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Stranger Things meets The Walking Dead in this chilling novel based on the terrifying urban legend about a video game created by the government for psychological warfare.
October, 1982. Forced to move to the quiet seaside town of Tasker Bay by her mother, the only thing on high schooler Andi's mind is saving up enough money to return to her old stomping grounds in Silicon Valley. Her self-taught skills with all things electronic make her a perfect fit for a job at the dingy local arcade where she can tune out from life and bankroll her eventual escape.
Pining over the distant and aloof Andi is Ro, the son of Tasker Bay's sheriff, who begins spending more time at the arcade. Despite promising herself she wouldn't get attached to anyone in town, Andi finds herself opening up to the thoughtful, like-minded Ro.
When Polybius—a new bleeding-edge game of unknown origin arrives—the shop is suddenly overwhelmed with players fighting for time on the machine. Seemingly overnight, a virus-like epidemic grips Tasker Bay while a violent coastal storm rolls in, isolating it from the outside world. People begin experiencing fits of anger, paranoia, and hallucinations—no one can be trusted. After a grisly act of violence goes unsolved, the town descends into chaos. Is the arrival of this mysterious game and the disorder in Tasker Bay a coincidence? Convinced the dire situation is somehow linked to Polybius, Andi and Ro desperately search for clues that might stop the spread before they, too, begin experiencing side effects…
"[C]hilling...If the premise feels familiar, it's because Armstrong is riffing on a well-known urban legend, and he manages to make the well-trod story sing. This is a promising start." —Publishers Weekly
"Polybius is retro and atmospheric… Fans of The God Game (2020), by Danny Tobey, or Rabbits by Terry Miles (2021), will find enjoyable parallels." —Booklist
"Points for 1980s ambiance, especially its Cold War–era mistrust of the government. Fans of '80s Stephen King and Dean Koontz will recognize the plot beats… Armstrong, as a writer and producer of film, understands these beats… Diehard '80s horror fans should want to step into Armstrong's arcade to play." —Library Journal
"Polybius is a boiling hot witch's brew of 1980s nostalgia, small town horror, and video game lunacy. It's scary and smart and a whole lot of fun. Jam packed with memorable characters and moments of jaw dropping suspense, it's hard to believe it's a debut novel. Trust me, if you're a fan of Stephen King and Stranger Things, then this is the book for you." —Richard Chizmar, New York Times bestselling author of Chasing the Boogeyman
"Chock full of 1980s nostalgia, paranoia, and unrelenting horror, Collin Armstrong's chilling arcade-game-gone-wild debut will leave you gasping for breath and wishing you had unlimited lives. Drop in your quarter, select Start, and hang on. I enjoyed the hell out of this one." —Ronald Malfi, bestselling author of Small Town Horror and Come With Me
This information about Polybius was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Collin Armstrong has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade developing, writing, and producing material for outlets including 20th Century Fox TV, ABC Family, Bleecker Street, Viaplay, Discovery, and the LA Times Studios. Polybius is his first novel. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and children.
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