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On the Beach

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On the Beach

By: Nevil Shute
Narrated by: James Smillie
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About this listen

Australia is one of the last places where life still exists after nuclear war starts in the Northern Hemisphere. A year on, an invisible cloak of radiation has spread almost completely around the world.

Darwin is a ghost town, and radiation levels at Ayres Rock are increasing. An American nuclear-powered submarine has found its way to Australia, where its captain has placed the boat under the command of the Australian Navy. Commander Dwight Towers and his Australian liaison officer are sent to the coast of North America to discover whether a stray radio signal originating from near Seattle is a sign of life.

©2009 The Trustees of the Estate of the late Nevil Shute Norway (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Scary Tear-jerking Submarine War

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All stars
Most relevant
A prescient story for the troubled times we live in. Neville Shute can seem dated but this story strikes fear into any heart. The characters are all very different and have their own place in the story. Frankly it’s downright terrifying as the chances of us wiping ourselves out either by accident or on purpose seem more likely every passing day. Should be compulsory reading.

A warning for history

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Who would have imagined the end of the world in Australia could be so terribly civilised? This book portrays a particularly English Apocalypse, with all discussions of any gravity avoided with such phrases as 'let's have a cup of tea, darling' and 'lets do the washing up'.

Pastimes as imminent death approaches in the form of a cloud of radiation are fishing, planning for the future, trying to buy a pogo-stick for your long-dead son and going about business as usual. Civilisation is reputedly 24 hours and 3 hot meals from anarchy but in Shute's Australia everyone?s about to die in the next few hours and people are still buying garden furniture! I was not expecting or hoping for Mad Max, but this book is utterly unbelievable for it's sheer lack of emotion and for not one of the passive, ovine characters taking the initiative and trying to actually survive. These are macabre automatons, playing out the last hours of their turgid lives, obsessing about 'doing the right thing, old boy'.

Will the end of the world really be this dull?

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This is a book I have returned to many times....though it's theme is grim and apocalyptic even, it's story and characters are extremely well written and are portrayed with great skill and care by its narrator James Smile who is able to effectively and memorably bring to life each character that makes you really care about them and their fate.
It's message remains as important ever and, whilst inevitably dated in some regards, its themes of courage, human frailty and dignity in the midst of impending disaster, never fail to resonate with me.
I really cannot recommend this audiobook enough..

Exceptional work, moving and extremely well read..

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What's a great novel brilliantly written and beautifully read it was also a bit scary knowing it could really happen

Stupendous

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Becomes progressively depressing
but compulsive reading.
recommended as an old prediction
of nuclear warfares effect

good read

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