A Review Of Dan Hanks’ Novel

Book Review: The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks

Introduction

The Way Up Is Death is a novel that emerges unexpectedly, blending the thrill of horror with the intrigue of sci-fi, leaving you with a wide grin. Its Looney Tunes crazy antics are a unique touch that you won’t find in any other book this year, showcasing a brilliance that is truly one of a kind.

There’s something deliciously unsettling about a novel that starts with a mysterious tower materialising in the English sky that causes people to be mysteriously teleported into the lower levels of the weird and threatening tower.

Dan Hanks’s third novel, The Way Up Is Death, is a mind-bending survival thriller that defies easy categorisation, drawing you into its gripping narrative from the very beginning.

Plot

When a mysterious tower appears in the skies over England, thirteen strangers are pulled from their lives and thrust into an extraordinary scenario as a countdown begins. Above the doorway of this enigmatic structure is a singular, foreboding word: ASCEND.

Each individual, plucked from the routines of their daily lives, grapples with confusion and disbelief as they gather before the tower. Who are they? Why have they been chosen? What does this tower want from them? As they embark on a journey of discovery, it soon becomes painfully clear that the only Way for anyone to escape this surreal predicament is to ascend to the very top of the tower.

Thus begins a treacherous race to the apex, fraught with challenges that test not just their physicality but the essence of their humanity. While navigating through surreal landscapes filled with peril—sinking ships that threaten to drag them down into depths unknown, haunted houses filled with remnants of their worst fears, and other waking nightmares that claw at their sanity—they must confront their demons as well as each other.

As they attempt to work together, feelings of fear, distrust, and rivalry arise among the group, raising questions about their individuality versus collective survival. Can they set aside their differences, overcome their past grievances, and learn the art of cooperation in the face of danger? Or will the desperate need to survive give Way to the darker impulses of betrayal and isolation?

What does the tower genuinely want from them, and what sacrifices must they make to escape its grasp? As the countdown ticks away, the stakes grow ever higher, compelling them to confront the physical challenges and the moral choices that will define their fate. Will they emerge from this experience stronger and more united, or will the tower’s ominous presence tear them apart? The answers await them as they begin their climb into the unknown.

Just on the premise of the book alone,

The Way Up Is Death sounds like a winning concept, which it is. It is like the unholy offspring of Cube and Hellraiser. The Way Up Is Death is a mind-bending blend of horror, sci-fi, and the human condition that will leave you battered and bruised but hungry for more. 

Hanks’s writing style is kinetic and immersive. The pages fly by as he explores the best and worst of human nature: fear, logic, betrayal, sympathy, and sacrifice. Dan Hanks never allows the reader one moment to even think about catching their breath. Even in the quieter moments of character introspection, Dan Hanks keeps his narrative hands firmly on your back, pushing you forward towards this fantastic story’s thrilling and perfect conclusion.  

.The Way Up Is Death blends genres seamlessly from science fiction, horror, and humour. At no point do you feel that the story is contrived or forced? Yes, Dan Hanks appears to be having the time of his life writing this story, and you, the reader, will be swept up in Hanks’ effervescent narrative. When you think you have read it all, The Way Up Is Death. It grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go until the final thrilling page is devoured.

The Way Up Is Death‘s strength lies in its rich character development.

Each of the thirteen strangers is distinct and fully realised, their reactions to their bizarre situation drawing you in and making you feel a part of their journey.

However, within the confines of this story, they work perfectly. There are characters you will fall in love with and characters that, such as the super annoying influencer, will sit there waiting for them to meet a grizzly fate. But it is Dirk, the egotistical children’s author, that you really want to see torn apart by one of the crazy challenges faced by the group. I wouldn’t like to say who the author is based on, but I have my suspicions.

Thirteen characters in a constrained survival novel might seem too much, but everyone serves a purpose, and Dan Hanks doesn’t waste one bit of space in their development. Even the tower becomes a character, its presence both threatening and alluring, forcing readers to question reality alongside the protagonists.

The relationships that form and break under pressure feel authentic, adding emotional weight to the characters’ physical challenges.

Conclusion

As the novel concludes, Hanks decides to shift the tone from full-on action horror to a more introspective tone. This shift is handled with great care and perfectly creates a powerful and emotional conclusion. It also allows him to tackle some powerful subjects, such as the aftermath of Covid. There is an anger buried just below the surface of the narrative, but at no time does it become preachy or forced. As you turn the final page, I challenge you not to have a tear forming in the corner of your eyes at the powerfully poignant conclusion to this masterful novel.

The Way Up Is Death is not just a survival story—it’s a meditation on human nature, mortality, and our choices when faced with the impossible. In turns brutally disturbing, hysterically funny, and soul-stirringly poignant, the kind of novel lingers in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page.

This book is a must-read for readers who enjoy thought-provoking speculative fiction that defies genre conventions. The Way Up Is Death boldly defies all genre rules to carve its own unique, blistering path in storytelling in one of the most intriguing novels in decades. 

The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks

When a mysterious tower appears in the skies over England, thirteen strangers are pulled from their lives to stand before it as a countdown begins. Above the doorway is one word: ASCEND.

As they try to understand why they’ve been chosen and what the tower is, it soon becomes clear the only way out of this for everyone is… up.

And so begins a race to the top with the group fighting to hold on to its humanity, through sinking ships, haunted houses and other waking nightmares. Can they each overcome their differences and learn to work together or does the winner take all? What does the tower want of them and what is the price to escape?

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