A book of its time

The book was published in 1957 when there was a very real threat of nuclear war: this explains in large part why it seems so innocent and world-weary. If you accept this and do not try to put it into a modern context, then the blandness of the story is understandable and (more to the point) it becomes well worth listening to because Shute is, above all, a masterly storyteller.

The characters are well-drawn if a little caricatured in their stiff upper lip simplicity. Nonetheless, it is impossible not to feel for them and to feel a sense of real sadness as the inevitability of the ending approaches.

It is well and sensitively read and, even if this sort of book is not to everybody's taste, it is well worth listening to.

Can we have more Shute, please?

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5 people found this helpful

Good and different

Took me a little while to get into but once I did it was very good.

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1 person found this helpful

an excellent book, marred only by its own age

The trouble with this book is that it's old. Even though we're now in the true atomic age, it's a relic from the past, and in today's society it has no hook or frame of relevance.

You'd think that the fear of nuclear war would make it more relevant, but character behaviour is so different to modern society it's practically alien.

So - that's the bad stuff. If you can remember anything prior to the Cold War, or have a historical interest in a good book this is a read you should get.

If you replace every other word in the book with "resigned" and then every word that's left with "inevitability" you get the idea. Everybody knows they're doomed, and you know it too - but the way characters accept their fate and deal with it is fascinating. The race at the end is proper gung-ho adventure in its own right, and the sub's last trip is highly charged for both the crew and reader.

People should read or listen to this book, but need to get into the late 1950's mindset before they do so.

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Great movie great book

Very enjoyable watched both movies and listened to for the first time the book. Very sobering thoughts about the end of the human race and how we would react if it was us

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Classic post apocalyptic book from a simpler time

it's clear the book was written in the late 50s before the hight of the cold war just before the Cuban missile crisis.
it paints a grim and foreboding picture of the aftermath of nuclear war.
The characters are well written and easy to empathize with if a little stereotypical of the time.
Listening to the book during the current pandemic and having wandered through the usually busy city streets (I'm a key worker) there are quite eerie similarities.
All in all very good and enjoyable

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Great but terrifying book. Think it was one reason leaders never pressed the nuclear button

I’ve read the book so many time since I was a lad and now after 45 years heard a great narrator bring the book to life. 10/10

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Terrifying

One of the most distressing novels I’ve read truly brilliant and of its time no infer it’s a classic

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An incredible story and performance.

I look forward to listening to this book again. I found it highly thought provoking and powerful. It is a must to listen to.

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Truly touching listen

We love this story, we have listened to a dramatized abridged version before and loved it so when we saw this we bought it straight away. It hasn't let us down, it was great to hear the whole story and the narrator did a brilliant job. We have also seen one of the films based on this book which we loved also. Both my husband and I are huge fans of this story. If you've never read or listened to a book from this author before its a great start to his work. I think for us it will always be our favorite book of his, the story is truly touching and its something you'll never forget.



Highly recommended. Great Narrator and a much enjoyed listen. I'm not sure there is much else to say, give it a try and we doubt you'll be disappointed.

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Don't read this book at this time

this is the most depressing book I have ever read,!!! bad timing with Covid 19.

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