On the night of a production of King Lear, popular actor Arthur Leander unexpectedly falls dead. What follows is a swift flu pandemic that decimates earth's population in a matter of days. The reader follows a young girl Kristen Raymonde, who was present on stage and witnesses Leander's death, through her journey to adulthood with the Traveling Symphony- a collection of actors and musicians who put on plays in passing remaining cities and towns. The caravan they travel in bares the slogan "Survival is insufficient", from a Star Trek episode. The narrative is also told through other perspectives, both before and after the apocalypse...from the paramedic who tries to assist Arthur on stage, to Arthur's friend and confidant, to a librarian in a small town trying to archive events. We even hear from two of Arthur's ex-wives.
There is no shortage of post-apocalyptic fiction. While some are literary and diverse, most focus on why the apocalypse occurred, are often action/adventure based, and deal (appropriately) with finding food and basic survival. Mandel briefly addresses these necessities, but mainly highlights the need for humans to retain artistic expression in some way to make life worth living. The very title of the book relates to a comic book that forms meaningful connections throughout the novel. Humans need stimulation through cultural means of plays, music, books, art, poetry...anything that can connect us in the face of tragedies. It is a way of feeling less lonely, whether there are people around or not.
The most poignant moments in the story (for me) were the sections detailing with what people take for granted in today's day and age. Not only that, but what would we most miss? It forces you to take stock of your life- and evaluate the most important pieces that make up the whole. I appreciated the nuances of human existence, the connections Mandel made among the characters, and the notion that the important parts of life are made up of accrued small moments and coincidences, not big events. Really pleased I got to this one...you should too! Mandel is a gifted writer and I'm glad her book has received acclaim.
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