The Sky Is Falling

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On a spring day in 2004, Jane Z., a physician's wife and mother, is stunned to see a familiar face in the newspaper: Sonia, a lost friend accused of terrorism, has been released after twenty years in prison. This revelation triggers memories of Jane's life two decades earlier. At nineteen, she shares a student house with three idealists: Sonia, who dreams of saving children from nuclear war; the Marxist Dieter; and the anarcho-feminist Pete. Drawn into NAG!, a non-violent, anti-nuclear action group, Jane, who studies Russian literature, finds her radical housemates embodying a Chekhovian spirit. As NAG! plans a bold protest by chaining themselves to a Boeing factory fence, tensions rise with each protest until a bomb explodes, altering their lives forever. The narrative skillfully weaves themes of first love, sexual confusion, and the fear of nuclear disaster alongside the humorous conflicts of well-meaning activists. This story resonates with contemporary fears, echoing an era when the threat of nuclear annihilation felt imminent, while showcasing the timeless relevance of Russian literary classics. Caroline Adderson's novel offers a witty yet poignant reflection on activism and the human condition in times of crisis.