The Start of the End of the World

"The Start of the End of the World" is a 1981 short story by Carol Emshwiller.

Editions

• 1981: Universe 11, ed. Terry Carr
• The Norton Book of Science Fiction, ed. Ursula K. Le Guin and Brian Attebery)

Reviews & commentaries

• Paul Brians, "Notes on Selected Stories from The Norton Book of Science Fiction", Aug. 25, 2005.

"In the 50s there were many stories published that depicted sweet little old ladies, hopelessly naive and uninformed, encountering invading aliens, and usually saving the Earth. This is a witty variation on that theme. "Woman of a certain age" is the translation of a French euphemism for a middle-aged woman. Compare this story with War of the Worlds. How is this invasion different? Since this story makes fun of an old woman, is it anti-feminist; or can you detect feminist themes in it?"