Greybeard

De: Brian W. Aldiss

Narrado por: Dan Calley

Human reproduction has ceased and society slowly spirals in this "adult Lord of the Flies" by a Grand Master of Science Fiction (San Francisco Chronicle).

After the "Accident," all males on Earth become sterile. Society ages and falls apart bit by bit. First, toy companies go under. Then record companies. Then cities cease to function. Now Earth's population lives in spread-out, isolated villages, with its youngest members in their fifties. When the people of Sparcot begin to make claims of gnomes and man-eating rodents lurking around their village, Greybeard and his wife set out for the coast with the hope of finding something better.

©1964 Brian W. Aldiss (P)2024 Tantor

Moody, introspective dystopian future view

This book is an interesting thought exercise. What would happen to the planet if people could no longer have children? It feels especially applicable today since many people are voluntarily not having kids, and we're actually seeing a bit of this same fallout (to a lesser degree). How would society collapse? What would a world full of olds be like? I thought the ending was a bit ho-hum, though he had to end the book somehow, and it was one of the possible ways to do it. If you're looking for an uplifting tale to read at the beach during summer, this isn't it. But if you enjoy these types of science fiction books, where the author starts with a premise and explores it, then it is a thought-provoking read. I've totally forgotten many light and cheerful books I've read, but I often think of this novel and its curious themes and cast of characters.