Earth Abides
- Author
- George R. Stewart
- Publisher
- Del Ray
- Edition
- Del Ray Trade Paperback Edition - 2006 - 345 pages
- Originally Published
- 1949
I have been a huge fan of the TEotWaWKI (The End of the World as We Know It) genre for quite some time. In a conversation with a fellow fan, I revealed that I have not heard of this book. After the shouts of shock and consternation died down, I was strongly urged to read it.
Boring!
Most of the book is taken up by the main character (Isherwood Williams) going on and on about what he or others should do. Then he does nothing! It got to the point that, after an actual interaction with another character (rare though they were), I dread the blah-blah-blah that was about to come.
The only reason why I finished this book was the insight it provided on the age in which it was written. These are the things that stand out for me:
- Being apologetic for not killing or running off the supposed mentally dificient member of the group.
- It seeming to be OK for younger folk to painfully pinch very old people when they don't respond as expected (so much for respecting your elders).
- The shame in having to bypass a mountain lion rather than killing it.
- Killing a calf only for its liver, and killing its mother just because it was in the way.
- Fear that a kid may be too smart and the need to keep it from reading too much.
- Purposely not using reference material when trying to do something for which they have no experience.
- Seeming lack of desire for good food. Whatever is around is good enough. No need to go out of your way to make something good.
- The only time sex is implied is for making babies or cast aspersions upon someone's character.
This was an exercise in anti-intellectualism and anti-sensualism. I'd rather be killed in the plague than to have to live with this bunch.
I original wrote this review on Amazon. Mr. Drinkmore also a wrote a review on TEotWaWKI Diary.