Survivors

"Survivors" by Arthur Dekker Savage is a science fiction story set after a terrible atomic war that has destroyed most of civilization, where a few people are trying to survive in the ruined world. The book is about the battle to stay alive, the struggle to hold onto knowledge from before the war, and learning to live a more basic life in the wild. The story centers around Oluf, who is a skilled hunter, and Bowron, a teacher, who meet while traveling through a destroyed landscape filled with danger. Bowron thinks about the past and the fading hope of rebuilding civilization, while Oluf shows the physical skills needed to survive. As they talk, they discuss their different ideas about life and consider moving forward while looking for meaning in their lives. The story shows the strength of humans and the need for friendship and sharing stories, even when things are terrible.