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The Collapse Of American Society

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After the collapse of American society, a survivalist group in Idaho takes it upon itself to maintain civility and morality despite the chaotic new world order. The novel opens with TODD GRAY returning to his home in Palouse Hills, Idaho after being on an important business trip in Chicago to deal the rapid inflation rate driving the American economy towards collapse, which he refers to as “The Crunch.” After news of riots breaking out, Todd invites members of his Survivalist group to come to his compound in Idaho so they can thwart off the imminent breakdown of society. He explains that after “the crunch,” the American dollar became worthless, every major city quickly was ravaged by looting, murder, and robbery and power outages allowed 80% of the country’s prison population to escape. Todd and his wife, MARY prepare their home by to deal with the ensuing social unrest as the watch all their neighbors abandon their farms. A few days later, the members of their survivalist group (MIKE and LISA NELSON, DAVE FONG, TOM KENNEDY) arrive. The only members of the group not to arrive were KEN and TERRY LAYTON and the rest of the group begin to fear they were dead. They each explain the mess they had to travel through to get there. A flashback depicts why Todd and Mary chose to buy their survival farm in Palouse Hills due to the self-reliant nature of that location. Todd explains how he got the idea for “The Group” after seeing “The Road Warrior” in college with Tom. An

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