What would you do if you were one of the last people left on Earth?

 

In Lauren James’ 2019 novel ‘The Quiet at the End of the World’, this is the strange reality for teenagers Lowrie and Shen. Enjoying quiet lives with their elderly parents, the two friends are vaguely aware of the fertility crisis which occurred generations before they were born, now leaving them as the youngest two people on the planet. 

 

Lowrie, the story's protagonist, revels in the tranquillity of her life, hunting through rubble with Shen and her father for relics of the past. Their livelihoods are aided by the help of amiable robots, and it seems the residents could truly want for nothing more, despite the constant reminders that their very existence is nothing short of a scientific miracle. 

 

However, one day, the peace of the colony is shattered when a devastating accident leaves the residents fearful and unsure of what their future holds. Amidst all of the confusion, Lowrie and Shen grapple with the frightening knowledge that this crisis may be their burden to bear, watching their comfortable existence come crashing down as humanity’s past finally begins to catch up with them. 

 

Full of unexpected turns, The Quiet at the End of the World kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. In my opinion, one of the great strengths of the book is James’ excellent ability to pace her writing, adding exciting twists at every corner; I found myself surprised at every one, although certainly not unpleasantly so. 

 

James’ incredible storytelling blended both the past and the present of the world into one, weaving the events of the history surrounding the infertility virus with the difficult reality the characters in the current time now face. 

 

Overall, I found this story to be a comforting read, with themes centred around the importance of family, love and what it truly means to be human. James has certainly crafted something unique and distinctive as it's completely unlike anything I've read before, masterfully subverting many of the themes I've become familiar with in post-apocalyptic novels whilst still staying true to the genre. 

 

I absolutely recommend The Quiet at the End of the World to anyone interested in post-apocalyptic stories, along with any readers looking for something a little bit different which is sure to hold their interest until the very last page.