The Cleansing

by John D. Harvey

The Cleansing tells the story of a violent American Indian wolf god, Wanata, who comes to earth every 100 years to make humanity accountable for its abuses against nature. When a strange events begin to unfold in Alaska, Savannah Channing, a freelance journalist for a Denver newspaper is sent to investigate the story of a rampaging wolf pack systemically destroying entire villages. By the time she arrives, the devastation has begun to spread into...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0870541811
• ISBN13: 9780870541810
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Arkham House Publishers
• Length: 319 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

One of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time.

What an incredible introduction to a new author. THE CLEANSING is easily one of the best, most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. Not since King's THE STAND have I been so unhappy about finishing a novel. It was a joy to read from the opening paragraph until the last page. At times horrific, intriguing and endearing, it grabs your full attention and never lets go. Each of John D. Harvey's characters, both major and minor, are multi-dimensional and unique with their own distinct voices. The reader will even find themselves empathizing with the villain in this book, a preternatural wolf named Wanata, who not only wreaks terror wherever he goes but is, himself, struggling with his own crises. Don't let the cover price keep you from grabbing this one! You won't be disappointed.

A dramatic and exciting supernatural showdown

The Cleansing by John D. Harvey is an imaginative, original, and superbly crafted saga about an American Indian wolf god who comes to Earth to punish humanity for its abuse of nature. A murderous wolfpack begins to exterminate entire villages, until an Indian shaman turns the wolf god into human form, leaving him to interact with the people he sought to punish while struggling to maintain control of his pack. A dramatic and exciting supernatural showdown, The Cleansing documents John Harvey as a truly gifted writer and storyteller, and is enthusiastically recommended reading for fantasy fiction enthusiasts.

man's best friend

Four days after I completed reading The Cleansing I was driving and there was a rather large stray dog strolling down the somewhat busy street. He had a swagger that clearly stated he was not fazed by the large autos passing him by. My thoughts suddenly turned to the story of Wanata and his supernatural mission to cleanse the Earth. Not since Stephen King wrote Cujo has a story about "man's best friend" shaken my nerves as much as "The Cleansing". The story is a suspenseful meandering around Native American legends and current human arrogance towards the planet. The Cleansing successfully reminds us that we need to pay attention to our environment without being preachy or authoratative. Cujos...I mean Kudos to John D Harvey on the success of his first novel. I keenly await the promised follow-up to the adventures of Wanata and Savannah.

I enjoyed "The Cleansing" thoroughly!

If you're thinking about buying this book, jump right in and you won't be disappointed. I was on page 9 of the book when I knew this was a story I was really going to sink my teeth into and enjoy. On page 26 I was reeled in - hook, line, and sinker. I found myself staying up late (telling myself "Ok, just one more chapter" often turned into 4 more chapters!) , reading at lunch time, any time I could find to see what happened next. It's a real page-turner.I enjoy this genre and have read many books by Stephen King, Peter Straub, Dean Koontz (spelling?) and others. For me, "The Cleansing" fits right in with many of the stories from these other authors that I've enjoyed and recommended to friends and family. John D. Harvey provides rich detail in the characters and the scenes of the story and creates wonderful images. He also has a good sense of humor that catches you off guard at times during some of the more dramatic moments of the story.Read it, by all means!

Dust Jacket Blurb for "The Cleansing"

THE CLEANSING tells the story of a violent American Indian wolf god, Wanata, who comes to Earth to make humanity accountable for its abuses against nature. As strange events unfold in Alaska, freelance journalist Savannah Channing is sent to investigate the story of a rampaging wolf pack systematically destroying entire villages. By the time she arrives, the devastation has spread into a horrifying holocaust that test the mettle of the military forces and a brutal bounty hunter they have employed.Then Wanata's cataclysmic mission goes terribly wrong. An Indian Shaman's magic turns him into a mortal human and he is forced to interact with those he was sent to punish. He must use his wits to survive in a weaker human state while also holding his pack together.Inexorably, Savannah and Wanata converge into a spine-chilling conclusion that is fresh and original and violent. The writing is taut and gripping. John Harvey tells his suspenseful, episodic drama through the eyes of Savannah and Wanata in such a cunning way that the reader is left in a state of unrelenting tension--anxiously craving for a sequel.