Wolf in White Van A Novel

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle is a novel published by Macmillan on September 16, 2014. This first edition spans 207 pages and is presented in English. The story centers on Sean Phillips, who, after a disfiguring injury at seventeen, creates imaginary worlds for others to explore through his text-based role-playing game, Trace Italian. Set against a backdrop of a ravaged America, the narrative delves into the intersections of reality and imagination as Sean guides players through their adventures.
Readers will find a richly constructed tale that unfolds in reverse, revealing the pivotal moments of Sean’s life and the consequences of his creations. The novel explores themes of isolation, strategy, and survival, as well as the impact of a game that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. As high school students Lance and Carrie venture into the real world from the game, the story takes a dramatic turn, leading Sean to confront his past. Wolf in White Van offers a unique blend of psychological and contemporary fiction, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of existence and the worlds we create.
Official synopsis Publisher
The New York Times Bestseller
Long-listed for the 2014 National Book Award in fiction
Winner of the 2015 Alex Award for adult books with special appeal for young adults
Welcome to Trace Italian, a game of strategy and survival! You may now make your first move. Isolated by a disfiguring injury since the age of seventeen, Sean Phillips crafts imaginary worlds for strangers to play in. From his small apartment in southern California, he orchestrates fantastic adventures where possibilities, both dark and bright, open in the boundaries between the real and the imagined. As the creator of Trace Italian—a text-based, role-playing game played through the mail—Sean guides players from around the world through his intricately imagined terrain, which they navigate and explore, turn by turn, seeking sanctuary in a ravaged, savage future America.
Lance and Carrie are high school students from Florida, explorers of the Trace. But when they take their play into the real world, disaster strikes, and Sean is called to account for it. In the process, he is pulled back through time, tunneling toward the moment of his own self-inflicted departure from the world in which most people live.
Brilliantly constructed, Wolf in White Van unfolds in reverse until we arrive at both the beginning and the climax: the event that has shaped so much of Sean’s life. Beautifully written and unexpectedly moving, John Darnielle’s audacious and gripping debut novel is a marvel of storytelling brio and genuine literary delicacy.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Wolf in White Van A Novel” about?
Who is the author of “Wolf in White Van A Novel”?
When was “Wolf in White Van A Novel” published?
What is the ISBN for “Wolf in White Van A Novel”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
