Desolate: A Tale of Newfoundland Perseverance

by Carolyn R. Parsons

It is the year 2047 and Jean Adler knows precisely three things.

First, she adores her adopted town of Desolate Island and wants to live there forever.

Second, leading her community through the fallout that plunged their world into darkness, forcing her to decide if they will stay or leave, is way outside her skillset.

And third, it is guaranteed that only a lucky few of her beloved community— and her brand new family— will make it out alive.

What she doesn't know though is: who?

"Returns the Newfoundland people — formed by hardship and perseverance— to their roots, proving why the Newfoundland setting and its people are the perfect venue for exploring dystopia." — Matthew LeDrew, author of Coral Beach Casefiles.

234 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2022

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carolyn R. Parsons's Desolate is a dystopia, but one that focuses more on the people and how they have to live in their new world. The war is some far-off thing that has impacted them, but not strongly. When they find themselves cut-off from the rest of the world, and without knowing what happened and if their loved ones who live in other parts of Newfoundland are alive or dead, they do their best to keep living as best they can. It is a story of community, even when the community expands unexpectedly, most of the people band together to take people in and share their dwindling supplies. If I were to compare it, thematically, to another dystopia, I would look at Neville Shute's On the Beach; the rest of the world is gone, but the people left have to keep living.

Set in the near future, Parsons's work comments on climate change, the absolute need to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador to diversify their economy and start looking at green technologies, and the need to better internet services, especially in rural areas. The small community of Desolate has found a new means to survive with the advent of remote work. When the internet and power stop, those who live on the island of Desolate have to figure out what happened through spotty radio broadcasts and stories from others who arrive at the island, fleeing the American military who have moved out of their bases in St. John's and Gander after those areas were bombed. The war comes to the shores of Desolate, and the residents are getting sick from nuclear fallout. The people have to decide if they will stay, or leave to see if things are better on mainland Canada.

Desolate is a dystopia that shows how we, as people, can make the world better by being stewards of our own communities, and how, even when things look their worst, a strong sense of community can bring a place together to help everyone survive. Of course, not everything is perfect, there are those who care only for themselves (or their businesses) and refuse to accept the reality of the world. Parsons shows that we are strongest together, we need to care for each other and the planet, and far-off conflicts have world-wide consequences. I highly recommend this story about people and place and the struggle to maintain community.

[Paul Carberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does an extraordinary job sculpting the post apocalyptic world through the eyes of an isolated island of Desolate, just off the coast of Newfoundland.

As the mysterious events that caused the apocalypse unfold, we are brought along on a journey of resiliency. The main characters face daunting challenges, suffering hardships and triumphs.

There's a lot to love in this story; the characters, the settings, and a compelling narrative.