Analysis Of 'Searching For Summer'

Many theories have been proposed on what exactly would take place post nuclear war via multiple works of fiction. Stories like "There Will Come Soft Rains" and even games such as the Fallout series present their own ideas on what the world will be like after it has been engulfed in nuclear fire. These representations are all incredibly interesting and provocative. However, in the story, "Searching for Summer," readers are presented with a world where most have given up hope. Interestingly enough, the story does not go for the "rugged waist-land" stereotype, but instead introduces its readers subtly to the moral and ethical issues that have amassed over the years due nuclear fallout. This choice of setting and style sets a mood that most stories …show more content…
She does such an excellent job at this that the reader actually walks away from the story feeling like they have been told a secret which they too must keep. This kind of writing is hard to come by, especially in regards to grim topics such as nuclear fallout. Many writers, directors, and game designers have created their own interpretations of post-nuclear worlds, but none of them have come close to the unique attempt that “Searching for Summer” makes. Interestingly enough, some of the concepts in this story, like blissful ignorance, are discussed in another well noted book, 1984. 1984 came out before “Searching for Summer” though, meaning that Aikens could have taken certain concepts from the book like, “ignorance is strength,” and shown how it truly can be seen that way. Rest aside however, the short story reflects on many issues and ideals that are still current today. This is a remarkable feat for a short story; it is usually an accomplishment that only those of the likes of Shakespeare can create. That is exactly why “Searching for Summer” deserves to go down in history as one of the most emotionally gripping, intelligently written pieces of literature ever