Ashes, Ashes

In 2052 France, advanced technology and electricity power every aspect of daily life. When all electrical systems mysteriously cease to function, society rapidly descends into disorder as basic infrastructure collapses and survival becomes increasingly difficult. François Deschamps emerges as a leader among a group of survivors in Paris. The group undertakes a dangerous journey south toward Provence, seeking a place where they can establish a new way of life away from the chaos of the fallen cities. The story follows their trek across a transformed French landscape, where the survivors must adapt to a world without modern conveniences. They face challenges of basic survival while navigating the social upheaval that follows the collapse of technological civilization. The novel explores themes of humanity's dependence on technology and questions the true nature of progress. Published in 1943, it stands as an early example of post-apocalyptic fiction that examines the fragility of modern civilization and humanity's capacity for both destruction and renewal.

Readers appreciate the apocalyptic atmosphere and philosophical themes about humanity's relationship with technology in this French sci-fi novel. The romance subplot and detailed character development earned positive mentions in multiple reviews. Readers liked: - Clear vision of technological collapse - Focus on human relationships rather than action - Strong female protagonist - Translation quality from French to English Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Abrupt ending that leaves questions unanswered - Side characters feel underdeveloped - Some dated 1960s social attitudes Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (282 ratings) Amazon FR: 4.2/5 (98 ratings) Babelio: 3.7/5 (156 ratings) "Haunting and thought-provoking but needed a stronger conclusion," noted one Goodreads reviewer. Multiple French readers on Babelio praised the "stark realism" of the disaster scenarios while criticizing the "meandering plot structure."

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One Second After by William R. Forstchen An EMP strike destroys America's electrical grid, forcing a small town to cope with the collapse of technology-dependent systems and infrastructure.

The Death of Grass by John Christopher A virus kills all grass species including wheat and rice, leading to civilization's breakdown as survivors journey across England seeking safety.

Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling The laws of physics change without warning, rendering electricity and gunpowder useless, forcing humanity to adapt to medieval-style existence.

Into the Forest by Jean Hegland Two sisters survive in their forest home after society collapses from a series of catastrophes that eliminate electricity and modern conveniences.

🔹 Published during the Nazi occupation of France, "Ashes, Ashes" (originally "Ravage") was partly inspired by the frequent power outages and resource shortages of wartime Paris. 🔹 René Barjavel coined the term "paradoxe du grand-père" (grandfather paradox) in this novel, becoming one of the first writers to explore this famous time travel concept in science fiction. 🔹 The novel's original French title "Ravage" translates to "devastation" or "havoc," which was changed to "Ashes, Ashes" in English to echo the children's nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie." 🔹 The book predicted several modern technologies with remarkable accuracy, including video calls, automated doors, and widespread use of synthetic materials, despite being written in the 1940s. 🔹 When released in 1943, the novel's anti-technology message resonated strongly with the Vichy regime's "return to the soil" ideology, though Barjavel's intentions were more nuanced and focused on human over-reliance on technology.