The 10 Greatest Apocalyptic Novels Of All Time... (1 Viewer)

[Tom Servo]

For reading World War Z, should you read his first book (The Zombie Survival Guide) first?

I don't think you need to IMO.

 

[RhymesMcJuice]

Survivalist by Jerry Ahern (books 1-5 were really entertaining in a fluffy way. STOP THERE! DO NOT READ THE REST OF THE BOOKS!)

I was going to post this but I think the first 9 books are good (on Demonoid if anyone wants to read them). After that it really goes downhill with more emphasis on sci-fi. Great series but don't expect to read all 29 books. Just found out Jerry died a couple of weeks ago. :(

 

[ens189]

My favorite genre hands down. Swan Song, The Road, and if you are into zombie fiction the Dead World series by Joe McKinney is excellent.

 

[Jefferson the Caregiver]

Days Between Stations by Steve Erickson Great one

 

[Tyrion]

Swan Song is excellent. It is also on Audible now and they did a great job. I enjoyed listening to it as much as reading it. Btw if you like the author you should also read "Gone South" and "Boy's Life".

The Road is also very good. The mental battles the father goes through are incredible.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Swan Song is excellent. It is also on Audible now and they did a great job. I enjoyed listening to it as much as reading it. Btw if you like the author you should also read "Gone South" and "Boy's Life".

The Road is also very good. The mental battles the father goes through are incredible.

This is what I posted to Shuke about not finishing because it was getting too fantastical. Never tried Swan Song - I'll add it to the list of other books to start if I ever get through the Song of Fire and Ice books.

 

[Tyrion]

Swan Song is excellent. It is also on Audible now and they did a great job. I enjoyed listening to it as much as reading it. Btw if you like the author you should also read "Gone South" and "Boy's Life".

The Road is also very good. The mental battles the father goes through are incredible.

This is what I posted to Shuke about not finishing because it was getting too fantastical. Never tried Swan Song - I'll add it to the list of other books to start if I ever get through the Song of Fire and Ice books.

He does get into the world of "fantastic". Enjoy the Song of Fire and Ice Books? They are my favorite series. I just wish GRRM was a little quicker in putting them out.

 

[Apes with Guns]

One second after is a new entry. It's based on life after an EMP, pretty sure the author pulled info from a lot of government research about what would happen if one would go off over the entire country. It reads like an updated Alas, Babylon

Was just coming to post this. One Second After is short, fairly intense read on just how fast society alls apart after an apocalyptic event, especially one that simply takes away your electronics. It's very real in its narrative taking place just outside of Asheville, NC where the author actually live. Great book.http://www.onesecondafter.com/

Before I read this one, I didn't even know what an EMP was. You can tell the author has done his homework and the scenario he describes post-EMP seems very realistic to me. However, don't go into this book looking for great characterization or dialogue - it's pretty rudimentary and all of the characters are well-worn archestypes. To be fair, though, I doubt the author was going for the Great American Novel here and was just using the fiction angle to inform. Anyway, pretty fast and enjoyable read with a few "oh crap1" moments.

Harry Turtledove also wrote an "Alternative History" book about an EMP attack done by aliens invading Earth and starting the invasion with an EMP attack. Oh yes, and the EMP attack took place in 1943 and the story centered on WWII so that you had Nzais vs. Allies vs. Aliens and all electronics were disabled so no internal combustion engines would work. Steam power and diesel engines were the main forms of power that would still work, because there was no spark.

The whole story was very weird.

Most of Turtledove's books turn into hack. The battles and technology are awesome, but when it comes to the characters, they usually end up being misogynistic superheroes.

 

[Apes with Guns]

One second after is a new entry. It's based on life after an EMP, pretty sure the author pulled info from a lot of government research about what would happen if one would go off over the entire country. It reads like an updated Alas, Babylon

Was just coming to post this. One Second After is short, fairly intense read on just how fast society alls apart after an apocalyptic event, especially one that simply takes away your electronics. It's very real in its narrative taking place just outside of Asheville, NC where the author actually live. Great book.http://www.onesecondafter.com/

Before I read this one, I didn't even know what an EMP was. You can tell the author has done his homework and the scenario he describes post-EMP seems very realistic to me. However, don't go into this book looking for great characterization or dialogue - it's pretty rudimentary and all of the characters are well-worn archestypes. To be fair, though, I doubt the author was going for the Great American Novel here and was just using the fiction angle to inform. Anyway, pretty fast and enjoyable read with a few "oh crap1" moments.

