Path to Savagery

by Robert Edmond Alter

...in the savage and dying world most of the survivors of the great war were either Flockers, who guarded their food, water and weapons jealously, or Neanderthals, who had totally reverted to barbarism.

Falk was a Loner. He had to keep moving, looking. Looking for a woman, yes, but also for something more.

In a ruined city, in the huge, dank, flooded caverns of a gigantic department store, Falk found his woman.

And also something more......

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction

174 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Robert Edmond Alter is remembered chiefly for two novels, paperback originals from the 1960s: "Swamp Sister" (1961) and "Carny Kill" (1966). He also wrote children's novels and sold stories to some of the top magazines of his day, including the "Saturday Evening Post" and "Argosy". Alter died suddenly at the age of 40 (some sources state it was Cancer). Some of his later works were published for the first time many years after his death. He was survived by his wife, Maxine and his daughter Sand.

Reviews

[Checkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cold war era post-apocalyptic novel written by one of the most prolific pulp fiction authors of the time. There were other PA novels before Path to Savagery,but it seems that Path was influential in that it was one of the first to focus on the solitary man of action who survives by his wits and skills. The difference between I Am Legend and Path to Savagery is the protagonist in Path is not dealing with angst and depression. He's simply a survivor who doesn't have a lot of emotional baggage to carry around. As I read Path it struck me as an ancestor to the post-apocalyptic action novels that would become so popular in the seventies and eighties. Path to Savagery is a tough enjoyable pulp-fiction novel set in a post-apocalyptic world. It's a smooth fast read.

[Beauregard Shagnasty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I liked this a lot. Who knew Robert Edmond Alter had a post-apocalyptic novel in his repertoire?

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent post-apocalyptic adventure. Falk is a Loner, one who wanders Earth's wastelands living on his own and depending only on himself for survival. Other survivors walk other paths - Flockers group together and survive using strength in numbers, taking over a water hole and protecting it from others and saving it for their own use. Neanderthals are large mutants who are savage and strong, and live by the power of their might and use trained dogs to hunt other humans for food and sport.

The writing is excellent, the world building is interesting, and the characterizations are believable. Overall, an excellent book, that I recommend to any interested in this sub-genre.

[James Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite how I imagined it to go and end and a little bit dissapointing insofar as a fictional apocolyptic world goes but nevertheless an interesting story with some strong characters. I dare say there are similarities with some Westerns but I'm not aware. Overall, a fine novel, thank you Robert, you'll not be forgotten.

[Tim's Book Retreat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Path to Savagery is, first and foremost, a book of its time, and not always in a good way. Misogyny runs through much of the narrative, and if that’s something you don’t want to deal with, this is an easy pass. The main character is so obsessed with women that it becomes genuinely hard to root for him, and the story leans far too heavily on that aspect of his personality.

Which is unfortunate, because there is so much more that could have been done. Instead of digging into the world or the larger collapse of society, the narrative keeps circling back to the protagonist’s sex drive, which quickly grows repetitive. If you’re hoping for something in the tradition of Stephen King’s The Stand or Robert McCammon’s Swan Song, you will need to lower your expectations; this book isn’t that kind of sweeping, humanity focused storyline.

While Path to Savagery may interest readers curious about vintage genre fiction, its dated attitudes, will leave many modern readers struggling with its out of date perspective.

[Svetlana Sonday · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing! I saw the 1979 movie, too. Poor Miriam is dead now. "Avengers: Infinity War," is coming out now. I wonder if they will mention her at all. I know the Ravagers will be in there.

Is there anyone out there who would like to hold a funeral for Miriam for me? Do it. Tell me how it goes. Hail her!

[Egghead · Rating 5 out of 5]

post-apocalypse
survival thriller with gold
medal crime book feel

[Fraser Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a character called Wank in this book. As if there wasn't enough going on!