Alas, Babylon

[jlee]

Hello all.
Recently reading Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank and ran across this passage:

He missed cigarettes, but not so much. Dan Gunn still had a few pounds of tobacco, and had lent him a pipe. Randy found more pleasure in a pipe after each meal, and one before bedtime, than he had ever found in a whole carton of cigarettes. With tobacco so limited, each pipe was a luxury, relaxing and wonderful.

I thought this passage was layers deep in context to the story but also struck me personally. I was pleased and surprised to find mention of pipe smoking (though perhaps not, the book was written in the 50s) which was important to stage conditions in the story. I don't want to give away the story but thought I'd share. I encourage you all to pick this one up: a (now) classic tale still relevant today with engaging and developed characters that at once enrage, sadden, and give hope for humanity. Enjoy it with a pipe!

 

[jlee]

I almost forgot to mention another big angle I was surprised with in the story (won't give the story away): the Syrian port of Latakia. I think Pat Frank may have been a pipe smoker...

 

[pitchfork]

I had forgotten about that book (and much that was in the story), but I remember being just riveted by it as a 12-year old who hated literature class. (And now I teach and write about literature for a living.)

 

[planetary]

From the wikipedia article:
"An American fighter pilot attempting to intercept an enemy plane over the Mediterranean inadvertently fires an AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking missile that goes off course and hits an ammunition depot in Latakia, Syria, resulting in a large explosion. This event becomes the apparent casus belli for the Soviet Union to launch a nuclear strike against the United States and her allies."
Talk about your Lat Bombs, eh? *rimshot*

 

[latbomber]

@ planetary: :clap:

 

[numbersix]

Talk about your Lat Bombs

lol!

 

[petes03]

Pretty cool stuff! I generally read a lot of Clive Cussler books, he mentions pipes and pipe smoking quite often in them. Although he mentions pipes on a regular basis, cigars play a much bigger role on his books.

 

[judcole]

"Alas, Babylon" is a pretty good yarn. I enjoyed it, all those years ago.

 

[wildcat]

Haven't posted in a long while, but had to stop and do so when I saw the title of this thread. I first read Alas, Babylon in middle school, fell in love with it, used it for countless book reports in high school and college, rereading it each time. Wonderful book. Pat Frank's book Mr. Adam was an interesting read too, but I did not fall head over heals for it. Thanks for the post!

 

[cortezattic]

:laughat:

• 
  planetary

 

[jdwickwire]

Fantastic book. A shame Pat Frank died so young. Affair of State and Forbidden Area were good reads too.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I also enjoyed the book. I had forgotten much about it, but I will have to revisit it soon. Thanks!