January 15, 2015 / Leslie

Station Eleven – Survival is insufficient…

A Rapid Review

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Publisher: Random House Audio | September 2014
Format: Audio Download | 10½ hours | Rating: 4½ stars
Audio Listening Level: Intermediate

An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

This post-apocalyptic novel begins typically enough with a devastating worldwide crisis that kills much of the population – in this case a new flu virus: The Georgia Flu. Kirsten is one of the survivors and much of the story is told through her eyes. Chapters alternate between the time of the flu outbreak, when Kirsten was only a child, and fifteen years in the future where she is now a part of a small group of traveling musicians.

And while this is a survival story, the way it unfolds is a refreshing change. There are no zombies, vampires, or excessive violence. It’s a more thoughtful, serene look at how fragile civilization is and how easily it could end. At the same time there is a hopeful beauty to a world where there is no light pollution, the night sky is brilliantly illuminated with stars, and where nature is beginning to reclaim the land. And people treasure print books.

Audio production:
Kirsten Potter narrates using a variety of tones to create a different voice for the many characters. A little extra attention to detail is needed by the listener to follow the shifts in time between life before and after the pandemic.

Audio Sample:

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Source: Review copy provided by Random House Audio.
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