This Is the Way the World Ends
by James Morrow
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Read in September, 2004
recommends it for:
to survivors of the Cold War who are still haunted by [b]The Day After[/b]
I bought a remaindered copy of This Is the Way the World Ends sometime last year & picked it off Mount ToBeRead earlier this week.
George Paxton wants to buy a scopas survival suit for his daughter for Christmas, but can't afford one, as he works on commission as a tombstone carver. A mysterious old woman sends him to a remarkable shop, where he signs a contract admitting complicity in the nuclear arms race in retur...more
George Paxton wants to buy a scopas survival suit for his daughter for Christmas, but can't afford one, as he works on commission as a tombstone carver. A mysterious old woman sends him to a remarkable shop, where he signs a contract admitting complicity in the nuclear arms race in retur...more
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Read in January, 1997
Two simple intertwined premises, near-perfect execution. The first is that citizens of a free society carry with them an extraordinary responsibility for the responsible governance of that society. The complaints about everything from fast food to sleazy politicians are little more than tilting at windmills unless The People decide to stop empowering that which we loathe.
The second is that effects of war--especially in an age of mass destruction--have with them the ability to wipe out our hi...more
The second is that effects of war--especially in an age of mass destruction--have with them the ability to wipe out our hi...more
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One of the best writen books about a post-nuclear world of chaos, time paradox, and general freakyness. Morrow's story is an end of the world one with a difference, it has a sense of humour. While I love the typical dystopian vision of the last few remnants of humanity struggling to survive after the apocalypse, this made an unusual departure. The story concerns who was to blame for the nuclear exchange and is a total satire on the cold war and the ensuing nuclear arms race. Fairly unique to sc...more
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Read in May, 2008
Two stars for trying so hard, being in English and not having very many typos.
This book, which aspires to a great deal, ends up being utterly pedestrian. I picked it up thinking it would be funny; I mean, would anyone seriously title a book "This is the Way the World Ends"? Apparently, the answer to that question is an enthusiastic "Hell Yes!".
There's plenty of room for humor in a subject as over-the-top as the apocalyptic extinction of the human race. However, Mor...more
This book, which aspires to a great deal, ends up being utterly pedestrian. I picked it up thinking it would be funny; I mean, would anyone seriously title a book "This is the Way the World Ends"? Apparently, the answer to that question is an enthusiastic "Hell Yes!".
There's plenty of room for humor in a subject as over-the-top as the apocalyptic extinction of the human race. However, Mor...more
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Read in October, 2008
recommended to Ravena by:
Darrell
The great fear of our generation: nuclear war resulting in the extinction of all living creatures. Yeah, not exactly an uplifting book. But very well-written, as I've come to expect from Morrow. The concepts are straight-forward, aimed at the blunders often involved with arms races, but also with a sensitivity and compassion for even the biggest idiots.
I do recommend this book, but only if you're in the mood for something as light and fluffy as a mushroom cloud. (I will add that the ex...more
I do recommend this book, but only if you're in the mood for something as light and fluffy as a mushroom cloud. (I will add that the ex...more
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(I don't give away the ending but I do describe a major plot point, in case that sort of thing matters to you...)
Well, the writing isn't great (I'm fortunately pretty good at ignoring this) but this book is still pretty solid as far as Cold War-era post-apocalyptic courtroom dramas go. The premise is cool: after the US and USSR wipe out our species, the future's unborn masses arise and put six men on trial for denying them their lives. It got a bit fantastical for me in places, but there are...more
Well, the writing isn't great (I'm fortunately pretty good at ignoring this) but this book is still pretty solid as far as Cold War-era post-apocalyptic courtroom dramas go. The premise is cool: after the US and USSR wipe out our species, the future's unborn masses arise and put six men on trial for denying them their lives. It got a bit fantastical for me in places, but there are...more
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Read in November, 2007
I can't believe I spent time reading this one. There is a quote from Arthur C. Clarke, "The only book in the last ten years that I've read twice, a remarkable achievement." I would say so as this book was hard to read.
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