A World Without

I really sort of enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction. Sort of a surprise for me. Like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. Fiction I thought I would never ever in a million years enjoy. It turns out I'm sort of not all that picky when it comes to reading, at least as far as the genres are concerned. And even sometimes when it comes to quality. But I don't read smutty romances...so there is that. AND...I have yet to find anything in the sci-fi genre that works for me. But if you have a recommendation, I'd happily oblige you and attempt reading it.

But I digresss...So! Why do I like post-apocalyptic fiction in particular? Hmmmmm...that is what I've been pondering since finishing The Passage (see my review, below). It was uber enjoyable to read about life after a serious decimation of humanity. But that is a sort of bleak thing - enjoying a book that is about the demise of the planet.

I think it's because I wonder what life would be like without. Without Walmart. Without netflix. Without the Internet (p. to the s. WHY is that capitalized??? It is a noun that names a very non-specific person, place, thing or idea...HELLO!!! I don't understand). Wouldn't it be sort of peaceful to live a life filled with doing for yourself? Growing a garden or raising your own chickens. Stocking up for the winter. Having only three pairs of pants and two pairs of shoes and just making do with it. Oh how this would completely unclutter my life! I'd stop wanting wanting wanting all the time.

And then there is that idea of completely rebuilding. Or at least colonizing and organizing what was left of the human race. How would we build government if we had to start from scratch? Would we adopt the Constitution all over again? Maybe I would but I think I'd modify the electoral college...what a mess! Or maybe we couldn't because it would be about surviving and staying together. No more elections at all. Just a king or queen or tsar or something to prevent anarchy and chaos from busting loose.

But then maybe I'd be a lone wolf, like in I Am Legend. And that wouldn't be fun. I wouldn't want to live all alone, as much as I enjoy a little peace and time to myself.

I suppose what really attracts me to the idea is that everything would start anew. There would be no rich or poor. We'd have to work together to survive. Everyone would have to take on a role in order for society to go forward. But maybe that is the romantic view, really. Because in all reality, it would be hard. It would be scary.

It reminds me of the way I romanticize Little House on the Prairie. I love those stories for their simple lives. I've said all that before. But building a home or planting and raising crops or animals is work, and it is hard work. Do I have this notion that I need to get out of work? Hmmmm. Maybe? I hope not. Because work is good, and so is simplicity.

I don't know where this is going...but maybe here is a question. What types of books do you like best? Why? Any good ones to recommend?