Dan Wells at Elbenwald – Apocalypse with SPF
How much catastrophe fits inside a tube of hand cream? For Dan Wells: all of civilization. The American author has settled comfortably between horror, thriller, and science fiction, and became widely known for I Am Not a Serial Killer – the first book in his series about John Cleaver, a teenager fighting his own dark impulses who runs into actual monsters along the way. The story was adapted for film in 2016. At Elbenwald, the selection currently focuses on a different side of Wells: Extreme Makeover, his satirical end-of-the-world thriller about the cosmetics industry, as a paperback. A deliberately small selection, then – but one with an apocalypse-proof premise.
What Is Extreme Makeover About?
Scientist Lyle Fontanelle is tasked with developing a regenerating skin cream for the cosmetics corporation NewYew. The result is called ReBirth, and it works too well: instead of renewing skin cells, the cream overwrites its users' DNA – anyone who uses it gradually turns into a clone of someone else. When the first test subjects show strange symptoms, it would be time for a recall; the corporation instead senses the deal of a lifetime. From there, the situation escalates globally, because suddenly everyone wants ReBirth for their own purposes – as a fountain of youth, as an identity swap, as a weapon. Wells tells it as a mix of thriller and bitingly dark satire on corporate logic: the apocalypse here doesn't arrive with asteroids, but with a marketing plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Dan Wells products does Elbenwald offer?
Currently a very compact selection: the novel Extreme Makeover as a paperback. The product page lists details on edition and page count.
Who is Dan Wells?
An American author who blends thriller, horror, and science fiction. He became known for I Am Not a Serial Killer, the opening book of the John Cleaver series, which was adapted into a film in 2016.
Who is Extreme Makeover suited for?
For anyone who likes thrillers with a science-fiction edge and dark humor – and for fans of apocalyptic scenarios that don't begin with a bang, but with a product launch.
Reading Material and Accessories
You'll find Extreme Makeover among the novels – paperback format, ideal for travel, in case your carry-on could use an extra dose of paranoia. Reading comfort gets a boost from bookmarks and bookends, while blankets and a well-filled mug take care of long reading nights. The rest of your ever-growing pile of unread books gets reliably bigger courtesy of the books & comics overview.
What Else Goes Well With It?
If you like dark material with a clever twist, keep going with Hannibal – serial-killer fascination in its most stylish form. With Tobias O. Meißner, another author has his own corner in the shop, and the gift ideas help out whenever the next birthday present should be a book with a lasting effect.
