Earth Abides

renaldow · 10-16-01, 07:58 PM

Has anyone else read this book? I just finished it and am a little dissapointed in it. It's nothing to do with the mechanics of the book itself, I mean it was written fine and the story was told well. I was just very frustrated with the characters.

Granted, they were unwitting survivors for the most part, but jeez... did not one of them have any survial instincts beyond the ability to open a can? Ish, especially drove me crazy in that regard. He knew things must be done, but never did a dang thing.

Needless to say, I'd have to disagree with George Stewart's take on the human race. Any thoughts?

DaveNinja · 10-17-01, 02:05 PM

I thought it was a great book, i had a geography teacher in college that made us read it. wasnt it written in the 30s or 40s? i may be mistaken. All rememberence of the people in the book have been overshadowed by the book i'm currently read, The Stand.

i always suggest people read Earth Abides, though. It makes you think.

daveninja.com

renaldow · 10-17-01, 03:38 PM

It was written in 1949.

Tsar Chasm · 10-23-01, 12:35 PM

I didn't realize that the book was written that long ago. I just read this a few months ago and was frustrated with the inability to 'survive'
I feel much better about this now that I know the age of the material.

renaldow · 10-23-01, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tsar Chasm
I didn't realize that the book was written that long ago. I just read this a few months ago and was frustrated with the inability to 'survive'
I feel much better about this now that I know the age of the material.

I was very frustrated by that too, but I don't think the age of the book matters so much. They are living in a post-WWII America, which is not too different than today, aside from anything transistorized or computerized (which actually is a bonus for them, because things are simpler to repair.)

10-16-01, 07:58 PM	#1
renaldow DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 8,322	Earth Abides Has anyone else read this book? I just finished it and am a little dissapointed in it. It's nothing to do with the mechanics of the book itself, I mean it was written fine and the story was told well. I was just very frustrated with the characters. Granted, they were unwitting survivors for the most part, but jeez... did not one of them have any survial instincts beyond the ability to open a can? Ish, especially drove me crazy in that regard. He knew things must be done, but never did a dang thing. Needless to say, I'd have to disagree with George Stewart's take on the human race. Any thoughts? __________________ The ball is round, the game lasts 90 minutes; everything else is theoretical. www.horrortalk.com

10-17-01, 02:05 PM	#2
DaveNinja DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Sacramento (The City of a Beer) Posts: 4,490	I thought it was a great book, i had a geography teacher in college that made us read it. wasnt it written in the 30s or 40s? i may be mistaken. All rememberence of the people in the book have been overshadowed by the book i'm currently read, The Stand. i always suggest people read Earth Abides, though. It makes you think. daveninja.com __________________ www.thefoureyes.com- For Geeky songs about Nerdy stuff MP3s \| Blog \| Buy a CD

10-17-01, 03:38 PM	#3
renaldow DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 8,322	It was written in 1949. __________________ The ball is round, the game lasts 90 minutes; everything else is theoretical. www.horrortalk.com

10-23-01, 12:35 PM	#4
Tsar Chasm DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: PDX Metro Posts: 8,951	I didn't realize that the book was written that long ago. I just read this a few months ago and was frustrated with the inability to 'survive' I feel much better about this now that I know the age of the material.