Eric Locsh’s Possum Stew (and Other Apocalypse Recipes)
is a darkly comic, immersive tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic America.
The story follows Scott Bryant, a once-famous chef, as he navigates the ruined
outskirts of New York City after a devastating environmental disaster known
only as “the Storm.” He has watched the slaughter of his entire team and
carries the stigma in the very core of his being. In the aftermath, Scott is
captured by violent gangs, loses his sous chef Ted to brutal violence, and
scrambles for survival, sustained by culinary memories and dwindling supplies.
After a harrowing escape, Scott holes up in an abandoned cabin where his desperation
grows to the point of contemplating suicide, only to be saved by the discovery
of precious saffron. His journey leads him to Newark, where he meets Beth, a
resourceful teenager. Together, they forage for food, face off against
dangerous marauders, and eventually find in each other a new recipe for hope,
humor, and strength to endure.
Possum Stew was a quick read, and Locsh’s
worldbuilding, brimming with sensory detail, captivated me. I felt like I was
in front of a big screen, watching a dystopian movie. The author paints a dust-choked, crumbling
Northeast where the trappings of civilization—fine dining, comfort, and even
basic hygiene—are all but erased. The world is rendered not only through bleak
landscapes and ruined cities but also through the scarcity and significance of
food: a can of SpaghettiOs becomes a feast, saffron a lifeline. Scott’s
characterization is masterful; he is equal parts arrogant, broken, and
sympathetic, clinging to culinary rituals as a means to preserve identity.
Beth, with her dry humor and hidden scars, is a foil and eventual anchor. You’re
thrown into a world of survival-of-the-fittest, where violent gangs and
criminals lurk at every corner. I commend the crisp and cinematic writing, the
deft storytelling, and the vivid depictions of the settings. This one will
surely keep you awake through the night.
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