3.0
This Way to the End Times: Classic Tales of the Apocalypse
ByPublisher Description
Robert Silverberg, editor and contributor, is one of science fiction’s most beloved writers, and the author of such contemporary classics as Dying Inside, Downward to the Earth and Lord Valentine’s Castle, as well as At Winter’s End. He is a past president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and the winner of five Nebula Awards and five Hugo Awards. In 2004 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America presented him with the Grand Master Award. Silverberg is one of twenty-nine writers to have received that distinction.
Ursula K. Le Guin, contributor, is an American author of novels, children's books, and short storiHer work has often depicted futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography.
Connie Willis, contributor, is an American science fiction/fantasy writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards—more major award than any other writer. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and is a SFWA Grand Master. Her novels include Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Megan Arkenberg, contributor, is an award-winning writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her work has appeared in over fifty publications and in anthologies such as The Apocalypse Triptych, Heiresses of Russ, and The Best Horror of the Year. She lives in Davis, CA.
Brian W. Aldiss, contributor, is an English writer and anthologies editor, best known for his short story “Super-Toys Last All Sumer Long,” the basis for the Stanley Kubrick-developed Steven Spielberg film “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.” He has two Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award, and is a Sci-Fi Grand Master.
Ursula K. Le Guin, contributor, is an American author of novels, children's books, and short storiHer work has often depicted futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography.
Connie Willis, contributor, is an American science fiction/fantasy writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards—more major award than any other writer. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and is a SFWA Grand Master. Her novels include Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Megan Arkenberg, contributor, is an award-winning writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her work has appeared in over fifty publications and in anthologies such as The Apocalypse Triptych, Heiresses of Russ, and The Best Horror of the Year. She lives in Davis, CA.
Brian W. Aldiss, contributor, is an English writer and anthologies editor, best known for his short story “Super-Toys Last All Sumer Long,” the basis for the Stanley Kubrick-developed Steven Spielberg film “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.” He has two Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award, and is a Sci-Fi Grand Master.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities5 Reviews
3.0

Liz (betsy) Miller
Created over 3 years agoShare
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jdarnold
Created over 7 years agoShare
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“Solid collection of end of the world short stories.”

Mike G
Created about 8 years agoShare
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“This Way To The End Times: Classic Tales of the Apocalypse, contains twenty-one stories about, as the title implies, the apocalypse. The book is true to the word classic in its title, unlike most such collections, this one literally goes back to the beginning of science fiction with a story by Jules Verne. It follows with a number of not particularly well known stories by some classic SF authors (Ursula Le Guin, Fritz Leiber, Jack Vance, and Brian Aldiss); only five of the stories included were written in the last thirty years. A mixture of some less well-known, relative newcomers wrote the remaining five. The stories, as in most such collections are a mixed bag, really good ones mixed with some that were just okay, but all were entertaining and there wasn’t one that I would consider bad. Each story also gets an introduction by Robert Silverberg as an added bonus. If you’re a fan of the apocalypse (and who wouldn’t be) you should read this collection. I’ve read a good number of such collections over the years and I have only read one of the stories in this volume before, so while most of them are not new, they’ll probably be new to you. 3.5 stars.”

Nikki in Niagara
Created about 8 years agoShare
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“A collection of stories with the theme of the Apocalypse; some take place during, others pre- or post-. The stories are presented chronologically by published date with the occasional break in the rule. Robert Silverberg is an excellent editor; every story starts with his introduction to the author and story at hand. Invaluable information for the reader. The collection on a whole is very good with both famous and lesser known authors represented. I enjoyed the early stories the most but did find a handful that were complete duds for me, which brought my overall rating of the collection to a solid three, though I've rated many individual stories 4 or 5 stars.
Introduction by Robert Silverberg - An essay on the history of apocalyptic fiction from ancient times to the early 20th century. Silverberg discusses its attraction, a few forms it can take, discussing particular literature and finally surmises that it is here to stay as long as we are.
