Alas, Babylon Fear Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

[Florence] glanced up, apprehensively, through the kitchen window. [...] They had no right to put those Sputniks up there to spy on people. (1.6)

People like Florence aren't sure why they're afraid—all they know is that they're quaking in their boots 24/7. While it's easily to laugh at Florence's paranoia and hilariously 1950s lack of knowledge about satellites, it's hard to say that her fears are unfounded given what's about to go down.

Quote #2

Of one thing he was certain, if Mark expected it to come, it would probably come. His brother was no alarmist (1.74)

Randy has heard plenty of people wax paranoid about an impending nuclear holocaust, and never once has it scared him. But Mark was never the one issuing those warnings in the past. From a trustworthy source, this is one scary possibility indeed.

Quote #3

[Alice] had small fear of death, and of man none at all, but the formlessness of what was to come overwhelmed her. (2.38)

Even if you somehow aren't afraid of the nuclear apocalypse (good luck with that) you're still probably afraid of the societal collapse that would inevitably follow. In fact, you'd be certifiably insane if you weren't —not that there'll be anyone left to do the certifying when everything's said and done.