Novels set in or around exclusion zones (sites of natural disaster)

[Kathrina]

I'm fascinated by evacuated spaces, especially contemporary, and think this environment is ripe for great fiction. Areas like Montserrat, an island with an active volcano, or other areas where nature said, No, don't live here. Take your children, your pets, and leave all else behind. You gotta go.

[Dave]

In White Noise a toxic cloud forces an evacuation. But it's one episode in the novel. It's not really what the whole novel is about, so it might not be what you're looking for.

[Kathrina]

White Noise is one of my all time favorites, and I read Gravity's Rainbow in college, but couldn't tell you more than that the reading experience was a challenge. But both of them, and, I'm assuming, Embracing Defeat, are about man-made disaster. I'm interested, right now, in a vengeful earth, where acts of nature decided to clear the decks...

[Kathrina]

But here's a devastating photo of man-made disaster and evacuation...

[karen, future RA queen]

Kathrina wrote: "But here's a devastating photo of man-made disaster and evacuation..."

that's funny and sad all together...

[karen, future RA queen]

i'm trying with this one, but i assume you want realistic fiction, right?? and not sci-fi/horror??

[Kathrina]

Yes, the plot can be fiction, but the setting should be real. I'm suddenly remembering George R. Stewart, but I think most of his natural disaster stories are out of print...

[Jaye]

I enjoy natural disaster fiction too. They are really hard to find. Here are some I've read and really liked:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

[Kathrina]

Ooh, what a treat. Thanks for your list, Jaye!

[Vinaya]

There's a new YA one coming out, Ashfall, the release date is a while away, but maybe you could request the giveaway?

[Kathrina]

Yay! My chances are a strong 1:1228. I'm as good as in. This looks just right. Thanks, Vinaya!

[Mike]

Good luck in the Ashfall giveaway! My publisher has promised to send me more ARCs sometime this month, so I'll put up another giveaway soon. Have any of you read Earthquake at Dawn? It's set in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. I really enjoyed it.

[karen, future RA queen]

i entered, too. if i win (although i haven't won a firstreads in 2 years), i will send it to you after, if you like.

[Kathrina]

Thanks, karen! Hey, Mike, do my chances improve if I tell you I'm a big-mouthed bookseller? Earthquake at Dawn looks good, too. Thanks for the rec!

[Mike]

Yes, hugely. I'm pretty sure my publisher is sending ASHFALL ARCs to any bookseller who asks. You can request an e-book ARC at www.NetGalley.com or drop Peggy Tierney a request at ptierney@tanglewoodbooks.com for a physical ARC. What bookshop to you work at/own?

[Kathrina]

I'm a merch manager at B&N in Iowa City, IA. If you're ever in the area consider yourself welcome to sign stock!

[Kathrina]

Peggy is sending me one! Thanks, Mike.

[Vinaya]

Ooh, I just got it from Net Galley! Thanks for heads-up Mike, I thought I'd have to wait till October!

[Mike]

Hi Kathrina, I was in your store just two weeks ago--I'm trying to remember who I spoke to--I don't have my collection of business cards from the trip handy, sorry. Anyway, the sequel to ASHFALL, Ashen Winter, has its conclusion set in Iowa City. I'll definitely be back your way after the book launches as Peggy is planning a tour in Iowa for me. I hope you enjoy ASHFALL! Best, Mike

[Kathrina]

OMG. karen, are you witnessing the serendipity your book thread has provided?!? Mike, I'm very excited to be working with you in the future. Are you implying that Iowa City is headed for apocalyptic winter? Can't wait! What did you buy at my store? Are you from Iowa?

[karen, future RA queen]

i am thrilled! (i requested an ARC, too, even though i am just running the fiction department, and not a merch manager)

[mark]

The Gone-Away World. although it is an unnatural disaster.

[Mike]

Hi again, Kathrina. Yes, if there's a super-eruption on the scale I depict in ASHFALL, Iowa City would be very hard hit. Of course, the whole world would suffer terribly from the volcanic winter. I live in Indianapolis, but decided to set my book in Iowa closer to Yellowstone where the disaster would be worse. ASHFALL is set mostly in northeast Iowa (Cedar Falls, Worthington and Bellevue) but the sequel, ASHEN WINTER, will end up in Iowa city. So my recent trip to Iowa was to research the sequel, although I visited bookstores too. ASHEN WINTER is scheduled for release in fall 2012.

Thank you, Karen and Kathrina, for requesting ARCs--I hope you'll pass them around and let other bookstore staff know about ASHFALL. I've worked in a bookstore myself off and on for more than 20 years--I know how important word-of-mouth among the staff can be! --Mike

[karen, future RA queen]

okay, so i just finished ashfall.

so good.

so, so good.

[Mike]

Hi Karen,

I'm so glad you enjoyed ASHFALL! I hope I can come back to Iowa City and visit your store this fall. I know Tanglewood Books is sending me on tour, and Iowa is definitely going to be part of the tour, but I don't know when. It's probably best to drop Peggy Tierney at Tanglewood a note letting her know if you're interested in doing an event of some kind. Her email is ptierney@tanglewoodbooks.com.

Thanks!

Mike

[karen, future RA queen]

actually, i am in new york. i work at the union square store. kathrina is your iowa city gal. will i be safe from supervolcano??

[Mike]

Supervolcanoes come in various sizes, of course. The one depicted in ASHFALL is a monster--similar to the Yellowstone eruption of 2.1 million years ago. Even an eruption that large would only cause a light dusting of ultra-fine ash in New York. So no collapsing buildings or deafening roar. The blackouts, travel disruptions and long, slow starvation caused by the volcanic winter wouldn't be fun, though. New York City is highly dependent on the fleet of trucks that come in every night to deliver supplies. I think Pfeffer had it right in The Dead and the Gone -- those who can get out of New York, would, and the odds for the rest aren't good.

[karen, future RA queen]

well, travel disruptions are the norm here (thank you MTA) and i have lived through one blackout, albeit temporary. i think me and mysecret candy stashes have a pretty good chance of surviving. and cannibalizing all those entitled housewives of new york. nom nom nom

[Mike]

You have a huge edge by being a woman, too. Since women (on average) have less muscle mass and a higher percentage of body fat, they can survive on less food. The muscle-bound "Rambo" types are the first to die. There's a fascinating study of the Donner party that discusses its mortality pattern here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/artic.... The group with the best survival rate were women between 6 and 35 years old.

[Jasmine]

mark wrote: "The Gone-Away World. although it is an unnatural disaster."

so so good

[Jasmine]

Mike wrote: "travel disruptions"

that's okay rain already regularly causes those we're prepared.

[karen, future RA queen]

did you try any of these other than ashfall?? and feel free to talk about ashfall here.

[karen, future RA queen]

oooh! a new supervolcano book!!

Supervolcano: Eruption

i am going to read this soon! will report back!