The cause of society's collapse feels frighteningly plausible. A new flu virus spreads rapidly across the globe and kills the infected within days. It is too fast--the world doesn't even begin to try to contain it before it is too late.
The virus wipes out ninety-nine-point-something percent of humanity like a neutron bomb. When the population dies off, so go the threads of civilization: government, trade, transportation, communication, and utility infrastructure. Only scattered settlements remain for the traveling symphony to visit, and they are vulnerable to takeover by post-apocalyptic cult leaders.
The main surviving characters each live lives that a reader might find interesting. Kirsten, a member of the traveling symphony, has repressed her memories of being a child surviving the first year after the virus. Jeevan has settled in Virginia with a new wife and child, and feels fulfilled as his town's medic. Clark, facing old age without the benefits of pre-virus medicine, is the respected curator of the Museum of Civilization he set up in the lounge of the airport he has lived in for 20 years after his flight was diverted to it during the virus. The characters are tied together by the stage and screen star who died of an unrelated heart attack the night the virus hit the United States. His second wife's graphic novel adds an odd thread to the plot, influencing the religion of a dangerous prophet who threatens the lives of the symphony members.
Sure, I enjoyed the cleverly crafted story. But I think in the genre, I like James Howard Kunstler and Pat Frank's post-apocalyptic story lines better.
Moving beyond apocalyptic literature, both Jonathan Franzen and Paul Russell have new novels coming out soon and I am excited.
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