Z for Zachariah
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature, Science fiction |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Robert C. O'Brien (pseudonym of Robert Leslie Conly) |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Post-apocalyptic science fiction novel |
Z for Zachariah is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel authored by American writer Robert C. O'Brien, released posthumously in 1974. The book was penned under the pseudonym of Robert Leslie Conly. Following his passing in March 1973, his wife Sally M. Conly and daughter Jane Leslie Conly completed the manuscript using his notes. The narrative unfolds within the continental United States and is presented as the diary of Ann Burden, a sixteen-year-old girl who survives a nuclear disaster and nerve gas exposure by residing in an isolated valley with a distinctive microclimate.
In 1972, Sally Conly described Z for Zachariah as her husband's planned "second adult novel," succeeding the science fiction thriller A Report from Group 17. Prior to this, O'Brien was recognized for his children's literature, including The Silver Crown (1968) and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (1971). The novel earned recognition as runner-up for the 1976 Jane Addams Children's Book Award and secured the Edgar Award for best juvenile mystery fiction.
Plot summary
Ann Burden believes herself to be the sole survivor of a nuclear catastrophe, living in isolation on a farm nestled within a radiation-free valley. Approximately one year after the war, a man wearing a radiation-proof suit arrives unexpectedly. Ann conceals herself when he inadvertently bathes in radioactive water and becomes ill. Eventually, she reveals her presence to assist him and discovers he is John Loomis, a chemist who helped develop the protective suit at an underground laboratory near Ithaca, New York. Seeking companionship, Ann invites Loomis to live with her.
Loomis experiences delirium accompanied by flashbacks involving the shooting of his colleague Edward, who attempted to use the safe-suit to locate his family. Ann cares for Loomis but withholds information about Edward's death. As Loomis recuperates, he begins to dominate agricultural activities and resource management, urging that they behave "as if this valley is the whole world and we are starting a colony," which unsettles Ann.[1] His demeanor becomes increasingly controlling; when questioned about previous marriage, he responds with hostility. Loomis later tries to sexually assault Ann; she fights back and escapes to a nearby cave.
Ann suggests they coexist in the valley but maintain separate living spaces. Loomis pretends not to recall his earlier aggression and agrees reluctantly, hoping she will "act more like an adult."[2] Despite their tense arrangement and concerns about surviving the winter, Ann preserves her autonomy.[3] Loomis subsequently locks the supply store, cutting off her access; when she asks for the key, he shoots her ankle to incapacitate her without causing fatal harm. Using her dog Faro to track Ann’s location at the cave, Loomis destroys her possessions by fire; however, she manages to flee despite sustaining an infected injury.
While recuperating, Ann envisions another valley inhabited by children awaiting her leadership. Convinced that Loomis is mentally unstable, she plans to steal the safe-suit and seek out this place. She attempts to kill Faro to prevent being tracked but fails; Faro dies after crossing a contaminated creek.
Ann carries out her plan by luring Loomis out with a note proposing an unarmed conversation, steals the safe-suit, and confronts him with knowledge of Edward’s murder. Overwhelmed into paralysis, Loomis begs not to be abandoned. Ann promises to send aid if she encounters others and heads southward. Loomis’s final words mention observing birds circling west; Ann listens carefully and proceeds west into irradiated terrain, hopeful for a verdant horizon.
Setting
The narrative unfolds almost exclusively within Burden Valley, a secluded and modest region in the United States named after the protagonist’s forebears who initially settled there and founded a farm. Aside from the Burden family, the only other inhabitants are the Kleins, proprietors of a local store catering primarily to nearby Amish farmers.
Spanning roughly four miles, the valley extends from Burden Hill in the north down to an S-shaped passage known as "the gap" at its southern end. Burden Creek, the larger of two watercourses, is contaminated with radioactivity due to its origin beyond the valley’s boundaries. It flows alongside the main road before exiting through the gap. A smaller stream, originating from a deep spring on an eastern slope, feeds into a fish-rich lake that provides sustenance for Ann. This stream eventually merges with Burden Creek. The majority of the valley is covered by forested terrain.
At first, Ann assumes that the valley’s animal life represents the final remnants of their species; however, Loomis later mentions observing birds flying westward beyond the valley, indicating that other forms of life persist outside. The local fauna includes rabbits, squirrels, crows—believed to have survived by remaining within the valley—and domesticated animals such as two cows, a bull calf, chickens, along with Faro, a dog owned by Ann’s cousin David.
A distinctive aspect of the valley is its separation from external weather patterns, resulting in a unique microclimate. Loomis speculates that this localized atmospheric condition arises from an inversion where air only ascends—a phenomenon he regards as highly unlikely.
Major themes
The story explores the tension between Ann, a pure-hearted girl symbolizing empathy and reverence for nature, and Loomis, an authoritarian scientist motivated by dominance and control. Critics emphasize themes including the potential harm caused by science when detached from moral considerations, the corrupting nature of power ambition, and the importance of personal liberty. Ann’s compassionate nature serves as a stark contrast to Loomis’ cold logic and egocentrism.
Contemporary reviews from 1975 describe Ann as a reluctant Eve figure who ultimately refuses to initiate humanity’s rebirth. The narrative highlights survival in the aftermath of nuclear disaster as a central motif, demonstrating human endurance amid widespread destruction.
Adaptations
Shortly following its release, the novel was serialized in the UK teenage publication Jackie (magazine).
In February 1984, the BBC produced an adaptation for its Play for Today series, relocating the story’s setting from America to Wales.
The 2015 cinematic version, financed by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Material Pictures, debuted in January 2015. This adaptation departs from the original Adam and Eve motif by introducing a third character and incorporating a love triangle. Featuring performances by Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine, it was directed by Craig Zobel with a screenplay adapted by Nissar Modi. Filming took place on New Zealand’s Banks Peninsula as well as in Welch, West Virginia.