The City at World's End
Edmond Hamilton
Read by Mark Nelson
A surprise nuclear war may cause the End of the World, but not the way anyone could have imagined. A classic science fiction tale from Galaxy Magazine. (Summary by Mark Nelson) (7 hr 6 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Absolutely must read
Burned
This is one of the best science fiction books I have ever had to pleasure of reading. The City at World's End is more than just a quick read. It is a book about how everything we know will one day be no more than primitive - despite being written in the 1950s this book can be applied to any time - especially ours where we pride ourselves on new inventions and materialistic goods. Some reviews claim this book is therefore depressing - I couldn't disagree more; reading this book fills me with images of what future life will be like for humans and how fragile our knowledge of everything is. Another criticism some have of this book is it's sexist undertones - to that I say; Come on! The book is written not he 50s and even with it's undertones women are not portrayed in a negative light, instead they are used as one of the main characters motives throughout the book - love not sexism. Overall - this is a must read for any science fiction fans but also anyone generally. Would highly recommend!
Great story!
JB
Iâve never been a big fan of sci-fi stories, but this one really grabbed my interest. You are always left eagerly wondering what is going to happen next. It isnât inundated with fictional technical jargon that I would normal gloss over. The story itself includes great examination into human behavior, and has fantastic political allegory that can easily apply to todayâs current political environment without having to stretch the imagination too much. Markâs reading style is fantastic as always and is a pleasure to listen to.
Distracting
LIDeb
I have read other reviewers' comments about the treatment of women in this book. But I chalked it up to the time period of the writing. However, after listening to it in its entirety, I have to say that it is not just the time period of the writing. There is such a complete lack of respect for women in general within the book that I nearly put it down entirely. It literally distracted from the plot.
A very good title, I like it.
Paul Ajz
Complex in its scope and simple in its presentation, this is a story of facing an unfathomable future with inefficient, ineffective and out dated resources. The strength of the story is the portrayal of resilence and flexibility needed to adapt to new challenges both in moving foward while resisting change for the sake of change. One doesn't discard the resourcefulness which brings one to the benefits of today's world as they are needed to guide new approaches to tomorrow's world. In this story, the earth community advanced by allowing itself footholds in the past while moving deliberately and cautiously forward. Concerns about sexist roles and dated references are applicable to most of the great classics. This story's sexist subplot is a challenge to us to seek out the isms (sexism, racism, etc.) which still control"modern" life. How advanced are we today and pretend to be tomorrow when isms continue to flourish while technology leaps forward? The reader was fabulous, as always!
apt. A pleasure to listen to.
Tracy
I was pleased to listen to a tale with an original storyline. The more I went through the book, the more I found myself wanting to hear the next chapter. This book is well written & I found it gripping and the idea behind it plausible. If the world was to die I'd hope to be given options like these characters were. I recommend it to any sci go fan.
A great beginning to an interesting world
Eske
Kept me enthralled from beginning to the very end. First book I had ever read by this author, and while I can say his views on female psychology are extremely dated it's nothing u wouldn't expect from charecters who existed before man had even reached the moon. I hope this is the start of a series however I am content enough to be satisfied by my imaginations of what happens next
a very entertaining and enjoyable story
DarthLaurel
Great reading. Thanks for your continued support of great stories for listeners like me. Anyone who listens to old sci fi and is offended by a guy shaking a woman during the end of the world should probably pick another genre. Maybe feminist lit.....where they won't have their reverse stereotypes offended. Anyone who thinks women are always logical and reasonable should read about how the female employees at Google had a meltdown hissyfit when James Damore's memo went viral. As a woman, I take the genre as I find it and am just grateful for the many great male readers (and female) that contribute to the literature and the reading.
good story
null
the story and the naration are right out of the Twilight zone. it's a fun story to listen to. all and all if you can give it a few minutes to get acclimated to the reader it's well worth your time. please dont take my comments towards the narrator as a negitive review of his work. in all honesty I think he did a fantastic job and he spoke clearly and maintained a constant vibe thru out the story. his reading meshed very well with the story and gave it a almost nostalgic feel.