Devolution

Bookseller recommendation

“I think my favorite part of this book was the interviews that would cut in between each chapter of the book to give more details on the "history" or "events" of the story. I felt like I was listening to NPR or reading from a non-fiction field guide. It's incredibly original, humorous, and terrifying. ”

— Kaycee • Country Bookshelf

Bookseller recommendation

“Incredible. Every Max Brook book is everything you could ever want it to be and then some and Devolution is no exception. His most traditionally structured work yet, Devolution is an epistolary account of the town of Greenloop, a small, isolated, high- tech community situated in the middle of the Cascades and what befalls it after the fictional eruption of the entirely real Mt. Rainier that ravages the North-Eastern coast. It's a fabulous horror novel that tricks you into gaining some survival skills along the way. And through all the spatter, the gore, guts, and splintered skulls, it's outlandish premiss is ground (maybe by a 40+ shoe- sized foot?) into harsh reality through hard science and facts that exposes mankind's current and far too numerous weaknesses. What's evolution and what is devolution? I'm still not sure long after I flipped the final page. Definitely worth the listen on Libro.fm. They get Terry Gross from Fresh Air to actually play Terry Gross from Fresh Air and it doesn't get better than that.”

— Conner • BookBar

Bookseller recommendation

“Made the mistake of listening to this book before going to sleep and subsequently spent an hour after turning off my phone staring at the shadows at the corners of my room as they morphed into bigfoot. Hauntingly written and beautifully performed.”

— Sam • The Cupboard Maker Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Take a natural disaster, an isolated community, and the Bigfoot legend, and you are rewarded with a suspenseful spooky tale that may or may not be a good idea to read in an isolated location in the woods. You will be kept on the edge of your seat as you devour this survival/adventure story mashed up with a mystery that unfolds through a journalistic inquiry combining research excerpts, interviews, and a found diary. It also provides a not-so-subtle cautionary tale about our reliance on technology and convenience. A multiple narrator cast made for an enjoyable audiobook listen.”

— Cori • Bright Side Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“This ensemble cast of fantastic narrators really elevates the storytelling. An entertaining story with likeable characters. And it's horror! ”

— Yarrow • Maria's Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“This was a blast to read. Kate and Dan Holland have an opportunity to move into an eco-friendly community called Greenloops in the shadow of Mt. Rainier. Kate’s therapist asks her to keep a journal, and this is how their story is preserved. Because after Mt. Rainier erupts, horrible things happen at Greenloops. Really horrible things…”

— Ann Nye • Excelsior Bay Books

Bookseller recommendation

“When I heard Brooks y’all about his research process, how he describes his process, and why Devolution despite it being about a “Bigfoot” attack had so much relevance, I was sold. And, as my instincts predicted, I was totally hooked, and fast! Then I realized that Brooks writes about these futuristic horror-ish survival adventures, in a way that drives you forward like the plot of a good thriller. His irony is excellent, and his vivid descriptions are clear, non-flowery and absolutely relevant to the plot. And this is the part that I also like so much...I naturally start thinking: “how would I handle this? “Wow, these mistakes are completely plausible.” How do you avoid mistakes like this?” “I can’t wait to see how these pieces of information come together. I know this important but now I have to know why.” And “This is such a smart book in the pure and enjoyable sense of the word.” I will gladly take the genre jump when the next Max Brooks appear on the horizon. Especially now that I’ve discovered that audio Brooks is even more outstanding than I could have hoped! Be careful...if you listen in the car, you’ll start hoping for traffic.”

— Laura • Buxton Books

Bookseller recommendation

“ Take a natural disaster + an isolated community + the Bigfoot legend and you are rewarded with a suspenseful spooky tale that may or may not be a good idea to read if in an isolated location in the woods. You will be kept on the edge of your seat as you devour this survival/adventure story mashed up with a mystery that unfolds through a journalistic inquiry combining research excerpts, interviews, and a found diary. It also provides a not so subtle cautionary tale about our reliance on technology and convenience. A multiple narrator cast made for an enjoyable audiobook listen.”

— Cori • Bright Side Bookshop