The Way the World Ends

Warmer collection

By: Jess Walter

Narrated by: Dan John Miller

Length: 1 hr and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Sleet in Mississippi? In March? A crazy ice storm lays waste to the South in a #1 New York Times bestselling author’s invigorating, touching story of one slippery night, an open bar, and total abandon.

For three strangers whose paths will cross, the storm hasn’t even reached its peak. Two of them are the kind of climate scientists no one ever listens to in disaster movies. The third, against even icier opposition, has just moved to the Magnolia State to come out. Soon they’ll all be pushed closer to the edge, where the bracing winds of cataclysmic change can be so wildly liberating.

Jess Walter’s The Way the World Ends is part of Warmer, a collection of seven visions of a conceivable tomorrow by today’s most thought-provoking authors. Alarming, inventive, intimate, and frightening, each story can be read, or listened to, in a single breathtaking sitting.

©2018 Big Text, Inc., Jess Walter (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Love this author - wish he wrote more

Jess Walter is the author of Beautiful Ruins - one of my all time favorite audiobooks. This work is a lunchtime listen that reminds me that I wish he wrote more books. An interesting and amusing take on the human condition. Always pointed but never preachy. Jess, if you read this, get to work!

Too many subplots

What started out with potential ended up being bizarrely confusing.

We have Anna who really does not want the job, but wants to continue with her long distance partner by moving closer. We have Rowan who is self deprecating and tries to pass himself off as someone else. Then we have Jeremiah who has recently come out and is unsure of what is future holds as he navigates gay culture.

Chaos ensues as a freak snowstorm rages in Mississippi, closing roads and airports, and leaving people stranded. This alarming storm takes place in the Deep South where snow rarely makes an appearance and is in the background of all the human noise as the message that our planet is in danger leaves Jeremiah even more freaked out. Carbon footprints are increasing by those who refuse to believe what's in front of them or the scientific data that backs it all up.

If you are not a fan of climate culture discussions, nor believe that climate change is real, skip this book. If you are a fan of Trump, you may want to skip this book, unless you're able to ignore a few jabs at him. To be honest, if you read this book anyways and you get all in a tizzy, you only have yourself to blame after my helpful hints.

Disclaimer: I read and listened to this short story as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Unexpectedly hilarious

I thought this story would be more grim but it was both nuanced and funny. The actors were very good. Their accents really added to the tale. I'm glad I listened to, rather than read, the one.

Good story

A quick easy read with a message. I liked it for my commute too work.

Fun listen but leaves you empty

clever and fun most improbable story that delivers little or no real information or insight

Very Well Written and Great Performance

Both the writer and the narrator did a bang-up job. I found the story and performance totally absorbing. The pacing was good and the narrator gave each character his or her own voice.

End of the world sounds horrible but this book was not!

I love Don Miller has the narrator. Such a small book that delves into to sp much. Very thought provoking. I hope we come up with solutions soon.

Great story!

Made me think and made me laugh out loud! The reader did a good job with the material.

Amid a dark shadow of doom, hope glistens

This you must hear. All of it is real, true and accurate. From the depths of despair, hope can emerge like a phoenix rising from ashes. Brilliant performance, encouraging conclusion.

Syntactically delicious, delightfully written

I love the way this author moves the reader's minds into these fantastic characters, and the ominous end of chapter one, "this isn't the end of the world." Loving the choice to write about Climate Change in short fiction. Happens to be one of my favorite genres to read. Great setting on a campus too, where currently there is so much climate change denial. I really love this one.