Harry Turtledove also wrote an "Alternative History" book about an EMP attack done by aliens invading Earth and starting the invasion with an EMP attack. Oh yes, and the EMP attack took place in 1943 and the story centered on WWII so that you had Nzais vs. Allies vs. Aliens and all electronics were disabled so no internal combustion engines would work. Steam power and diesel engines were the main forms of power that would still work, because there was no spark.

The whole story was very weird.

Was that a different book from the Lizards invasion series? They caught us in the middle of WWII, too, but I don't remember EMPs being used. Everybody still had working machinery.I've been seeing promos for a new tv series coming along called "Revolution," I think, which is supposed to be about life after the power goes out. It appears that people get skilled with swords pretty quickly.

If this show isn't directly based on the "Dies the Fire" books, then it is certainly influenced by it.

 

[Apes with Guns]

A zombie recommendation, that is fit for teenagers is The Enemy by Charlie Higson. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was really into the british accents, so it was hard to follow at times, but it's a good read. You would probably find it in the YA section.

 

[ens189]

+1 to whoever recommended One Second After, one of the best in the genre.

 

[KGB]

The Stand is in the Top 5, no question. Anyone who doesn't get this shouldn't earn their apocalyptic novel merit badge.

Also really enjoyed One Second After, about life after an EMP attack.

Thanks for the recommendation. Finished about 75% in 1 day. Right up my alley.

 

[Mad Cow]

In reading World War Z, I find myself really enjoying some sections, such as South/North Korea, Japan, etc., but others really drag and have me thinking he must have really been out of ideas towards the end of the book to stretch it out.

 

[Cold Dead Hands]

In reading World War Z, I find myself really enjoying some sections, such as South/North Korea, Japan, etc., but others really drag and have me thinking he must have really been out of ideas towards the end of the book to stretch it out.

In the audio version, the battle of Yonkers and any chapter dealing with that character is my favorite.

 

[mad sweeney]

The 10 Greatest Apocalyptic Novels Of All Time

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller

Damn if that isn't one boring book. People need to stop recommending it.

Yeah, it gets pretty irritating after awhile. I probably should have mentioned that.

I loved it and was curious how I missed it all these years. I wouldn't consider myself literarily adventurous either. The very end was a bit tedious but I thought it was thought provoking and didn't diminish what was, up to then, a very good story.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Swan Song is excellent. It is also on Audible now and they did a great job. I enjoyed listening to it as much as reading it. Btw if you like the author you should also read "Gone South" and "Boy's Life".

The Road is also very good. The mental battles the father goes through are incredible.

This is what I posted to Shuke about not finishing because it was getting too fantastical. Never tried Swan Song - I'll add it to the list of other books to start if I ever get through the Song of Fire and Ice books.

He does get into the world of "fantastic". Enjoy the Song of Fire and Ice Books? They are my favorite series. I just wish GRRM was a little quicker in putting them out.

Yeah, but honestly I am not sure if I would have gotten this far without seeing the first season and hearing some of the names/getting a feel for the characters and places. I am usually anti anything much more than 400pgs or so, and usually don't read much that toes the line of fantasy either. I am almost 1/2 way through book 2 and still enjoying it.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

 

[mlball77]

In reading World War Z, I find myself really enjoying some sections, such as South/North Korea, Japan, etc., but others really drag and have me thinking he must have really been out of ideas towards the end of the book to stretch it out.

I'm finding myself noticeably less interested about 3/4 into the book. I was very much enjoying the book early on and it's only so-so for me the last several "interviews." I'm hoping it picks back up for me again shortly.

 

[Clifford]

The 10 Greatest Apocalyptic Novels Of All Time

World War Z - Max Brooks

Blindness - Jose Saramago

The Road - Cormac McCarthy

The Postman - David Brin

Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller

Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank

Lucifer's Hammer - Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle

Swan Song - Robert R. McCammon

On the Beach - Nevil Schute

Has anybody read any of these? Please post your opinions. Kind of surprised The Stand wasn't listed.

Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy is at once the best and most unconventional. Warning: it has some non-PC terms and thoughts.

 

[Mad Cow]

In reading World War Z, I find myself really enjoying some sections, such as South/North Korea, Japan, etc., but others really drag and have me thinking he must have really been out of ideas towards the end of the book to stretch it out.

I'm finding myself noticeably less interested about 3/4 into the book. I was very much enjoying the book early on and it's only so-so for me the last several "interviews." I'm hoping it picks back up for me again shortly.

Exactly. It feels very much like he was just throwing things in there as filler at the end. Hey, I bet underwater would be good to fill a few pages. And then why not talk about dogs? You bet. How about we talk about how hard the French had it underground, even though they chose to be there such. 10% left and I am contemplating just giving it up at this point. Boring.

