot of big issues that would likely become extra relevant in the event of an actual plague. People in crisis are often unsure of what to do and who to turn to, and this both brings out the best and worst in people. The author explores this in several arenas: a grab for political power (in a series of individuals who are not unlike those we're witnessing in real-time); religion being used as a manipulation tactic; fame being used to influence. 

Of course as the story goes on, there's a ton of gray morality and thought provoking questions presented. What would you do in some of the characters' shoes? Is it okay to be selfish or selfless at the end of days? And that's really just the tip of the iceberg as the secrets unfurl. There were admittedly a few places that the story could have been cut down just a bit, but as a whole it was incredibly well-paced and well-thought out and I enjoyed it wholly.

Bottom Line: This epic novel explores who people can and will become when their backs are against the wall, when there's nothing left to lose. It's honest and realistic, and therefore utterly terrifying.