Nevil Shute

On the Beach

A novel about the survivors of an atomic war, who face an inevitable end as radiation poisoning moves toward Australia from the North.

Sarah Sammis

A page-turner, but in the sense that the reader wants closure about the inevitable. Explores conflicting facets of human nature in the face of despair with a heartbreaking level of realism. I've only ever cried at a book once in my life, but this one brought me pretty close.

Jack A. Lopez

Caroline

So it’s the end of the world. Atomic bombs have destroyed the rest of the world and we’re in Australia, waiting for the inevitable. Very interesting reflections of ‘what would you do?’ are instigated by this book and written in the 50s, it is much more contemporary than I’d like it to be. An intriguing premise for sure.

My review for this is quite conflicted. I was going to give this three stars until the last chapter came around and I have quite a bit of criticism. 

Criticism: the characters (I mean all of them) are delusional to the point where it’s annoying and unrealistic. They are also all quite morally good people and there isn’t an obvious increase in selfishness or crime rates despite the fact resources are scarce and they all know they’re going to die; call me a pessimist but especially considering the revelations that current affairs and turbulences have brought, I do not believe in this kind of solidarity. Maybe there doesn’t need to be a full on civil apocalypse breaking out but at least one character being a bit worried that someone might steal from them etc would probably work better. 

Now what’s good about this and why did I give it 4 stars? Besides my love for dystopia and the so (uncannily) feasible scenario at hand, the emotions were very high for this one. Written in the 50s, this does not have the kind of writing style or storytelling that usually gets to me and the characters aren’t necessarily people I’d relate to; it says a lot that I was bawling throughout the entire last chapter. A very very very sad read - to me, this is good, interpret it as you will.

Would definitely recommend to people interested in dystopia - not sure I’d recommend for people looking for a light read (or people who easily get frustrated by characters acting in a way that most of us probably wouldn’t).

Fraser Simons

While it is subversive of dystopia fiction, generally. As it’s mostly just a high degree of verisimilitude of folks living their lives. The prose are fine, but not evocative or particularly interesting in any way. The characters are effective in showing the the everyday aspects of life, as well as a military component. The ending is perfunctory. This was just okay, in every respect. 

All the pleasure I got out of it came from a the meta level, where I found it parallels cli-fi without even meaning to. Climate events will similarly impact the peripheral of life on the planet. Only they will probably be first, not last. But the responsibility for change is, again, the first world countries, by a mile. And people will have no choice but to live anxiety ridden lives ridden into the ground. In that way, this book is pertinent and prescient. I only wish the other components of it were more interesting. If it wasn’t so short I doubt I’d have slogged through.

On the Beach (Vintage International)

Melody Izard

The end of human life has occurred because a rogue president got mad and entered the codes. Well maybe not. We don't know what happened, but most everything is destroyed and the killer particles of radiation are settling on everything and killing slowly. People try to keep living their lives while doing a little lying, a little chilling, a bit of drinking and driving cars really fast. But it's still coming. The inevitability of doom for mankind.

On the Beach (Vintage Classics)

Maytal

Who knew a book about the end of humanity could actually be so beautiful and hopeful? This book did a wonderful job juggling the denial, the humor, the truth, the acceptance of knowing that you will die, and soon. I hope that if a situation like this happens that all people would act with the kindness shown in this book towards each other.

Benjamin Harlow

This is a very depressing book but I'm glad I read it. As stressful as it is, everyone should read it.

After the war is over, a radioactive cloud begins to sweep southwards on the winds, gradually poisoning everything in its path. An American submarine captain is among the survivors left sheltering in Australia, preparing with the locals for the inevitable. Despite his memories of his wife, he becomes close to a young woman struggling to accept the harsh realities of their situation. Then a faint Morse code signal is picked up, transmitting from the United States and the submarine must set sail through the bleak ocean to search for signs of life. On the Beach is Nevil Shute's most powerful novel. Both gripping and intensely moving, its impact is unforgettable.

On the Beach

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