A review by thisgayreads
Scarlet Plague by Jack London

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

5 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ 
 
"The Scarlet Plague" by Jack London 
 
This is a haunting and unsettling story that portrays the aftermath of a devastating pandemic that wipes out most of humanity. Written in 1912, the novel's themes of disease, isolation, and survival are eerily prescient in the context of the current global pandemic. 
 
London's vivid and descriptive writing immerses the reader in the desolate world of the protagonist, a survivor of the plague named James Howard Smith. The story paints a bleak picture of a world where civilization has crumbled, and humanity is reduced to a primitive state, struggling for survival in a world overrun by disease and violence. 
 
What makes it particularly chilling is how London's depiction of the collapse of society seems all too plausible in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fear and uncertainty that pervades the story are reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic, when people were struggling to adapt to a new reality and trying to make sense of the chaos around them. 
 
Despite its bleak subject matter, it is a compelling read, thanks to London's evocative prose and his portrayal of the complex relationships between the characters. As a reader, you are drawn into the lives of these survivors and their struggles to make sense of a world that has been turned upside down. 
 
Overall, it is a chilling and thought-provoking story that remains relevant today, more than a century after it was written. It is a testament to Jack London's skill as a writer that he was able to create a work that is both a haunting warning of what could happen and a powerful exploration of what it means to be human in the face of adversity. 
 
I read this one this month because it was the April pick for the "Apocalypse Whenever" Goodreads group.