This is my first P.D. James novel and I will certainly read another. She spends a good deal of time developing her main character. Kinda getting in their skin.

I saw the movie before reading the book. They are very different. The movie has much more action and ends totally different then the book. The film versions charming Jasper played by Michael Cain has only a very minor part here. Theo's ex-wife also has a diminished role in the book and is merely another law abiding citizen.

Turns out I like both film and book versions because they vary so much. I fact, nothing in the book will spoil the movie or vice versa.

This was the first book I ever read by James, and by far my favorite. Very insightful, much deeper than one might think. I read the book long before seeing the movie. I thought the movie was an excellent adaptation, but had to be changed in order to suit the motion picture medium. Regardless whether you read or watch first, I recommend doing both and expecting the book and movie to be different.

An awesome book about the terror that the future could hold with out children to brighten it and the wonderful promice that new life brings!! I couldn't put it down MUCH BETTER than the movie. A must read.

I liked the book, but didn't like the characters, especially the protaganist. It was hard to root for him.

What a great book - from the primo mystery writer, PD James. She exercises all of her suspense skills in this new genre.

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From the book back:
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, apathitic 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 of the human race.

"As scary and suspenseful as anything in Hitchcock."
- The New Yorker

first, this book is totally different from the movie ...it was like literature and the language was rich which made it all the more enjoyable.. this book has been lamentated ..BACK COVER the human race has become infertile and the last generation to be born is now adult..civilization itself is crumbling 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 her get 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...

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