Polybius by Collin Armstrong Summary, Characters and themes
Polybius by Collin Armstrong is a thrilling and eerie tale set in the small town of Tasker Bay, where mysterious events surrounding an arcade game slowly unravel the lives of its inhabitants. The game, Polybius, appears to have a sinister influence, affecting the mental states of those who play it.
As characters like Thom, Andi, Ro, and Mal try to piece together the origins and power of the game, they find themselves caught in a web of psychological and physical turmoil. The novel explores themes of alienation, the pursuit of knowledge, and the dark side of technology, leading the characters on a dangerous journey to uncover a conspiracy that threatens their very reality.
Summary
The story begins with Thom, a man in Silicon Valley who has rebranded himself as an “asset manager,” a job that involves salvaging equipment from defunct companies. Despite presenting a more glamorous persona, his work essentially revolves around clearing out bankrupt businesses, sending discarded items to auctions as second-hand goods.
Thom is tasked with clearing out the offices of a defunct company called Sinneslöchen, a place shrouded in mystery. Alongside his colleagues, Bernie Coen and a couple of younger workers, Thom enters the abandoned building, which feels eerily frozen in time.
There, they find a calendar marking the last known date someone worked there: March 1982.
As Thom explores the office, he notices strange, alien-like technology scattered around, especially in the research and development area. The tools and machines seem overcomplicated and out of place, giving Thom an unsettling feeling.
When they stumble upon a hidden door leading to what appears to be a “clean room,” they uncover an arcade cabinet—Polybius. The game stands out with its stunning graphics and an immersive gameplay experience that quickly draws Thom into a trance-like state.
As he plays, he becomes increasingly disturbed by the experience, feeling as though he is being pursued by something within the game. Bernie interrupts him, and Thom snaps back to reality, unsure of how much time has passed.
The game’s presence begins to take a toll on Thom, and he struggles with growing unease. His cynicism and dissatisfaction with his life are challenged as the strange atmosphere in Sinneslöchen heightens his psychological discomfort.
Thom’s internal conflict deepens, especially when he imagines harming Bernie in a moment of rage. The events surrounding the game push Thom to question his own sanity and his sense of reality.
Parallel to Thom’s journey, the story follows Andi Winston, a teenager who has recently moved to Tasker Bay with her mother. Andi feels isolated and longs to return to Silicon Valley.
Growing up fixing gadgets with her unstable father, Devon, has fostered a deep connection to technology. Her job at a local arcade, where she maintains the machines, provides her with an escape from the tension at home.
Andi becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding Polybius when it appears in the arcade, purchased by Mal, the owner. Andi notices that the game has an unnerving effect on the people who play it, sparking her curiosity.
Ro, a classmate of Andi, is also drawn to the mystery of Polybius. He is dealing with his own emotional struggles, particularly the guilt from an incident at Home Video World where he unintentionally angered two larger boys, Mark and Cliff.
Ro finds himself growing closer to Andi as they bond over their shared interest in technology and video games. However, their relationship is complicated by the strange influence Polybius exerts on those who play it.
Ro, Andi, and their friends begin experiencing bizarre, trance-like behavior after interacting with the game. Ro, in particular, suffers from amnesia after playing Polybius, forgetting large parts of his day.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Polybius is far more than a mere arcade game. Andi and Ro dig deeper into the game’s origins, discovering that it was created by the now-defunct company Sinneslöchen.
They uncover a connection to a mysterious figure named Nicolas Engle, who tried to destroy the game. Through their research, they learn that the game is part of a larger conspiracy involving psychological manipulation and mind control.
The impact of Polybius is far-reaching, and its presence in Tasker Bay seems no coincidence. The game triggers violent, uncontrollable behavior in those who play it, and the residents of the town begin spiraling into chaos.
Meanwhile, the town of Tasker Bay is also dealing with a string of violent incidents. David, Ro’s father and the town sheriff, is investigating a brutal attack on a stable, where several horses are gruesomely slaughtered.
His investigation leads him to uncover disturbing connections to Bayview Holdings, a company linked to the town’s development. David’s past trauma from his service in Vietnam resurfaces as he confronts the dark forces at play in Tasker Bay.
His investigation into the violence coincides with the growing psychological disturbances in the town, exacerbated by Polybius.
As tension escalates in Tasker Bay, the influence of Polybius becomes undeniable. The game’s sinister effects spread throughout the town, causing its residents to behave erratically.
