After The Blue takes place about a century in the future, when the extraterrestrial Gruumsbaggians, who have accidentally destroyed human civilization, try to restore it in an effort that might best be characterized by the saying "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." The aliens use books and videotapes which they find on Earth to guide their efforts, but
they are, after all, alien, and they frequently misconstrue the things they see and read. As a result they end up trying to force the few remaining humans on Earth, most of whom live in Jamesburg, New Jersey, to do many ludicrous things. After The Blue is not conventional science fiction but rather a whimsical satire of contemporary society.

After The Blue should be of interest to homeschoolers because it provides an opportunity to study satire in a modern and accessible manner. Many of the "traditional" books used to study satire, such as Animal Farm and Gulliver's Travels, satirize targets that must be explained to contemporary students before they can fully appreciate or understand the satire. Because After The Blue satirizes modern American society, appreciation of its satire requires little background explanation for contemporary students. Furthermore, After The Blue presents its satire in an appealing format, depending as it does on goofy extraterrestrials.

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After The Blue