The Hike
Written by Drew Magary
Narrated by Christopher Lane
4/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
From the author of The Postmortal, a fantasy saga unlike any you've read before, weaving elements of folk tale and video game into a riveting, unforgettable adventure of what a man will endure to return to his family
When Ben, a suburban family man, takes a business trip to rural Pennsylvania, he decides to spend the afternoon before his dinner meeting on a short hike. Once he sets out into the woods behind his hotel, he quickly comes to realize that the path he has chosen cannot be given up easily. With no choice but to move forward, Ben finds himself falling deeper and deeper into a world of man-eating giants, bizarre demons, and colossal insects.
On a quest of epic, life-or-death proportions, Ben finds help comes in some of the most unexpected forms, including a profane crustacean and a variety of magical objects, tools, and potions. Desperate to return to his family, Ben is determined to track down the "Producer," the creator of the world in which he is being held hostage and the only one who can free him from the path.
At once bitingly funny and emotionally absorbing, Magary's novel is a remarkably unique addition to the contemporary fantasy genre, one that draws as easily from the world of classic folk tales as it does from video games. In The Hike, Magary takes readers on a daring odyssey away from our day-to-day grind and transports them into an enthralling world propelled by heart, imagination, and survival.
Drew Magary
Drew Magary is a writer for Deadspin, NBC, Maxim magazine, and Kissing Suzy Kolber. He's also written for GQ, New York Magazine, ESPN, Yahoo!, Playboy, Penthouse, and various other media outlets. His first book, "Men With Balls," was released in 2008. This is his first novel. He lives in Maryland with his wife and children.
Related to The Hike
Related audiobooks
Lanny Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Postmortal: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Library at Mount Char Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Book is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Down Days Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Venomous Lumpsucker Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bad Monkeys: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Loop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Manual of Detection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Fisherman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Alice Isn't Dead: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Unnoticeables: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5We Are Where the Nightmares Go and Other Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Big Machine: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Past Is Red Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All the Birds in the Sky Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Comfort Me With Apples Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5American Elsewhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Strange Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blackfish City: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Birds of Paradise Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Space Opera Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Bone Clocks Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Come Closer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Last Days Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mongrels: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Necromancer's House Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Fantasy For You
Good Omens Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5From Blood and Ash Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Parable of the Sower Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Court of Mist and Fury Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Court of Thorns and Roses Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Court of Wings and Ruin Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good Omens: A Full Cast Production Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fourth Wing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Hobbit Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Court of Frost and Starlight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Iron Flame Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stardust Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5American Gods [TV Tie-In]: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Court of Silver Flames Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Neverwhere Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Starling House: A Reese's Book Club Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Alchemist Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Darker Shade of Magic Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legends & Lattes: A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Return of the King Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Name of the Wind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Two Towers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The House in the Cerulean Sea Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Outlander Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of The Oxford Translators' Revolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Hike
513 ratings52 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was a surprising read! I never expected this to be very UNPREDICTABLE! The last 2 sentences made my hairs stand! Hahahhaha
I have never read something like this! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I really l liked this book. It was refreshingly different.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A modern odyssey full of imagination and impeccable theming. And fantastically narrated.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5That ending tho! So very good. One of the best books I’ve read
