LOCKDOWN! That shocking word ushered in a surreal time for Lois Larkey. It was March 11, 2020, and there was a pandemic, a killing virus, the first in one hundred years. Like everyone else, Lois had to shelter in place, wear a mask and totally separate from friends and family. Living alone in her apartment she was afraid of catching Covid-19 and dying alone in a hospital. She had to find something that would help her work through her fears. The idea of chronicling the tragedy, brought on by a virus and exacerbated by a divisive president, was compelling. Lois began writing her blog, The Larkey Lowdown, with an eye to capturing unfolding history. The election of 2020 brought a bizarre rejection of the longtime American tradition of “peaceful transfer of power.’ Lois kept writing. January 6th brought the violent storming of the Capitol in the name of the president who lost the election. Our democracy was threatened. Lois, horrified and heartbroken, kept writing. January 20th, the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, brought a new administration and hope for the future. Inauguration Day signaled an optimistic time to lay down her pan and search for perspective. Diary of a Dystopian Era is a fascinating collection of Lois Larkey’s blog entries that describe the tumultuous events of the years 2020-2021 in real time.