Mal, the arcade owner, becomes increasingly paranoid and withdrawn, while others, including Ro and Laurel, exhibit strange and violent tendencies. The game seems to control their minds, pushing them toward acts of aggression and madness.
Amidst this growing chaos, Ro and Andi’s bond strengthens as they try to uncover the game’s origins and stop its influence.
The mystery of Polybius becomes even more complex as Andi and Ro connect with 1077NE, an individual who claims to have been involved in the game’s creation. 1077NE warns them about the dangerous effects of the game and reveals that it has been linked to a government-backed experiment.
As Andi and Ro investigate further, they uncover chilling connections between Polybius and the tragic death of Thom Mazzy, a man whose violent breakdown was possibly triggered by playing the game.
As the story reaches its climax, Tasker Bay descends into lawlessness. The violent behavior of the townspeople intensifies, and the situation grows increasingly desperate.
Andi and Ro, along with the other survivors, must confront the devastating power of Polybius. They race against time to unravel the game’s mysteries and stop its deadly spread before it completely destroys the town.
The story concludes with Andi and Ro narrowly escaping the chaos in Tasker Bay. Andi, now aware of the full extent of the government’s experiment, begins a new life under a different identity.
However, the psychological effects of Polybius continue to haunt her, and she remains determined to uncover the truth behind the game. The legacy of Polybius lingers, leaving behind a dark and unsettling reminder of the dangers of unchecked technological power.
Characters
Thom
Thom is the central character of Polybius, a man who initially presents himself as a successful “asset manager” in Silicon Valley, a position that, in reality, involves salvaging equipment from bankrupt businesses. His work, which he attempts to mask as glamorous, is essentially trash collection.
Thom is deeply cynical and detached from his emotions, a defense mechanism he uses to cope with his unfulfilled life. As the narrative unfolds, Thom is thrust into a situation that forces him to confront his internal dissatisfaction and the darker, more disturbing aspects of his psyche.
His experiences at Sinneslöchen, particularly his encounter with the mysterious game Polybius, serve as catalysts for his unraveling. Thom’s descent into paranoia and self-doubt is marked by his internal conflict, which becomes especially evident when he imagines harming his colleague Bernie.
Thom’s character represents the disillusionment and alienation often felt by individuals who lead lives that lack meaning, forcing him to question both his purpose and his grasp on reality as the eerie presence of Polybius slowly consumes him.
Andi Winston
Andi Winston, a teenager recently relocated to Tasker Bay, is a technically gifted individual with a complicated relationship to her father, Devon. Raised in an environment where she had to prove her worth, Andi finds solace in her ability to repair and maintain arcade machines.
Her skills, though impressive, mask her feelings of isolation, and she longs for the connection she once had with her father, despite his emotionally neglectful behavior. Andi’s journey is characterized by her quiet resilience, though her connection to technology becomes both a refuge and a source of danger when she begins to investigate Polybius.
The game’s psychological influence begins to affect her, but Andi’s growing relationship with Ro provides her with a sense of connection and purpose. As the story progresses, Andi’s role shifts from someone seeking escape to an active participant in unraveling the mysteries of the game.
Her determination to understand Polybius, along with her growing emotional connection to Ro, positions her as a key player in the effort to stop the malevolent force affecting their town.
Ro
Ro, a sensitive and introverted teenager, struggles with feelings of guilt and confusion stemming from a past incident at the local arcade, Home Video World. Despite his guilt, Ro’s emotional journey is deeply tied to his developing relationship with Andi.
His feelings for Andi are complex—he is drawn to her technical expertise and her quiet strength but is unsure whether she reciprocates his affections. Ro’s character is marked by his growing self-awareness and the internal conflict he experiences throughout the story.
As he becomes increasingly involved with Andi, his curiosity about the strange effects of Polybius deepens, leading him into a dangerous investigation. His connection to the game becomes more profound when he starts to experience troubling episodes of memory loss and trance-like states after playing Polybius.
Ro’s internal struggles mirror the larger psychological chaos engulfing Tasker Bay, and his evolving bond with Andi becomes central to both their attempts to understand the game’s origin and its catastrophic impact on their town.
Bernie Coen
Bernie Coen is a secondary but important character who accompanies Thom during the investigation of Sinneslöchen’s abandoned office. Bernie serves as a foil to Thom, with a more grounded and practical personality that contrasts sharply with Thom’s growing paranoia and introspection.