 

[mlball77]

In reading World War Z, I find myself really enjoying some sections, such as South/North Korea, Japan, etc., but others really drag and have me thinking he must have really been out of ideas towards the end of the book to stretch it out.

I'm finding myself noticeably less interested about 3/4 into the book. I was very much enjoying the book early on and it's only so-so for me the last several "interviews." I'm hoping it picks back up for me again shortly.

Exactly. It feels very much like he was just throwing things in there as filler at the end. Hey, I bet underwater would be good to fill a few pages. And then why not talk about dogs? You bet. How about we talk about how hard the French had it underground, even though they chose to be there such. 10% left and I am contemplating just giving it up at this point. Boring.

Yeah, I am hoping it finishes strong. I actually ordered a few of the books on the list in the OP and have them sitting, waiting for me to read... so the thought of dropping WWZ 3/4 the way through did run through my mind. I was sort of surprised the thought even came up because I liked the start of WWZ so much. --I will power through regardless, since I'm so close, but I really am hoping my interest will sway back toward the positive for the last 40 pages or so.

 

[Apes with Guns]

In reading World War Z, I find myself really enjoying some sections, such as South/North Korea, Japan, etc., but others really drag and have me thinking he must have really been out of ideas towards the end of the book to stretch it out.

I'm finding myself noticeably less interested about 3/4 into the book. I was very much enjoying the book early on and it's only so-so for me the last several "interviews." I'm hoping it picks back up for me again shortly.

Exactly. It feels very much like he was just throwing things in there as filler at the end. Hey, I bet underwater would be good to fill a few pages. And then why not talk about dogs? You bet. How about we talk about how hard the French had it underground, even though they chose to be there such. 10% left and I am contemplating just giving it up at this point. Boring.

Yeah, I am hoping it finishes strong. I actually ordered a few of the books on the list in the OP and have them sitting, waiting for me to read... so the thought of dropping WWZ 3/4 the way through did run through my mind. I was sort of surprised the thought even came up because I liked the start of WWZ so much. --I will power through regardless, since I'm so close, but I really am hoping my interest will sway back toward the positive for the last 40 pages or so.

what'd you get? Dish! Dish!!

 

[mlball77]

In reading World War Z, I find myself really enjoying some sections, such as South/North Korea, Japan, etc., but others really drag and have me thinking he must have really been out of ideas towards the end of the book to stretch it out.

I'm finding myself noticeably less interested about 3/4 into the book. I was very much enjoying the book early on and it's only so-so for me the last several "interviews." I'm hoping it picks back up for me again shortly.

Exactly. It feels very much like he was just throwing things in there as filler at the end. Hey, I bet underwater would be good to fill a few pages. And then why not talk about dogs? You bet. How about we talk about how hard the French had it underground, even though they chose to be there such. 10% left and I am contemplating just giving it up at this point. Boring.

Yeah, I am hoping it finishes strong. I actually ordered a few of the books on the list in the OP and have them sitting, waiting for me to read... so the thought of dropping WWZ 3/4 the way through did run through my mind. I was sort of surprised the thought even came up because I liked the start of WWZ so much. --I will power through regardless, since I'm so close, but I really am hoping my interest will sway back toward the positive for the last 40 pages or so.

what'd you get? Dish! Dish!!

Starting off with an excuse; I assembled my purchase list before researching the FFA. I actually searched for and found this thread after my order was in… but much of it was confirmed by what I read in this thread. –I actually spent some time looking at Amazon reviews etc. before making my purchase(s). I don’t know when/if I’ll ever read them all, but I purchased:World War ZA Canticle for LeibowitzThe StandLucifer’s HammerAlas, BabylonThe PostmanI had recently read “I am Legend” and it was so different than the movie (better, imo) that it made me think about reading “The Stand” and “The Postman”. So, I started looking into the genre, in general, and came up with the list above. I decided to start with World War Z as I wanted to have that read well before the movie comes out (not sure when that is). -Canticle is on deck right now.

 

[Apes with Guns]

I liked Postman, but never finished the Stand. I'm interested to hear more impressions of Canticle for Leibowitz, as I did not care for it.

 

[mad sweeney]

I liked Postman, but never finished the Stand. I'm interested to hear more impressions of Canticle for Leibowitz, as I did not care for it.

