Ashes, Ashes

For other uses, see Ashes to Ashes (disambiguation).

Ashes, Ashes

First edition cover
Author	René Barjavel
Original title	Ravage
Translator	Damon Knight
Genre	Science fiction
Publisher	Denoël
Publication date	1943

Ashes, Ashes (French: Ravage) is a science fiction novel written by René Barjavel, set in 2052 France. It was first published in 1943 by Denoël. Its English-language translation by Damon Knight as Ashes, Ashes was published in 1967 by Doubleday. Ravage has been included on many "all-time" best lists, including Annick Beguin's Les 100 principaux titres de la science-fiction.

Plot summary

In the storyline, a civilization much more advanced than ours falls to its knees when electricity suddenly disappears. Chaos, disease, and famine ensue, which readers witness through the adventures of a small group of survivors led by François Deschamps. The group leaves Paris and starts a journey toward Provence where the survivors will create a new patriarchal society with Deschamps as their leader.[1]

Critics

This novel has been cited as influential in science-fiction literature in the following books:[2]

• Annick Beguin, Les 100 principaux titres de la science-fiction, Cosmos 2000, 1981;
• Jacques Sadoul, Anthologie de la littérature de science-fiction, Ramsay, 1981;
• Science-fiction. La bibliothèque idéale, Albin Michel, 1988;
• Lorris Murail, Les Maîtres de la science-fiction, Bordas, coll. « Compacts », 1993;
• Stan Barets, Le science-fictionnaire, Denoël, coll. « Présence du futur », 1994;

References

1. Vitriacus (2015-07-21). Ravage de René Barjavel. Retrieved 2024-08-22 – via YouTube.
2. A more detailed list can be consulted on the website Top des Tops.

External links

• Summary of the novel (in French language)
• Review of the novel (in French language)