SOLVED. Post-Apocalyptic world's end brought about with a plague from fleas released by the antagonist. The antagonist sets up a cult of personality by providing a semblance society with him as the supreme leader [s]

[Papaphilly]

I remember reading this about the same time as Swan Song, so that would be about 1987-88. It is Post Apocalyptic with with the world's end brought about with a plague from fleas released by the antagonist. The antagonist sets up a cult of personality by providing a semblance society with him as the supreme leader. He kicked off the society with an event one year after the plague with setting two people on fire and having sex with one young lady on stage in front of the crowd. He is faced down by a small group of people with one being described as an older Salt-of-the-Earth type. The bad guys is killed by this good guy by being carried into (grave/hole?). It reads like The Stand, but there is no supernatural element.

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[Tab]

Do you remember anything about the cover? Was it part of a series?
Location the story takes place?

[Papaphilly]

Tab wrote: "Do you remember anything about the cover? Was it part of a series?
Location the story takes place?"

I want to say the cover was children going through a fiery cavern with concerned looks on their faces. It really had nothing to do with the story. It was a stand alone book. I want to say California for location or maybe Oregon.

Funny thing I remember parts of the story such as a scene where the bad guy is shooting bullets into a gas tank and making them explode when a group come up on him and he claims it is magic. One guy calls baloney and explains they are incendiary bullets because they had them in Nam. the bad guy shoots him and the rest join the bad guy.

[Michele]

Do you remember anything about the symptoms or effects of the plague? How long was the book -- short, medium, epic? Do you recall when and/or where the story was set?

[Papaphilly]

probably around 350-400 pages. It wasn't really about the plague, but the good vs. evil afterward. late eighties the setting and the book was published about that time. I figure about 1987-88. It was published about the same time as Swan Song. I reminds you of The Stand without the supernatural influences. I do remember that they did figure out what was the cause, but it didn't matter.

[Papaphilly]

I also remember a scene in a diner where one of the protagonists has found cans of food when a couple of bob tails tractor pull up. This leads to a confrontation between the protagonists and the drivers. One of the drivers knock unconscious the protagonist and takes some of the cans, but make sure the protagonist is OK. They become friends and traveling partners and end up facing the bad guy.

[Michele]

What's a "bob tails tractor" ?

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Hmm, maybe OP means a bobcat tractor?

[Papaphilly]

A bobtail is a the tractor part of a tractor trailer that is without the trailer. The truck part without the box on the back.

[Michele]

Aha! I have always heard that called the cab of the truck, but I like 'bobtail' better :)

[Arielle]

bumping for Papaphilly - any luck?

[Papaphilly]

Actually yes.

The book in question is called Dark Advent and it pretty good. hard to find nowadays, but worth the time if you liked The Stand or Swan Song. Does not have the fantasy portion, but it is very good.

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Papaphilly. Thanks for the update.