Editorial Content for A Beginning at the End
Contributors
Reviewer (text)
The world has come to an end. That is to say, the normal world of commerce and daily life has ended globally. A massive flu pandemic has wiped out over five billion people, or 70 percent of the world’s population. The survivors are faced with a whole new world.
The U.S. is now divided into two types of places where people live: metro areas, which offer basic services for their residents, and Reclaimed Territories, which are outside of the city limits and are similar to hippie communes. There are also some mostly uninhabited areas where gangs are rampant. Manufacturing has basically come to a halt. There are supplies stored in warehouses, but getting the goods distributed is difficult as stealing and looting is widespread. There is a central government, but it is hampered by cities that try to govern themselves and by a lack of resources.
"Mike Chen gives readers a chilling look at what a global pandemic could do to our society and crafts an intriguing story of how such a scenario could play out."
When the flu pandemic reached its highest point, the government set up quarantine areas to try to stop the disease from spreading further. A BEGINNING AT THE END centers on four characters who survived and are trying to rebuild their lives six years later. Former pop star Moira, also known as MoJo, wanted to escape her old life and the suffocating and controlling nature of her father. Before she could be quarantined, she ran away and started a new life outside of the settled areas, joining a gang. Rob's wife died during the quarantine, and he is now raising his daughter, Sunny, all by himself. And Krista, a single woman who has a deep distrust of men, is trying to survive on her own. These four individuals are brought together through a work setting. Rob is drawn to the two women, both of whom adore Sunny.
The new government’s main concern, now that the majority of its population perished during the pandemic, is to care for and nurture its children. After all, they are the future of the world. When Sunny starts acting out and getting into trouble at school, Rob faces the prospect of losing custody of her to the state. Can Krista and MoJo help him fix the problem, even as they each face their own hurdles in this new world?
Author Mike Chen gives readers a chilling look at what a global pandemic could do to our society and crafts an intriguing story of how such a scenario could play out.
Teaser
Six years after a virus wiped out most of the planet’s population, former pop star Moira is living under a new identity to escape her past --- until her father launches a sweeping public search for her. Desperate for a fresh start herself, jaded event planner Krista navigates the world for those still too traumatized to go outside. Rob has tried to protect his daughter, Sunny, by keeping a heartbreaking secret, but when strict government rules threaten to separate parent and child, Rob needs to prove himself worthy in the city’s eyes by connecting with people again. The lives of Krista, Moira, Rob and Sunny begin to twine together. When reports of another outbreak throw the fragile society into panic, the friends are forced to finally face everything that came before --- and everything they still stand to lose.
Promo
Six years after a virus wiped out most of the planet’s population, former pop star Moira is living under a new identity to escape her past --- until her father launches a sweeping public search for her. Desperate for a fresh start herself, jaded event planner Krista navigates the world for those still too traumatized to go outside. Rob has tried to protect his daughter, Sunny, by keeping a heartbreaking secret, but when strict government rules threaten to separate parent and child, Rob needs to prove himself worthy in the city’s eyes by connecting with people again. The lives of Krista, Moira, Rob and Sunny begin to twine together. When reports of another outbreak throw the fragile society into panic, the friends are forced to finally face everything that came before --- and everything they still stand to lose.
About the Book
Four survivors come together as the country rebuilds in the aftermath of a devastating pandemic. A character-driven postapocalyptic suspense with an intimate, hopeful look at how people can move forward by creating something better.
Six years after a virus wiped out most of the planet’s population, former pop star Moira is living under a new identity to escape her past --- until her domineering father launches a sweeping public search to track her down. Desperate for a fresh start herself, jaded event planner Krista navigates the world for those still too traumatized to go outside, but she never reaches out on her own behalf. Rob has tried to protect his daughter, Sunny, by keeping a heartbreaking secret, but when strict government rules threaten to separate parent and child, Rob needs to prove himself worthy in the city’s eyes by connecting with people again.
Krista, Moira, Rob and Sunny meet by circumstance and their lives begin to twine together. When reports of another outbreak throw the fragile society into panic, the friends are forced to finally face everything that came before --- and everything they still stand to lose. Because sometimes having one person is enough to keep the world going.
Audiobook available, read by Emily Woo Zeller
