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Love in the Time of the Apocalypse

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The first word that comes to mind in describing Gregory Blecha's Love in the Time of the Apocalypse is unique. Surreal and farcical on the one hand, satirical and poignant on the other, this novel follows its own drum of apocalyptic imaginings. If you have any preconceived notions about where this story will take you, you might as well leave them at the door, as Blecha will undoubtedly surprise you one way or another. This isn't Left Behind, nor is it a soporific recitation of man's ills in a hopelessly maudlin, post-apocalyptic setting. The writing is sharp and oftentimes pointedly funny, and no Four Horsemen come plodding in to overshadow the main character's personable manner of dealing with monumental change.

Economic collapse has led to the disintegration of American society into several radical spheres: Southern agrarians, Pentecostals aligned with the Aryan Nation, a welfare queen system in the east, eco-terrorists running amuck, etc. It's a mess, but life isn't all that bad for our protagonist, Bryan. When we meet him, he's enjoying a vacation with his girlfriend Char and some friends at an Amish casino in Las Vegas (yes, the Amish staff are rather ichthyne in appearance thanks to some unbridled genetic experimentation, but try not to stare). Bryan has no idea that he's about to become one of the most wanted men in what is left of America. In the wake of a spat with his girlfriend, he finds himself kidnapped by the Aryan Nation/Church of the Creator; here, he first learns of his possible supposed importance, but he can't figure out what is really going on. Even the Feds are after him, launching an attack on his captors which allows him to escape across a river. In time, he survives two weeks in solitary confinement, falls into the hands of the Earth Liberation group (who are intent on defaming or destroying everything resembling an American monument), survives a helicopter crash only to be captured by a drugged child army, falls into the clutches of some extreme scientific researchers, and finally, after a lot more trials and tribulations find outs the truth about himself (a truth that almost everyone seems to already know except for him). The ending takes something of a strange turn, but it's a perfectly fitting conclusion that does answer all of the questions generated by the story's numerously disparate elements.

On the surface, especially in the opening chapters, Love in the Time of the Apocalypse reads primarily as a comedy, and the author indeed fills the entire book with great wit and light-hearted moments. The novel definitely has its serious overtones, however. The fractured American society of the story is in some ways a distorted mirror image of American society today, one which could well come with a notice saying the images appearing in this mirror are closer than they may appear. I would not take this notion too far myself, however, as I think Blecha's true subject matter is human nature more than it is economics, government, or the social structures of society. Love is a word which features prominently in the title, but the very notion of love seems to me to be a secondary aspect of this novel. Bryan does indeed love his girlfriend Char, which he proves by resisting a number of randy women who accost him during his increasingly surreal adventures, but I personally would not think of this novel in terms of a love story.

Basically, Love in the Time of the Apocalypse is a refreshingly sharp and singular novel that is impossible to encapsulate in the form of a review. No religious conviction is required because this is not that kind of apocalyptic story. With its quick pace, wonderful narrative flow, and propensity to surprise the reader at several turns, this is definitely a book worth many a reader's time and attention.