Polybius - by Collin Armstrong (Hardcover)

About the Book

"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"--

Book Synopsis

"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

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...

Review Quotes

"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

"Armstrong's chilling debut...impresses in its skillful combination of supernatural horror and believable characterization... Armstrong is riffing on a well-known urban legend, and he manages to make the well-trod story sing."--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

"Polybius by Collin Armstrong takes the 1980s urban legend of a sinister government experiment involving a mysterious arcade game and -- like all good horror -- brings the legend to life by building it around people and finding the humanity within the terror. We come to care for the community of Tasker Bay as a figurative Hell is unleashed upon their unsuspecting souls. Urban legends endure, they stick within the dark corners of our minds, because they are plausible outlets for our otherwise untethered fears and anxieties. Although it's set in the 80s, has there ever been a better time for a story about how technology and screens are capable of twisting our psyche and bringing out our worst impulses?"--T.J Payne, author of Intercepts

"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

"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