Dystopian Challenge Review #4: The Death of Grass

When a highly contagious virus erupts in Asia killing the rice crops and causing widespread famine in China, the rest of the world watches as the country descends into barbarism and cannibalism. Reminiscent of Australia's rabbit-proof fence, the Chinese in Hong Kong are barricaded into their country and left to die. While England and Europe tut and tell themselves that if only the "Asiatics" had come to them for help in the first place they wouldn't be in this mess, a strain of Chung-Li emerges that kills not only rice, but all grass: wheat, rye, oats. Everything. That means no bread, no cattle-fodder, no cattle. Just about all of Western farming, except for things like potatoes, is wiped out in one fell swoop. The Death of Grass follows two families' escape from London and northwards to Westmorland, where one man's brother owns a valley, a farming oasis that can be protected from the starving, panicked, rioting population.

This novel is unusual for its genre in that at the novel's opening, everything's normal. In the Western world, at least. Written in third person that switches between omniscience and a close following of John, leader of the group travelling northwards, the reader gets wide-angle and close-up shots of the epidemic and subsequent social and political fall-out. Set in 1956 (also the year of its publication), the novel is a reflection of the times. Just about all of the male population can use a gun as they went through WWII. Also, the telling is rather male-centric. This is probably due partly to the author's bias, and partly the era. In 1955, feminism had had it's first wave decades earlier and wasn't due for it's second for several more years. When society collapses due to Chung-Li, decades of progressive thinking are undone and women and girls are again at the mercy of men who want to either rape them or rule them.

Looking past Christopher's assumptions about gender, this book is one of the best written of the challenge so far. A virus that kills grass isn't all that far-fetched, and the fact that it could (and has, but on a smaller scale) happen makes the The Death of Grass is a chilling and fascinating read.

My Library Haul

We're twelve days into winter and Melbourne is officially colder than a witch's titty. To get myself through the next four freezing wet days (I love you part-time work, let's elope before my bf gets home) I picked up the most awesome haul of books at two of my libraries. (I'm a member of three separate library services, and considering a fourth. One is not enough.)

Expect reviews of the following over the next week. Now follow me and try not to drool...


I've heard good things about this Frankie Banks. I have no idea what it's about. Love the cover.


From 1983. I've heard the movie is awesome. Hope this is too.


THIS book, The Death of Grass from 1956, is tipped to be one of the best post-apocalyptic books of all time. It's just been re-released and I managed to snare it first at my lib. I'm nearly wetting my pants with excitement.


I haven't read enough pupil-and-teacher-have-affair books. I just haven't.


This is speculative/dystopian I believe. Don't know about the cover. Excessively girlie with barbed wire. Hmmm.


Larbalestier is an Aussie and she's all over the web--two decent reasons for reading her books. I really don't fancy the look of How to Ditch Your Fairy, but this magic trilogy looks promising.

So whaddya think? What fabulous books will you be filling your weekend with?

I'm putting the finishing touches on a post exploring the relationship between Humbert Humbert and Lolita so look out for it later this weekend.

Waiting On Wednesday #2: The Death of Grass

Originally released in 1956, The Death of Grass is a post-apocalyptic novel by John Christopher. (Yes, John Christopher is an alias, for Sam Youd. I'm reckoning that if someone has two first names as their whole name, odds are it's an alias.)

At first the virus wiping out grass and crops is of little concern to John Custance. It has decimated Asia, causing mass starvation and riots, but Europe is safe and a counter-virus is expected any day. Except, it turns out, the governments have been lying to their people. When the deadly disease hits Britain they are left alone, and society starts to descend into barbarism. As John and his family try to make it across country to the safety of his brother's farm in a hidden valley, their humanity is tested to its very limits. (From fishpond.)

Why I want it: It's dystopian. Society descending into barbarism, what a hoot! And the deadly virus, hello swine 'flu. Plus it's been compared to John Wyndam's The Day of the Triffids, and while I haven't read that one I love The Chrysalids. (And for Obernewtyn fans, definitely read The Chrysalids. Carmody was definitely inspired by that novel.)

It's just been re-released in the UK in April so I expect here in Oz very soon! FYI, the American edition was called No Blade of Grass as publishers there thought the public would confuse it with a gardening book if it was released as The Death of Grass. Are Americans sick of being treated like MORONS all ready?? As per Harry Potter and the SORCERER'S Stone?