In the book "The Devil's Alphabet" by Daryl Gregory, the story unfolds in a small town called Switchcreek, TN, which was struck by a mysterious virus that caused mutations in its residents. The mutations resulted in three distinct groups of people - the Argos, tall and angular beings; the Betas, red-skinned and hairless individuals who reproduce asexually; and the Charlies, extremely obese individuals who secrete a hallucinogenic substance. The protagonist, Pax Martin, returns to his hometown after many years to attend the funeral of a childhood friend and becomes entangled in a mystery surrounding her death. The novel delves into themes of coping with profound changes, societal reactions to physical mutations, and the essence of humanity in the face of extraordinary circumstances.
The writing style of "The Devil's Alphabet" combines elements of science fiction, horror, and mystery, creating a compelling narrative that explores the consequences of a devastating virus on a small community. The protagonist, Pax, navigates through a world where normalcy is redefined, leading him to question his place in a society altered by the mutations caused by the virus. The story not only focuses on unraveling the mystery behind JoLynn's death but also delves into themes of addiction, corruption, and the complexities of human relationships in a setting where the boundaries of reality are blurred.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of mental health, body horror, and discussions of suicide.
From The Publisher:
From Daryl Gregory, whose Pandemonium was one of the most exciting debut novels in memory, comes an astonishing work of soaring imaginative power that breaks new ground in contemporary fantasy.
Switchcreek was a normal town in eastern Tennessee until a mysterious disease killed a third of its residents and mutated most of the rest into monstrous oddities. Then, as quickly and inexplicably as it had struck, the disease-dubbed Transcription Divergence Syndrome (TDS)-vanished, leaving behind a population divided into three new branches of humanity: giant gray-skinned argos, hairless seal-like betas, and grotesquely obese charlies.
Paxton Abel Martin was fourteen when TDS struck, killing his mother, transforming his preacher father into a charlie, and changing one of his best friends, Jo Lynn, into a beta. But Pax was one of the few who didn't change. He remained as normal as ever. At least on the outside.
Having fled shortly after the pandemic, Pax now returns to Switchcreek fifteen years later, following the suicide of Jo Lynn. What he finds is a town seething with secrets, among which murder may well be numbered. But there are even darker-and far weirder-mysteries hiding below the surface that will threaten not only Pax's future but the future of the whole human race.
Ratings (2)
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (3):
Read It (2) | |
Want To Read (1) |
What can you read after
The Devil's Alphabet?
About the Author:
DARYL GREGORY is the author of Spoonbenders, Afterparty, The Devil's Alphabet, and other novels. His novella We Are All Completely Fine won the World Fantasy Award and the Shirley Jackson Award.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
