Can you name some characteristics of 'the first apocalyptic science fiction novel'?

Sure. 'The Stand' by Stephen King is an excellent one. It depicts a world decimated by a super - flu. The book is long but it's filled with rich characters and a detailed exploration of how society breaks down and tries to rebuild.

A possible contender for the first apocalyptic science - fiction novel is 'The Time Machine' by H.G. Wells too. In it, the Time Traveller goes far into the future and discovers that humanity has devolved into two different species, the Eloi and the Morlocks. The Earth is in a state of decay, which can be seen as a form of apocalypse, where the once - great human civilization has fallen into a state of primitiveness and horror.

Sure. Exaggerated heroes are a characteristic. These heroes are often super - capable, like being able to single - handedly defeat an entire alien invasion force.

If we consider 'Neuromancer' as one of the first, it had a gritty and dystopian feel. It was filled with high - tech jargon that was new at the time, like 'jacking in' to cyberspace. The characters were often anti - heroes, living on the fringes of society, trying to survive in a world dominated by powerful corporations and advanced technology.

There are quite a few. 'The Hunger Games' trilogy is a popular example. It presents a post - apocalyptic world where the Capitol rules over the districts in a cruel way. 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' is also famous. It explores a post - nuclear - holocaust world and how society and religion develop over time. And 'Station Eleven' which looks at a world after a flu pandemic has wiped out a large part of the population.

Sure. A major characteristic is the breakdown of technology. Most of the advanced technology that we rely on today stops working or is very difficult to maintain. There's also a shift in power dynamics. Instead of governments and institutions, it's often the strongest or most cunning individuals or groups who hold power. And, survival skills become crucial, like hunting, foraging, and basic first - aid.

Sure. 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells is a great first science fiction book. It was one of the first to depict an alien invasion, and it's still really exciting to read today. Another good one is 'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle. It has a young girl as the main character who goes on an adventure through time and space to save her father. It's a great mix of science fiction and coming - of - age story. And 'Ringworld' by Larry Niven is also worth checking out. It's about a huge artificial ring - shaped world in space.

In the first Sherlock novel 'A Study in Scarlet', it has a complex mystery. There are two intertwined plotlines.

One characteristic could be its length. Since it was the first of its kind, it likely had a certain amount of length to fully develop its story. Also, it probably had some form of character development, even if it was rudimentary compared to modern novels. For example, if we consider 'The Tale of Genji', the main character Genji has a long journey through life, and we see his growth and changes.

Typically, the first noir novels had complex and morally ambiguous characters. They weren't simply good or bad. For example, in 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', the characters' actions are driven by lust and greed, blurring the lines between right and wrong.