City at World's End

By: Edmond Hamilton

Narrated by: Jim Roberts

The midwestern town of Middletown is the "first strike" of a new super bomb. However, instead of destroying the town, the attack rips a hole in the space-time continuum, sending the town and it's inhabitants to a distant Earth, cold and foreboding. The story of their struggle, survival and ultimate success in rekindling the planet and dealing with the people and aliens of the future, is the stuff of great science fiction. As you listen, see if you agree with the many who think this story was the origin of the Star Wars characters Chewbacca and Leia.

Public Domain (P)2011 Jimcin Recordings

Nuclear weapons cause time travel

Edmund Hamilton’s City at World’s End is a postapocalyptic tale from the 50’s with a twist. Rather than a nuclear weapon destroying a city, a ‘super’ nuclear weapon sends a city far into the future to a dead Earth and a dying sun. The survivors are found by descendants of Earth who have abandoned the planet for other, more hospitable worlds. Evacuation and relocation is the rule, but the townspeople refuse to leave which leads to negotiations with the galactic authorities and finally an unsanctioned scientific experiment is undertaken that revitalizes Earth.

Hamilton plays on the fears of the times with concerns about nuclear annihilation. Instead of destruction, he offers a future where Earth is considered finished. At the same time, the camaraderie with an alien species forged through similar aspirations and goals suggest hope that humanity can solve the vexing problems of the current times.

The narration is good with reasonable character distinction. Pacing is brisk.

VERY dated

The science is horrible, including basics of our solar system. Women are treated like hysterical pets to be coddled. Within those confines, it is a well written story. It feels very 1950. For the era, it seems very progressive about racism, because it’s addressed indirectly.

first audible. very happy.

this was my first audible book. I was very please with the narrator and plot of the story. I set aside time when I knew the end was coming because I didn't want to miss anything. it snatched my interest more than any action movie ever has.

Classic juvenile sci-fi

Good municipal survival story. Picture the love child of Alas Babylon, the Jericho TV show and the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away...how's that for mixing my entertainment metaphors?

Too good to be over so quick

This is an excellent short story, I'm just disappointed in how quickly I got to the end... Some of the tech concepts are out of date, but that just makes this story all the more wonderful.