Showing results for "Hunger" in Anthologies & Short Stories

Walter M. Miller, Jr., is best remembered as the author of A Canticle for Leibowitz, which has been universally recognized as one of the greatest novels of modern science fiction. But he also produced many shorter works of fiction of stunning originality and power. His profound interest in religion and his innate literary gifts combined perfectly in the production of such works as The Darfstellar, for which he won a Hugo in 1955, Conditionally Human, "I, Dreamer", and "The Big Hunger", all of which are included in this brilliant and essential collection.

A small group of survivors battle a post-apocalyptic landscape that is void of plant life. Hunger plagues the few remaining human survivors. The world has been pillaged and scavenging for food has become the lifeblood of survival, but starvation is now on the horizon for these fellow travelers. Many have taken to cannibalism, but this group has managed to survive without going quite so far. While scavenging, they first come across a woman, and shortly after, her child. They capture them and debate their options. In order to satisfy their burning hunger, they must first lose their humanity. Some will win, all will lose.