The Wolfen by Whitley Strieber
"The Wolfen" is a novel by Whitley Strieber that explores the existence of a mutated strain of wolves, referred to as "wolfen," that inhabit major cities in the Western world. The story follows detectives Becky Neff and George Wilson as they investigate a gruesome double homicide involving the brutal killings of two police officers. As the investigation unfolds, they encounter evidence suggesting the involvement of these intelligent and fast creatures, which have evolved over centuries, possibly linked to ancient myths of werewolves. The wolfen primarily prey on society's outcasts, such as the homeless and marginalized, evading detection in the process.
The narrative delves into themes of survival and the struggle of the detectives as they face the deadly wolfen, who exhibit remarkable instincts and even an understanding of human communication. As Neff and Wilson gather insights from scientists and confront the lurking dangers of the wolfen, the tension escalates, leading to harrowing confrontations. The story ultimately examines the predator-prey dynamic in urban settings and leaves a chilling impression of these elusive creatures. The novel combines elements of horror and thriller, prompting reflections on humanity's relationship with nature and the unseen threats that can exist in familiar environments.
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Subject Terms
The Wolfen
First published: 1978
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—superbeing
Time of work: The 1970’s
Locale: New York City
The Plot
The Wolfen is Whitley Strieber’s first investigation into the lives of wolves. Several of his later books examine wolves from a naturalistic perspective. This one poses the existence of wolflike creatures that run in small packs and inhabit all major cities of the Western world. The implications are meant to be chilling.
Becky Neff and George Wilson are detectives assigned to a puzzling double homicide, in which two police officers are killed at a police vehicle pound. The two officers were ravaged and completely gutted, and they never had time to draw their guns. Animal hairs found at the scene begin an investigation that leads the partners to interview scientists, to be interfered with by the district attorney and their superiors in the police department, and finally to have to determine a way to survive attacks by what one scientist tags “the wolfen.”
As Neff and Wilson investigate, they are drawn to a largely abandoned part of the city. There they find blood and evidence of both human and animal habitation. By chance, Neff does not climb to the top of a flight of stairs, where one of the wolfen had been waiting to kill her.
Little by little, they learn more about the wolfen, and Strieber gives the reader insights from the perspective of the pack leader. The wolfen are a mutant strain of animal that came about centuries ago, when people first developed ideas about werewolves. They are amazingly fast and intelligent. They understand things by instinct and can interpret human words, and they can climb the faces of buildings. They have gone undetected so long because they have preyed on outcasts of society: the homeless, the injured, and the forgotten. They eat almost all parts of a human being, but they leave blood and clothing, which is what gets them in trouble several times in this story.
When the medical examiner gets too close to their secret, the wolfen attack him, ripping a hole in his side, as he sits in a car in broad daylight. Neff and Wilson are almost killed at the same time, but Wilson effects their escape. They decide that they will have to wait for the creatures and kill them. They know they are being followed, so they hole up in Neff’s apartment with her husband and Evans, the scientist. They plan to wait on the roof, one at a time, with walkie talkies; when the wolfen appear, they will shoot them. Evans tries to communicate with Neff and Wilson but is ripped apart. The wolfen also kill Neff’s husband, stranding Neff and Wilson in a bedroom with limited ammunition. Wilson is gouged but not killed before police reinforcements arrive. The living wolfen run away, leaving Neff to tell the story to a reporter. When the wolfen find a place to hide, they wail their loss and are answered by howls from wolfen in other abandoned parts of the city.