Executive Summary: 5 college students accidentally survive total nuclear
war and global collapse of civilization by being on a hiking trip in the
rockies. In the face of possible human extinction, they are forced to
build a camp in the western Rockies and try to simply survive. The
story, if it continues, would include second and later generations, the
collapse and rise of civilization.

Characters; I have more than this but don't want to give away good tense
plot points.

Rory; the survivor. Began the hiking trip to begin with, knows just
enough to survive the first winter, rapidly becomes de facto leader on
the basis of his essential and frequently used abilities, but is
philisophically an egalitarian and tries not to command.

Faye; annoyingly Christian girl, has tried to convert everyone in the
group at least once. Shattered with the loss of civilization and
destroyed by later tragedies, she is possibly the most complex character
in arc 1.

Natasha; Anthropology major, well educated in group dynamics but not so
good at understanding personal responsibility. Feminist, major conflicts
with Faye.

Eric; CompSci major, begins as "the most useless" with a deep knowledge
of a science totally useless in a survival atmosphere and a totally
inadequate physical state. However, his wide reading on various topics
does provide the group with several essential keys to improving from
subsistence to surplus production. Continuing self-esteem issues even
when he becomes a useful member of the group. Suffers from Asperger's
Syndrome.

Jeffry; PoliSci major, open homosexual of two years, circumstances of
course putting some pressure on this. Willing member of community and
provides vital structures for decision-making in various circumstances.



Details: One arc is pretty well plotted out, a second one has the bones
in place, and two more (possbly divisible into more) are planned. Time
dilates; arc 1 deals with a few years, arc 2 with a generation, 3 and 4
with, perhaps, centuries.

The first arc deals with the inevitable personal conflicts between the
students; two women and three men, seperated by worldviews, religion,
and personality. The issues of survival in a harsh environment, longing
for what's lost, etc., also appear. The end point would be an arrival at
sustainable resource generation, guaranteeing survival into the future.

The second arc deals with contacting other groups, attempts to rebuild
or retain civilization, and the inevitable descent of man with no
crafting skills bereft of an industrial base. I think a generation may
pass here. The end point would be the creation of a new social order,
the definite establishment of tribes or social groups, and the
beginnings of contact between formerly isolated groups. This arc will be
heavily influenced by John Keegan's perception of the rise of
civilization in The History of War.

------------
Vaguer details;
The third arc deals with the repitition of history in a world that
remembers the future; remnants of high technology like computers and
spotty global communication combines with horse-riding raiders of
agricultural communities in a fashion reminiscent of ancient
Mesopotamia.

The fourth arc deals with the return to former glory; the last of the
old world collapses, but enough was retained to put man at the stage
where farming provides more than subsistence and castles can be built.
Sort of a fanfic-of-history idea here, where I can invent kingdoms and
wars in the old fashion without having to wedge 'em into actual history.