1. The Eternal Adam by Jules Verne (1910) - Very intriguing! A world divided into four quadrants has fought and battled for thousands of years until now they are one and at peace with each other. Recent unrest has been stirring, In the meantime our narrator is a scientist involved in geology and evolution. Having found that creation sprung from the waters and evolved the scientists are looking for proof of the first man (ie the missing link) nothing comes close. But our narrator continues to dig deeper past the clay that proves this land was once covered with water when he finds a man-made device, a time capsule in a foreign language.He deciphers it and we read the astonishing history of anther mankind. Man have not evolved but instead regenerated time and time again once they become too mighty. This makes me think is it nature's way or God's way. A good story but the start was very slow and a bit difficult to read. (4/5)
2. The Last Generation by James Elroy Flecker (1908) - This has the same theme as the first, a de-evolution of man. The projection of the future is totally off whack when reading today in the 21st century, but looking back at when this was written I can sense a hopelessness in the future both from this author and the one above. A man is visited by the Wind of Time and rather than travelling into the past he chooses the future expecting a scientific age. Instead, he travels forward stopping now and then to watch the entire species consciously choose to be the last generation. What follows is debauchery, then despair, then death. (4/5)
3. Finis by Frank Lillie Pollock (1906) - This is a cataclysmic end of the world. The science is imaginary because of what we know today but that doesn't effect the terror and brutality of the end. A sun, at the centre of the universe, has been predicted ,about 70 years ago, to show itself at the present time. What no one took into consideration was the intense heat this central sun must have. Of course, the heat brings other natural phenomena such as tidal waves, hot rain, earth tremors, etc. A vision of how the earth will end. As reading, I couldn't help but compare the events as similar to those described in "Revelation" about the biblical end of the world. (5/5)
4. The Coming of the Ice by G. Peyton Wertenbaker (1926) -Again the science in this is imaginary, but the "details" are never given using layman's terms which makes it easier to accept, even if it is silly. Great story though! A man receives an operation to give him eternal life, the only problem is that it makes him an intellectual only with no feelings, love or sex. He is writing his memoirs of the past hundred thousand years or so when something man had forgotten all but destroys the human race, the next Great Ice Age. (5/5)
5. N Day by Philip Latham (1946) - Written by an actual distinguished astronomer (RS Richardson) under his nom de plume. Thus, the introduction tells us, the science is accurate for the day. These are diary entries by the author (Latham) as he watches and records sunspots, flares, etc. The sun is going nova and he has predicted the date. The papers are being sensationalistic about it and his superiors don't believe him, thinking he is mad. He will lose his job; that is if the world weren't ending tomorrow! Decent enough story, but actually very boring with all the scientific jargon. (3/5)
6. Guyal of Sfere by Jack Vance (1950) - This is the first fantasy in the collection and not really what I would call apocalyptic. A boy is born with a vast desire for knowledge. The world he lives in decries such seeking living in a "this-is-the-way-it-is" fashion. The boy grows up, people think him mad, and finally ,when a grown youth, he asks his father one question where can he find this "Curator" that everybody says is the reason that things are as they should be. Given a horse and a few magic items he sets forth for this legendary Curator and his "Museum of Man". He meets all sorts on his journey, each out to get him until finally near the Museum he acquires a female companion sent there as a sacrifice. He finds the Curator and if you are used to how these fantasies work the ending is obvious. I didn't really like the story, finding it formulaic, rather fairytale-ish and long. (2/5)
7. A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber (1951) - It's post-apocalypse and a family of four presume they are the only survivors on Earth. I wont go into all the "scientific" explanations but Earth got dragged away by a dark star. The world is frozen, even the gases that make up the atmosphere. But there is a layer of crystallized oxygen and this is where the survivors scoop up air to bring to the insulated nest they created. Then one day the 10yo son sees a light moving from room to room in an office building across the way. Very good! The science didn't seem real but the surviving an ice age was a good yarn. Good ending as well. (4/5)
