Society defines world-class fiction as creating a particular setting and characters through which the author explores deep levels of human reality or experience. I believe that Nevil Shute's novel, On the Beach, is world-class fiction, for these reasons: the novel explores the human reality of family life; the novel shows the reality of a new couple's relationship; and the novel lets one man experience his dream.
             First, Shute explores the human reality of family life through the family of Peter and Mary Holmes. In the Holmes' family, everyone looks out for everyone else. Right before Peter's long naval voyage, he discusses with his wife, Mary, what she must do n case the radiation reached Melbourne before his return. This type of thought is not common in our everyday lives; people in the Holmes' setting need to think about things like how to commit suicide if the pain is too unbearable. At the end of the novel, Peter is at home with his family when they decide that they will all die together at the same time. Only world-class fiction writing can make us understand the thought processes through which a woman can commit suicide and a father can murder his own daughter.
             In addition to family life, Shute explores human reality through a new couple's relationship. Moira Davidson meets Dwight Towers in the beginning of the novel. During the course of their relationship, Moira's attitude changes dramatically. Even though she knows she is going to die, Moira realizes that life can still have meaning. Moira helps Dwight, the naval captain of the U.S.S. Scorpion, to cope with having lost his family. Moira humors Dwight; he thinks that his family is still alive in the U.S. Deep down Dwight knows that his family is dead, but he still doesn't want to fully commit to a relationship with Moira. He feels like it would be betraying his wife. It is unusual to see a man like Dwight Towers, who ...