The Wayward Pines Trilogy (2012–2014) is a mystery/thriller/science fiction novel series by American author Blake Crouch. It follows U.S. Secret Service agent Ethan Burke as he unravels the mystery surrounding his unanticipated arrival in the small town of Wayward Pines, Idaho, following a devastating car accident. The novels are Pines (2012), Wayward (2013), and The Last Town (2014). In 2015, the novels were adapted into the television series Wayward Pines.
.jpg) | |
| |
| Author | Blake Crouch |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | |
| Publisher | Thomas & Mercer |
| Published | August 2012 – July 2014 |
| Media type | |
Overview edit
The plot surrounds Secret Service agent Ethan Burke's introduction to the remote small town of Wayward Pines, his new home from which he cannot escape. The residents of this picturesque town don't know how they got there and are forbidden to talk about their prior lives. An electric fence surrounds the town, and the residents are under 24-hour surveillance. The mysteries and horrors of the town build until Ethan discovers its secret. Then he must do his part to keep Wayward Pines protected from threats both within and beyond the fence.
The series covers themes of isolation, bucolic Americana, time-displacement, man vs nature, human evolution, and cryonics.[citation needed] Crouch has acknowledged that he was inspired by the 1990–91 TV series Twin Peaks.[1]
Books edit
| # | Title | Publisher | Date | Pages | ISBN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pines | Thomas & Mercer | August 21, 2012 | 330 | 978-1612183954 | |
| U.S. Secret Service agent Ethan Burke finds himself in the mysterious small town of Wayward Pines, Idaho, following a devastating car accident. First published in paperback and for Amazon Kindle. | ||||||
| 2 | Wayward | Thomas & Mercer | September 17, 2013 | 332 | 978-1477808702 | |
| Now aware of the secret behind Wayward Pines, Ethan uses his role as sheriff to cooperate with the town's founder Dr. Pilcher and protect his fellow residents from the dangers outside—and inside—the town. But a murder investigation puts Ethan on a path to change the way things are run in Wayward Pines.[2] | ||||||
| 3 | The Last Town | Thomas & Mercer | July 15, 2014 | 306 | 978-1477822586 | |
| The truth of Wayward Pines and what really lies beyond its borders is revealed, with disastrous results.[3][4] | ||||||
Reception edit
Ryan Daley of Bloody Disgusting named Pines one of his Top 10 Novels of 2012.[5] He later called Wayward "riveting" and even better than Pines.[6]
Adaptation edit
The novels are the basis for the television series Wayward Pines, produced by M. Night Shyamalan. After reading the source material, he said of the project, "As long as everybody isn't dead, I'm in", his "only rule" to secure his participation.[1] The "big reveal" at the end of Pines is reached halfway through the series in the fifth episode, and the remaining five episodes cover the events of Wayward and The Last Town. Shyamalan noted that the TV series varies from the books in some ways, but as Crouch was still writing the novels while the show was in development, there were "all kinds of cross pollinating" between the two.[1] In December 2015, Fox renewed the series for a second season.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b c Pierce, Scott D. (May 11, 2015). "No, they're not dead on Wayward Pines". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ Moore, Debi (September 9, 2013). "Learn More About Wayward Pines in Blake Crouch's New Novel Wayward". Dread Central. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- ^ Willis, John M. "The Last Town (The Wayward Pines Series, Book Three)". New York Journal of Books. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- ^ "The Last Town (Review)". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- ^ Daley, Ryan (December 24, 2012). "Top 10 Horror Novels of the Year!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ Daley, Ryan (September 11, 2013). "Wayward Is So Good, Not Even M. Night Can Screw It Up". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
- ^ "M. Night Shamalan's 10-Episode Psychological Thriller 'Wayward Pines' Returns Wednesday, May 25, on FOX". The Futon Critic. March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
External links edit
- Author website
- Alesi, Stacy (2012). "Starred Review: Pines by Blake Crouch". Booklist. Cleveland Public Library. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- Lignor, Amy (September 2012). "Inside the Pages: Suspense Magazine Book Reviews (Pines by Blake Crouch)" (PDF). Suspense Magazine. 38: 31. Retrieved June 18, 2015.