# What was the size and nature of the object that hit the Earth in Th Road? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282 "2013-02-04T02:52:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/21 "2013-02-05T14:11:41Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > One of the most fascinating aspects of the author/reader relationship is the way that so many readers need to literalize or particularize the text. Writers’ Big Books often - not always, to be sure, but often - are attempting to make an emotion universal. McCarthy was reaching for the simplest, most primal tragedy possible, stripped down to absolute basics of survival and interactions. Not only wasn’t he interested in the science, he actively pushed it away, knowing that any grounding in a specified event would invite readers to check the details of the world for accuracy and distract them from the big picture. He gave the equivalent of a Dantean tour of Hell, totally imaginative and totally allegorical. I think the book is the ultimate proof that “soft” science fiction is in no way inferior to “hard”. Different, yes, with different goals, but not inferior. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/22 "2013-02-05T18:24:27Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > Please tell me you’re kidding. Nope. I knew it was post-apocalyptic but not the nature of the apocalypse. But whatever, sounds like it may not be accurate anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/23 "2013-02-05T20:34:11Z")
Yeah, but if basic plot elements are now “spoilers,” then its impossible to have any coherent discussion about any work of art. **A:** Well, _King Lear_ is one of Shakespeare’s best-known traged– **B:** Gah! Spoiler! ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/24 "2013-02-05T21:40:38Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Nope. I knew it was post-apocalyptic but not the nature of the apocalypse. But whatever, sounds like it may not be accurate anyway. More than inaccurate it is irrelevant. The nature of the apocalypse is not what the book is about. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/25 "2013-02-05T21:45:06Z")
I don’t recall a clearly stated explanation. I’ve always thought it was intentionally left vague. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/26 "2013-02-05T22:08:22Z")
Somehow I had the impression that it was man-made, and that the protagonist was somehow part of it. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/27 "2013-02-05T22:22:56Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > Yeah, but if basic plot elements are now “spoilers,” then its impossible to have any coherent discussion about any work of art. > > **A:** Well, _King Lear_ is one of Shakespeare’s best-known traged– > **B:** Gah! Spoiler! Do an SDMB search for “spoilers”. You won’t believe some of the stuff you’ll find. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/28 "2013-02-05T23:18:02Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Nope. I knew it was post-apocalyptic but not the nature of the apocalypse. And you still don’t know the nature of it. No spoiler. BTW, _Moby Dick_ is about a Great White Whale. Now you don’t have to read it, since it’s spoiled for you!! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/29 "2013-02-06T21:55:30Z")
Maybe, but how hard is it just to put “Question about The Road”? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/30 "2013-02-06T22:40:28Z")
There’s a general rule about using descriptive titles. It’s more enforced in some sub-forums than others, but it’s a good rule nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/31 "2013-02-06T22:55:16Z")
I’m pretty strict about spoilers. But this title is not a spoiler in any conceivable way. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/32 "2013-02-07T03:00:36Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > I’m pretty strict about spoilers. But this title is not a spoiler in any conceivable way. Same; agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/33 "2013-02-07T16:34:32Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Maybe, but how hard is it just to put “Question about The Road”? This is not meant to be snaky in the least but you should at least begin the book before deciding if you have been spoiled. The idea that The Road is post apocalyptic is on the back cover. This thread title is as innocent as it can be. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/34 "2013-02-07T16:41:03Z")
I just assumed there’d been a nuclear war, but as others have noted, the reason for the apocalypse is secondary at best (and maybe even irrelevant). Perhaps I was biased, having read the book soon after we adopted our son… but to me, the book was less about the apocalypse than about the bond between a father and a child, and the lengths a man would go to for his son. I am by no means a courageous man by nature, but having a son completely changed my attitude about countless things. I’d fight for him to a degree I’d NEVER have fought for myself. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/35 "2013-02-08T05:09:48Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > This is not meant to be snaky in the least but you should at least begin the book before deciding if you have been spoiled. The idea that The Road is post apocalyptic is on the back cover. This thread title is as innocent as it can be. I will agree to disagree and not belabor the point. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282/36 "2013-02-08T06:23:14Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I think the book is the ultimate proof that “soft” science fiction is in no way inferior to “hard”. Different, yes, with different goals, but not inferior. Yes. The concern is with themes and characters, not The Idea or (so much) plot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-size-and-nature-of-the-object-that-hit-the-earth-in-th-road/649282.md?page=1)