Radio Free Europe

Finished reading: AD9

Agh. I don't want to do a blog entry this morning. It's not that I went out and got drunk during the first minutes of 2008, but I just didn't sleep well.

"Reclamation" is 2/3s beta-read. There's one more person out there who hasn't turned in the beta read, and if I don't get something by this evening, I'll send a mail and give a gentle tug.

(* * *)

Ah, now on to Apocalyptic Daria, Part 9. The plot moves forward -- a bit -- in AD9 as Daria and Jane are interrupted by the radio firing back to life -- apparently, the former owner, The Dirty Little Coward Who Shot Mister Howard, had the radio on but there was nothing broadcasting until a pirate radio station flares to life and interrupts Daria and Jane.

We have a 97.1 in Atlanta: This is some of the stuff that it has played in the last hour according to the web site of 97.1, "The River"

"Hold the Line" by Toto
"Baby I Love Your Way" by Peter Frampton
"Jungle Love" by Steve Miller
"Summer of '69" by Brian Adams
"Feel Like Makin' Love' by Bad Company
"Lights" by Journey

Almost makes you wish for some nukes to fall, doesn't it?

Anyway, the two wait for Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" to stop playing to hear the tones of "Dr. Neon" ring through the house. Dr. Neon is a radio pirate who has multiple transmitters and has temporarily occupied the 97.1 FM band. Washington D. C, Philadelphia, Norfolk and several other cities are history, and the good Doctor is providing some needed exposition.

(I kid Doggieboy on this. Most writers -- particularly, television and movie writers -- have the character tune in the radio/flip on the TV just as the important news is breaking. Daria and Jane will be forced to wait for "Kashmir" to stop playing, a kick-ass song by Led Zeppelin that makes me like Dr. Neon already.)

With the "FCC Nazis" on his tail, Dr. Neon is forced to break off his broadcast.

A nitpick is that Daria goes into expository mode herself when Dr. Neon is not on the air. Daria seems to know a lot about post-apocalyptic survival. Exposition is good, but a writer should show and not tell. It might have been more interesting -- and illuminating -- for Daria and Jane to show up at a hospital with Jane's wound, only to find the place with lines all the way around the block -- if they could find a hospital.

Also, Jane is starting to make distinctions between .22 caliber weapons -- for example, the Rossi .22. Instead of Jane saying "that .30-06 and the Rossi .22", it might have been better to have her say, "the rifle and that new handgun". The distinction wouldn't be important unless you had more than one .22 handgun. If there's a problem with differentiating the .357 from the .22, just write "the .22".

However, Doggieboy addresses something I was worried about in AD8: the three dead bodies in the yard. Most likely, snowfall has covered the bodies but they still have to be buried. Daria and Jane managed to provide burials for all four dead bodies -- the one of the original owner and the three intruders. The original owner gets a perfunctory eulogy; as for the three bad guys, it's "see you in hell."

(* * *)

You know, one might wonder whether or not the FCC might spend the effort to chase down Dr. Neon. Apparently, with the United States in chaos, FCC agents have nothing better to do than to spend valuable gasoline chasing down some radio prankster.

Unfortunately, that might indeed be high-priority for the FCC. Post-war, communications will be important. It appears that terrestrial radio has stopped broadcasting, with Daria and Jane unable to find any other operating stations. Perhaps the radio bands have been cleared for emergency announcements and instructions. You don't need the sounds of Led Zeppelin mucking up the instructions to where you're to find clean water.

There's another matter remaining unaddressed: the war. After all, when the nukes fall, it's probably a sign that some other country doesn't like you a lot (either that, or they're an irresponsible menace). I remember when I was -- briefly -- a DJ that I was allowed to listen to a special audiotape, by the Governor, instructing all listeners to report to the local National Guard Armory for further instructions regarding military service.

In short, Daria and Jane's biggest problem might not be rapists. It might be the draft board. Hey, two young girls, probably over sixteen, and they seem to be good with a gun. Stay tuned for the sequel to Apocalyptic Daria called "Buck Privates"!