In this amazingly excellent dystopian novel, the main theme crops up often in the form of a quote from Star Trek: Voyager: “Survival is insufficient.” Besides the fact that I got the warm and fuzzies figuring the author must be a Star Trek fan, this quote perfectly describes the band of wandering musicians and Shakespearean actors eking out an existence in a world totally ravaged by deadly disease. When the human species is struggling just to survive, do we still need art and beauty? In my mind, the answer is a resounding YES!
–Laura P., Village Books, Bellingham, WA
You can do your part to celebrate art and beauty by shopping at independent bookstores like Village Books.