Stephen King's novel "The Stand" has some relative ideas to this world of Year Zero. Here is the plot summary:
'''Captain Trips'''The novel There is divided into 3 parts, or books. The first is entitled "Captain Trips" ''and takes place over 19 days, with the death of most of the human population an error in North America (and presumably the world) following the escape and spread development of a human-made biological weaponat a U.S. governmental base. The compound undergoes emergency shutdown, but an employee manages to escape in an attempt to save him and his family. They end up dead, but not before coming into contact with other humans. This spreads a superflu (influenza'') virus known formally as "Project Blue" and colloquially as "Captain Trips." 99.4% of people are susceptible to Captain Trips, and the disease has a mortality rate of 100%. King outlines The first part of the book describes the total breakdown and destruction of society through ''widespread violence, the failure of martial law to contain the outbreak, and eventually the death of just about everyone''.
The expanded edition opens with second part of the book describes the journeys taken by the few remaining survivors to cope and rebuild society. A bunch of them in the Eastern States are drawn together by their shared dreams of a 108 year old black woman, Abagail Freemantle (known as Mother Abagail) from Hemingford Home, Nebraska, whom they see as a refuge and spiritual leader. They begin an attempt to re-establish a democratic society in the city of Boulder, Colorado. Boulder is found to be the only city in America that is largely clear of plague victims, the city having emptied out due to a prologue entitled "The Circle Opens" rumor spread during the plague that explains just how the superflu escaped disease started in the compound where it was developedBoulder air testing center.
Meanwhile, another group of survivors are drawn to Las Vegas, Nevada by Randall Flagg, a recurring villian in King's stories, who has supernatural powers. ''Flagg's rule is tyrannical and brutal, with crucifixion and other torments as punishment for those who are disloyal. His group is able to quickly rebuild the city and amass weapons.''
'''On The stage is now set for the final confrontation as the Border'''Intertwining cross-country odysseys are undertaken by a small number two camps become aware of survivorsone another, including: a pregnant college student (Frances Goldsmith) and an overweight high school outcast (Harold Lauder) from Ogunquit, Maine; a laid-off factory worker (Stuart Redman) from Texas; a dissatisfied pop musician (Larry Underwood); an insightful deaf-mute wanderer (Nick Andros); a virginal teacher with a dark secret (Nadine Cross); a savage amnesiac telepathic boy (Joe/Leo Rockway); a quick-witted pessimistic sociology professor (Glen Bateman); a jolly dandyish sodbuster (Ralph Brentner) from Oklahoma; and a kind-hearted mentally retarded man (Tom Cullen). They are drawn together by their shared dreams of a 108 year old black woman from Hemingford Home, Nebraska, whom they see each recognizes the other as a refuge. This womanthreat to its survival, Abagail Freemantle (known as Mother Abagail), becomes the spiritual leader of this group of survivors, who begin an attempt ''leading to re-establish a democratic society in the city 'stand' of Boulder, Coloradogood against evil''. Boulder Randall Flagg is found about to be the only city kill some protagonists in America that is largely clear Las Vegas when '''The Hand of plague victims, God''' in the city having emptied out due sky turns on him to detonate a rumor spread during the plague that the disease started in the Boulder air testing centernuclear warhead, killing his entire setup.
Meanwhile, another group of survivors, including: The novel ends on a not too bright common thief (Lloyd Henreid); an insane pyromaniac (Donald Merwin Elbert, known somewhat grim note as two of '''''the Trashcan Man); an ex-army cook and butcher (Whitney Horgan); a mercurial, oversexed teenager (Julie Lawry); and a former detective of surviving protagonists question whether the Santa Monica Police Department (Barry Dorgan) are drawn to Las Vegashuman race can learn from its mistakes. The answer, Nevada by Randall Flagg (known as given in the "dark man", "last line of the hardcase"novel proper, and the is ambiguous: "WalkinI don' Dudet know."), an evil being with supernatural powers. ''Flagg's rule is tyrannical and brutal, with crucifixion and other torments as punishment for those who are disloyal. His group is able to quickly rebuild the city and amass weapons.''
'''The Stand'''The stage is now set for the final confrontation as the two camps become aware of one another, and each recognizes the other as a threat to its survival, ''leading to the 'stand' of good against evil''. The novel ends on a somewhat grim note as two of ''''''the surviving protagonists question whether the human race can learn from its mistakes. The answer, given in the last line of the novel proper, is ambiguous: "I don't know."'''''' The expanded edition also includes a brief epilogue entitled "The Circle Closes." This coda reveals what happened to Randall Flagg after the final showdown in Las Vegas, and fits in with King's ongoing "wheel of ka" theme. To read more about this novel, go to:[see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Standthe Wikipedia article]].
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