A virulent form of the corona virus, covid-20, has swept through the world – killing billions of people in 2026. Basic governmental services, such as police, fire, sanitation, and mail, no longer exist, There’s no electricity or telephone service. Modern transportation has disappeared. Basically, the world had regressed to the 19th century. Hal Haley, Nancy Perez, along with their neighbors must adapt to this preindustrial world. With the prevailing state of anarchy, Hal and Nancy buy a 22-caliper pistol. With practice, Nancy becomes an accurate shooter. Her skill saves their lives during a melee at a St. George market. However, Hal realizes they’ve made deadly enemies. There are pleasant diversions in Elm Park. A red-haired dwarf and his dancing black bear, Bubba, entertain the folks. The old technology of the tele-graph has been revived and Hal gets a job delivering telegrams by bicycle. An avid notebook keeper, Hal has recorded science, history, and philosophy in his marble notebooks. Anxious to pass along skills, knowledge, and democratic values to the youngsters of the neighborhood, Hal launches his “Unstructured School.” The book is filled with colorful characters – Freddy, the wide smiler and hand rubber, Hank the terse talker, Billy and his invisible friend, Blanche the femme fatale, Jake the Turtle man, Jimmy the knuckleball pitcher, Thor Thorpson, the ex-boxer, Stan Staller, the soapbox preacher and his prim girlfriend, Mildred Aimsley. With the prevailing state of anarchy, Hal and Nancy buy a 22-caliper pistol. With practice, Nancy becomes an accurate shooter. Her skill saves their lives during a melee at a St. George flea market. However, Hal realizes they.ve made deadly enemies. There are pleasant diversions in Elm Park. A red-haired dwarf and his trained black bear, Bubba, entertain the folks – dancing to the tune of the Tennessee Waltz. The old technology of the telegraph has been revived and Hal gets a job delivering telegrams by bicycle. Hal is an avid notebook keeper – recording science, history, and philosophy in his marble notebooks. Anxious to pass along skills, knowledge, and democratic values to the youngsters of the neighborhood, Hal launches his “Unstructured School.” The book is filled with colorful characters – Freddy, the wide smiler and hand rubber, Hank the terse talker, Billy and his invisible sidekick, Blanche the buxom flirt, Jake the turtle man, Jimmy the knuckleball pitcher, and Thor Thorpson, the glass-jawed ex-boxer, Stan Staller, the soapbox preacher and his prim girlfriend, Mildred Aimsley.