8. Who Can Replace a Man? by Brian W. Aldiss (1958) - Brilliant. One day the machines, all with brains, receive no instruction through the radio from man. Seems man has become extinct. Machines with low intelligence brains are fighting but those from class 3 to class 1 brains plot that now they will take over the cities. One agricultural group heads for cities but find them already in chaos a the stronger brains are midst-takeover. So this team heads for open country that they are more suited to. We find how ruthless local brains with no emotion can be. However, they get a report that a few humans are not extinct and live in this area. Fantastic ending! (5/5)
9. Heresies of the Huge God by Brian W. Aldiss (1966) - I didn't enjoy this; there is a tone that just gets my back up. Briefly, a gigantically huge non-living thing from space lands on earth. It obliterates half the world and causes all sorts of turmoil akin to the biblical apocalypse. A new religion is formed and over the years forced upon the people. This is a report from a priest of some sort proclaiming what should now become the 4th heresy. The story seems to be suggesting that religious people are first and foremost stupid and secondly will use any kind of force to make others submit. (1/5)
10. The New Atlantis by Ursula K. Le Guin (1975) - The continents are sinking into the sea because new (old) continents are rising up out of the sea. The narrative switches between a woman and the "we" who are sentient under the water. The woman describes the totalitarian socialist society she lives in. The "we" talk as they become more and more conscious. I really liked the woman's narrative but the other part was just weird and interrupted the flow of the oppressive dystopian society being presented. (4/5)
11. When We Went to See the End of the Wold by Robert Silverberg (1972} - A fun take on the theme, though still ominous. People are taking the new time machine to see the end of the world. At a party each tells the story of their trip all the while in the background the world actually is falling apart before their very eyes, blind to it though the are. Similar conditions as the present day with earthquakes, viruses, bombings, infected water. (4/5)
12. The Wind and the Rain by Robert Silverberg (1973) - Very interesting story. The scientific explanation for the Earth's ecological failure, resulting in extinction of all life, except strangely flora, is very similar to today's apocalyptic extremists of global warming. The gas that ruined this earth is methane (part carbon, part hydrogen), Cows are blamed as one of the most powerful effects on the destruction of earth along with human chemical use. What appealed to me was the fresh tone. Humans who relocated to other planets have come back and are returning life to the planet through cleansing and supporting sustainable vegetation. Whatever the reasons, they believe the destruction and nature's own cleansing are a natural, normal, processes. The earth is cleansing itself with rain, hurricanes, tidal waves, and other natural disasters. I'm left with the thought that the arresting of the apocalypse could have been halted by earthling's use of pollution control and safe disposal methods. Good story. (5/5)
13. The Screwfly Solution by James Tiptree, Jr. (1977) - This is the best story I've read so far in this collection. Awesome! I can't say what it is about as it unravels as it goes along and that is the fun of the story. A unique premise on how the end of the world comes about! I just loved the ending and am very interested in reading more of this author. (5/5)
14. After-Images by Malcolm Edwards (1983) - Good. A nuclear explosion has gone off. At one island nation, the explosion has stopped as if it were in another time dimension stuck in a bubble, very slowly approaching the residents left behind. They all behave like normal, but two men venture into the bubble for a look-see. (4/5)
15. Daisy, in the Sun by Connie Willis (1979) - The sun is going to go nova. This is the story of teenage Daisy who is not afraid, who loves the sun but she is also confused. The story unravels so we have no idea what is happening until the end. The end is actually quite beautiful. Really good! (5/5)
16. Three Days After by Karen Haber (2014) - This is a short one but chilling. A woman narrates the day before and some days after an apocalypse for which no reason is ever given. Radiation, warm snow (ash) and flooding are our only clues to perhaps either nuclear or a nova sun. It isn't clear whether the woman knows what exactly has happened. She is visited twice, once before and once after, by either a robot or man in an anti-contamination suit though he never converses with her. Good. I liked it.BTW, this author is the editor's wife. (4/5)
17. The Rain at the End of the World by Dale Bailey (1999) - Not that exciting. A familiar story of continuous rain pouring on the entire world. Things have got pretty drastic, communications are down with the odd radio station coming in. A couple heads for their mountain cabin and the woman's narrative shows how each of them is handling this differently. Unsatisfying. (2/5)
18. The End of the World as We Know It by Dale Bailey (2004) - Different. A man wakes up and everybody is dead. He's the last person on earth. He starts thinking about all the usual end of the world scenarios from books and movies. But he has no clue what happened and is not like those survivors of fiction. He just sets up house somewhere nice and drinks. (3/5)
