We are never told what has destroyed the world, but there's not a lot left, just ash, blackened stumps, charred remains and derelict towns - oh, and a few human beings. The man and his son are two of them, making their way along the road towards the south and the sea, where they hope it will be warmer. They are carrying something important i.e. the fire of morality and humanity in the face of open warfare, cruelty and cannibalism. This, of course, is what most humans have descended to in order to survive.

The book is well-written. Its sparse language matches the emptiness of the landscape, and of the people trying to survive the horror. Incredibly, McCarthy makes the reader feel numb, in tune with the characters, rather than horrified, as you might expect. The relationship between the boy and his father is warm and wonderful, in contrast to everything that surrounds them.

Many reviewers regard this book as a warning, and so it seems to be. I was glad it was relatively short, as it took an effort to pick it up again each day, and read about a horror which is fictional at present, but which may become a future reality.