Those Who Hunt Wolves by Harrison Taylor appears to simultaneously fall under the umbrella of a dystopian, futuristic, and action novel filled with gore and graphic, descriptive prose. Telling the story of Shepard Black and his associates fight to hunt the ‘Wolves’, a group of genetically-engineered super soldiers that have been lab-designed to protect the Blackstar General, all while dodging the various hits on their heads, Those Who Hunt Wolves is a story about alliance, strategy, and survival. Following is a brief discussion of how different techniques used throughout Those Who Hunt Wolves, including the use of multiple perspectives, different timelines, and alternating locations, enhances the story’s plot and provides readers with a dynamic, comprehensive tale that is destined to become a popular novel across various genres.
The Use of Multiple Perspectives
Arguably one of the most effective writing techniques is the use of multiple perspectives or multiperspectivity in a story. In Those Who Hunt Wolves, Harrison Taylor uses multiple perspectives to tell a story of a global manhunt for one of the ‘Wolves’, told from the point of view of Shepard, Jonah/Ares, and third-person narration (as a spectator) of the many happenings in the story. Through the use of mulitperspectivity, Taylor not only creates convincing characters, but also weaves an intricate story showing the connections between said characters that ultimately culminate in the present-day narrative. By using multiple perspectives to tell the story, Harrison Taylor effectively develops the plot by providing readers with enhanced material with which to devour the book.
The Use of Different Timelines
Perhaps the most effective technique used in Those Who Hunt Wolves is the use of different timelines; spanning from 2004 until present day, Harrison Taylor uses various time stamps in conjunction with different locations and perspectives to build a strong backstory and convincing characters. Through the use of alternating timelines between past and present, Harrison Taylor bridges the gap between earlier events and the connection to present-day happenings, deepening readers understanding of the novel’s plot.
The Use of Various Locations
Throughout Those Who Hunt Wolves, multiple locations are noted in conjunction with the different timelines and perspectives of the story. Covering locales such as New York (Manhattan and Upstate), Washington, Ohio, Kansas City, Brussels, England, and Thailand, Those Who Hunt Wolves takes you on a global journey, manhunt and fight for survival across continents. While it may initially seem irrelevant to the story to have multiple different locations, in the end, it ties the narrative together, allowing readers to eventually piece different events together; not to mention that the use of multiple locations adds a cultural element to the events that occurred at that particular location.
By implementing these techniques into his writing, Harrison Taylor effectively expands the storyline to include multiple viewpoints (giving readers a ‘behind the scenes’ of different events), alternating timelines (to enhance the story by providing a ‘back story’ to present-day happenings) and frequently changing locations (to further enrich the story). Harrison’s writing proved effective in telling a compelling, unforgettable story. Check it out on Amazon.