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book had me hooked. I was thinking about Ben all day. Christopher Lane does an amazing job with the narration as well.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My boyfriend and I listened to this book together and we were blown away by the exquisite meal that it was. I told my boyfriend that gun to my head, if I had to describe this book in three words, it would be... A perfect circle. The ending was just incredible. I could not believe how the author brought everything together... full circle. A journey of self discovery, survival, and wonder. As for my boyfriend, he loved the characters, specially a certain cranky crustacean, the vibrant and detailed descriptions, the humor, and the ending. He LOLed many times. We could not believe how useful the cover of the book was. For once, the cover became part of the experience, part of The Hike. HAHA READ IT! or LISTEN to it.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Honestly had no idea where the heck this book was going the entire time (in a good way). Every time you think you know what’s coming… you’re just blind sided. Not at all what I expected. Yet, everything I could have hoped for.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't crazy about the very end of it, or else it would've been a five star. Very interesting book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was great! Funny, surreal, a little scary at times…. Excellent and immersive writing
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’d describe it as a divine comedy that takes you on an emotional roller coaster that makes you ponder life, heaven, hell, and purgatory.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow what a trip. This is an amazing book to read!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely love this type of tale. Listened on a whim and I was instantly sucked in. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning the page. Highly recommended
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5If I could leave more stars I would! Best book I’ve ever read
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow…what a ride. I enjoyed every word of this book!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crab made me laugh out loud. This book is fun
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow what a whirlwind. This book is sooo worth the listen or read. It is one of the strangest books I have listen to but I couldn’t stop.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great story, great plot, great thinking! I really enjoyed the mind trip!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A little bit of Alice in wonderland and a little bit of “the dark tower”. Enjoyed hiking with Ben through his journeys once but was was also glad when our path finally split.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow what a tale, one of the most exciting fun interesting books I've ever listened to.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The story read like a long, incoherent dream sequence. It had some amusing and entertaining parts, but it felt too deterministic for my liking. The narrator, on the other hand, was quite good and made it worth the listen.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fan ducking tactic. I loved it, highly recommend this book.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I went back and forth between either four or five stars. But, since I listened to this book in only 3 days, I gave it 5 stars because it kept me hook. This was by far the weirdest book I've ever read/listened to. Will keep you entertained.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I am a fan of road trip books and this one has a journey like few others. Pink Floyd told us that we got to keep the loonies on the path. Ben should have listened as he makes the mistake of wandering off the path and finding himself in a different world with a whole new set of rules. Odysseus did not have this much trouble trying to find his way home. The bonds of love and family are put to the ultimate test as Ben meets some very unusual characters and is faced with challenges that will push him to his limits. But only if he is chooses wisely.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ben is a thirty-eight year old businessman. A father of three young children. He is on a trip for work, visiting thePocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. He decides to take a hike on a trail behind his hotel, before attending an important meeting. The walk is soothing and easy, until he meets a large man wearing a Rottweiler face mask, attacking a little girl. The dog-faced killer begins to pursue Ben. Instead of exercise, Ben finds himself tumbling into a particularly bizarre rabbit hole, as the life he knew disappears behind him. He encounters many trials along the way, including man-eating giants, demons and giant insects. His sidekick is a sarcastic crab, with a foul mouth, who helps steer him through this labyrinth, as Ben tries to find his way back home.Part nightmare, fable and video game, this fun mash-up, is an entertaining ride, filled with laughs, chills and suspense. If you are looking for something different and a bit off the wall, look no further. And please, if you run across a man in a dog mask, run like hell.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I really liked this book, like new hobby. It was hard to get through, But now that I finished it I am glad I did. It is a good journey.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fantastic and original! I crave a good fantasy adventure and this hit the spot. I found myself not wanting to put it down and wishing to reread as soon as I was finished. Easily became one of my favorites. A little vulgar but didn’t take away from the overall story one bit.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely Amazing. The Count of Monte Cristo meets Cloud Atlas
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5All I can say is, wow!
I highly recommend this read! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent narrator. Overall interesting book that had me wondering where it would go next.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5I don't know what to say about this book, except it disappointed me. It started with a bang, and fear, and horror. I expected it would be like a story by Stephen King. But then the story turned into one long nightmare. (For the main character.) No rhyme or reason, just trial and tribulation mixed with a dollop of absurdity and a dash of pointlessness. I stuck with the story, thinking sooner or later secrets would be revealed, one hint at a time, until it all made some kind of sense. But the closer I got to the end of the book without any resolution, the more worried I became. And then the story ended, and I scratched my head, and wondered why I faithfully followed the main character on his journey for so long.