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Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
01/05/2006 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Del Rey/Ballantine Books. 345 page enlarged paperback. Price: $13.95 (US), $21.00 (CAN). ISBN: 0-345-48713-3. Buy Earth Abides in the USA - or Buy Earth Abides in the UK  check out website: www.delreydigital.com and www.delreybooks.com
'Earth Abides' was originally released in 1949, regarded more mainstream than Science Fiction largely because it had nothing more spectacular than the end of mankind and the aftermath. Big issues really. When I was reading it, I had to continually remind myself of the book's age, mostly cos there were areas and certain elements of emotional content that would probably have been covered better today although the lead character reflecting on his life did catch up.
Isherwood 'Ish' Williams is a geologist, who survives a rattlesnake bite only to find being poisoned and being isolated protected him from a plague that wipes out most of mankind. He initially travels to see who is left before returning home to his parents' house, discovers a lady in Em, founds a small community and their off-spring. The story essentially follows the trails and tribulations through the years.
Terry Nation's 'Survivors' this is not. They have little idea of what to do, relying on tinned foods and what they can shoot, first with guns and later with bows and arrow, to survive. No self-sufficiency. Then again, these are basically blue-collar 40s Americans and whether it's true to the time period or not, show little inclination to learn or change over 60 years and several generations. Ish seems to believe things will go on and I suspect author George R. Stewart would want to have an element of optimism at the end. From this century's point of view, I wouldn't really care for their chances.
As to the actual aftermath of the plague. Stewart conveniently has most people fleeing to medical centres across the States to die so there is a singular absence of bodies around. Even those that are there become fodder for dogs, pumas and rats. No doubt, 40s sensibilities took over to avoid potentially gory scenarios or the real horrific effect of the situation. The same can probably be said for Ish and Em when they get together. The implication is there and left to the reader's imagination.
Bearing in mind this is one of the earliest post-holocaust novels, it should be regarded as required reading. It lets you look at 40s sensibilities and questions how far things have moved on today. Whether modern Americans could survive such a catastrophe will have to be left for the individual to debate. Certainly, there are more people aware of the problems these days who would certainly kill if thrown into a self-sufficiently for a survival situation these days. A reminder how far we've come in the past sixty years only you can judge.
GF Willmetts
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