I thought it might be interesting to have a post apocalyptic fiction thread. The sub-genre is large enough to warrant it I say! My main background is books, but I'd love to hear some recommendations on graphic novels, movies, etc. Here is a list of my favorites....
- Shadow and Claw
Gene Wolfe is a master of prose. He has a very intense and extremely detailed writing style. It takes a few chapters to get the flow of his language, once you cross that bridge, it's impossible to put down. The story takes place on a Earth or a place very similar to Earth, billions of years after our civilization has ended. The sun is dying, strange, ancient technologies still exist. The story focuses on an executioner and his path through this world. I love this book, highly recommended.
- Day of the Triffids
This novel was written in the early 1950s and holds up quite nicely. The story focuses on a plant that becomes somewhat sentient and a solar event that causes blindness to most of the population. The plants begin hunting humans down and eating them, you follow a man who began his time in a hospital, face bandaged, avoiding the effects of the cosmic event. Its a fun/interesting story, not very plausible but quite well written and entertaining.
- On the Beach
Another older novel, probably one of the most depressing post apocalyptic books out there. You follow a small population as they live out the last days of life on earth. A nuclear war broke out, everyone is dead except for this group of people in Australia. The jet stream hasn't brought enough radiation to kill everyone yet...but it will, and its inevitable. The story essentially focuses on how humans may deal with absolute and certain destruction. I definitely recommend it.
- Earth Abides
A virus takes out most of the population. This book centers on a small group of survivors, how they build a community and how modern knowledge slowly slips from their grasp, a good read and a powerful ending.
- Oryx and Crake
This one kind of snuck up on me. I think I was so surprised by it as it simply seems so plausible. Follow characters into a near future where human organs are being grown inside pigs. The book focuses largely on a friendship between two boys who grow into very different men (and the conflicts that arise from that and great intelligence). Kind of bleak, worth a read though. I DO NOT recommend the followup novels, they focus on something else entirely...boring.
- Brave New World
Everyone knows this, a classic, worth a read.
- Dark Tower I - Gunslinger
Stephen King's first entry in the Dark Tower series, written sometime in the late 70s if I remember right. As a standalone book, it holds up. You follow a Clint Eastwood type, last of a generation of gunslingers from a fallen kingdom. He is tracking the man who ruined his life, his friends and his country and will stop at nothing to get to him. Like Shadow and Claw, this book focuses on an Earth far in the future where remnants of old technology still exist in places.
- I Am Legend
Richard Mattheson is the master of the short story. I doubt any other author has had so many stories turned into tv shows and movies (maybe Stephen King, maybe). This is a vampire story with an unusual twist. The story focuses largley on a solitary man, quite possibly the last man alive. Where most books focus on the practical elements of survival, this one focuses mainly on the mental struggle, highly recommended (and short!). The Will Smith movie of the same name loosely follows the story, not the same at all.
- Fahrenheit 451
I would almost categorize this as a dark comedy, if you're into that sort of thing, I'd recommend it. The story focuses on a fireman, isntead of puting out fires, modern firemen have the job of setting fires...to books. Destroy old knowledge and focus on the new, watch tv, race cars and ignore anything that requires critical thinking.
- 1984
There is a reason this is lauded as the best dystopian novel ever written. It is extremely easy to place yourself in the shoes of the main character. I love this book so much, my favorite part is
- The Road
Cormac McCarthy is one of my favorite authors, I'd highly recommend reading any of his other non-apocalyptic fiction. This book focuses on a solitary man with his son and their effort to survive a post apocalyptic world. The sun is blocked out by a haze of ash, it almost seems as the world itself is burning. This novel has some really dark scenes, really dark, still recommended.
- The Stand
Great book, I've read it 3 or 4 times over the years. The book focuses on several different characters, their stories are told through differing points of views (somewhat like Game of Thrones). Classic good vs. evil with a post apocalyptic backdrop. I wouldn't recommend the tv mini series from the 90s though, please spare yourself that!
- One Second After
A newer book, follows a town after a low atmosphere nuclear bomb is set off. A large scale EMP blast takes out most electronic devices in a large section of the United States. Follow a single character as his town struggles to survive internal and external conflicts brought on by the lack of resources and panic. Pretty good.
