“Balkland” by Paul Jones
The latest book by Billy Roper, “The Heirs of Tomorrow,” has a similar format of the books by James Michener. In those books like “Hawaii,” “Texas” and “Chesapeake,” states or areas of the United States were taken in historical context depending on the time, and within each chapter fictional characters were portrayed who acted out in the climate of the times, whatever that might be.
Since Michener was dealing with actual history, it was not that difficult to create the setting in which the plot developed and how the characters would change depending on the circumstances. On the other hand, this author has a more difficult task in that he can only project future events as he imagines them to be and, as we all know, trying to think of how the future might play out is very hard to do.
However, the framework already exists based on his earlier trilogy, the “Hasten the Day” series and the more strictly political books such as “The Balk” and “Ethnostate,” so within this he creates nine wide ranging chapters which have something for everyone, depending on their interest and knowledge.
The underlying theme is that Balkanization will involve an economic collapse that will set civilization back at least a century or two, if not more, and so chapters tend to have characters who are reduced to a harsh, survival of the fittest type environment where only the toughest and meanest can make it. At the same time, there are characters who are admirable and have a heroic and self-sacrificing spirit for the most part, though there definitely are no saints in this chaos.
At various times the Shield Wall Network and Phalanx are brought in, and most of the chapters involve Arkansas and other regions of the South. It is necessary to have some idea of geography and place names in order to fully appreciate what is going on. One of the chapters, involving a group of young people in a type of tribe without adult control, reminds me of the novel, “The Lord of the Flies,” by William Golding.
The two final chapters deal with 100 years after the Balkanization process, and is really more science fiction than anything else, since it deals with interplanetary travel and settlements . It allows the author to really let his imagination go to work as to how human life might be in the distant future. The book comes full circle in this last chapter, with an interesting twist which I’ll let the readers find out about for themselves.
This is definitely a treat and a worthwhile and thought provoking read for anyone who sees the balkanization process as the likely scenario for the present-day United States.
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