The legend of the city Polybius;An obscure online story often referred to as “creepy pasta.” If you’ve never heard of Polibius, then Colin Armstrong’s New novel With the same name, it can shed light on this dark, mystical rumor, telling a story that contains intriguing themes and rather… anxious sequence of events. So, as always, let’s talk about it.
Simply put, Polibius’ history is about an obscure arcade game that appears to have appeared in Portland, Oregon in the early 1980s, with its reddit-style ability. The game reportedly had strange and addictive effects on players, linked to many strange phenomena, including nightmares, amnesia, hallucinations and even thoughts of anxiety. Perhaps the game was created by the government for very creepy reasons. If any of this sounds like the right thing to do in your reading alley, you wouldn’t want to skip this book.
Polybius This is a horror science fiction novel set in 1982. The story unfolds in Tasker Bay, a small coastal town that is threatened by gentrification. We meet Andy, a tech-savvy teen who recently moved there with her mother. Andy gets a job in the local arcade, home video world. There you can bending your computer repair knowledge and coding skills. She dreams of leaving the area as soon as she arrives, saving money and aiming to return to Silicon Valley to be with her father.
She meets Ro, the son of a local sheriff. Ro becomes obsessed with Andi and frequently visits the arcade in the hopes of seeing her and talking. Initially, Andy is very determined to remain detached from those she met, but attracted to his thoughtful and enduring nature. One day, Andy’s slimy boss buys an arcade game at an auction. Once delivered, the cabinet’s appearance is blank and shows no indication of which game it is. Plug it in and fire it and they discover it is named Polybius. It quickly becomes insanely popular and captivates arcade customers. We are talking about the lines that are formed before the arcade opens. Andy begins to think about how strange this is and wonders what the hell is going on. Why do everyone behave so strangely? Where did your obsession with the game come from?
From there things start to escalate. Shortly after the game’s release, Tasker Bay is hit by a series of strange and violent events. This strange mass enthusiast seems to be seducing all the residents. What follows is a descent into madness. Aggression, delusions, hallucinations, and even catatonia spread rapidly. To make the matter more complicated, violent storms get caught up in order to further isolate the town from the outside world.
Andy is convinced that the game is the origin of the town’s growing violent acts, and she is recruiting RO to help her uncover the origins of Polibius and understand how to stop it. Their investigation reveals the secrets of the game and how dangerous it is to even know its existence. Now it’s a race against time to save friends, family, and Tucker Bay itself.
Polybius Addresses the themes of technology dangers, the vulnerable human spirit, and the resilience of those facing the collapse of their communities. Colin Armstrong’s storytelling really captures the nostalgia of the 1980s, drawing readers into a place where reality and virtual blur come together.
Taking inspiration from the creepy ’80s arcade culture and Mukurutra experiments, we have the results of exploring the legend of this digital city that remains one of the most troublesome and interesting myths of all time. Colin really shines in creating a suspense and claustrophobic atmosphere when the story unfolds and reaches its climax. He offers unique takeaways combining horror, mystery and video game lore. This book is perfect for fans of retro themes and horror elements.
I’ll give Polybius A solid 4 star. My only note is that some of the pacing was a bit off for me, but it’s not enough to undermine the overall enjoyment. Thank you Lucy Gallery books Please send us an advanced copy. This book will be released on April 29th, 2025, so take a picture of one yourself.
Colin Armstrong He has worked for outlets such as 20th Century Fox TV, ABC Family, Bleeker Street, Viaplay, Discovery, La Times Studios and more for over a decade of writing, manufacturing, manufacturing and production. Polybius This is his first novel. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and children.
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