STATION ELEVEN is a Nat'l Bk Winner that Scores a 10

Canadian author Emily Mandel's literary, apocalyptic sic-fi novel is an extraordinary depiction of the not too distant apocalyptic future.  Mankind nearly becomes extinct from a contagious, deadly virus.  Wait, there's so much more to this well crafted doomsday tale of survival with civilization razed as we know it.  Much of the story is told in flashbacks to the time before "ground zero" when 99% of the population becomes annihilated.  The motley cast of characters are all craftily connected to Athur, a famous actor.  Arthur dies of a stroke on stage performing King Lear, hours before the grim reaper waves it's scythe worldwide and just moments after reconciling with people he cherishes.  Mandel yarns an artistic story with characters we're invested in knowing.  Her novel is a credible consideration of what life might become for the few survivors.   This is an interesting, philosophical ponderance of what would become valued by the individual & society. What is lost in the collapse and what remains of great beauty from the sweetness of earth?  I was reminded of the many miracles taken for granted that persist all around and of companionships that make life bearable.  This brilliant novel pays homage to art, music, Shakespeare and Star Trek; "Survival is insufficient."