May 5th is the birthday of Pat Frank (1908-1964). This was the pen name of newspaper journalist Harry Hart Frank. His novel Alas, Babylon is a survivalist classic. His personal life was marred by alcoholism, but his writing is admired and still surprisingly popular, today. (Alas, Babylon is still in print, after more than 50 years!) As an homage to Pat Frank, one of the settings in my novel Expatriates is Mt. Dora, Florida, which was fictionalized by Pat Frank as “Fort Repose” in Alas, Babylon.
Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — May 5, 2020
I first read Alas Babylon in the 1970’s . I still have a copy in by library.
Alas Babylon is a fantastic book, anyone who hasn’t read it owes it to themselves to get a copy. This was one of the first “grown up” books I ever bought with my own money when I was barely out of elementary school way back when.
Nobody was stockpiling “junk silver” in the book… because they were still carrying it around in their pockets as everyday money. The book is loaded with all sorts of precious gems like that. It also gives you lots of things to think about for your own prepping, presented in very enjoyable story form.
One of my favorite books is Alas Babylon. I just re-read it this year. Lots of the book still feels right as far as human behavior is dictated.
The banker who couldn’t adapt to a changing reality and ended up shooting himself seems like that may be worth a re-read.
I have read Alas Babylon several times over the years and still own a paperback copy. I had the opportunity to listen to this book read by Will Patton. Excellent performance and the story still holds my attention/imagination.
So…
He was 56 when he passed away 56 years ago in 1964. That was the year I started college. Time flies had no meaning for me back then. Now? More than anyone can imagine!
Cinco de Mayo, the anniversary of the Battle of Pueblo and Mexican independence. Too bad they haven’t kept it very well.