Endgame: The Calling

The New York Times bestseller and international multimedia phenomenon!

In each generation, for thousands of years, twelve Players have been ready. But they never thought Endgame would happen. Until now.

Omaha, Nebraska. Sarah Alopay stands at her graduation ceremony—class valedictorian, star athlete, a full life on the horizon. But when a meteor strikes the school, she survives. Because she is the Cahokian Player. Endgame has begun.

Juliaca, Peru. At the same moment, thousands of miles away, another meteor strikes. But Jago Tlaloc is safe. He has a secret, and his secret makes him brave. Strong. Certain. He is the Olmec Player. He's ready. Ready for Endgame.

Across the globe, twelve meteors slam into Earth. Cities burn. But Sarah and Jago and the ten others Players know the truth. The meteors carry a message. The Players have been summoned to The Calling. And now they must fight one another in order to survive. All but one will fail. But that one will save the world. This is Endgame.

Twelve Players from twelve ancient lines. Only one can win.

• A High-Stakes Sci-Fi Thriller: Twelve meteors strike twelve locations, summoning twelve teens to a battle for the fate of humanity.
• A Global Fight for Survival: From a valedictorian in Nebraska to a boy with a secret in Peru, the Players come from all over the world—and only one will be left standing.
• Alliances and Betrayals: The Players must hunt each other across the globe. Some will team up. All will be tested. None can be trusted.
• An Interactive Puzzle: This book is a real-world puzzle. Hidden within its pages are clues that lead to a hidden key and a prize of gold.
• Told from Multiple POVs: Experience the game through the eyes of the hunted and the hunters as the story unfolds from the perspectives of different Players.

Twelve thousand years ago, they came. They descended from the sky amid smoke and fire, and created humanity and gave us rules to live by. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilizations to mine it for them. When they had what they needed, they left. But before they left, they told us someday they would come back, and when they did, a game would be played. A game that would determine our future.

This is Endgame.

For ten thousand years the lines have existed in secret. The 12 original lines of humanity. Each had to have a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise, assassination. Together the Players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak. They are good and evil. Like you. Like all.

This is Endgame.

When the game starts, the Players will have to find three keys. The keys are somewhere on Earth. The only rule of their Endgame is that there are no rules. Whoever finds the keys first wins the game. Endgame: The Calling is about the hunt for the first key. And just as it tells the story of the hunt for a hidden key, written into the book is a puzzle. It invites readers to play their own Endgame and to try to solve the puzzle. Whoever does will open a case filled with gold. Alongside the puzzle will be a revolutionary mobile game built by Google's Niantic Labs that will allow you to play a real-world version of Endgame where you can join one of the lines and do battle with people around you.

Will exuberance beat strength? Stupidity top kindness? Laziness thwart beauty? Will the winner be good or evil? There is only one way to find out.

Play.
Survive.
Solve.
People of Earth.
Endgame has begun.

“A unique dystopian adventure with anchors to the real world… set to become a cultural phenomenon.” - ALA Booklist

“Endgame is like The Hunger Games on steroids.” - Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“You officially have my attention, James Frey. And to anyone reading this, the challenge is on.” - Bustle.com

“This book is fantastic. On every level. Please just go read it and try and disagree with me. I dare you.” - The Guardian

“The treasure hunters of the world may want to dust off their tools.” - USA Today

“The premise is engaging, in a Hunger Games-meets-National Treasure sort of way, and the diverse global cast is welcome.” - Publishers Weekly