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Comments (21)

Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of Jefferson County Public Library.
What did you think about this title?
1 to 21 of 21 items
Mar 04, 2024Kimberleygray rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Definitely not a feel good book. End of the world story focused on Australia. A short war has occurred and it ended in nuclear war. People in Australia are waiting for the radiation to drift south and overtake them just like the rest of…
Jul 17, 202221221018293347 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I had to read this book written in 1957 to see how the 'end of the world' was portrayed. The book reads like a 1960's movie with the characters continuing with their everyday lives denying the eventuality of radiation poisoning and death.…
Oct 31, 2020lozza1401 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This novel reads like a classic. Highly recommended for fans of post-apocalyptic fiction!
emilyhart66
Oct 05, 2020emilyhart66 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Nevil Shute takes the greatest threat of our time -- nuclear annihilation -- and takes it down to the very personal. The original film based on this book was wonderfully done and the remake had its moments as well. Nevil Shute is a…
Aug 20, 2018JCLMelissaHH rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
"This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper." ~T.S. Eliot Indeed, it does in Nevil Shute's novel. Nuclear war would not instantly wipe out the entire…
Mar 13, 2018bobbarnetson rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dark. Interesting perspective on the times.
Moo_22
Jan 14, 2018Moo_22 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A great, understated end of the world novel.
Jan 10, 2017BookReviewer2015 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
An enduring book about hope and tragedy in the twilight of a nuclear winter, following World War 3.
Dec 18, 2016
I have read all of Neville Shute's books in the fifties. They are all a wonderful read,very insightful about a period my parents lived through. It is amazing that someone is re-issuing some of them. Great!
Nov 06, 2016Hopalong_Kid rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A taste of the 1950's nuclear terror that was a very real to that generation and still is relevant to us. This is worth reading.
Oct 13, 2016gendeg rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
My literary tastes lean more maximalist, and I have a more pessimistic view of humanity, so the fact that I enjoyed this understated novel about the last remaining survivors from a global nuclear apocalypse facing certain death was truly…
Jun 03, 2016TSCPL_ChrisB rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
On the Beach is like that breed of old sci-fi that has few redeeming qualities, but is worth every minute of it. On the Beach has a certain feel. I realize this is entirely ethereal reasoning and subject to personal tastes, but it has that…
Oct 12, 2014lukasevansherman rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
Oh man, the end of the world is boring. Made into a film with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner.
rollingstock
Apr 25, 2014
I tried but too much tedious dialogue for my tastes, I ended up skimming through it. Not what I expected.
Aug 08, 2013jgwening rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Reads like a classic. Lots of dialogue between the characters. Not a lot of action. Not your typical modern day apocalyspe or post novel. Language and dialogue are colorful and I think definitely representative of the era and the…
Feb 21, 2013Rasputin45 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Brutal. The best apocalypse book out there, period. I want to start over and read it again.
Sep 11, 2012
fmaack makes the claim that "nuclear fallout would not spread to areas which have not been bombed." This is nonsence! If a thermalnuclear war were to break out every major city would be targeted. ...so here are some sinarios to consider:…
Apr 09, 2012wearenotamused rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Extreme depth conveyed through subtle, simple prose. Makes it point in a understated yet powerful way, much like the quote at the beginning of the book by T.S. Eliot: This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a…
Nov 25, 2010macierules rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Not a good selection to read at the same time as North and South Korea are shooting at each other..however, maybe everyone should read it. I find old-school science fiction really quite fascinating. The story takes place in Melbourne…
Sep 22, 2010fmaack rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
A classic apocalyptic novel from the 1950s. It's great even if the science is completely backward. Nuclear war would kill billions but nuclear fallout would not spread to areas which have not been bombed. It is still a very good book and…
Apr 12, 2010Bells rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The last survivors of a worldwide nuclear holocaust wait for the radiation sickness to wipe them out. Some cling to hope and immerse themselves in day-to-day activities, while some await the end. This was a strange book in some ways. It…