So You Think You've Had an Exotic Vacation

I have a real treat for y'all this week. It's something a little different from the usual Tiki Hut fare.

My guest is Sean McLachlan. He's the handsome hunk sitting in that comfy wicker chair near the Margarita machine, so drop by and say hi.

Somaliland and other post-apocalyptic vacations

By Sean McLachlan

Like a lot of full-time writers, I wear many hats. A friend recently asked me if my adventure travel writing informed my post-apocalyptic novel  Radio Hope. I've written series about Somaliland and Iraq, after all, and both of those places have been through their own apocalypses.

Iraq we're all familiar with, but Somaliland doesn't get into the news much. Somalia descended into a terrible civil war in 1991 that still keeps much of the country in chaos. Much, but not all. The northern third of the old Somalia is now the independent but unrecognized state of Somaliland. There's a functioning government, a growing economy, and enough rule of law that tourists can visit, although they still have to hire bodyguards if they want to leave the capital Hargeisa.

Before I was a writer I spent ten years working as an archaeologist and it was a combination of the ancient sites and modern political situation that drew me to these countries. Iraq is famous for its ancient civilizations, and there are some fine ancient sites in Somaliland as well. It was there that I got to see Laas Geel, an amazing group of painted rock shelters. Vivid images of animals and people are almost as fresh as when they were painted thousands of years ago thanks to the paint the ancient Somalis used—a mineral-based substance that has the thickness and durability of nail polish.

In Iraq I was in an archaeological wonderland. Grand minarets, ziggurats, and the wonders of Babylon all view for my attention. Centuries of weathering have worn them down some, but they’re still impressive. One of the oddest sights I saw was just outside the gates of Babylon, where a long ceremonial road made of asphalt is still clearly visible. Built in the 7^th century BC, it’s the oldest asphalt road in the world, and it looks better than some of the roads I've driven over in rural Missouri!

Iraq and Somaliland taught me that what endures most after the fall of civilization is what that civilization put the most effort into—the grand monuments, the protected art, the large-scale infrastructure. I wasn't thinking about it consciously when I wrote Radio Hope, but in my world, less than a century after the final crash, what remains are what our current society puts the most effort into creating—weapons and toxic waste. The denizens of my futuristic world carefully preserve the weapons of our fallen civilization, and live short, unhealthy lives thanks to the toxins we’ve spewed into the air and water supply.

Let’s be kind to our descendents and build a few ziggurats instead.

Sean McLachlan is an archaeologist turned writer who is the author of several books of fiction and history. Check him out on his blog Midlist Writer.

1: Many buildings in Somaliland still bear the scars of war.

2: Construction in Hargeisa and other Somaliland cities is booming, and many new buildings are cropping up.

3: One of the paintings at Laas Geel.

4: Ancient road at Babylon.

5: More ziggurats, please!

 All photos by Sean McLachlan

In a world shattered by war, pollution and disease. . .
A gunslinging mother longs to find a safe refuge for her son.
A frustrated revolutionary delivers water to villagers living on a toxic waste dump.
The assistant mayor of humanity's last city hopes he will never have to take command.
One thing gives them the promise of a better future--Radio Hope, a mysterious station that broadcasts vital information about surviving in a blighted world. But when a mad prophet and his army of fanatics march out of the wildlands on a crusade to purify the land with blood and fire, all three will find their lives intertwining, and changing forever.

Purchase RADIO HOPE here:
http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Hope-Toxic-World-Book-ebook/dp/B00I5HHTVS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1391243036&sr=1-1