The novelette “Lot” by Ward Moore was published for the first time in 1953.

When nuclear was breaks out, the Jimmon family is ready. Mr. Jimmon prepared anything that could be useful to their survival so they can quickly leave after loading everything on their car. He had discussed about it with his family just to be ready, but since the beginning of the trip tension seem to come not from external dangers but by their bickering with each other, which test the unity of the family.

“Lot” was written at a time when nuclear war was becoming a distinct possibility. This apocalyptic story focuses on the Jimmon family fleeing when the bombs start falling on the USA. Ward Moore doesn’t explain how the war began or what’s going on in the world because this is the story of the Jimmon family.

Mr. Jimmon is considered a modern Lot by Ward Moore. Like the character of the Bible who fled from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Mr. Jimmon flees from Los Angeles. In time of crisis, however, the Jimmon family seems to disintegrate in their bickering instead of coming together.

At the beginning of the story, Mrs. Jimmon’s and her children’s whining sometimes seem petty. Mr. Jimmon prepared for the worst with a clarity that leaves no room even to feelings. He cares only for what is needed for his family’s survival and the fact that his wife and their children don’t understand it is for him a source of great frustration.

The journey to a shelter becomes tougher and tougher because of the bickering and the recriminations about the past that become more and more serious. The tension inside the car gets stronger and stronger until the final twist. “Lot” is a tough story where the nuclear war starts a drama within the Jimmon family.

In “Lot” the nuclear war remains in the background and thanks to this choice by Ward Moore today it’s not very dated. It’s rightly considered a classic of apocalyptic science fiction and I recommend reading it.