Alan Wake

Dive into the world of Alan Wake–inspired by the bestselling action-adventure game of the same name. Welcome to Bright Falls-a seemingly idyllic small town in the Pacific Northwest. The perfect place for Alan Wake, a bestselling crime novelist, and his wife, Alice, to relax for a few weeks. Maybe a second honeymoon and the fresh air will cure Wake of his writer's block. But when Alice goes missing under mysterious circumstances, Wake's desperate search for her leads him into a hell only he could imagine. In the depths of nearby Cauldron Lake, a dark and malevolent presence has awakened from a long slumber. It's reaching out now, turning the townsfolk into mindless killers. Sheathed in shadows, vulnerable only to light, they are Taken. Wake's journey will lead him to the very edge of madness, and deep within the dark woods, he will come face-to-face with a story he has no recollection of ever writing.|Welcome to bright falls-a seemingly idyllic small town in the pacific northwest.the perfect place for alan wake a bestselling crime novelist and his wife alice to relax for a few weeks. maybe a second honeymoon and the fresh air will cure wake of his writer's block.but when alice goes missing under mysterious circumstances wake's desperate search for her leads him into a hell only he could imagine.in the depths of nearby cauldron lake a dark and malevolent presence has awakened from a long slumber. it's reaching out now turning the townsfolk into mindless killers. sheathed in shadows vulnerable only to light they are taken.wake's journey will lead him to the very edge of madness and deep within the dark woods he will come face-to-face with a story he has no recollection of ever writing. review ""fantastic and dark atmosphere great environments and engaging story elements."" gamezone on video game."" rick burroughs is the author of the novel alan wake. the book was published in 2010. excerpt. © reprinted by permission. all rights reserved. alan wakeby rick burroughstom doherty associatescopyright © 2010 microsoft corporationall rights reserved.isbn 978-0-7653-2843-4chapter 1alan?""wake heard alice calling to him through his nightmare. he slowly floated up toward the sound of her voice still drowsy.""alan wake up. come see where we are. it's so beautiful.""wake opened his eyes squinting in the sunlight. through the car's open window he saw alice beckoning from the nearby railing of the ferry. she wore tight jeans and black boots her light-brown hair billowing over the upturned collar of her black leather jacket. whatever she was looking at it wasn't nearly as beautiful as what he was seeing. she waved again and he got out of the car and walked across the deck toward her feeling the low engine vibration through the soles of his feet.""i didn't want you to miss this"" said alice pointing.it took an effort to tear his eyes from her but he followed her direction saw an immense forest stretching out on each side of the water the biggest trees that he had ever seen so tall and thick he couldn't see the forest floor.""old-growth timber"" said alice. ""hundreds of years old never been cut. not much of that left anymore.""forest primeval i get it"" said wake. ""welcome to sasquatch country."" he looked down at the dark-green water churning around the ferry. he buttoned up his gray tweed coat. even with the hoodie underneath he was shivering. the sun seemed to seek alice out but he was always cold. wake's face was long and angular with a cleft in his chin and a three-day stubble like a rock star on a bender. his eyes were blue very alert volatile even. he told alice once that if he had a tattoo it would read born pissed off. she told him he needn't bother. one look at him and people figured that out fast enough.a fallen tree drifted up ahead a gnarly elm bobbing gently along on the currents. its thick trunk and broad leaves made it seem out of place among all the tall timber and wake ever curious wondered how it ended up here what had torn it out by the roots. a huge raven perched atop one limb fluttering its glossy black wings as it pecked at something peck peck peck. wake leaned forward straining to see what the raven was so interested in. the raven cocked its head as though aware of wake's gaze then bent down pulling up something white and stringy in its beak.""we should be arriving in bright falls in about twenty minutes"" said alice basking in the light.the raven's greedy cawing echoed across the water as the elm drifted closer and wake finally saw what the raven was working at a child's tennis shoe caught in the branches the bird tugging at the laces. alice turned as the raven flapped off. ""wow that's one gigantic crow.""yeah"" wake said softly.""honey are you okay? you look so ... pale.