Organisms

 Organisms, written in 2011, is political satire on pretty much the same theme as Kayla Blaze. We were hearing a lot of collectivist rhetoric in those days, and collectivist rhetoric always scares me, especially since it can be very seductive. One of my “liberal” friends, a guy I really like and respect, made a comment one day about how things are better when the country “pulls together,” and I told him the times we “pull together” are all the worst times in our history: wars, economic depressions, pandemics, for instance. “Pulling together” is no way to run a free country. In fact, it’s impossible (as Tocqueville, again, several times pointed out). I like to read the people who’ve made history (rather than be “taught” about them in a classroom, often by somebody who is either a disciple or doesn’t really know them), and I happened to read Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kamf, a book that’s filled with “pulling together” rhetoric that sounds very seductive. (Hitler’s story about the poor little German boy living in the ghetto who needs a reason to believe in Germany might bring tears to the eyes.) But as you know, Hitler’s not all that fondly remembered by most people. I wrote Organisms as a warning about collectivist idealism (using about four thousand words from Hitler’s memoir almost verbatim) and against the excessive power of the president in our own government. (There are several excellent books on that topic.) I had Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a wonderful satirical film on a similar topic, in mind when I wrote Organisms. I have reread the book and actually find it quite entertaining. In fact, I love the damn thing and fondly recall what a blast it was to write it.

Now that “woke” is imposing itself on us, the novel may come across less as satirical than poignant and prescient. But try to appreciate the satire in the novel just the same. It’s about two research scientists in Southern California who stumble on to a virus that they can’t identify but that soon leads them on a cross-country chase in flight from sinister government forces who have killed other people they know and are trying to kill them. I’m afraid you’ll have to read the novel to find out what happens to them. The book has a linear plot that moves quickly; all of the action takes place in a week. It probably hasn’t sold enough copies to pay for a bottle of wine, but it’s been favorably reviewed.