Despite the many recommendations urging me to read FantasticLand, I resisted the book for a long time. This was mainly due to my understanding of the story’s central pitch: it’s a horror novel cover version of Lord of the Flies or Battle Royal. I’m not sure why exactly, but something about that concept just didn’t appeal to me in the slightest. This was the same reason why it also took me so long to check out The Hunger Games novels which, incidentally, are fantastic.
And so is FantasticLand.
However, I feel it is only fair to state upfront that describing it as a horror novel is perhaps a little imprecise. It certainly has elements of the horror genre, but I generally like my horror to not just be horrific, but to actually be scary. The more of the genre I read and watch, the more I find that’s rarely the case, but it feels necessary to specify here…
With the exception of one particularly memorable chapter, I’d argue that FantasticLand is more “horrific” than “Horror” — yet at the same time, that distinction feels like it’s splitting hairs… and besides, what other genre might possibly claim the book?
FantasticLand is a fictional novel presented like true story journalism. It is a series of written interviews with various characters who all survived the infamous FantasticLand massacre. (I listened to and highly recommend the audiobook version, which employs a talented cast to really bring these interviews to life.)
What was the FantasticLand massacre?
Well, let’s first start with what FantasticLand is — or was — a theme park, far grander than most, though not quite as splendid as Disney World, but certainly ambitious enough to chase the mouse’s crown. It too is in Florida, but located along the Atlantic coast, rather than in the crowded Orlando market.
One day, a particularly severe hurricane hits the sunshine state. And it’s really bad. Far worse than anyone was used to or expected. The park was able to get the vast majority of guests to safety before the worst of the storm hit, and by the time it did only the skeleton crew of staff who’d already signed up to keep the park safe were still there.
Unfortunately, things very quickly went to shit.
The severity of the storm meant that its aftermath was bleaker than anyone anticipated. The park was cut off from civilization both physically by a flood and by the collapse of communication technology. The stranded workers — mostly very young adults — were left to fend for themselves.
Quickly, the situation disintegrated into tribal warfare, with each section of the park (the World's Circus, the Hero Haven, the Pirate Cove, etc.) becoming antagonist to each other. Some quickly became outright brutal. The circus freaks mounted decapitated heads on fenceposts, while the pirates in particular pillaged and terrorized all others.
Given its structure, FantasticLand explores various perspectives and aspects of life in the ruined park, and it also explores various theories as to why things got so bad so quickly — and why they kept escalating. As you might expect from actual self-serious mainstream journalism, a general (if not entirely committal) consensus forms as to explain how this nightmare could have happened. Blame must be assigned somewhere.
But it’s clear that for all the abundant horrors of FantasticLand, there was probably more than one legitimate psychopath in the park with the survivors and, as becomes clear, they too were ultimately rescued, reintegrated into society, and now roam freely…
FantasticLand is an engaging, compelling, and enthralling read. It may not check all the boxes of horror novel purity, but it does what it does exceptionally well. I highly recommend this book.
Saved for after I've read it