Prologue
The use of metaphors runs rampant throughout the narrative. It all commences even before the Chapter One begins, however. The Prologue offers a short overview of a catastrophic asteroid event which resulted in mass extinction:
“The dinosaurs and most manner of living things were already at death’s door by the time the asteroid hit.”
A Grumpy, Trumpy History Lesson
Things get a bit Freudian—or, at the very least, psychological—in the metaphor describing how and why a phenomenon like the 2016 “election” happens. Take note that the emphasis is on the father rather than the mother who usually bears the brunt of the blame stamping psychological motivations upon unwise behavior:
“If we look at history—those of us who study it, who can remember it—we understand the reason why those who come to power swiftly, amid extreme national crises, are so dangerous: during such crises, we all turn into children aching for a good father. And the truth is, in our fear and despair, we’ll take any father. Even if his furor is dangerous.”
Critical Self-Reflection
First-person narration almost always means the introduction of metaphors directed toward an analysis of the self. Of course, this can also take the form of dialogue in a third-person narration, but there is something about the confessional intimacy of the first-person approach that is like sticking a pin into flesh so critical self-reflection inevitably begins bleeding out:
“I take a colossal breath of air and hold it. I hold my arms out in the air to either side of me. In the mirror I look vaguely like a butterfly.”
Philosophical Contemplation
It is probably pretty obvious by now that this is less an action-oriented story than a novel of ideas. Political, sociological, and philosophical commentary abounds. And within each can be found plentiful use of metaphorical imagery:
“It’s like we’re stars in space. It’s like space is the theater and we are the bits of stardust and everything everywhere is the story.”
The End of the World as We Know It
The most depressing metaphorical imagery describes a catastrophic series of natural disasters that play out like dominoes toppling over one by one across the vast expanse of the planet. The final destination of this cosmic game of domino stacking is inexorable and unavoidable:
“The sun’s eye smote. Organic processes like photosynthesis and ecosystems, dead. The relation between Earth and its inhabitants, dead…Earth reduced to a dirt clod, floating in space.”
