Leviathan: A Story About the End of the World

by Saul W. Tanpepper

Earth is dying.

On a barren, windless shore of a dead sea, two people, a father and his child, eke out a meager existence. They eat what little they can find. They are tormented by memories and tales of what the world once was.

Then, on a day no different than the thousands of others they have lived, the child hears the ghostly call of a sea creature presumed extinct for decades. Was it real? Or was it the last gasp of planet nearing death?

Leviathan is a short, dark, and haunting post-apocalyptic story (~6500 words) written in stream-of-consciousness. Fans of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, which inspired this story, will recognize similarities.

Appropriate for readers of all ages.


In 2014, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported that the levels of over 10,000 representative animal species — indicators of environmental health — had declined by more than 50 percent since 1970. In just that forty year span, we lost half of the world’s animal biomass. Based on these trends, we can expect to see a further halving by the middle of the current century. And it’s not just overall numbers of individuals that are dropping, but species diversity as well. This is beyond alarming. It is, in fact, a doomsday scenario.

While the debate about the human impact on climate change wages on, scientists are nearly unanimous in their agreement that human activity is directly responsible for the extinction of hundreds of animal and plant species and have indirectly caused the disappearance of possibly thousands more in what is now being described as a Sixth Global Extinction. The event is so significant in the natural history of our planet that a new geologic age has been proposed to acknowledge humanity’s impact on the globe— the Anthropocene. We stand at the beginning of that era looking into an uncertain future. What will it look like?

Will it be a world entirely devoid of all animal life?

Leviathan is a work of speculative fiction; it takes the current trajectory of our planet to its absurd extreme. While I personally believe that total global extinction is an exceedingly unlikely scenario, at least as the direct consequence of our recklessness, the threat to our own species is far more real. Why? Because many of the plant and animals species we depend upon for food, medicine, and other uses are at terrible risk.

The earth will adapt to the changes we are causing it, of that I have no doubt. Given enough time, physical and biological systems will find a new equilibrium. As a biological scientist, I have faith that life, in some form, will find ways to occupy it.

But will humanity?

Reflecting the uncertain nature of our own future, the ending to Leviathan was intentionally left open to multiple interpretations, ranging from the horrific to the hopeful. I leave it to you, Dear Reader, to decide which one you prefer to imagine.

Genres: Apocalyptic

31 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2017

About the author

For the latest news, events and giveaways, subscribe to the Tanpepper Tidings: https://tanpepperwrites.com

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Saul is the specfic pen name of author Ken J. Howe, who writes in a variety of genres. He is a retired biotech entrepreneur with a PhD in molecular genetics and is a former combat medic.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a lot of feeling packed into this story. The boy and his father are barely surviving in a grim and bleak landscape. The father is sure there is no future left for humanity, but feels enough hope to search for the source of the whale song that the boy hears. And the boy grows lonely enough to follow his father. A sad and haunting story, but not entirely without hope. As for the ending, I chose to assume the best outcome was possible, knowing that it was also unlikely. This will make you think, that's for sure.

[PJ Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking story about a young boy and his father, in a world where nothing else has survived. Are they truly the last creatures? The boy's journey to find out is harrowing, and full of surprises.
This is an unforgettable tale, extremely well written, with many questions about the fate of our planet. Deeply moving, I would highly recommend this book for everyone.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A prescient parable depicting a future blighted by environmental catastrophe, Saul Tanpepper's "Leviathan" is stunningly chilling. Left open ended as to draw your own conclusions, it leaves a haunting melody etched on your soul.
(Flowery review I know, but it left me quite affected.)

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just past the table of contents page on what might be called the title page of the short story Leviathan by Saul Tanpepper we see this: "a short story about the end of the world." There is something appealing to me about the contrast in the phrase. This short story was published in 2016 and was free through Instafreebies and the author's newsletter. On the Amazon site, it costs USD 0.99. The tale produces its own kind of horror, particularly for those who are concerned about the steady deterioration of our planet as manifested in the steadily growing extinction of a number of species. In this case, what is extinct is (almost) all forms of animal life. As Father, or Hunter, said to Child (no name) "You don't know the taste of flesh, he once told me. You don't understand the sweetness of meat, why we hunted them all, down to the very last one." (Kindle location 93-94).

If the story itself doesn't scare the reader, an endnote titled A Word about Leviathan might do the trick. The author affirms his belief in the survival of the planet; it is humanity that is in danger. Saul Tanpepper is a pen name for Ken J. Howe, a retired Ph.D. molecular biologist, and biotech entrepreneur. For me, that kind of background brings a lot of credibility to the table. I had to read the story twice because even with the limited number of characters I got confused after the rather startling ending. I didn't mind reading the story twice, this is a really good story. There is room for reader interpretation and some may find that uncomfortable.

The story opens with a section in italics. A girl is preparing a meal and reflecting on not having a name. He had not given her one. She is not happy about this and concludes to herself "Names were important things. They were all you had left when everything else was gone." (Kindle location 27).

The story switches to non-italic printing. We find out that Father is a hunter. From here on out, we will call him Hunter. Child does not have a name and asks Hunter for one. Hunter says names are useless since there is no one left to tell them to. Also, there are no animals left in the world so Hunter is the last of his kind, there will be no hunters after him. Child becomes more confused, not only does Child have no name, there is no definition of purpose. And if there are no animals left in the world, why does Hunter leave every day on a search for what he says no longer exists?

