Told with P. D. James's trademark suspense, insightful characterization, and riveting storytelling, "The Children of Men" is a story of a world with no children and no future. The human race has become infertile, and the last generation to be born is now adult. Civilization itself is crumbling as suicide and despair become commonplace. Oxford historian Theodore Faron, apathetic toward a future without a future, spends most of his time reminiscing. Then he is approached by Julian, a bright, attractive woman who wants him to ...
Read More
Told with P. D. James's trademark suspense, insightful characterization, and riveting storytelling, "The Children of Men" is a story of a world with no children and no future. The human race has become infertile, and the last generation to be born is now adult. Civilization itself is crumbling as suicide and despair become commonplace. Oxford historian Theodore Faron, apathetic toward a future without a future, spends most of his time reminiscing. Then he is approached by Julian, a bright, attractive woman who wants him to help get her an audience with his cousin, the powerful Warden of England. She and her band of unlikely revolutionaries may just awaken his desire to live . . . and they may also hold the key to survival for the human race.
Read Less
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used textbooks may not include companion materials such as access codes, etc. May have some wear or limited writing/highlighting. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Good condition. With remainder mark. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
The item is fairly worn but still readable. The book may have some cosmetic wear (i.e. creased spine/cover, scratches, curled corners, folded pages, sunburn, stains, water damage, bent, torn, damaged binding, dent). -The dust jacket if present, may be marked, and have considerable heavy wear. -The book might be ex-library copy, and may have the markings and stickers associated from the library-The book may have considerable highlights/notes/underlined pages but the text is legible-Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included-Safe and Secure Mailer-No Hassle Return.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Whenever I speak about this book with friends, I always call it the worst book I've ever read. Not because of the writing style nor the story premise. In fact, the premise is what first caused me to pick the book up. I bought it at a time when money was tight and I counted my pennies carefully so perhaps that is why my disappointment was so complete. The book was very interesting throughout the first two-thirds, but the ending was so absolutely unbelievable, I felt gypped. The author could have done so much more, but instead I felt I had wasted my time and money.
Ellyb
Mar 19, 2008
Quiet terror
This book resonates with sadness. It is introspective, slow moving, and thoughtful, which is not what you might expect for a story about the end of the human race. What struck me about the story is the quality of stillness inherent in many of the tableaus, even as the main characters hurtle towards their fates. Outlandish, violent things are happening, yet the predominant imagery is of trees and woods and quiet English countrysides. It's an interesting juxtaposition that worked for me but I can see how it might not be an effective tool for everyone.
ChrisC
Apr 24, 2007
Here's a change - The movie's better!
After seeing the well-made movie, which due to its violence was diffcult to get through, I decided to "relax" and read the book. I was surprised that the only similarities between the book and movie were the title, the main character, and the premise. In terms of plot and theme, the two extensively differed. Of the two, I would recommend the movie. It was more effective at conveying the results of no more children being born, people turning either apathetic or savage. It's a wonderful premise. I only wish P.D. James was as good a writer as the movie's screenwriter.
Bart
Apr 4, 2007
First half really good, second just OK
I read this book before the movie version (with Julianne Moore and Clive Owen) of it came out . The first half of the book was really interesting and went into a lot more detail than the movie did about the social problems caused by men not being furtile anymore. The second half of the movie was very different, though, and was kind of suspenseful but you don't learn enough about the characters to really care what's going to happen to them. Without giving away too much detail... there's one character that falls in love with another, but we don't really know anything about that other character besides their name, so it gets a little irritating sometimes.
Overall the book was a fun read, but I would give it a better rating if the second half was as good as the first. Also, if you saw the movie first, expect the plot of the book to be very different.