The Way Up Is Death

Cleverly blending science fiction, fantasy, and horror, Hanks (Swashbucklers) uses a video game format to probe the nature of humanity in all its glory and gore. The story kicks off when a mysterious and foreboding tower suddenly materializes in the air over central England, and a diverse group of 13 strangers are zapped up to its doorway. Among them are Alden, a disillusioned teacher; Nia, an underappreciated game designer; Dirk, an arrogant American Instagram influencer; an unnamed priest; and a father, Earl, and his precocious teenage daughter, Rakie. Though the group fear the tower and sense that it is somehow sentient, they follow the instruction to ascend, which is written in glowing letters above the door. The priest believes it’s the Rapture, but upon taking some gold from a treasure chest on the first floor, he is ripped apart by scythes. The remaining 12 realize they are in a video game designed to “test [them] on what’s important” and must survive various levels within the tower—including a torture chamber, a huge drilling machine, and an upside down room—as they work their way to the top. Hanks punctuates each level with displays of the best and worst human qualities: fear, logic, betrayal, sympathy, sacrifice. The pages fly by through all the humor, social commentary, and suspense. (Jan.)