AFTERWORD FOR “MONSTERS”

More from the LONG EYES Collection

“Monsters” must be the most disturbing piece of fiction I’ve ever written, and I say that as someone whose first novel opens with five billion people dead.

The heroes ofPlague Yearare murdering cannibals — the heroes! — but this story bothers people more. I think that’s because the protagonist of “Monsters” deliberately turns to evil. In the end, he chooses to walk into the darkness, whereas Cam and Sawyer and the other survivors ofPlague Yearhave no other opt...