FantasticLand

Mike Bockoven’s FantasticLand: A Novel (2016) is a psychological horror story that examines the breakdown of civilization in a theme park after a natural disaster. Bockoven, an author known for blending horror with social commentary, structures the novel as a series of interviews, allowing readers to piece together the harrowing events that unfolded in the theme park after Hurricane Sadie. Combining elements of survival fiction and epistolary storytelling, FantasticLand explores themes such as The Psychological Effects of Isolation and Disaster on Individuals, The Descent Into Tribalism and Violence in Lawless Environments, and The Role of Storytelling and Perspective in Shaping Truth.

This guide refers to the Kindle edition, published by Skyhorse Publishing in 2016.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of graphic violence, death, sexual violence and harassment, suicidal ideation, gender discrimination, substance use, and cursing.

Plot Summary

FantasticLand depicts the isolation of a group of theme park employees after Hurricane Sadie through interviews compiled by journalist Adam Jakes.

The narrative opens with recollections from visitors near FantasticLand during the hurricane, like Aaron Hoffman and his family, who were vacationing at the park when the storm approached. Employees volunteered to shelter at FantasticLand in “Operation Rapture,” meant to maintain essential services. They had stockpiles of food and supplies and a storm bunker to get through the hurricane.

Among the earliest interviews, shift manager Sam Garliek mentions how he tried unsuccessfully to maintain order in the shelter. When backup generators went out, chaos erupted in the shelter, killing and injuring several people. One death was Brock Hockney’s brother, Bryce, who died from an asthma attack because he could not reach his inhaler. Brock subsequently created a tribe, the “Pirates,” based on the Pirate Cove section of the park, where he worked. Brock blamed leadership and decided that survival belonged only to those willing to fight. His first show of brute strength—bludgeoning a dying man later named “Paul the Puddle”—established his leadership and frightened bystanders.

Employees split into distinct tribes defined by their park sections: the Deadpools, ShopGirls, Mole Men, Fairies, Robots, Freaks, and Pirates. While some tribes aimed to protect what was theirs, others, primarily the Pirates, led brutal raids. One of the earliest grisly occurrences happened when Brock caught a Deadpool looting a Pirate gift shop and punished him by severing both his hands. The escalating brutality fueled violence and retaliation.

The ShopGirls, under the guidance of Clara Ann Clark, a cashier, fortified their stores along the Golden Road, emphasizing survival through unity and a shared purpose. Clara’s paranoia fueled stringent security measures and preemptive attacks against perceived threats. Meanwhile, Jason Card, another cashier, opted for isolation and hid in the Dreamland resort, where unsettling figures, known only as the Warthogs, appeared a few weeks later. They began hunting Jason, and he barely escaped alive. In his interview, Jason shares that the Warthogs still send him postcards every few months, regardless of how many times he moves.

Chase Pounder’s harrowing account of life within Pirate Cove gives a unique insight into the violent tribe. Initially in the Fairy Prairie, Chase, a former ride supervisor, was captured by Brock’s faction and forced into a violent fight for membership. Brock guided Chase’s hand as they killed another prisoner together. Now, Chase feels remorse for his actions, but some Pirates like Sal McVey, a former dance troupe member, justify their actions by portraying the skirmishes as entertainment. Sal claims that the violence bonded the Pirates, so they became closer than brothers.

Sam Garliek sought to reassert administrative authority and hosted the peace meeting that later became known as the Council of Pieces at the base of the Exclamation Point, a landmark in the center of the park. Riley, an employee who became the Deadpools’ leader, felt hopeful about the ill-fated Council of Pieces, believing that it could be a way forward for the tribes; however, Brock saw it as a chance to ambush the tribe leaders.

The Pirates concealed a cannon under the meeting table and fired it, killing several and injuring many others. Both Riley and Charlie, the leader of the Mole Men, were killed. Then, the Pirates descended to massacre as many of the survivors as possible. The aftermath left the tribes even more divided, with many feeling that peace was now impossible. Stuart Dietz, a former maintenance man, led the Mole Men in a desperate bid for rescue. He believed that destroying the Exclamation Point would attract outside help, but the explosion plunged the park into further chaos.

Afterward, the ShopGirls launched an assault against the Pirates to destroy their cannon. As lawlessness became rampant, the formerly neutral First Aid Station, operated by Gemma Albers and Morgan, became another target. Brock arrived with his Pirates and declared that one of the medics would join them. When Gemma and Morgan resisted, Brock set their tent on fire. A massive conflict erupted, pulling multiple tribes into the fray, but gunshots eventually ended the fighting. This moment signified the collapse of any lingering ethical boundaries.

After 35 days, the Florida National Guard finally arrived and detained every survivor. Over 200 employees were arrested and transported to a processing center, where prosecutors like Emmet Kelley struggled to convict the individuals responsible for violence. Many, like Sophie Ruskin, evaded charges due to witnesses corroborating her innocence. Others leveraged notoriety for new careers—Jill Van Meveren, a member of the Deadpool group, became a security advisor, while Glenn Guignol, leader of the Freaks, joined a monster makeup reality program.

Brock, the former leader of the Pirates, was imprisoned in part because Sam Garliek took a plea deal and provided a recording of the Council of Pieces. In an interview with Adam Jakes, Brock dismisses the notion of morality, believing that only power could ensure survival in that volatile situation. His chilling viewpoint highlights how order was fragile and how leadership rapidly devolved into tyranny.

In his interview, Ritchie Fresno, the former owner of FantasticLand and its creator’s son, contemplates the park’s disastrous downfall. In his reflections, he acknowledges the role of corporate negligence in contributing to the incident. Disillusioned by attempts by the board to cover up the truth, Ritchie sold the park.

In the Afterword, Jakes reveals lingering doubts and questions, despite compiling testimony from survivors. While isolation and boredom within the theme park likely exacerbated tensions, he can offer no definitive explanation for what drove the FantasticLand employees to commit such savage acts against one another. In the end, he is still left with more questions than answers.