Writing Style Station
Pat Frank was a war correspondent and journalist in Europe during World War II. How does this first hand perspective of war impact his writing? Are there any aspects of the novel that appear more fact driven and journalistic?
Did the war jargon (specialized vocabulary) bog you down as you started the book? What knowledge of the Cold War did you have before you started reading? Why do you think this novel was so troubling to people when it was first published?
Would you guess that Frank was for or against war? What aspects of the book make you believe so? Be specific in your discussion, referencing passages from the novel as proof of your opinion.
Alas, Babylon is told by a third-person omniscient narrator. Why does this narrator bounce focus between different characters (Florence, Edgar, Alice, Peewee, Mark, Randy, etc.) throughout the book? What is the purpose of this narrative decision, and what are your thoughts on this approach?
CharacterizationStation
How does Randy evolve as a character? Discuss as a group where he was at the beginning of the book versus where he ends up. What do you think causes such a drastic shift in his character? Do you think his relationship with Lib would have progressed the way it did without the war? Why?
Compare the experience in this book of Peyton versus Ben Franklin. How do they handle the loss of their father and the war differently? At what point, if any, do these children lose their innocence?
Who are stagnant characters in the novel? Who doesn’t change? What impact does this inability to adapt have on these characters?
In Chapter 4, Helen points out that her children, and all children in the late 1950s, "have lived under the shadow of war--atomic war. For them the abnormal has become normal." Do children today live under a comparable shadow or shadows? Talk about this with your group.
Theme Station
Only the strong survive (i.e. survival of the fittest).- Discuss this theme’s presence in the novel. Be sure to provide specific examples of how the theme is presented.
There is hope and resilience amidst tragedy. - Discuss this theme’s presence in the novel. Be sure to provide specific examples of how the theme is presented.
The love of money leads to the corruption and downfall of man. - Discuss this theme’s presence in the novel. Be sure to provide specific examples of how the theme is presented.
It’s important to maintain one’s morality and integrity during times of turmoil.- Discuss this theme’s presence in the novel. Be sure to provide specific examples of how the theme is presented.
A sense of community and teamwork is critical during difficult circumstances - Discuss this theme’s presence in the novel. Be sure to provide specific examples of how the theme is presented.
War leaves behind a path of destruction. (Consider how war affects the different aspects of an individual: physically, emotionally, and mentally.) - Discuss this theme’s presence in the novel. Be sure to provide specific examples of how the theme is presented.
Gender, Race, and Class Station
What details reveal the specifics--and the inanity--of race relations in the American South during the late 1950s? Does the novel suggest any way of resolving the race issue? How does Randy's relationship with the Henrys go against his community?
The loss of Malachi in chapter 11 is one of the major sacrifices of the novel. Why do you think Pat Frank gave such a critical role to a minority in the book? Based on his writing, do you think Pat Frank was an advocate for civil rights, or did he agree with the racist undertones of the time?
How are women viewed in this book? What is their role? How does this reflect the time period in which the novel was written? If this book was modernized, how would these gender roles change, if at all?
Social class is addressed with the characters of Pete and Rita Hernandez. How are the residents of Pistolville viewed by Fort Repose residents? How do Pete and Rita try to compensate for their lack of possessions and money?
Plot Progression Station
What events throughout the novel symbolize hope and the return to a “new normal” for the residents of Fort Repose? Brainstorm at least five events that bring hope and joy to the residents of Fort Repose. Why are these scenes so critical to the story?
Talk about the final shootout. What was the plan? Why was the plan changed? What happened? Who survived, and who didn’t?
What role does Edgar play in the narrative? Why even include his character in the story? How is Edgar a cautionary tale to all of us?
Is the book TOO positive, considering the material? What did you think about the ending? Does Pat Frank end his novel with an optimistic or pessimistic view of the future?
How do we see physical examples of “survival of the fittest” throughout the book? Come up with at least four examples of this idea with your group. How do these examples connect to one another? What does this show about the innate (true, deep down) nature of man?
Quote Analysis Station
“It was packed full, watch bands twisting and curling like gold snakes.” – page 206
“The guests were milling around in the lobby like first-class passengers on a liner that has struck an iceberg, and that they suspect may founder at any moment.” – page 101
“She is my right arm.” – page 36
“Insulin requires refrigeration.” – page 59
“Yesterday, he would have stopped instantly. When there was an accident, and someone was hurt, a man stopped. But yesterday was a past period in history, with laws and rules archaic as ancient Rome’s…. With the use of the hydrogen bomb, the Christian era was dead, and with it must die the tradition of the good Samaritan. And yet, Randy stopped.” – page 98
“You react to crisis in the right way. You remember what Toynbee says? His theory of challenge and response applies not only to nations, but to individuals. Some nations and some people come apart like fat in the pan. Others meet the challenge and harden. I think you’re going to harden.” – page 133
“It was a wolf…. It wasn’t a dog any longer. In times like these dogs can turn into wolves. You did just right, Ben. Here, take back your gun.”– page 244