I don't want to spoil Canticle but as a fan of it, I'll jump in when it comes back up. The Stand is such a two faced book. First half is incredible, second half is incredulous. I think King went through and altered past books a bit to tie in some of the supernatural elements so hey matched with each other and newer books. Not sure if Stand got changed but if so, I would recommend the pre-alteration choice. The end half is kinda hard enough to swallow without the added BS of tying it in with Dark Tower and such.

 

[prosopis]

The Stand is in the Top 5, no question. Anyone who doesn't get this shouldn't earn their apocalyptic novel merit badge.

Also really enjoyed One Second After, about life after an EMP attack.

Thanks for the recommendation. Finished about 75% in 1 day. Right up my alley.

I just picked this up at the library. I hope it lives up to what I am hearing.

 

[KGB]

In one minute later, does it go from they are coming, to, ok its over, and then back track a bit...? I feel like my electronic version missed somethingat chapter 10

 

[cstu]

The 10 Greatest Apocalyptic Novels Of All Time

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller

Damn if that isn't one boring book. People need to stop recommending it.

Yeah, it gets pretty irritating after awhile. I probably should have mentioned that.

I loved it and was curious how I missed it all these years. I wouldn't consider myself literarily adventurous either. The very end was a bit tedious but I thought it was thought provoking and didn't diminish what was, up to then, a very good story.

I found the entire book extremely tedious to read. I've never had to force myself to trudge through a book like that in my life. In the end I could appreciate the satire on religion and the human race but it's not an enjoyable read.

 

[Black Sunshine]

No Apology - Mitt Romney

 

[mlball77]

The 10 Greatest Apocalyptic Novels Of All Time

A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M. Miller

Damn if that isn't one boring book. People need to stop recommending it.

Yeah, it gets pretty irritating after awhile. I probably should have mentioned that.

I loved it and was curious how I missed it all these years. I wouldn't consider myself literarily adventurous either. The very end was a bit tedious but I thought it was thought provoking and didn't diminish what was, up to then, a very good story.

I found the entire book extremely tedious to read. I've never had to force myself to trudge through a book like that in my life. In the end I could appreciate the satire on religion and the human race but it's not an enjoyable read.

Since this is the next one on my list (probably start reading it in a week or two), would you guys recommend I drop it after 100 pages or so if it hasn't pulled me in by that point? In other words, will I know pretty early on if this story and the style are something that I'll enjoy or not?Admittedly, I don't want to force myself to read a book that bores me to tears... life is too short to willingly do that to myself. -I'm hoping to be very interested in Canticle as I'm going through it, but it sounds like most either really like it or strongly dislike it.

 

[Apes with Guns]

here is a goodreads group that i follow and really trust recommendations from. This is the group read list, but I recommend checking out the forum for some great suggestions. That's where I found Into the Forest, which I probably would have ignored otherwise.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/995645-aw-book-club-book-list-and-schedule

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

After reading this thread yesterday, I downloaded World War Z to the Kindle. Started reading last night. I'm hooked.

 

[mlball77]

OK, I wrapped up World War Z. As I've mentioned before, I really liked the beginning. The mid-end portion dragged for me personally. Maybe my expectations were to high after the great start? I'd give the first half of the book an A- and the second have a C. Overall, definitely worth the read though, imo.

 

[Maelstrom]

World War Z - Max BrooksLucifer's Hammer - Larry Niven & Jerry Pournell

I've read these two, enjoyed them both. The interviews for WWZ can get repetitive, but I enjoyed most of them.I think the Stand should be among these books, despite the ending. I'm going to check out One Second After, sounds interesting.

 

[shuke]

The end half is kinda hard enough to swallow without the added BS of tying it in with Dark Tower and such.

Can you elaborate on this in spoilers? I don't recall anything.

 

[mad sweeney]

The end half is kinda hard enough to swallow without the added BS of tying it in with Dark Tower and such.

Can you elaborate on this in spoilers? I don't recall anything.

Spoiler

I haven't read King this century so I haven't actually read the modified versions but it's my understanding that while getting near the end of Dark Tower he started tying a lot of villains into the same eon spanning evil guy, Randall Flagg. So the bad guy in Eyes of the Dragon became Flagg, etc. I guess The bad guy in DT is also Flagg. Sounds like he George Lucased a lot of his older books to make them in one "universe" with a unified Walking Dude bad guy.

 

[prosopis]

The end half is kinda hard enough to swallow without the added BS of tying it in with Dark Tower and such.

Can you elaborate on this in spoilers? I don't recall anything.

