Alas, Babylon Technology and Modernization Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

Even those sections of the country which escaped destruction entirely would not long have lights. Their power would last only as long as fuel stocks on hand. (7.64)

Electricity requires energy, and energy requires a fuel source. It's as simple as that. In a testament to all you hippies out there, however, a community has the best chance of retaining power if they use solar, wind, or hydroelectric generators, as those methods require no man-made fuel source. Who says going green doesn't pay?

Quote #5

Lavinia McGovern died. This, too, had been inevitable ever since the lights went out and refrigeration ceased. Since Lavinia McGovern suffered from diabetes, insulin had kept her alive. (7.172)

The loss of electricity is perhaps most frightening to those suffering from serious medical conditions requiring advanced treatment methods. Diabetes is a big one. Diabetics need insulin, insulin needs refrigeration, refrigeration requires electricity, and electricity is currently nowhere to be found. What's even more horrifying is that diabetes is a relatively common disease. There are millions suffering from it in America alone.

Quote #6

He suspected that the older housewives of Fort Repose [...] had cleaned the stores out of flour on The Day. (7.180)

Prepackaged bread isn't going to last long during the apocalypse. Doesn't matter if it's whole wheat, gluten-free, or coated in 24-karat gold. Instead, it's much wiser to push those modern conveniences aside and do things the old-fashioned way, even if it requires kneading a bit of dough.