- Shadow and Claw
Gene Wolfe is a master of prose. He has a very intense and extremely detailed writing style. It takes a few chapters to get the flow of his language, once you cross that bridge, it's impossible to put down. The story takes place on a Earth or a place very similar to Earth, billions of years after our civilization has ended. The sun is dying, strange, ancient technologies still exist. The story focuses on an executioner and his path through this world. I love this book, highly recommended.
- Day of the Triffids
This novel was written in the early 1950s and holds up quite nicely. The story focuses on a plant that becomes somewhat sentient and a solar event that causes blindness to most of the population. The plants begin hunting humans down and eating them, you follow a man who began his time in a hospital, face bandaged, avoiding the effects of the cosmic event. Its a fun/interesting story, not very plausible but quite well written and entertaining.
- On the Beach
Another older novel, probably one of the most depressing post apocalyptic books out there. You follow a small population as they live out the last days of life on earth. A nuclear war broke out, everyone is dead except for this group of people in Australia. The jet stream hasn't brought enough radiation to kill everyone yet...but it will, and its inevitable. The story essentially focuses on how humans may deal with absolute and certain destruction. I definitely recommend it.
- Earth Abides
A virus takes out most of the population. This book centers on a small group of survivors, how they build a community and how modern knowledge slowly slips from their grasp, a good read and a powerful ending.
- Oryx and Crake
This one kind of snuck up on me. I think I was so surprised by it as it simply seems so plausible. Follow characters into a near future where human organs are being grown inside pigs. The book focuses largely on a friendship between two boys who grow into very different men (and the conflicts that arise from that and great intelligence). Kind of bleak, worth a read though. I DO NOT recommend the followup novels, they focus on something else entirely...boring.
- Brave New World
Everyone knows this, a classic, worth a read.
- Dark Tower I - Gunslinger
Stephen King's first entry in the Dark Tower series, written sometime in the late 70s if I remember right. As a standalone book, it holds up. You follow a Clint Eastwood type, last of a generation of gunslingers from a fallen kingdom. He is tracking the man who ruined his life, his friends and his country and will stop at nothing to get to him. Like Shadow and Claw, this book focuses on an Earth far in the future where remnants of old technology still exist in places.
- I Am Legend
Richard Mattheson is the master of the short story. I doubt any other author has had so many stories turned into tv shows and movies (maybe Stephen King, maybe). This is a vampire story with an unusual twist. The story focuses largley on a solitary man, quite possibly the last man alive. Where most books focus on the practical elements of survival, this one focuses mainly on the mental struggle, highly recommended (and short!). The Will Smith movie of the same name loosely follows the story, not the same at all.
- Fahrenheit 451
I would almost categorize this as a dark comedy, if you're into that sort of thing, I'd recommend it. The story focuses on a fireman, isntead of puting out fires, modern firemen have the job of setting fires...to books. Destroy old knowledge and focus on the new, watch tv, race cars and ignore anything that requires critical thinking.
- 1984
There is a reason this is lauded as the best dystopian novel ever written. It is extremely easy to place yourself in the shoes of the main character. I love this book so much, my favorite part is
When he is given the speech while in prison. You know the main character is right, but the antagonist is so intelligent and so delusional, you can't help but see his points. Right and wrong cease to exist, it is only the will of the party and there is simply no stopping that, ever. Really depressing.
- The Road
Cormac McCarthy is one of my favorite authors, I'd highly recommend reading any of his other non-apocalyptic fiction. This book focuses on a solitary man with his son and their effort to survive a post apocalyptic world. The sun is blocked out by a haze of ash, it almost seems as the world itself is burning. This novel has some really dark scenes, really dark, still recommended.
- The Stand
Great book, I've read it 3 or 4 times over the years. The book focuses on several different characters, their stories are told through differing points of views (somewhat like Game of Thrones). Classic good vs. evil with a post apocalyptic backdrop. I wouldn't recommend the tv mini series from the 90s though, please spare yourself that!
- One Second After
A newer book, follows a town after a low atmosphere nuclear bomb is set off. A large scale EMP blast takes out most electronic devices in a large section of the United States. Follow a single character as his town struggles to survive internal and external conflicts brought on by the lack of resources and panic. Pretty good.
