bupkiss's Full Review: Pat Frank and David Brin - Alas, Babylon
Imagine the scenario: a nuclear holocaust shatters America, leaving all major cities and military bases destroyed and contaminated by unimaginable amounts of fallout. You are the makeshift patriarch of a frightened yet determined mixture of family, friends, and neighbors in the small and isolated town of Fort Repose, Florida.
Can you make it through without losing your sanity? Are your survival and leadership skills enough? What else does fate have in store for you?
Alas, Babylon poses such a scenario in an infectiously readable and disturbingly palatable manner. Pat Frank (also known as Harry Hart) presents the story of protagonist Randy Bragg and his assorted group concisely and in a way that makes me ponder what I would do in such dire circumstances.
From the most basic needs such as water, meat, and salt to the more complex formation of a post-nuclear society based on barter, martial law, and uncertainty, Alas, Babylon covers almost all the bases of real and even banal life after such a horrific event.
The book feeds into the Cold War era's collective fear, and the Soviets are the perpetrators of the attack. (The book was published in 1959.) This, however, is not the central idea of the tale, and that is why I like it. Frank focuses in on the day-to-day existence of the survivors. The day of the attack solely becomes known as "The Day." Life still goes on (trivialities and gossip and prayer services in the park and all) even though one chaotic day has shaken everyone in Fort Repose to the core.
Alas, Babylon is not for those looking for a fantasy-based epic, nor is it for those looking for an American manifesto. The book's simplicity and focus on Bragg's microcosm lend enough interest and speak volumes about humanity. The only thing that bothered me about the book was how easily some necessities come to the Bragg group. Frank seems to have taken some liberties and shortcuts to ease the story along. Nonetheless, this is an excellent read and a reflection of a daunting and surreal American mentality.
A classic tale of the unthinkable--a nuclear holocaust in the United States--Frank's gripping story of survivors in a small Florida town includes a ne...More at HotBookSale
A classic tale of the unthinkable--a nuclear holocaust in the United States--Frank s gripping story of survivors in a small Florida town includes a ne...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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