As Ithaca Lay Forgotten

by Jonathan D. Clark

After spending some time in contemporary America, exploring the anxieties of modern society, Jonathan D. Clark has returned to his post-apocalyptic playground—his newfound focus set on finding virtue in a world all but robbed of it.

Havoc and Gillette grew up knowing Paradise as their home; a small town on the outskirts of Nevada, its desert sands mostly left untouched by the hands of the Atom. As kids they had become enamored by the art of cinema and literature: relics from a bygone era lost to the world after the fall of man. Now adults, they long for the open road—their sights set on the Pacific coastline, to visit Los Angeles, California: the place where dreams come true.

But little did they know, what would start as a one-day road trip to the City of Angels would become a test of endurance and survival.

As Ithaca Lay Forgotten, Clark's fifth novel, proves itself an intimate affair, weighing the darkness of a war-torn world against its hidden, all-but-forgotten beauty.

188 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2022

About the author

Jonathan D. Clark is an independent author who writes primarily what he describes as "philosophical fiction" which he blends with other genres. He published his debut novel, Division Street, in 2016 under J.D. Clark.

A California native, he currently lives on Long Island with his wife and their two sons in New York.

Reviews

[Scott Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a dystopian future after the "Fall of the Atom", As Ithaca Lay Forgotten presents a different take on life after the fall of civilization. So many of these stories (ie The Stand and The Walking Dead) paint such a bleak, hopeless picture of the apocalypse but in this novel, Clark, attempts to paint a picture of hope and beauty.

Clark shows us that though life after a nuclear war would be a daily struggle to survive, humanity can hold on to some of the beauty of the previous world. He introduces us to two young adults, Havoc and Gillette living in Paradise (in the Nevada desert) struggling to make it through each day. One has a love of reading and visits the local library weekly and the other has a passion for cinema and lives in an old movie theater. These passions keep them going as they struggle to find food during the day and hide from the dangers of the world at night.

When Havoc and Gill decide to go see the west coast of California, the troubles are only magnified but along the way, they meet kind, loving people that introduce them to photography, family, and love. Along their journey, we see Havoc and Gill coming closer as friends, and possibly more? (You'll have to read to find out)

While I told the author that I didn't really like his ending, the theme is beautiful and teaches us to "live today to the fullest" (his words). It's also a stark reminder that we can (and should) find good in even the worst situation.

This was a quick read for me (just 2 hours), but I'd highly recommend it to anyone searching for something positive in a highly negative world!

[Pete Aldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure how the author achieved a layout with the occasional blood spatter to accompany the action, but it works very well. This is a beautifully and thoughtfully laid out book.

The writing contains some terrific prose and the subject matter is always interesting. Still trying to figure out if a lot of its metaphor and I missed the connection. But the story of two friends on the road in the post apocalyptic world is easy to settle into. Also…

A quick read is a good read!