Proto-Spora by Erika Lunder is a pandemic based, zombie-adjacent story told from the perspectives of a housewife and a journalist.
Stephanie goes with her son Hayes to visit her old friend Jasmine. While she’s luxuriating in the extreme wealth of Jasmine’s estate and her husband’s extreme survival toys, a container ship from China unleashes a deadly spore that is an efficient killer that travels easily and is easy to contact if you go out of your house.
Alice and her wife live in the city and quickly shelter in place with their daughter Olive. But Alice can’t give up reporting on the contagion, its effects on the world, and how to combat the danger.
Both women have a close relationship with the Spore and experience danger from the contagion, bad elements of humanity, and relationships stretched to their limits.
Writing
Mildred: Most of the story is told from Stephanie’s perspective, as she is stuck away from her husband and other child by the very deadly and very contagious Spore. Her story begins from an early strong position, with a lot of great survival goods, thanks to her billionaire survivalist pals. It was interesting to watch how she is forced by events to be more and more personally resourceful rather than relying on gadgets.
Alice is a journalist and becomes obsessed with reporting on how the Spore is being fought and working with volunteer efforts to help victims and society at large. The character is written in first person, where Stephanie is in third person, which makes them sound a lot different. I was disappointed that Alice’s story is mostly transcripts of stories she files. It’s interesting information, though, like how help can be coordinated in massively dire circumstances. It leads the story into an area rarely mined in apocalypse fiction: what happens after The Event? How does it affect personal relationships, or the social fabric we rely on?
Michelle: Yes, I think Steph’s progression throughout the story is what kept me reading. The gadgets definitely help give her a leg up initially, but her ability to adapt, resourcefulness, and determination are what get her through the worst of the pandemic and help her secure a future in the uncertain times that followed.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Mildred: The story grabbed me pretty quickly and made me feel a lot of anticipation for the introduction of the Spore. I liked how deep the Spore cuts. It’s a very dangerous antagonist that gives more limits to characters than, say, zombies. There are a lot of deaths in the story that are heartbreaking, and some harsh issues that are never resolved. The deaths are not terribly gory, and the issues made me gnash my teeth a bit, so that all worked well for this type of book.
Words that I added to my notes were “surprising” and “compelling”, because the characters don’t behave in a typical way and are somewhat diverse, and while it’s heartbreaking to read about the deaths of characters you’ve become at least accustomed to, it does make for good drama. Taking care of the needs of children sets this book apart from most other apocalypse fiction. It does happen, but not typically to this depth, lending yet another layer of tension to the dangerous situation.
Michelle: I totally agree with Mildred and also really enjoy the contagion being protozoa based. Its composition and characteristics make it so much harder to destroy and sanitization is a herculean task. I am uncertain if the concept is viable, but it certainly adds a complexity to survival that makes for a great story. This book is more focused on the characters and their struggle to survive than the science behind the outbreak. This works wonderfully if your interests lean more towards the human factor of dystopian stories.
I also like the examination of choice, specifically related to greater-than-self consequences. There are some interesting looks at the rationalization of certain choices given the scale of the potential repercussions throughout the book.
Heads Up
Mildred: Death of a child, not described in detail.
Michelle: In addition to the above content warning, I would add that the story deals with a global pandemic and its aftermath. Its similarities to recent events surrounding COVID 19 may be traumatic for some.
Also, I found certain aspects of the story a little cliched and there are quite a few editing misses in the copy I received that almost made me dnf.
The Conclusion
Mildred: Stephanie and her young son Hayes must fight to survive the onset of a deadly spore. She’s determined to be reunited with her husband and other son, but there are many obstacles along the way. Alice cannot stop reporting on the Spore and its affects, even as her sometimes daring adventures threaten not only her safety but her relationship with her wife and daughter.
As with any book about an apocalyptic event, in this case a “zombie adjacent” killer spore, there is danger from violence and the contagion that can spread with a simple touch. Anyone who survives is going to have to be tough and resourceful.
Michelle: If you love reading about the human struggle for survival through an apocalyptic event from the safety of your sofa, then this book is for you.
Excerpt from Proto-Spora by Erika Lunder
“Wanna see how I stocked the pantry?” Kelsey said, changing the subject.
“What am I going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“I could go today. Lockdown with probably be tomorrow or the next and I’d be free to stay home.”
“Okay.”
“But what if I go and I’m exposed? No one really knows what this is yet. There’s no treatment.”
“Family comes first, right? You can always get another job when this is all over. We’re fine.”
“Ugh, but work is my life.”
“Hey!” Kelsey said, with a mild tinge of outrage.
“You know what I mean” Alice insisted. Kelsey snorted, then tugged on Alice’s sleeve and led her first to the pantry, then the garage.
Allice oohed over the rolls of toilet paper, cans of beans, flour and snacks. “Wow, this is like nine months of food,” she said.
“More like six months,” Kelsey said, “do you think it’s safe for Olive to go to school?”
“Yes, we’re far enough from the spread, I think. Let’s lockdown tomorrow. I need one more day of school,” said Alice.
“Breathe love, we’ll get through this.” Alice turned and let Kelsey put her solid arms around her. “We got this,” Kelsey said. Alice took in the herbal scent of her wife’s hair and felt her whole body relax.
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 979-8987943915
Publisher: Indie Author
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