Episode 208: What Comes Next? After the Apocalypse, I Mean
This week, Josh and Dietrich sit down to discuss postapocalyptic fiction. They begin by highlighting the critical differences between postapocalyptic and dystopian fiction, separating novels like 1984 from I Am Legend. Josh discusses the importance of recognizing that postapocalyptic books still need to embrace a narrative arc, and that failing to do so can result in a meandering, pointless misery fest (cough cough The Walking Dead cough). Dietrich looks at quieter scenarios of the end of the world, including the almost quaint community at the heart of Alas, Babylon, and the slow, melancholy apocalypse of Age of Miracles. Josh looks at stories that manage to embrace the horror of the end of the world without losing a sense of focus and home, including The Road and The Dog Stars. Before that, Dietrich joins the chorus of readers and critics hailing George Saunders' Lincoln in the Bardo as a masterpiece, Josh revisits the most popular young adult series of all time with the book that signaled a shift to something special, and they wrap up with discussions of the best and worst of the Netflix Marvel shows, a podcast about someone you haven't thought about in years, and continue to be dazzled by the surreal, inexplicably brilliant show Legion. You can send questions or comments to librarypolicequestions@gmail.com.
