Werewolf in the Office

Owen Pitt, a large, unassuming accountant, is attacked by his boss—who transforms into a werewolf. Forced to kill the creature in self-defense, Owen is thrust into a hidden world where monsters are real, and the government covers up their existence. The trauma leaves him physically and emotionally scarred, but also marks him as someone different: a survivor, and a potential recruit for a secretive organization. The event is the catalyst that shatters his mundane life and sets him on a path toward the extraordinary.

Secret World Revealed

In the aftermath, Owen is interrogated by federal agents who reveal the existence of monsters and the government's Monster Control Bureau. He learns that being bitten or scratched by a werewolf could have doomed him, and that the world is far more dangerous than he ever imagined. The government's cold, bureaucratic approach to the supernatural is contrasted with the arrival of Earl Harbinger, leader of Monster Hunter International (MHI), who offers Owen a new purpose: to join a private company that hunts monsters for profit and for the greater good.

The Monster Hunter Offer

Owen, recovering from his wounds and grappling with the reality of monsters, is approached by MHI's charismatic and mysterious leaders. He meets Julie Shackleford, a brilliant and beautiful Hunter, and is offered a lucrative check for his werewolf kill. The allure of adventure, camaraderie, and Julie's presence draws him in. He accepts the offer, on the condition that he can leave if it becomes too insane. The world of MHI is revealed as a family business with a storied history, and Owen is introduced to the idea of monster hunting as both a calling and a business.

Training Among Killers

Owen joins a diverse group of recruits at the MHI compound in Alabama, where he undergoes brutal training in weapons, tactics, and monster lore. He forms bonds with fellow Newbies—Trip, Holly, and Lee—each with their own traumatic monster encounters. The training is grueling, designed to weed out the weak and prepare the survivors for the horrors ahead. Owen's natural talent for violence and leadership emerges, but he struggles with his own dark past and the fear of losing control.

First Hunt, First Blood

The Newbie team is thrust into a real mission: boarding a ghost ship infested with vampires and wights. The operation is a baptism by fire, with Owen and his team forced to fight for their lives in claustrophobic, blood-soaked corridors. The mission is a success, but not without cost—lives are lost, and the reality of the job's dangers is driven home. Owen's leadership and combat skills are tested, and he begins to accept his place among the Hunters.

Nightmares and Prophecies

Owen is plagued by vivid, prophetic dreams featuring an enigmatic Old Man and a monstrous figure known as the Cursed One. These visions hint at an ancient evil returning to the world, and Owen's unique connection to these dreams marks him as someone special. The dreams are both warning and guidance, revealing pieces of a prophecy that ties Owen's fate to the coming storm. The Old Man becomes a mentor, offering cryptic advice and preparing Owen for a battle that will decide the fate of the world.

The Freighter of Death

MHI is hired to investigate a missing freighter, only to discover it overrun by undead and the handiwork of a powerful vampire cabal. The mission is a harrowing ordeal, with the team fighting through waves of monsters and uncovering evidence of a greater plot. The artifact at the heart of the story is hinted at, and the team realizes that the supernatural threats are escalating in both frequency and power. The encounter foreshadows the return of the Cursed One and the involvement of ancient, world-ending forces.

Baptism by Vampire

The Hunters are betrayed by one of their own, who is revealed to be a newly created Master vampire. The team suffers casualties, and the reality of the enemy's cunning and strength is made clear. Owen's prophetic dreams intensify, and he learns that the artifact is a key to controlling time and reality itself. The Hunters are forced to confront the possibility that they are pawns in a much larger game, manipulated by both monsters and ancient prophecies.

The Newbie Team Rises

The Newbie team, battered but unbroken, proves their worth in a series of escalating battles. They face not only monsters, but also their own fears and doubts. Owen's leadership solidifies, and the team's bond becomes unbreakable. The Hunters' world is revealed as one of sacrifice, where glory is fleeting and death is always near. The team's growth is mirrored by Owen's acceptance of his role as both a leader and a chosen one in the coming conflict.

The Artifact's Shadow

The true nature of the artifact is revealed: it is a tool of the Old Ones, ancient beings who seek to invade and consume the world. The Cursed One, Lord Machado, is their chosen vessel, and the artifact's power can only be unlocked by a mortal of unique will and destiny. Owen learns that he is the prophesied one, the only person capable of wielding the artifact's power. The lines between good and evil blur, as the Hunters realize that their actions may have unintended consequences.

The Cursed One's Return

Lord Machado and his vampire lieutenants set their plan in motion, seeking to use the artifact at a Place of Power during the full moon. The Hunters race against time to decipher clues, battle outbreaks of undead, and prevent the ritual that will end the world. Betrayals and sacrifices mount, and the Hunters are forced to ally with unlikely partners—including orcs and even the government's Monster Control Bureau. The scale of the threat becomes clear: this is not just a battle for survival, but for the very fabric of reality.

