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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
The Scarlet Plague tells a story of a post apocalyptic world.
What a weird book to read in post COVID era.
Overall nice read, I could totally see everything from it happening.
What a weird book to read in post COVID era.
Overall nice read, I could totally see everything from it happening.
It was a bit disconcerting that this was written a hundred years ago, it was all too 'real'.
Stylistically I like dystopia-esque stories. 1984, Fahrenheit 491 and now the Scarlet Plague. Written mostly as the oral story from the last survivor of a world noone remembers anymore, it was short, but certainly punchy enough
Stylistically I like dystopia-esque stories. 1984, Fahrenheit 491 and now the Scarlet Plague. Written mostly as the oral story from the last survivor of a world noone remembers anymore, it was short, but certainly punchy enough
Jack London is difficult to review because there isn't much to pinpoint in both the positive and negative. His stories just are. I'm not better or worse for having read them, and they are often short enough that my indifference doesn't feel like wasted time.
If you want an apocalyptic story that is heavy in detail and character, then this isn't the story for you, and in that way it was disappointing to me. This story glosses over any fine details, as the telling is done in one long narration by the main character, recounting how he got to where he is now. In this way, it feels unfulfilling. So too are the minor characters surrounding him; they are simple and undeveloped.
However, it is quite fascinating that someone imagined this back in 1912 given the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 hadn't occurred yet. It's also fascinating to see how someone then imagined the world in 2013 and in 2073, and for those insights alone, I think it is worth reading.
Not sure if I'll try any other Jack London in the future--perhaps I'll try one of his more known works to better form my opinion of him.
If you want an apocalyptic story that is heavy in detail and character, then this isn't the story for you, and in that way it was disappointing to me. This story glosses over any fine details, as the telling is done in one long narration by the main character, recounting how he got to where he is now. In this way, it feels unfulfilling. So too are the minor characters surrounding him; they are simple and undeveloped.
However, it is quite fascinating that someone imagined this back in 1912 given the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 hadn't occurred yet. It's also fascinating to see how someone then imagined the world in 2013 and in 2073, and for those insights alone, I think it is worth reading.
Not sure if I'll try any other Jack London in the future--perhaps I'll try one of his more known works to better form my opinion of him.
me: oh cool, i didn’t realize jack london wrote sci-fi!
me, many underwhelming pages later: jack london should have stayed in the wolf book genre where he belongs
me, many underwhelming pages later: jack london should have stayed in the wolf book genre where he belongs
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Relato que narra a través de uno de los pocos supervivientes la debacle causada por una epidemia que diezmó a la Humanidad.
Es un relato que me recordó en el tema a la muuuy posterior 'Ensayo sobre la ceguera' y otras novelas más conocidas que esta. Lo que más disfruté fue el punto de vista de ese abuelo ya algo senil que recuerda un mundo que no existe y que tardará muchos siglos en recomponerse.
Sorprende mucho los años que tiene ya este relato (se publicó en 1912), especialmente porque mientras lo lees no eres consciente de ello y tan solo caes cuando se mencionan cosas como que el profesor de una universidad tenía ama de llaves, cocinera y criada...
Es un relato que me recordó en el tema a la muuuy posterior 'Ensayo sobre la ceguera' y otras novelas más conocidas que esta. Lo que más disfruté fue el punto de vista de ese abuelo ya algo senil que recuerda un mundo que no existe y que tardará muchos siglos en recomponerse.
Sorprende mucho los años que tiene ya este relato (se publicó en 1912), especialmente porque mientras lo lees no eres consciente de ello y tan solo caes cuando se mencionan cosas como que el profesor de una universidad tenía ama de llaves, cocinera y criada...
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
A short novella about a grandfather explining the end of the world. Probably one of the first dystopian books, and it lays a pretty grim view of the world. I enjoyed it, but it was a bit lightweight due to the length and the narrative device.