Now Is Not the Time to Panic

The novel’s title is both a play on a common phrase and an allusion to the phenomenon of collective panic. A moral panic involves a fear that something or someone (be it an organization, a form of media, or an “evil” person) threatens the safety and well-being of a society. This fear is often irrational or unfounded, but the resulting panic spreads throughout the larger society. Psychology Today notes that “Since its inception, the moral panic concept has been applied to a wide range of social problems including but not limited to youth gangs, school violence, child abuse, Satanism, youth wilding, flag burning, illegal immigration and the Iraq war” (Bonn, Scott A. “Moral Panic: Who Benefits from Public Fear?” Psychology Today, 2015).

The novel’s references to Satan and a satanic cult echo the Satanic Panic that occurred in the US in the 1980s. Throughout the panic, over 12,000 unsubstantiated claims of physical or sexual abuse perpetrated by members of satanic cults were made. Among the allegations that received national attention were those against the McMartin Preschool in Manhattan Beach, California—school administrators and teachers were accused of hundreds of incidents of sexual abuse. An investigation took place from 1984 to 1987, followed by a trial from 1987 to 1990. Ultimately, no evidence of abuse was found, and all charges were dropped.

The concept of moral panics was developed by criminologist Stanley Cohen. Cohen outlined four elements that are common to moral panics. First, there is an individual or group whose alleged actions garner negative attention. In many cases, these actions have not taken place. Secondly, there is an unwarranted sense of threat that these actions pose to others in society. Next, the degree of concern over the action or event greatly varies. An initial threat can escalate quickly, leading to action taken to quell the threat, but then the threat can abruptly end completely. Finally, public outcry over the threat often results in legislation. This legislation is often “highly punitive, unnecessary, and serves to justify the agendas of those in positions of power and authority” (“Moral Panic: Who Benefits from Public Fear?”).

Cohen also cites the importance of news media in perpetuating the panic. Increased coverage of the public outcry can lend credibility to the threat, further fueling the fear among the public. Indeed, this is the case in the novel. Set in the pre-internet summer of 1996, the novel explores how the frenzy surrounding the Coalfield posters is manifested by newspapers, television, and word of mouth. Today, social media and other online platforms are highly conducive to the spread of moral and social panics, such as over child sex trafficking, religious terrorism, and political conspiracy theories, to name a few.

Indeed, the harm resulting from moral panics can be severe. It can range from the perpetuation of inaccurate or damaging stereotypes to the passage of restrictive or unjust laws. A commonly cited example of the latter includes strict prison sentences for minor substance possession or infraction—the result of the 1980s War on Drugs panic. Similarly, even when a threat is proven unfounded, those associated with the threat often remain stigmatized or socially outcast in some way.