Soft Apocalypse
Locus Award nominee 2012.
What happens when resources become scarce and society starts to crumble? As the competition for resources pulls America's previously stable
society apart, the "New Normal" is a Soft Apocalypse. This is how our world ends; with a whimper instead of a bang.
"It's so hard to believe," Colin said as we crossed the steaming, empty parking lot toward the bowling alley.
"What?"
"That we're poor. That we're homeless."
"I know."
"I mean, we have college degrees," he said.
"I know," I said.
There was an ancient miniature golf course choked in weeds
alongside the bowling alley. The astroturf had completely rotted away
in places. The windmill had one spoke. We looked it over for a minute
(both of us had once been avid mini golfers), then continued toward the
door. "By the way," I added. "We're not homeless, we're nomads. Keep
your labels straight."
New social structures and tribal connections spring up across America, as the previous social structures begin to dissolve. Soft Apocalypse follows the journey across the South East of a tribe of formerly middle class Americans as they struggle to find a place for themselves and
their children in a new, dangerous world that still carries the ghostly
echoes of their previous lives.
