As climate change wreaks havoc on our precious Earth, many writers have chosen to contemplate the end of days by imagining dystopian universes inhabited by sole survivors of the planet's destruction. These futuristic quests are survivalist in nature, their heroes no longer battling for domination over nature but for humanity's existence.
Lauren Groff's The Vaster Wilds imagines a survivalism of the past. Set in 1609 in Jamestown, one of the first British settlements in North America, during the Starving Time when "food shortages, fractured leadership and a siege by Powhatan Indian warriors killed two of every three colonists at James Fort", it envisions the escape of a young servant girl who has fled indescribable horrors of the dying colony. In the words of one of the few surviving colonists, George Percy, "[N]othing was spared to mainteyne Lyfe and to doe those things w[hi]ch seame incredible..." She navigates the vast wilderness with only the tools she has stolen from her domicile and her sheer ingenuity.
Denne historien er fra September 30 - October 6 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra September 30 - October 6 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Sights to behold
Being blind didn't deter Aucklander FRASER ALEXANDER and his partially-sighted wife from travelling in Europe. Their memories were shaped by sound, touch and smell.
Pages of delight
Charming survey of children's literature throughout the centuries should be treasured and reread.
Heart of the matter
Women are less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than men, and less likely to get best treatment. Researchers are struggling with old stereotypes to right the balance.
Balaclava beats
Their paramilitary shtick is intentionally menacing, offensive and alienating, but to be fair to the hip-hop trio Kneecap, their infamous balaclava is disarmingly hilarious. Kneecap, the 2024 movie that offers a fictionalised account of their rise to fame, is a Bafta- and Oscar-nominated Northern Irish film sensation.
Friends like these
One of the stranger characteristics of the populist oligarchy mobilising around Donald Trump's new administration is the interest taken in the domestic politics of the UK.
Irresistible force
A new documentary about gentle rugby giant Jonah Lomu reveals little but is a reminder of what made him special.
Fleeing the nest
A tale of building a new life after an abusive relationship makes for an impressive debut.
Life less ordinary
Chelsie Preston Crayford follows a big 2024 with a new comedy role and putting the finishing touches on her debut feature as a director and writer.
Not on our watch
Nasa, one of the most technologically advanced organisations on the planet, made prospective astronauts take inkblot tests to determine their sexuality.
No free lunch
The new, cut-price school lunch programme will shut out many community providers. But will bulk-supplied meals meet children’s needs?
