Linell Review// "Station Eleven"

Eric Linell

9/20/15

Station Eleven Review

       Station Eleven, a novel written by Emily St. John Mandel, addresses the apocalypse  with a focus on the aftermath rather than the deadly Georgia flu that wipes out world civilization.  There are many elements in the novel that illustrate how an apocalypse will impact society’s value system and everyday life.  The book is very thought-provoking as it moves back and forth in time, between locations and among characters.  Mandel quickly absorbs the reader’s attention by creating a mystery within the story leaving subtle clues interweaved throughout the chapters. The mystery of how the different character are connected from pre-apocalypse to post-apocalypse, twenty years later, is slowly revealed to the reader as the story progresses. The story was very engrossing with a good story line but left me disturbed by Mandel’s lack of attention to the suffering created by the end of civilization.  

   There are  many aspects of the book that are intriguing.  Mandel’s ability to redefine a sense of normalcy after the tragedy forces the reader to examine how much we take things for granted in our everyday life.  The way post –apocalypse people interact and survive shows that material possessions and modern technology are less important than humanity and decency.  Mandel seems to be giving the reader a commentary on today’s society.  Have we let our preoccupation with technology and material possessions pre-empted our need and ability to communicate and form relationships? Mandel’s sends us this message through the Traveling Symphony. Their motto of “Survival is not Sufficient” refers less to the lack of modern necessities and more to the need for friendships, relationships and humanity.  The characters in the story are also very engaging. I immediately liked Jeevan.  His desire to be a paramedic, his loyalty to his handicapped brother, his trustworthiness and his dependability at the airport all make the reader root for his survival.  I also felt sympathy for Arthur, the celebrity. Mandel demonstrates the different stages of his life and show how he finally realizes what is important in life. Before his tragic death, he attempts to get rid of his possessions and plans on going to Israel to reunite with his son, Tyler. It is quite sad that he dies before he can accomplish this dream.  I also admired Kirstin’s bravery and her ability to survive in the face of danger. Mandel also uses Arthur’s son to show how a character progresses in the face of the tragedy. He goes from being an innocent boy to the leader of a religious cult capable of murder.  When the true identity of The Prophet is revealed, the pieces of the puzzle are solved in the mystery.  It was fascinating to see the final connection between Arthur, the first character, and Tyler, his son, who turns out to be the Prophet.   I also liked the optimism at the end of the story. It is comforting to think that if the apocalypse occurs in my lifetime, there is a chance that survival is possible and some part of modern civilization will be preserved.  

   There are also many disturbing aspects of the story.  Mandel fails to address the suffering and despair that society would experience if the end of the world occurred.  The small settlements of people that survived seem to have adjusted to a new sense of “ normal”. There are several current shows and movies that address the apocalypse , like The Walking Dead, that demonstrate the fear and suffering. It is also strange that Kirstin is so obsessed with Arthur, a dead celebrity.  Why would a young girl be obsessed with an older man and the comic books?  It may be her way of holding on to past civilization, but I think Mandel put too much emphasis on this aspect of the story. Mandel seems to use Kirstin as a way to connect the characters in the story. I also found Mandel’s use of flashbacks in the telling the story distracting to the flow of the book. Perhaps, it forces the reader to pause and concentrate on the message the author was trying to communicate. I also felt very sad when the Prophet turned out to be Arthur’s son.  It was depressing that his lack of meaning caused him to grasp religion in an unhealthy way. These unsettling aspects of the book caused me to have mixed feelings about the story.  

   The book Station Eleven is quite compelling as the characters demonstrate their ability to survive this tragedy.  Mandel shows what is truly important in life and asks the reader to re-evaluate  their life.  The most unsettling part for me as a reader is the reality that recent world events, like the Eboli virus, show that this scenario  is not so far fetched. There is much anxiety in today’s world that despite all modern technology and medicine, there are still events that could occur to cause the apocalypse.