As many reviewers already noted, this is an interesting survival story and a gripping read. What constantly annoyed me, however, is the fact that women are almost completely nonexistent in this novel. Considering that the book was published in 1958, I didn't expect to find a woman in a leading capacity, but here they only have the role of bearing children and nothing else; hardly ever is a woman mentioned by name. In fact, there are no relationships between people to speak of (except male friendship). There is of course no love story, but also no dissent, no compassion, just the constant struggle against the hostile environment. Still, in the end the Survivors rather improbably remain "decent human beings", as opposed to the sadistic Gerns ...