The end of men

Only men contract the virus. Only women can save the world. Set in a world where a virus attacks only men, The End of Men is an electrifying and unforgettable debut.

The year is 2025, and a mysterious virus has broken out in Scotland—a lethal disease that seems to affect only men. Upon discovering this phenomenon, Dr. Amanda MacLean is dismissed as unbalanced. By the time she is truly heard, it is too late. The disease becomes a global—and political—pandemic. The victims are all men, of all ages. And the world becomes a woman's world.

What follows are immersive first-person accounts of the women who have had to deal with the virus's aftermath. These include Dr. Amanda; Catherine, a social historian determined to document the human experiences behind the "male plague"; Dawn, an intelligence analyst tasked with helping the government forge a new society; and Elizabeth, one of the many scientists working desperately to develop a vaccine. Through the eyes of these women and others, we see the countless ways in which men's absence has changed society—from the personal, such as the loss of husbands and sons, to the political, such as changes in the workforce, fertility, and the meaning of family.

Raising the question, "What would life really be like without men?", Christina Sweeney-Baird creates in The End of Men an unforgettable story of loss, resilience, and hope.

“Part parable, part thriller, and entirely provocative, this is the stuff classics are made of.” - AJ Finn, author of The Woman in the Window

“Impossible to put down, fiercely intelligent and frighteningly prophetic, at once thoughtful and moving.” - Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train

“Irresistible and heartbreaking. A remarkable achievement.” - Abi Daré, author of The Girl Who Wouldn't Shut Up

“Christina Sweeney-Baird's dystopian fantasy imagines the profound impact of another virus.” - The Wall Street Journal

“A chilling dystopian debut thriller... Sweeney-Baird's look inside the minds of shocked and desperate characters and her account of a bizarre new world are both compelling and frightening.” - Booklist

“Philosophically gripping and emotionally intimate... The personal politics and gender dynamics are spot-on, and readers will feel connected to the main characters' struggles and resilience. Sweeney-Baird is a writer to watch.” - Publishers Weekly