Submitted by Ryan Scott
Apocalyptic literature goes back to the Mesopotamians and The Epic of Gilgamesh with its recounting of a Great Flood, and it has not gone out of style since. Such tales satisfy both our fear and curiosity about ‘the end’, and, over time, our consumption of disaster stories has morphed from the page to the screen with, ironically, no end in sight. While the tropes of crumbling landmarks and eviscerated humanity have become familiar, that does not mean a well-crafted story cannot be formed around the themes of global devastation.
Alanna Rusnak’s When the Trees All Burned is just that: a well-written, deftly-plotted story about people – not just tropes – and the effect, for better or worse, that the looming prophecy of death-by-fire introduces into their lives. The human element propels the narrative as we meet various characters situated throughout time and place, each with their own poignant story and each experiencing vast life changes while facing down the greater cataclysm to come.
At the centre is Rajiv Montgomery Noah, a self-made billionaire who, driven by prophecy, vows to use his wealth and technology to become humanity’s saviour, even if only for a select few. But is he just another cult figure using charm and money to manipulate the naïve, or is there truth behind his doomsaying? Drawn into the story are Aiya, a young pregnant woman desperate to escape her abusive fiancé; Bonnie, a comedienne on the verge of breakout greatness; Jude, a filmmaker out to document Rajiv and his followers, all while struggling with a tragic secret of her own; and Pocket Rochelle, a Canadienne rock star whose music brings both her and her followers to the party at the end of the world. They, along with a small cast of other relatable characters, weave us toward the climax with a promise of drastic changes for all, whether Rajiv’s prophecy be true or not.
Durham-based Rusnak, who runs the publishing firm Chicken House Press, has kept most of the novel Canada-centric as the characters converge on Rajiv’s apocalypse-proof dome outside of Thunder Bay. Her style never sacrifices character for plot, nor does the plot slow down to satisfy character development. Her writing strikes a welcome balance that appeals to both those with deeper literary sensibilities and those who prefer ticking clock thrillers.
At a time when the world feels like it’s teetering on a fatal precipice, When the Trees All Burned scratches the desire to both escape and explore the horrific possibilities of environmental fire and brimstone. It must be said, however, that this is only book one in Rusnak’s still-developing The Path That Takes Us Home trilogy. This book’s conclusion is only the end of the beginning of a much grander tale to come.
When the Trees All Burned is available for purchase at www.chickenhousepress.ca and at The Book Hive located at 84 Sykes St. N., Meaford.