19. Final Exam by Megan Arkenberg (2012) - Weird. Written in the form of a multiple choice test with the correct answers following. The story of a marriage break-up and brief invasion by huge gelatinous humanoid monsters from the sea. Makes you wonder whether it really happened or the narrator, the wife, is just crazy. (2/5)
20. Prayers to the Sun by a Dying Person by Alvaro Zinos-Amaro (2016: first time published) - This just plain didn't make sense to me. Time had broken and the future is falling into the present. A girl time travels to find and fix the problem. She meets a woman who has survived her time's end of the world. Two things I didn't like: the story is full of Hinduism which I didn't understand though I've read their myths so had a vague concept of what was going on; secondly all the scientific explanations were too scientific making them over my head and tedious. Not entertaining at all. (0/5)
21. Last and First Men: Epilogue by Olaf Stapledon (1930) - This is a novel in which Silverberg describes the plot in his introduction. The history of the billions of years future of the Earth. It ends with the final, 18th, evolution of man and Silverberg reprints for us the book's Epilogue only. It is fairly hard to read as it is dry history being told from the current future which has discovered they will all perish in a couple thousand years. At the end, a Jesus like figure is born and he gives them hope in their conclusion. Just not a good read. (0/5)”

Theresa Jones
Created over 8 years agoShare
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“This Way to the End Times: Classic Tales of the Apocalypse, is an anthology filled with dystopian fiction. Showing all the ways that authors can come up with to tell of the apocalypse.
The legendary Robert Silverberg introduces each story. The stories are ones that he has hand-picked and he details exactly why he chose them for the collection.
View my full review on http://wp.me/p5TrbN-7I after 10/26/2016.
I received this book free from the publisher. All opinions are my own.”
About Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg, editor and contributor, is one of science fiction’s most beloved writers, and the author of such contemporary classics as Dying Inside, Downward to the Earth and Lord Valentine’s Castle, as well as At Winter’s End. He is a past president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and the winner of five Nebula Awards and five Hugo Awards. In 2004 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America presented him with the Grand Master Award. Silverberg is one of twenty-nine writers to have received that distinction.
Ursula K. Le Guin, contributor, is an American author of novels, children's books, and short storiHer work has often depicted futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography.
Connie Willis, contributor, is an American science fiction/fantasy writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards—more major award than any other writer. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and is a SFWA Grand Master. Her novels include Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Megan Arkenberg, contributor, is an award-winning writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her work has appeared in over fifty publications and in anthologies such as The Apocalypse Triptych, Heiresses of Russ, and The Best Horror of the Year. She lives in Davis, CA.
Brian W. Aldiss, contributor, is an English writer and anthologies editor, best known for his short story “Super-Toys Last All Sumer Long,” the basis for the Stanley Kubrick-developed Steven Spielberg film “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.” He has two Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award, and is a Sci-Fi Grand Master.
Ursula K. Le Guin, contributor, is an American author of novels, children's books, and short storiHer work has often depicted futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography.
Connie Willis, contributor, is an American science fiction/fantasy writer. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards—more major award than any other writer. She was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame, and is a SFWA Grand Master. Her novels include Doomsday Book, To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Megan Arkenberg, contributor, is an award-winning writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Her work has appeared in over fifty publications and in anthologies such as The Apocalypse Triptych, Heiresses of Russ, and The Best Horror of the Year. She lives in Davis, CA.
Brian W. Aldiss, contributor, is an English writer and anthologies editor, best known for his short story “Super-Toys Last All Sumer Long,” the basis for the Stanley Kubrick-developed Steven Spielberg film “A.I. Artificial Intelligence.” He has two Hugo Awards and one Nebula Award, and is a Sci-Fi Grand Master.
Other books by Robert Silverberg
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