Devolution, by Max Brooks

Max Brooks, who wrote about humans being overrun by zombies in World War Z, turns his attention to humans being attacked by Bigfoot in Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre.  In the form of a journal and interviews, Brooks tells the story of a remote community that is attacked by a band of Sasquatches. 

Greenloop is tiny community isolated in the mountains a short drive from Seattle.  Remote, yet equipped with lots of high-tech features, residents are able to work remotely, stay in touch with the outside world, and receive deliveries by drone of groceries and other needs.  That is, until Mount Rainier erupts and the lava flow cuts off the roads and communication lines.  As Greenloop residents hope for someone from the outside to come after them, some start making plans for the potential that they might be stuck there for months.  They notice that the eruption and resulting fires are driving displaced wildlife through their area.  But soon they realize the wildlife has another pursuer, another species migrating and looking for food.  A band of Sasquatches discovers Greenloop and decides to stick around for the good eating.

Playing out like a horror movie, the residents of Greenloop get picked off, become dinner one by one.  As the humans fight back, they learn more about their foes, who are smarter and more dangerous than they would have guessed.  Brooks's storytelling style keeps you guessing, even though you sort of know how things are going to turn out.  This is a fun romp in the same way that a good horror movie is.  Yeah, it's a little formulaic, a standard trope of people trapped in the woods with a mysterious killer lurking.  But Brooks keeps it fun and worth reading.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!