The Death of Grass by John Christopher

The Death of Grass, a 1956 post-apocalyptic science fiction novel by John Christopher, suffers from a number of fatal flaws. 

Christopher moves the novel at a swift place, which helps the novel in some places, while hindering it in others.  This book is supposed to illustrate how quickly people are stripped of their civilized veneer  as society collapses.  Fair enough given the genre. But Christopher really puts this concept into overdrive, and characters we hardly know are murdering and pillaging without sufficient preparation. Something feels missing.

The concept of the valley with the river is captivating, however.  And although the acute reader will figure out the end, it winds up being the thread that keeps the book moving forward with some urgency.  We all want to find safety in the valley with a swift river.