NOMINATED FOR THE BRAM STOKER AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, The Guardian, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Polygon
Shana wakes up one morning to discover her little sister in the grip of a strange malady. She appears to be sleepwalking. She cannot talk and cannot be woken up. And she is heading with inexorable determination to a destination that only she knows. But Shana and her sister are not alone. Soon they are joined by a flock of sleepwalkers from across America, on the same mysterious journey. And like Shana, there are other “shepherds” who follow the flock to protect their friends and family on the long dark road ahead.
For as the sleepwalking phenomenon awakens terror and violence in America, the real danger may not be the epidemic but the fear of it. With society collapsing all around them—and an ultraviolent militia threatening to exterminate them—the fate of the sleepwalkers depends on unraveling the mystery behind the epidemic. The terrifying secret will either tear the nation apart—or bring the survivors together to remake a shattered world.
Add to your library to track progress and write reviews
Find Wanderers Chuck Wendig in PDF, EPUB, ebook, audiobook, print, or library editions.
5 books in catalog
Speculative fiction that blends apocalyptic survival, supernatural horror, and urban fantasy has reached millions of readers through works like the epic disaster novel Wanderers. Written by Chuck Wendig, this sprawling story of a mysterious sleepwalking epidemic established his reputation for crafting high-stakes thrillers with intricate cast ensembles. As a New York Times bestselling author of more than two dozen books for adults and young adults, Wendig has created acclaimed novels including The Book of Accidents, Wayward, Black River Orchard, and Zeroes.
Born Charles David Wendig on April 22, 1976, in New Hope, Pennsylvania, Chuck Wendig grew up in Bucks County and attended Central Bucks High School East. He studied English and religion at Queens University of Charlotte, graduating in 1998, before working various odd day jobs and building a career as a full-time freelance writer. He contributed over two million words to the tabletop game industry, working extensively as a writer and developer for White Wolf roleplaying game projects between 2002 and 2011, most notably developing Hunter. His early fiction appeared under names such as C.D. Wendig and C. David Wendig before he established his mainstream novel career.
Beyond novel writing, Wendig has expanded his storytelling across film, television, video games, digital media, and comic books. He co-wrote the short film Pandemic and contributed to the Emmy-nominated digital narrative Collapsus. His profile expanded into major media franchises through his authorship of the Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy. An alumnus of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and a finalist for the Astounding Award, Wendig also dispenses practical writing advice on his blog, terribleminds.com, and through instructional craft titles including Damn Fine Story and The Kick-Ass Writer.
Wendig's work frequently bridges horror, science fiction, and urban fantasy, examining small-town hauntings, technological paranoia, societal collapses, and human resilience under extreme stress. His stories feature fast-paced narrative momentum paired with dark thematic urgency and grounded character dynamics. Drawing on his extensive background in roleplaying game design and transmedia scripting, his craft guides and fiction reflect a deep emphasis on plot mechanics, pacing, and multi-threaded character arcs.
