Beginning of the End story
An agricultural scientist who has successfully grown gigantic vegetables using radiation. Unfortunately, the vegetables are eaten by locusts (the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers), which quickly grow to a gigantic size and attack the nearby city of Chicago.
10 total · 7 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| force of nature existential risk to civilization | major | A swarm of giant locust were poised to overrun the Earth. |
| giant monster | major | Giant locusts were poised to overrun the Earth. |
| human vs. beast | major | Humanity versus a swarm of giant locusts. |
| monster apocalypse | major | It was feared that a swarm of giant locust would overrun the Earth. |
| super growth therapy | major | Agricultural scientist Dr. Ed Wainwright used radiation to grow giant fruits and vegetables. |
| the dangers of radioactivity | major | Agricultural scientist Dr. Ed Wainwright grew gigantic vegetables using radiation. Unfortunately, some locust that fed on the grew to enormous proportions and destroyed and entire town. Dr. Ed Wainwright's assistant became a deaf mute after experimenting with radiation. |
| the dangers of unfettered scientific advancement | major | Agricultural scientist Dr. Ed Wainwright grew gigantic vegetables using radiation. Unfortunately, some locust that fed on the grew to enormous proportions and destroyed and entire town. Dr. Ed Wainwright's assistant became a deaf mute after experimenting with radiation. |
| freedom of the press | minor | Army officials confiscated journalist Audrey Aimes' camera and made her agree not to report on a missing town until she had their permission. |
| journalism | minor | Audrey Aimes was an enthusiastic photo journalist. |
| the religious end of the world | minor | Comparisons were drawn between Biblical locust plagues and the current predicament of the Earth and possible end of the world. |