Polly Toynbee - Leftovers

[dem bones]

Running wild in the ruins of a world

Polly Toynbee - Leftovers (Panther, 1969: originally Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1966)

Cover design: Paul May

Blurb:
They're making love in Buckingham Palace ....

A brief bout of biochemical warfare leaves the Earth depopulated — except for a small group of free-living, free-loving hippies and a suburban couple isolated on an Underground train at the time of the attack.
At first the hippies run wild in the deserted ruins of a world. They raid delicatessens for food, take up residence in Buckingham Palace and the Hilton, drive sports cars wildly all over the country — and make love with barely-subdued desperation.
But when three of the girls get pregnant simultaneously, the old suburban attitudes start to reassert themselves.
Is the new world going to contain the best of the old one’s values — or the worst ?

Have had this hanging around for the best part of a decade without ever being much tempted to give it a go. Two chapters in, and we're trapped overnight aboard a Circle Line tube train with five 'ravers' (every one a public schoolkid turned hippie), two young women returning from the theatre, and a snooty, slightly older couple who regard their fellow passengers as "a load of beats", "delinquents", "need a wash," etc. We left behind the one likeable character - a tramp - on the platform of previous station (Notting Hill Gate ?) where the ravers, lording it, were tormenting him, questioning his contribution to the great society (The dreg-of-society grumbled and shook and wheezed. "You got it coming to you mate.")

Anyway, it's morning. The train is still stuck in the tunnel approaching Kensington High Street. The ravers break into the driving compartment. No driver. They're gonna have to bail out and make their way along the track. Everyone is asking everyone else if they heard that booming noise as the train came to a halt.

Interesting premise. Will likely persevere once through with Mr. Squire's ghastly A Portrait of Barbara

[pulphack]

Blimey - Polly 'Guardian and Radio Times' Toynbee?? I went through a period in the early nineties of picking up middlebrow modern fiction of this era in Panther paperback, and never saw this. I bet its dystopian and socialist and a bloody good read. Disagree with her a lot, but she can write. Can't wait to hear more!

[dem bones]

Back with the Leftovers....

Early the following morning after a few hours fitful sleep. Through with waiting for assistance which may never arrive, the beats and the two girls abandon train, leaving the stuck up couple to do their own thing. Paul and Mary Pettifog, both 22, are three months married. He's a bank clerk and volunteer in the Territorials which, he believes, gives him leadership qualities. Mary. Who knows? (It's the 'sixties. Women don't have careers).

As they trudge along in the dark, Johnny, who is hanging behind with Gina realises he wants to get his rocks off and rips her dress open. Gina obligingly lies down on the rails. It's the sixties. Women take rape in their stride.

The others, including beatnik Anne, think it's a great hoot.

The lovers rejoin their colleagues. As they head through the tunnel, Johnny stumbles on what they at first take to be a bundle of old clothes. It's the driver. A prod from Johnny's boot and the corpse crumples to dust. Matt leads them to the surface via an iron ladder. They emerge in Gloucester Road at 9a.m. on a Monday morning, but the city is deserted as far as the eye can see. Everyone has disintegrated.

Matt has it figured. "It is gas and germ warfare. Eight-hour gas mixed with acid corrosive. Breathing one breath of it is fatal .... we won't be invaded because of our early warning system and instant retaliation. Whoever they are, will be in the same position as us."

Two months have passed. Matt has been proved right. The seven have travelled Britain, not met another soul apart from the Pettifogs, and that very occasionally. Today they invade the House of Commons. Having inherited the earth, it's time to decide on a plan of action.

Not sure I'm "enjoying" Leftovers - I don't feel any affinity toward the characters - but it's interesting enough. Maybe it's just me, but I'm reminded of The Party's Over and/or a sweary version of Beat Girl meets Lovecraft's The Colour Out Of Space.

Sort of.