Spoiler

I haven't read King this century so I haven't actually read the modified versions but it's my understanding that while getting near the end of Dark Tower he started tying a lot of villains into the same eon spanning evil guy, Randall Flagg. So the bad guy in Eyes of the Dragon became Flagg, etc. I guess The bad guy in DT is also Flagg. Sounds like he George Lucased a lot of his older books to make them in one "universe" with a unified Walking Dude bad guy.

Granted its been a while since I read The Stand but I am 99% sure that is not true. I have read both versions. The newer version contained updated pop culture stuff. I believe who ever you spoke with was talking about the end of the dark tower. The last of the Dark Tower books does go through quite a bit of "stretching" to get what your spoiler refers to.

 

[Apes with Guns]

just ordered One Second After on CD at Amazon. I broke my "don't buy an audiobook over $15" rule for this based on recommendations.

 

[Foosball God]

I just got back from vacation. I read World War Z and loved it the whole way through.

I also read Lucifer's Hammer. It was good in that it showed the world before, during, and after, but I got the impression the author just got tired or bored at the end. Lots of major things he just skipped right over and gave short little epilogues about. It was decent, but I wouldn't call it great.

I'm about 1/3 into The Postman, it started kind of slow but it's picking up a bit now. His apocalypse scenario doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but the premise is interesting.

 

[roadkill1292]

Just finished Swan Song, pretty good read.

 

[VonRomig]

Lucifer's Hammer is awesome.

 

[FootballDummy]

Day of the Triffids by Jack Wyndham

Good call. Haven't seen Damnation Alley by Zelazny mentioned yet. It was made into one of the worst films ever but it was a decent book, albeit very "pulpy".And the extremely wonderful Hawkwind had a song based on it, another strong recommendation.

Great book, terrible movie. Kind of the inspiration for Snake Plissken, I always thought.

 

[flapgreen]

Hmmm...haven't read a book in years but this thread has me reconsidering. What's a good one to start with? The Stand? The Road? One Second Later?...

 

[FootballDummy]

Hmmm...haven't read a book in years but this thread has me reconsidering. What's a good one to start with? The Stand? The Road? One Second Later?...

What do you like? The Stand is good old Stephen King, although I'll agree that the first half is better than the second half. That means it's a thousand pages of character development, but done really well. The Road is short and good, but depressing. Haven't read One Second Later. I like the Lucifer's Hammer and Damnation Alley mentions. Hammer is longer but an interesting read. Damnation Alley is shorter but a good read.

 

[flapgreen]

Something that's not 1000 pages, but builds to a good ending and is somewhat similar to what might really happen. "The Road" sounds too depressing.

 

[beer 302]

Something that's not 1000 pages, but builds to a good ending and is somewhat similar to what might really happen. "The Road" sounds too depressing.

You can read One Second After in a day, maybe two. Very short book.

 

[flapgreen]

Something that's not 1000 pages, but builds to a good ending and is somewhat similar to what might really happen. "The Road" sounds too depressing.

You can read One Second After in a day, maybe two. Very short book.

Description looks cool. I think I'll go with this one.

 

[mlball77]

So, I’m getting close to the halfway point in Canticle.  I’ve enjoyed it pretty well up to this point.  It’s a different type of book for sure.  The style and writing isn’t quite as easy to read, for me, but the story is so uniquely different that it has held my attention very well thus far.  Admittedly, I do like strong character development and finding connections with them (The Stand might really be up my alley).  Canticle and WWZ both are not very heavy in character development… so that is a slight knock on them, for my personal preferences. 

 

[Apes with Guns]

Day of the Triffids by Jack Wyndham

Good call. Haven't seen Damnation Alley by Zelazny mentioned yet. It was made into one of the worst films ever but it was a decent book, albeit very "pulpy".And the extremely wonderful Hawkwind had a song based on it, another strong recommendation.

Great book, terrible movie. Kind of the inspiration for Snake Plissken, I always thought.

It was *NOT* a terrible movie, and there are multiple points to back this up.1. George Peppard2. The Landmaster3. Armored cockroachesI could go on, but I am confident that you have been defeated.On to better news!I'm on disc 8 of One Second After, and I'm enjoying it for the most part. However, the preachy tone of the author is a beatdown, and it seems to be increasing in frequency as the book goes on. I hope there is a more interesting point to the book outside of the "America is doomed if we don't prepare for this!" mantra. I don't think the forward by Newt Gengrich helped on this point. Also, the narrator trying to do a female southern accent makes me want to claw my eyes out at times. Perhaps I should have read this book instead. On the bright side, he really put some thought into how a small community might survive a horrific event like this, and that preparation shows in the story.

 

[flapgreen]

Just ordered Swan Song and One Second After.