The Doomsman

by Van Tassel Sutphen

English, published in 1905

78,513 words (230 pages)

Categories: Adventure, Science Fiction

The state of civilization in 2015 New York will closely resemble that of England in the early days of Saxon settlement -- primitive people will dwell sparsely in patriarchal stockades and will fight and hunt with bow and arrow

Excerpt

. Yet I trembled lest a cross-bow bolt might be following even faster."

"They have come--the Doomsmen?" panted Constans.

"Garth, the swineherd, reported their landing at the Golden Cove an hour before sunup. Three war-galleys, which means twice that score of men."

"Some mischance of wind or tide," said Constans, thoughtfully. "I noticed that the water in the Gut was rougher than is usual at dawn."

"Like enough," assented Touchett. "These night-birds are not often seen in a blue sky, and luckily so, for the safety of your father's ricks and byres. After all, there is no certainty in the matter; Garth is stupid enough betimes for one of his own boars, and there was a christening-party at the barracks last night. You know what that means--the can clinking until the tap runs dry."

"Yet you say he saw----"

Guyder Touchett shrugged his shoulders. "Anything you like. When the ale is in the eye there are stranger things than gray cats to be discovered at the half-dawn. In my

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Average Rating:

2009.02.01
Gilmartin

As one of the first examples of the post-apocalyptic strand of science-fiction, this is an interesting read. The narrative is flawed and most of the characters under-developed but the prose is elegant and readable.
It is probably best read from the point of view of a reader contemporary to the work.

2009.01.26
Bill

Interesting early example of post-apocalyptic fiction. Alternates between being enjoyable to dreadful. I think this is due to the writing style of the author, which is written in an almost poetic style with a very odd rhythm that makes it hard to scan.

2008.10.01
J Fallows

Occassionally very readable but mostly leaden and dull, this book is mostly of interest to the student of SF, showing how far back the cliches of post-apocalyptic fantasy fiction go. The original prototype of "I Am Legend" and "Escape From New York."