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The City, Not Long After
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The City, Not Long After (1989) (edit title/settings)

by Pat Murphy (Author) (edit contributors)

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The intersecting spheres of dreams and earthly passions that marked Murphy's recent novel The Falling Woman and her novelette "Rachel in Love" (both Nebula Award winners in 1988) continue in this story of a depopulated San Francisco. In the wake of a devastating worldwide plague, the handful... read more

Summary edit see section history

Some years after a plague has wiped out much of the world's population, a group of artists form a community in San Francisco. A nameless girl raised near Woodland always dreams of visiting this city, but is not given the chance until her mother dies after telling her daughter to go to the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Some years after a plague has wiped out much of the world's population, a group of artists form a community in San Francisco. A nameless girl raised near Woodland always dreams of visiting this city, but is not given the chance until her mother dies after telling her daughter to go to the city and warn the artists about the approach arrival of General Miles, also known as Fourstar. The girl travels to the city, names herself Jax, and tries to convince the citizens of what she is saying even as she becomes truly one of them. It is revealed that her mother helped bring about the plague as she was part of a peace group who wanted to bring monkeys from a Nepal monastarie to all the major cities of the world as symbols of world peace. The monkeys had carried the plague with them. When Fourstar arrives, the citizens fight back without killing, tranquilizing their victims and handing them death certificates. With the help of a soldier, Jax is able to get to Fourstar's quarters and administer to him the same treatment. Meanwhile, soldiers storm the citizens, and a man known as The Machine runs his gyrocopoter into the shoulders, killing himself in the process. Upset over The Machine's death, Jax runs madly through the city and is captured by Fourstar. She is sentenced to be hung, but Jax's boyfriend Danny-boy arrives in time to shoot Fourstar in the head, afterwhich he himself is gunned down. The remaining soldiers have the choice to leave or remain in the city, and the artists rebuild their art. Jax is unable to let go of what happened, and wanders the city until she finds the Angel, her dead mother, and her dead friends. She joins them. Years later, Tommy, who was a boy during the war, tells stories of the war and Jax, who supposedly can still be glimpsed in the city.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “There's a lot to be said for chaos.”
    Danny-boy
  • “What would you choose? The garden that was, or all the gardens you have yet to build?"”
    Jax

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First Sentence edit see section history

The early morning breeze blew through the vegetable garden in Union Square, shaking the leaves of the bean plants and the lacy carrot tops.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Pat Murphy (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Doubleday
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1989
ISBN: 9780385249256
Page Count: 244

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Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Language, mild sexuality.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Girl Who Owned a City
  • Wild Angel
  • The Falling Woman
  • There and Back Again
  • The Wild Girls
  • In the Company of Women: Indirect Aggression Among Women: Why We Hurt Each Other and How to Stop

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