While Bernie is not initially affected by the game Polybius to the same extent as Thom, their interactions and Thom’s increasing unease provide a glimpse into Bernie’s role as an anchor in the narrative. Bernie, though mostly pragmatic, unwittingly becomes part of Thom’s psychological breakdown.
Their relationship becomes strained as Thom’s behavior grows erratic and violent, leading to a breaking point where Thom’s troubled mind, exacerbated by Polybius, distorts his perceptions of those around him. While Bernie’s role in the story is largely reactive, his presence highlights Thom’s isolation and his descent into self-doubt and instability.
Mal
Mal, the owner of Home Video World, is a key figure in the subplot surrounding the game Polybius. Initially, Mal is portrayed as a relatively normal arcade owner, but as the game’s influence spreads, he becomes increasingly paranoid and erratic.
His descent into madness serves as a reflection of the larger societal collapse occurring in Tasker Bay, as he becomes obsessed with the power the game holds over him. Mal’s behavior becomes erratic and increasingly violent, leading him to make destructive decisions, such as abandoning his shop and isolating himself from the growing chaos around him.
Mal’s character arc reflects the psychological toll that Polybius inflicts on its players, turning him from a seemingly stable individual into someone who feels driven by a higher calling—though this calling ultimately leads him to make disastrous choices. His actions are part of the wider narrative about the corrosive effects of unchecked power and the dangerous allure of technology when it falls into the wrong hands.
David
David, Ro’s father and the sheriff of Tasker Bay, is a deeply conflicted character with a traumatic past. His experience in Vietnam haunts him, and his emotional scars are evident in his strained relationship with his son.
David’s investigation into a brutal attack on a stable in Tasker Bay sets him on a collision course with the deeper, more sinister forces at play in the town. As he delves into the investigation, he uncovers connections between the violence, the town’s development, and the strange occurrences tied to the game Polybius.
David’s character serves as a grounded figure in contrast to the psychological chaos enveloping the town, but his involvement in the investigation also reveals the deep cracks in the town’s facade. His struggle with the past and his role in the community’s unfolding crisis position him as a complex figure, caught between duty, trauma, and the growing realization that the events unfolding in Tasker Bay are far more dangerous than anyone anticipated.
Rachel
Rachel is a local doctor who plays a pivotal role in the unfolding events in Tasker Bay. She becomes increasingly concerned about the strange physical and emotional symptoms afflicting the town’s residents, many of whom are affected by the game Polybius.
Her medical background and investigative nature drive her to explore the possible connections between the game and the mysterious symptoms. Rachel’s role in the narrative highlights the intersection of science and the unknown, as she tries to find a rational explanation for the chaos consuming Tasker Bay.
Her efforts to understand and mitigate the game’s effects are met with resistance, and as the town spirals further into chaos, Rachel’s character serves as a symbol of the struggle for reason and order in a world increasingly dominated by irrational fear and violent behavior.
Themes
Alienation and Isolation
The sense of alienation permeates throughout Polybius, particularly within the town of Tasker Bay and the characters who inhabit it. Thom’s initial role as an “asset manager” in Silicon Valley offers an ironic commentary on the modern pursuit of success.
Despite the superficial success that comes with his title, Thom is engaged in work that is essentially about disposing of the remnants of failed companies. This process, although presented as a more glamorous profession, is, in reality, the act of cleaning up after failure.
It reflects Thom’s own emotional and psychological detachment from his life. His detachment extends beyond his job, evident in his relationships, particularly with Bernie, where an underlying tension and growing strain reveal how deeply isolated Thom feels.
He uses his cynicism as a shield to avoid confronting the dissatisfaction and confusion within himself.
The sense of alienation extends to the town of Tasker Bay, where many residents, like Andi, feel disconnected from their surroundings and their peers. Andi’s struggle with her place in the town reflects her deeper longing for the world she left behind in Silicon Valley.
Although she is deeply involved with technology and finds comfort in fixing gadgets, her isolation is not just from the people around her but also from her own identity, shaped by a strained relationship with her father and the tensions in her household. The mysterious Polybius game further enhances this theme by drawing characters like Andi and Ro into its haunting and isolating grip.
The psychological effects of the game lead them to feel increasingly detached from reality, further highlighting the perils of being isolated both mentally and physically in an increasingly fragmented world.
