Earth abides

Well written and compelling story. Though it was written in 1949, there is little to give that fact away.

Isherwood Williams gets bitten by a snake while camping and after he recovers and returns to civilization he discovers that a mysterious disease has killed off most of the population. As a result civilization collapses. It is a quiet book, a steady accumulation of observations of the breakdown of civilization, the encroachment of the natural world into that void and, after gathering some survivors around him to form a community, the challenge of how to preserve the spark of civilization for future generations. It is essentially a treatise on earth science, anthropology, sociology, etc., disguised as a novel, but artfully done by the author. The ruminations of Isherwood Williams in the course of the book would relevant topics of discussion today (if we can switch the channel from American Idol for a moment) in light of the current economic collapse, resource depletion, and environmental instability. But then , Soylent Green taste like chicken, or so I'm told.

The novel has short descriptions of what is happening on the planet – to the animals, plants, land and waterways – interespersed throughout that are fascinating. However, rarely have a I read a novel in which the world view of the author as reflected in the thoughts, words and deeds of the protagonist (a rather unlikeable man) is so remarkably dated. Nevertheless, a quick and thought-provoking read.

Excellent realistic attention to details, but so slow, uneventful and boring!

Oh Ish ❤️

The further you get into the story, the better it gets. I've never read such a convincing depiction of the way time can slip by as one ages. Bear in mind that it was written in 1949, and is shaded by the gender ideas and roles of the time.

Instead of a real review, I've decided to post random comments from and about the story.

Economics professor: “The trouble you are expecting never happens; it's always something that sneaks up the other way.”

Coyote loping along the highway in daylight: “Strange how soon it had known the world had changed, and that it could take new freedoms.”

“Drink-blackness. Drink-blackness.” New will to live. To observe.

People who are left: alcoholic, running teenage girl, territorial man with woman

“His weakness had become his strength.” Not social. Able to endure lack of conversation.

Dog. “Found himself building a wall against more attachments which must end only with death.”

National Monument Cliff Dwellers Superintendent's home already starting to deteriorate - eventually like cliff dwellers' homes

“Men come and go, but earth abides.”

Absolutely beautiful.

I'd read some years ago that Earth Abides was Stephen King's inspiration for The Stand. Considering the novel follows the collapse of civilization after a virus kills 99% of the American population, inspiration might be an understatement.

I found it to be profoundly moving. I may be in the minority, I've read some very harsh reviews of it. The book was written in 1947 and it shows, both in misogynistic tendencies and one racist episode. Let's call that the Dumbo Outlier and be done with it. The scope of Earth Abides is broad, and there's little in the way of cohesive plot. Less a novel than a memoir of man observing the death and rebirth of society.