But Father does go out every day. Child tends to food preparation every day. This routine goes on until one day Child hears a song, possibly in reality and possibly in the mind, but Child repeats the sound aloud so that father hears it. When he does, Hunter becomes completely agitated and goes out to sea for longer periods of time until the time the boat comes back and Hunter isn't in it. This leaves Child with nothing to do but load the boat with as much food and water as possible and go looking for the source of the song that had so agitated Hunter. Child had described the sound to father as the sound of Annabeth, the mother of Child, a mother who had disappeared so long ago that Annabeth was not in Child's memory although Hunter had told Child of mother Annabeth. It is because of Annabeth that Hunter had left on increasingly longer voyages to sea. Ultimately, the longer voyages resulted in Hunter's disappearance and a separate quest begun by Child.

The food runs out. The water runs out. But Child is rescued. And then the strange questions and speculation really begin.

This short story offers so much in relation to its short length. The imagery of the sea is wonderful. The descriptions of such utter, stark loneliness in a devastated and barren world were vivid and real for me. The story is scary without overt intent to be scary. The uncertainty as to just what is going on will appeal to readers who like challenges. I look forward to reading more from this author under whichever pen name he uses. With quality writing like this in a free book, I don't mind paying for future works by this talented author.

And, are you ready for this? There is no sex and violence. A reader might disagree with that a little bit after the second reading. Definitely no sex. Maybe a little bit of implied violence.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leviathan (sea creature) who was supposed to be extinct. Or was it?
The father said goodbye to his daughter & would pursue Leviathan.
A song was in the air.
The daughter paddled in a boat to find out where it was coming from.
She had been out in the sea for 6 days.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written fantasy (short story) book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great fantasy movie, animated cartoon, or better yet a mini TV series. It ws just OK for me so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.

Thank you for the free create space; Whitefox publishing services; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a confusing not-quite-the-end-of-the-world story. It begins third person with a girl, then suddenly changes to first person. I assumed this was the same girl, but apparently the narrator is a boy. There is no ending -- it just ends. The author said he did this intentionally so readers could come up with their own ending.

Um, newsflash, Tanpepper -- writing the ending to your story is YOUR JOB.

There is an extract from his novel in here, but since Tanpepper has no idea what a writer's job is, I'm not bothering to read any more of his crap.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the world nears its end, a father and his child are tormented by the ghostly call of a sea creature presumed extinct for decades.

Is it the last gasp of a dying planet? Or a reason to hope?

This is an thought-provoking and extremely interesting story. It may have been short, but it packed a punch. It is worth reading.

I rate LEVIATHAN as 4 out of 5 Stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Read my full review at http://bit.ly/LeviathanBySaul

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a stunning tale of extinction beyond any I have ever read before now. It played havoc with my feelings while causing me to ponder the possible end of life on earth. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.

[Norma · Rating 4 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"You want to hunt the whale?"

A young girl without a name, a Hunter father without prey to hunt, a strange song in the night... A lonely world, made disturbing and sad by the absence of life...
Thought provoking and beautifully written, the short story read by, amazingly, an AI. Well worth a listen, and free.

[Aletia · Rating 5 out of 5]

End of the world, or start of a new one?

To me, this piece was more poetic. I love the way it flows. The cadence. The language. I say it needs to be added to everyone's collection.

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leviathan was a great short story. It was both adventurous and solemn and was a very entertaining short read.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leviathan is one boy's story of the end of the world. Or is it? His father had told him they were the only people left alive and the boy had no reason not to believe him. Then the boy heard a song in the night. He told his father about the song and his father told him it was the song of a whale. The song gave the father hope, but it also made him fearful for it is painful to hope when everything has been taken from you. The father goes looking for the whale, but never returns, so the boy goes out on the water looking for both him and the whale.

There is a beautiful scene where the boy is looking at the stars. As the sun rises, all but two of the stars disappear. The boy sees one of the stars flickering, as if it is fighting to exist. When it finally goes out, there is only one star remaining. I took that to mean the father was gone and only the son remained.

The author wrote that the ending was left open to the interpretation of the readers and could range from horrific to hopeful, and I can see both ends of that spectrum. I am leaning to the horrific side because of the introduction and final paragraph of the story. There are hints in those two paragraphs--a few words, really--that led me to that conclusion. Are humans doomed to repeat the sins of the past or can we evolve and not make the same mistakes again?

The other thing left to ponder is the father's belief that names are no longer necessary because the world is dead and has no use for them. That is also open to interpretation. Do names have any meaning when there is no one left to remember them or is the name the only thing with meaning that remains when everything else is gone?

This story does make you think of, "The Road", in that a father and son are struggling to survive in a dying world, except in this case it doesn't appear the father and son are struggling to survive on a daily basis The battle to endure and to hope are nearly identical. Is that all we are left with in the end? Is that enough?

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well realised characters, an intriguing setting, and a perfectly pitched ending. A haunting read that I'll read again.

[Jo Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short story freebie that I picked up from Kindle. An apocalyptic tale with a very creepy ending depending on how you view it. Not bad.