Nevil Shute's On the Beach
I've been on a Shute kick lately, so imagine my delight at discovering he wrote a postapocalyptic novel! Written in 1957, this is impregnated with Cold War fears--it's gradually revealed that there's been a nuclear war, but Melbourne, Australia wasn't hit and is functioning pretty normally . . . at least until September, when the radiation comes their way. Shute neatly shows the probably psychological effects of two groups of people--a bunch of American naval officers, who know their loved ones are dead, and the Australians who know their deaths are coming but are powerless to stop them. The protagonists are an Australian naval officer (and his wife, though she's not a particularly fleshed-out character), the American commander of a submarine, and the young Australian woman who befriends him. Also, her scientist cousin, who finds and exciting and reckless hobby. Shute beautifully illustrates how these characters come to terms with everything. Surprisingly un-grim. A/A-.
PS. Apparently this was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, and Fred Astaire. I have GOT to see that.
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