From the author of The Postmortal, a fantasy saga unlike any you’ve read before, weaving elements of folk tale and video game into a riveting, unforgettable adventure of what a man will endure to return to his family
When Ben, a suburban family man, takes a business trip to rural Pennsylvania, he decides to spend the afternoon before his dinner meeting on a short hike. Once he sets out into the woods behind his hotel, he quickly comes to realize that the path he has chosen cannot be given up easily. With no choice but to move forward, Ben finds himself falling deeper and deeper into a world of man-eating giants, bizarre demons, and colossal insects.
On a quest of epic, life-or-death proportions, Ben finds help comes in some of the most unexpected forms, including a profane crustacean and a variety of magical objects, tools, and potions. Desperate to return to his family, Ben is determined to track down the “Producer,” the creator of the world in which he is being held hostage and the only one who can free him from the path.
At once bitingly funny and emotionally absorbing, Magary’s novel is a remarkably unique addition to the contemporary fantasy genre, one that draws as easily from the world of classic folk tales as it does from video games. In The Hike, Magary takes readers on a daring odyssey away from our day-to-day grind and transports them into an enthralling world propelled by heart, imagination, and survival.
A difficult journey Interesting story and a good read. But not as much a personal adventure as I first thought then a glimpse into the cruelty of the journey. It was written well enough that I felt those strong emotions of the main character, and while I usually prefer escapism, this novel does make you think about his odyssey for days afterwards.
An Excellent Work Of Fiction I don’t even know where to begin. I try to read four or five books a month and haven’t before considered leaving a review. I had to here.Â
Get this book. There’s a neat crab in it. I have only a mild interest in the fantasy genre, but I’ve enjoyed Drew Magary’s writing for a few years now so I preordered The Hike about a week ago. It arrived in the mail today around 4:00 PM, and I finished it before I went to bed.Â