Book 2 of the Inter States series – “Emergent Disorder”

I’m not sure if there are any readers here who are fans of speculative fiction dealing with peak-oil, but if there are I can heartily recommend the Inter States series by Ralph Meima. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book Fossil Nation and I am waiting in anticipation for the release of the second book in the series. Here is an idea of what to expect…

A historic migration begins, triggered by Hurricane Rhiannon but accelerated by deeper currents.  With winter approaching, hundreds of thousands take to the road in search of safety, potable water, reliable sources of food, and shelter. Their numbers overwhelm infrastructure and governments, roiling politics and changing the demographic character of regions forever.

With the 2040 election only days away, events whip from one surprise to another.  A dispute flares around disaster relief offered by China and the European Union.  Supporters and opponents dig in along partisan lines.  The President is held in contempt, and arrested by a council of national unity.  Despite an initial spirit of cooperation, multiple competing claims to federal executive authority arise, precipitating a constitutional crisis.  Oligarchs see threats and opportunities in the emerging disorder, and act to protect their interests.

Carried along in the migration are the Trudeau-Kendeil and Daniels families.  They have banded together for a harrowing journey of many days from Washington, D.C. to the homes of charitable relatives in New England, in search of the security a family needs in these lean times.  Their route takes them through communities coping in diverse ways with economic hardship, an unstable climate, and the swelling numbers of migrants.

A colleague from Jack Trudeau’s past appears with an explanation of the unraveling around them.  Grounded in energy science, his letter addresses the federal government’s dysfunction in the face of the crisis, and the new, more assertive role that state governments are quickly assuming.  Prepare for abrupt, discontinuous change, he warns.

Challenges multiply as the families travel north.  Election Day arrives while they are still on the road. Voter turnout is low among populations side-tracked by the storm and migration.  Then, tragedy strikes in the families’ midst, overwhelming plans and driving home a harsh lesson about options and consequences in a world riven by competing realities and relentless resource scarcity.