This is REDUCED. REDUCED is a work of fiction. Probably. Mostly?

REDUCED tells the story of a group of people, friends, and one woman in particular, Abby. After a major government screw-up, the world has changed. No utilities, no Internet, cell towers eventually fall – especially out in the woods, where these survivors have chosen to remain hidden.

Now there’s been a lot of talk going around, especially lately in light of the recent US election. Words like “apocalypse” have been tossed up in the air, people refer to “bugging out,” and there are rumors of US economic collapse in the not-too-distant future.

Are these a bunch of fanatics? Crazy backwoods types? Maybe.

What if it really happened?

I’m not suggesting a government plot anything at all like what happens in REDUCED, but there are very real fears of an economic collapse – reliable sources have noted that food prices are likely to increase in 2013, more shortages will occur, and things, in general, could slide downhill very fast.

There are three possible scenarios that could lead REDUCED to play out in real life:

1) Soaring prices, unavailability of certain goods and services, worthless credit, vigilante law; one thing leads to the next, and so on and on. It could happen in a couple months, or six months, or a year. Or, never.

2) Outright revolution and rebellion. Certainly unlikely, but one never knows for sure. Kind of like earthquakes – in some places, the odds are greater, but you never really can be positive it won’t happen to you. Or a storm like Sandy. Or….

3) And of course, many of you remember the Cold War. A lot of talk about nuclear annihilation, bomb drills, shelters, and so forth. Another possibility.

Abby had some advance notice, and maybe that’s all some or even most of you would need. If you heard that something was imminent, you’d rush around to “prepare.” But would that be enough? Are you mentally and emotionally ready?

I’m certainly not suggesting you flee your home – not at all. After all, REDUCED is fiction. Probably. On the other hand, what would you do if your local water utility was no longer pumping or had been sabotaged? What if the electric grid went down? The cell towers? The Internet, for heaven’s sake?

Think about how your daily life could change almost overnight:

You head into the shower; what if no water came out of the tap? No shower, no brushing your teeth, no coffee.

You commute to work; what if the traffic lights were ALL on the fritz? What if cars were simply abandoned on the streets? What if gas prices doubled or your local service station actually ran out?

The temperature drops into the 20s. Your house is getting chilly about now. The power is out – no electric heat, no started for your gas furnace. Do you have firewood? A fireplace? A lot of blankets?

A long time ago, I read something like this: prepare for the worst, then hope for the best. That’s what happens in REDUCED. Fiction. Probably.