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June 23, 2025

The Big One Is Coming— And ‘Tilt’ Shows What That Might Really Look Like

City Cast Portland

The Big One Is Coming— And ‘Tilt’ Shows What That Might Really Look Like

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"Tilt," the debut novel by Portland writer Emma Pattee imagines the aftermath of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. As a journalist, Pattee has reported on the danger that Portland schools' unreinforced masonry buildings pose during an earthquake. Today, we're talking with Pattee about the book, the real science behind it, and how she still finds joy living in Portland while acknowledging the threat. 

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