A TV series about a virus wiping out humanity and a six-hour Wagner opera have more in common than you might think
Around the early days of the pandemic, I joined the many readers who devoured Station Eleven, Emily St John Mandel’s novel, which begins with a quick-spreading global virus that ends up wiping out the bulk of humanity. It was a hit when it was first published in 2014, but it experienced a boost in sales, much to the surprise of its author. “I don’t know who in their right mind would want to read Station Eleven during a pandemic,” she said.
Now it has been turned into a television series, starring Himesh Patel and Mackenzie Davies, among many others. The trailer, released last week, begins with a scene in which Patel’s character stocks up on food and water in an already deserted supermarket. “Is this because of that thing?” asks a stunned checkout worker in a Santa hat.