The Gathering Storm

The Hunters gather their forces, calling in every available ally for a last stand at DeSoya Caverns, the gateway to the Place of Power. The government prepares for nuclear options, and the world teeters on the brink of chaos. Owen's dreams and visions provide the final clues, and the team prepares for a battle that will decide the fate of humanity. The lines between heroism and monstrosity blur, as sacrifices are made and the cost of victory becomes apparent.

The Swamp of Nightmares

The Hunters and federal agents are lured into a trap in the haunted swamp of Natchy Bottom, facing an army of trans-dimensional demons. The team is slaughtered, only for time itself to be rewound by Owen's desperate use of the artifact's power. The experience leaves them shaken, but also reveals the true stakes: the artifact can alter reality, and Owen's will is the only thing standing between the world and annihilation.

Five Minutes to Midnight

The global impact of the artifact's power is felt as five minutes of time are erased from history. Panic and chaos spread, and the Hunters realize that the final battle is imminent. The prophecy is nearly fulfilled, and Owen must confront his own doubts and fears. The team prepares for the assault on DeSoya Caverns, knowing that not all of them will survive. The weight of destiny falls squarely on Owen's shoulders.

The Battle for Time

The Hunters launch a full-scale attack on the cavern, facing Master vampires, wights, and the Cursed One's minions. The battle is brutal and costly, with many Hunters falling in the fight. Owen's team is separated, and he is captured to serve as the final sacrifice in the ritual. The artifact's power is unleashed, and the true nature of the enemy is revealed: the Old Ones seek to use Owen's will to break the world.

The Pocket Dimension

Owen and Julie are trapped in a pocket dimension, the true Place of Power, where the ritual to end the world is underway. The Cursed One, his priestess, and the artifact are poised to open the gate for the Old Ones. Owen is broken, physically and emotionally, and must choose between saving Julie and dooming the world, or sacrificing everything for a chance at victory. The prophecy's final lines are revealed, and Owen realizes that love—not hate or pride—is the key to resisting the artifact's temptation.

The Final Sacrifice

In a moment of ultimate choice, Owen refuses the Old Ones' offer, even at the cost of Julie's life. The Cursed One is betrayed by his own priestess, and the artifact's power is turned against him. The pocket dimension collapses, and Owen, with the help of the dying Guardian, saves Julie and destroys Lord Machado once and for all. The artifact is lost, the Old Ones are denied entry, and the world is saved—at great cost.

Love and the End of Worlds

The Hunters mourn their dead and celebrate their victory. Owen is healed, his scars gone, and he finds love and purpose with Julie. The world returns to a fragile normalcy, but the threat of the Old Ones lingers. Owen's journey from ordinary man to hero is complete, but the calling of the Monster Hunter is never truly over. The story ends with hope, love, and the promise of new adventures—and new monsters to hunt.

Characters

Owen Zastava Pitt

Owen is a physically imposing, self-deprecating accountant whose life is upended when he kills his werewolf boss. Marked by trauma and a hidden capacity for violence, he is recruited by MHI and quickly rises as a leader. Owen's journey is one of self-acceptance: he struggles with his own darkness, fears of losing control, and the burden of destiny. His unique connection to prophetic dreams and the artifact makes him the fulcrum of the story's conflict. Owen's love for Julie and loyalty to his friends ground him, and his ultimate triumph is not just over monsters, but over his own doubts and pride.

Julie Shackleford

Julie is the heir to MHI, a skilled Hunter, and a scholar of monster lore. She is fiercely intelligent, independent, and driven by a sense of duty to her family and the world. Julie's past is marked by tragedy—her mother's disappearance, her father's madness, and the loss of her brother. She is both a source of strength and vulnerability for Owen, and their relationship is central to the story's emotional core. Julie's struggle is to reconcile her love for her family with the horrors they have unleashed, and to find hope in the face of overwhelming darkness.

Earl Harbinger

Earl is the legendary head of MHI, a man with a mysterious past and a secret: he is the world's oldest living werewolf. Earl's experience, wisdom, and raw power make him both a mentor and a force of nature. He is fiercely protective of his Hunters, and his struggle is to balance his monstrous side with his humanity. Earl's history is intertwined with the Shackleford family, and his leadership is crucial in the final battle. His presence embodies the story's theme that monsters and heroes are not always easily distinguished.

The Old Man (Mordechai Byreika)

The Old Man is a spirit bound to the artifact, a former Monster Hunter who guides Owen through dreams and visions. He is wise, sardonic, and deeply compassionate, having suffered for decades as a prisoner of the artifact. Mordechai's role is to prepare Owen for his destiny, offering cryptic advice and ultimately sacrificing himself to save Owen from the Cursed One. His presence represents the accumulated wisdom and sacrifice of generations of Hunters, and his release is both a personal and cosmic victory.