Technology and Its Dark Influence
A central element in Polybius is the role of technology and its overwhelming, often destructive influence. The discovery of the Polybius arcade game serves as a stark metaphor for the dangers inherent in unchecked technological advancement.
On the surface, technology promises entertainment, innovation, and progress, but beneath its allure, it hides a darker potential. The game itself is not just a source of amusement; it becomes a tool of psychological manipulation, an artifact of a larger, insidious government experiment designed to warp the minds of its users.
Characters like Thom, Ro, and Andi experience a disturbing loss of control when interacting with the game, suggesting that technology, while providing immense convenience and pleasure, also holds the power to overwhelm and break the human psyche.
As the game spreads its influence throughout Tasker Bay, it becomes clear that technology, when used with malicious intent, can dehumanize people, turning them into mere subjects of a greater experiment. The characters’ increasing paranoia and the distortion of their perceptions further emphasize how technology can alienate individuals from themselves and others, forcing them into an existence governed by external forces beyond their understanding or control.
The mysterious origins of Polybius, tied to the sinister company Sinneslöchen and the government’s hidden agendas, underscore the theme of how technological advancements can become tools of manipulation and control, rather than pure progress or innovation.
The Psychological Effects of Trauma
Trauma, both personal and collective, plays a significant role in Polybius, affecting the characters in profound and often disturbing ways. Thom’s emotional struggles are deeply connected to a sense of lost purpose and his increasing feelings of powerlessness, which are mirrored in the eerie environment of Sinneslöchen and the effect the game has on him.
His cynicism and detachment serve as a coping mechanism for deeper feelings of disillusionment with life. However, as Thom engages with the game, he begins to experience unsettling visions and emotions, challenging his control over his mind.
The breakdown of Thom’s emotional stability is exacerbated by his interactions with Bernie, where his repressed anger and internal conflict begin to surface in dangerous ways, showing how unresolved trauma can manifest as mental instability and destructive behavior.
Ro and Andi, too, deal with personal trauma. Ro is haunted by the guilt of an incident involving two boys, Mark and Cliff, and feels an increasing sense of disconnection from his peers.
Andi, on the other hand, carries the burden of her complicated relationship with her father, whose instability has cast a long shadow over her sense of self-worth. The emotional trauma faced by the characters becomes intertwined with the strange, almost hallucinogenic effects of Polybius, as the game exacerbates their internal struggles, leading them down a path of confusion and psychological breakdown.
David, Ro’s father, offers another poignant exploration of trauma, particularly the psychological wounds inflicted by his service in Vietnam. His past experiences with violence and war shape his perception of the world and his approach to violence in the present.
His investigation into the brutal murders in Tasker Bay, coupled with his personal demons, demonstrates how past trauma continues to affect individuals and communities long after the initial event. In Polybius, trauma is not just a personal experience but also a collective force that affects the town as a whole, causing it to spiral into chaos.
The Loss of Control and the Fear of the Unknown
The central mystery of Polybius revolves around the game and its effect on the characters, illustrating the theme of losing control in the face of the unknown. The game itself is a powerful symbol of this theme, representing an uncontrollable force that the characters cannot fully comprehend or resist.
As they interact with it, they find themselves drawn into an unsettling trance-like state, where time and space blur, and their perception of reality becomes distorted. Thom’s experience with the game is particularly significant, as he feels an overwhelming sense of being pursued within the game’s world, a feeling that reflects his internal struggle and fear of losing control of his own mind and actions.
This fear of losing control is mirrored by the broader situation in Tasker Bay. The town, once peaceful, is overtaken by violence and paranoia, as people become consumed by the effects of Polybius.
The residents, once familiar with their environment, find themselves at odds with one another, driven by fear, confusion, and the growing realization that something sinister is at work beneath the surface. The game’s influence, as well as the unraveling social fabric of Tasker Bay, highlights the fragility of control—both personal and societal—and the terrifying consequences of confronting forces beyond comprehension.
Throughout the narrative, the characters’ attempts to understand and contain the unknown only push them further into chaos. Whether it’s through their interactions with the game or their efforts to uncover the conspiracy surrounding it, the characters find themselves trapped in a cycle of uncertainty, where the search for answers only leads to more questions.
This loss of control is a reflection of the broader theme of human vulnerability in the face of powerful and incomprehensible forces, whether those forces are technological, psychological, or even supernatural.