Travis's comments (member since Mar 04, 2008)

Travis's comments from the Apocalypse Whenever group.

Adrian wrote: "Jo wrote: "I really want to read The Stand. I hear its one of his best.

I also want to read The Road. I have it at home but i haven't got round to reading it yet. "

The Stand is excellent. It a..."

I Haven't actually read The Stand, yet but I can recommend the whole Dark Tower series. I think that it is funny that they are mentioned together on here so much because (and I hope this isn't a spoiler) part of one the DT books takes place 'in' The Stand (or at least the same/similar universe.)

Does anyone know if "City of Ember" is any good? I thought it was a kids movie until I sat down and watched it one evening. Turns out it was actually quite good and in my opinion pretty realistic. I would say an example of what life would be like after a couple hundred years of complacency and sheltering.

That's a toughie. Of course I wouldn't want to die and I wouldn't wish death on my family either. The fact remains that in these types of situations there could be worse things than death out there. I mean I guess I would rather die with my family in a quick and painless manner, than to watch them suffer at the hands of zombies/savages/aliens/biker pirates... what have you. On the other hand though, what if it turns out that salvation was right around the corner like in the movie adaption of Stephen King's 'The Fog.' If the army came around the corner to save the day right after I had just out my loved ones out of their misery I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

Has anyone watched the music video for the Muse song, "The Knights of Cydonia"? It is made in the style of a short film, so I guess it counts. As near as I can figure, it is supposed to take place on Mars. (Cydonia being the region on Mars where the face is.) It is about a 'man with no name' saving a 'princess' from an evil sheriff/duke who controls the town through use of technology, following/during the Martian apocalypse. The album feature four 'horsemen' sitting around a table with 4 tiny horses on it. It is kind of silly and it parodizes a lot of films/TV shows (some of them post/peri apocalyptic in nature.) It is a good song too. Check it out Here.

I guess it is stories like these, which provide a distraction from the 'real' world. The elements that make them up are so far from our lives that provide a sort of escape. Imagining a future where only the strong/smart survive. What would you do in such a situation? Where would you go? How would you survive? Questions like this make you want to look deeper with in to see if you would really be able to make it and survive. I think another part of the draw of these stories is the adventure. Past the tragedy, past the shock, lies the struggle for survival and re-building. Investigating into a new unknown to see what is out there in the aftermath, and try to re-build. I mean, I know how to fish and hunt, and I have some military training too. The question is, would that be enough to help me save my family, or even myself?

'A Canticle for Leibovitz' sounds like an interesting read I'll have to see if I can get a hold of it sometime.

There was a short story that I read in HS, I have been wondering about it for some time now. Tonight I finally found it it is called "By The Waters of Babylon." It is really short, you could probably read the whole thing in less than 30 min. I don't know why, but it has always stayed in my mind. It is definitely worth the read even if it is a little dated.It was written in like 1937 by Stephen Vincent Benét. Set in a future following the destruction of industrial civilization, the story is narrated by a young man named John who is the son of a priest. The priests of John’s people are inquisitive "scientists" associated with the divine. They are the only ones who can handle metal collected from the homes (called the "Dead Places") of long-dead people whom they believe to be gods. The plot follows John’s self-assigned mission to get to the Place of the Gods. Wikisource has the entire text:Here

I am glad that you can watch it online. I had always wanted to get into that show, but just never got the chance. Now at least I can see it.

I just got a chance to watch I am Legend, this weekend. I really quite enjoyed it. I was hoping to see the alternate ending but the lady at blockbuster said that there was no disk 2. Unfortunately for us there was a disk 2 and the alternate ending is on there. I must say that a lot of the elements were the same from the book and the Heston version, especially the ending (spoiler) where in the original ending he dies after passing on a cure, much like in the Heston version. Also how the world is learning to cope with the virus like in the book. Shown as the survivor camp which will eventually cure the rest of the world. However, if you see the behavior of the infected as becoming intelligent in their own right, it is way closer to the end of the original novel.

I would have to recommend Stephen Kings "Dark Tower" series. I know it may seem a little daunting to start a 7 book series, but is worth it in my opinion. While not necessarily strictly post-apocalyptic a large portion of the action takes place in a world that has 'moved on.' As the characters pursue their quest across the landscape it becomes clear that this is a world that seems to have long ago suffered a series of apocalyptic like events. This is evidenced by the remnants of long abandoned cities and forgotten technology, mixed with mystical and almost western themes. I could talk about it forever, but I strongly suggest people give it a try even if you have never read any of his other works. There is also a prequel story of sorts in the "Everything's Eventual" anthology of short stories called "The Sister's of Eluria." It is what set me on the path to want to read more. There are even heavy references and character crossovers from other books I have seen a lot on here occur in the series (namely Randall Flagg and "The Stand.")

I had almost forgotten about "Lucifer's Hammer" until I saw it here, it has to be one of my more favorite books in the genre. Also "WWZ" and "The Zombie Survival Guide." Of course "I am Legend," "Alas Babylon," and "Planet of the Apes." I don't know if they really count or not, but I am going to say the Dark Tower series, because i am sure that Roland is from a post-apocalyptic world.