Julie's Parents: Susan and Ray Shackleford

Susan, once a beloved Hunter, is revealed as a Master vampire and a key antagonist. Her transformation and betrayal are a source of pain and conflict for Julie, and her manipulations drive much of the plot's tension. Ray, Julie's father, is a brilliant but broken man whose attempt to resurrect his wife nearly destroys the world. His knowledge is both a blessing and a curse, and his ultimate fate is a tragic reflection of the story's themes of love, loss, and the dangers of unchecked ambition.

Trip Jones

Trip is a former teacher and devout Christian who joins MHI after surviving a zombie outbreak. He is loyal, optimistic, and serves as the team's conscience. Trip's faith and goodness provide a counterpoint to the violence and cynicism of the Hunters, and his friendship with Owen is a source of strength. His survival and growth mirror the story's message that hope and goodness can endure even in the darkest times.

Holly Newcastle

Holly is a former exotic dancer with a traumatic past as a vampire victim. She is tough, sarcastic, and fiercely independent, using humor and bravado to mask her vulnerability. Holly's journey is one of healing and redemption, as she learns to trust and care for her teammates. Her story highlights the psychological scars left by monsters, and her resilience is a testament to the human spirit.

Albert Lee

Lee is a former librarian and demolitions expert who brings both brains and firepower to the team. His injuries and eventual transition to the role of archivist reflect the story's theme that heroism takes many forms. Lee's research and insights are crucial in unraveling the mystery of the artifact and the Cursed One.

The Cursed One (Lord Machado)

Lord Machado is a five-hundred-year-old conquistador transformed into a vessel for the Old Ones. Driven by pride, ambition, and a doomed love, he is both villain and victim. His journey from man to monster is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked will and the seductive power of evil. Ultimately, he is betrayed by the very forces he served, and his destruction is both a personal and cosmic reckoning.

Koriniha / The Priestess / The Old One

Koriniha is the true antagonist, an ancient being who orchestrates the events leading to the attempted invasion of the Old Ones. She is cunning, patient, and utterly inhuman, using love and prophecy as tools to manipulate mortals. Her confrontation with Owen is the story's final test, and her defeat is a victory for free will and humanity.

Plot Devices

Prophecy and Destiny

The story is driven by a prophecy that foretells the coming of a mortal with the will to wield the artifact and break the world. Owen's journey is shaped by this prophecy, and his struggle is to accept or reject the role that fate has assigned him. The prophecy is both a source of hope and a tool of manipulation, and its true meaning is only revealed in the final confrontation.

Dreams and Visions

Owen's prophetic dreams, guided by the Old Man, serve as both foreshadowing and exposition. They reveal the history of the artifact, the nature of the enemy, and the stakes of the coming battle. The dreams blur the line between reality and the supernatural, and their increasing intensity mirrors the escalation of the plot.

The Artifact (Kumaresh Yar)

The artifact is the central MacGuffin, a tool of the Old Ones designed to be used by a mortal of unique will. Its power to control time and reality is both a temptation and a threat, and its influence warps the world around it. The artifact's true danger is not in its power, but in its ability to seduce and corrupt those who seek to use it.

The Chosen One Trope Subverted

While Owen is the prophesied one, the story subverts the trope by making his ultimate victory a matter of choice, not destiny. He is offered power, love, and immortality, but chooses sacrifice and free will. The story's message is that heroism is not about being chosen, but about choosing to do what is right.

Team Dynamics and Found Family

The Hunters are a found family, each bringing unique strengths and weaknesses to the fight. The story emphasizes the importance of teamwork, loyalty, and sacrifice. The Newbie team's growth from rookies to heroes is a microcosm of the larger battle between humanity and the monsters.

Foreshadowing and Narrative Structure

The narrative is structured around escalating threats, with each victory revealing a deeper layer of danger. Early hints about the artifact, the Cursed One, and the prophecy pay off in the final act. The use of dreams, visions, and historical flashbacks creates a sense of inevitability, while also allowing for surprise and subversion.

Analysis

Monster Hunter International is a high-octane blend of urban fantasy, action, and horror that explores what it means to be a hero in a world where monsters are real and the line between good and evil is blurred. At its core, the novel is about choice, sacrifice, and the power of love and free will to resist even the most seductive forms of evil. Larry Correia uses the trappings of pulp adventure—gunfights, monsters, secret societies—to tell a story about ordinary people rising to extraordinary challenges. The book's humor, camaraderie, and relentless pace make it accessible and engaging, while its deeper themes of destiny, pride, and redemption give it lasting resonance. The lesson is clear: heroism is not about being chosen, but about choosing to do what is right, even when the cost is everything. In a world of darkness, it is the light of human will, love, and sacrifice that keeps the monsters at bay.

Last updated: May 21, 2025