The novel “Wanderers” by Chuck Wendig was published for the first time in 2019. It’s the first book in the Wanderers series.
When Shana can’t find her sister Nessie at home, she fears that she has run away as she did in the past and as their mother had done some time before. She goes out looking for her and finds her looking like she’s sleepwalking, showing no signs of noticing Shana’s presence. Other people in the same state start arriving and walking side by side with Nessie and when someone physically tries to stop them, they react by flailing violently and in extreme cases literally explode.
Benjamin Ray is a doctor who fell out of favor at the CDC after falsifying data to try to avoid the risk of an epidemic. However, an artificial intelligence called Black Swan picked his name while it was being used to gain useful intelligence in the new crisis. While medical authorities try to understand the origin of the strange new form of sleepwalking, extremist fringes linked to the American religious right and white supremacism start mounting a campaign against “the Flock” accused of being linked to evil forces.
Read after the pandemic, “Wanderers” doesn’t even seem like science fiction in its initial part. Chuck Wendig explores the possible medical causes behind the new form of sleepwalking and beyond that. The people affected are kept under observation by the media, which leads to an explosion of reactions and comments in the media and on the Internet.
Through discussions between doctors trying to understand the origin of the strange form of sleepwalking that started affecting people who seem very diverse, Chuck Wendig offers information on pathogenic microorganisms crossing species barrier, also mentioning the coronaviruses that not long ago caused the epidemics of SARS and MERS. The story of the early stages of this new epidemic includes reactions connected to conspiracy theories in many ways similar to those seen after the spread of COVID-19.
The strange form of sleepwalking at the center of the novel affects a small number of people but inevitably elicits strong reactions due to their behavior. Chuck Wendig explores the links between white supremacism and certain fringes of Christian fundamentalism in recounting the reactions of extremist groups. Ozark Stover, the leader of one of these factions, has an agenda that includes actions at different levels ranging from political to religious.
In short, the novel has a beginning that in many ways seems to be the result of a good research work by the author but the story’s tones change, becoming decidedly darker. Throughout the novel, many characters quote various contemporary works, including “The Stand” by Stephen King. It seems like an homage to a source of inspiration, though Chuck Wendig develops his novel in his own way.
One key difference is that “Wanderers” isn’t about a supernatural clash between good and evil. Its characters have strengths and weaknesses and Ozark Stover’s cruelty represents human characteristics, without the need for an element of evil in the metaphysical sense like that of Randall Flagg in “The Stand”. Chuck Wendig develops the religious theme for its influence on American society but everything remains on a human level.
The inhuman element in “Wanderers” is given by Black Swan. Again, initially, the story seems very close to reality considering the fact that in this period, chatbots have become more and more instruments of common use. This makes it difficult to think about the artificial intelligences of classic science fiction.
All these elements form a complex story in which subplots and characters are developed embracing various aspects of today’s American society. The apocalyptic science fiction element is so close to reality that it’s downright creepy.
The complexity, length, and a certain slowness in its first part make “Wanderers” not an easy read. In my opinion, it’s worth committing yourself because of all the food for thought that is offered on various themes that are important today. The novel has its own epilogue which leaves parts of the story open to its sequel but can be read on its own.
