dies the fire linkage?

Does anyone know if this is connected, or based on, S M Stirlings books 'Dies the Fire' series? It is remarkably similar with the loss of all electrical abilities (amongst others) for an unkown reason, the loss of 99% of the world's population (mostly through death, unlike dissapearing in this) and the establishment of new and wierd communities based on strange ideologies. They are among my favourite reads at the moment, he is such a good writer!

Sperm is like giving someone less than a fiver, you can't really ask for it back.