The Aftermath (novella)

"The Aftermath" is an unpublished novella by Stephen King that was begun in 1963 when he was just 16. The 76 page (200 pages by today's standards), 50,000 word manuscript describes life after a nuclear war; it was written at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and at the same time he was beginning "Getting It On" (later to become "Rage"). It is currently stored among Stephen King's papers in the special collections of the Raymond H Fogler Library at the University of Maine [http://www.library.umaine.edu/speccoll/FindingAids/Kingstep1.htm] .

Plot synopsis

Armageddon was August 14, 1967, the current year is 1993, and people are intent on survival and little else.

Larry Talman tries to destroy the law and order organisation called the Sun Corps and their evil computer DRAC (Digital Relay Analogue Computer) because they are the front for spies from the planet Ebora 9 that are planning on taking over the Earth. Before they take over, they have to kill all the Psychic Espers.

Larry falls in love with Reina, the DRAC programmer for the Sun Corps, but fails to persuade her to see his view, and ends up destroying the DRAC with a small explosive, killing Reina in the process. Larry and Ian escape, but only to find that they now face a monster sent to kill humans in preparation for aliens to settle on Earth.

References