By “set around the time of the end of the universe” I don’t mean necessarily within seconds or a few years. Just that it’s set at a time where people realize the end is coming “soon” in at least some historical or even geographic sense. If it’s right there at the end, though, so much the better.
I know about the Restaurant at the End of the Universe already.
I’m just curious to know whether there have been any science fiction stories taking place in such a setting. The reason I am curious, if you’re curious, is because walking to work today I sort of spun out such a setting, and wondered how many wheels I was re-inventing.
Yes, of course, there are serious ahem engineering problems to be overcome in order to be able to exist in any setting that can count as “around the time of the end of the universe.” Let’s just say I’m not expecting any particularly hard science fiction to come up in this thread. (If it does somehow, amazingly, then that would be great.)
Wow, I’m not the biggest SF fan, but I haven’t seen or heard of anything matching that. Sounds kinda dark, would love to read it if you end up writing it.
I have thought about asking this question before because I the concept exciting and I have never heard of such a story besides Hitchhiker’s and the third season ending of the new Doctor Who.
I hope there are at least a few people who know of such stories.
All I can think of is a couple of comic book stories. One was in the first series of Wolverine, I think #'s 51-53. The story involves Mojo and Spiral and it takes Wolverine to the end of time, called The Crunch.
Another was in Ultimate Fantastic Four, I forget what issue #'s. Somewhere around #18 through #24 or so? I think it involved the team going into another layer of the universe (some kind of String Theory physics involved) and that particular universe was at the end of it’s life. Ultimate Annihilus was introduced. It was a pretty good story, and I don’t usually like Ultimate FF.
Two things I can think of, in H.G. Wells’ “The Time Traveler”, his hero travels to a time when most life is gone from the Earth and the Sun has begun to swell into a Red Giant. Okay, that’s not the end of the Universe, but near the End of the Earth.
Second is Asimov’s story about “The Final Question”. I won’t spoil it, but it does involve the End of the Universe. (The final question is essentially “Is there a way to reverse entropy?”)
Satch
ETA Hey, those three posts weren’t there a minute ago.
I don’t know if this qualifies, but what about Clark’s The Nine Billion Names of God?
(BTW - a Google search on the title links to what seems to be the complete story - I didn’t read it through, and I don’t know that I could tell if there were any omissions, anyway) .
I’m proud to have authored an unpublished soft Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel set around the end of the universe, including getting around the logistical problem (and it’s in first person!)
First thing that came to mind was Asimov’s “The Last Question” (already mentioned.) Second thing that came to mind was the 2nd time Superman fought Doomsday, he took him forward in time and left him at the end of the universe. Probably not what you’re looking for but that’s all I got.
I saw that movie right after watching Cloverfield last weekend. Thanks for reminding me that I need to write another review expressing my disappointment.
For anyone interested: The Last Question is the only book, ever, that I’ve preferred in audio over printed format. It just works. And Isaac Asimov himself reads it. Look for it.