Posits an attack by unknown agency which stops all electrical devices (including say...flashlights) from working- starvation, plague, riots, rape, murder, lice, hand farming...oh and gunpowder doesn't work either.
kind of a little goofy- but to his credit he doesn't try to explain the "how" of it- these are the effects he needs for his story, soooo "the boojums did it."
Sounds interesting. Goofy might be OK...I mean, I recommended Whitley Steiber on other posts on this thread, so clearly I'm comfortable with "goofy". IF the story makes up for goofiness.
In a similar apocalyptic theme, didja ever wonder why in after-nuclear-war movies, all the silverware somehow was vaporized and everyone has to eat with their hands?