Good Minds Suggest—Alex Adams's Favorite Post-Apocalyptic Books for Adults
Posted by Goodreads on April 2, 2012
The Hunger Games may be fueling an explosion of teenage post-apocalyptic fiction, but this eerie genre seems to be just as thrilling for adult readers. Oregon author Alex Adams offers one more sophisticated tale of literary horror with her debut novel, White Horse. The story opens in Italy 18 months after a plague called "White Horse" has decimated 90 percent of the world's population. Immune to the disease, 30-year-old Zoe clings to what's left of her own humanity as she begins a dangerous journey to Greece, tracking the father of her unborn child across a chaotic landscape. Adams, a New Zealand transplant who has also lived in Greece and Australia, is now writing a follow-up to White Horse, the first of a trilogy. She shares with Goodreads her top five books to read when the world is ending.
The Stand by Stephen King
"A book so huge, it could double as a weapon after the apocalypse, whether we're battling zombies, robots, or radioactive ninjas. The Stand is where it all started for me, this love for apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction."
"A book so huge, it could double as a weapon after the apocalypse, whether we're battling zombies, robots, or radioactive ninjas. The Stand is where it all started for me, this love for apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction."
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
"I blame this book for my lifelong inability to love gardening. A meteor shower leads to death, blindness, and killer plants wandering the earth. Is it any wonder I get twitchy when a daffodil's head swivels my way?"
"I blame this book for my lifelong inability to love gardening. A meteor shower leads to death, blindness, and killer plants wandering the earth. Is it any wonder I get twitchy when a daffodil's head swivels my way?"
World War Z by Max Brooks (Goodreads Author)
"Brooks breathes minty freshness into the zombie apocalypse by delivering his tale in a series of interviews. The result is a realistic and horrifying story of face-saving cover-ups and acts of amazing bravery."
"Brooks breathes minty freshness into the zombie apocalypse by delivering his tale in a series of interviews. The result is a realistic and horrifying story of face-saving cover-ups and acts of amazing bravery."
Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson (Goodreads Author)
"It's not just your pet robot plotting your demise, but also your car, microwave, and nose-hair trimmer. Robopocalypse makes me want to hug my iPad so it shows me mercy if Skynet becomes self-aware."
"It's not just your pet robot plotting your demise, but also your car, microwave, and nose-hair trimmer. Robopocalypse makes me want to hug my iPad so it shows me mercy if Skynet becomes self-aware."
Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence (Goodreads Author)
"OK, so I'm cheating a little. Prince of Thorns takes place a long, long time after our world ends, but it's just so much fun pointing at the details and going, "It's a skyscraper! And that's a thingmabob!" It's a little bit epic fantasy, a little bit post-apocalyptic, and all tied up with delicious literary prose."
"OK, so I'm cheating a little. Prince of Thorns takes place a long, long time after our world ends, but it's just so much fun pointing at the details and going, "It's a skyscraper! And that's a thingmabob!" It's a little bit epic fantasy, a little bit post-apocalyptic, and all tied up with delicious literary prose."
Vote for your own favorites on Listopia: Best Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
Comments Showing 101-150 of 167 (167 new)
Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon is outstanding...maybe better than The Stand.
Haven't read that much post-apocalyptic stuff myself yet, but I just finished The Old Man and the Wasteland by Nick Cole the other day, and I really enjoyed it a lot. Quite a lot of references to the Hemingway classic in it though, so it would help to have read that beforehand, or at least know what it's about.A Canticle for Leibowitz has been recommended to me, along with some other books, by the most amazing kid of about 14, 15 years old, so I'll have to get that as well.
John wrote: "Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon is outstanding...maybe better than The Stand." I am a staunch defender of 'The Stand', but for me 'Swan Song' is a very close second. I love 'On the Beach', too, but it seemed really dated last time I read it. 'The Road' was not one of my favorites. I am looking forward to trying some of the others suggested. This is a great thread!
Gea wrote: "One of my favorites is The Reapers Are The Angels. Awesome writing and character."Loved this one...I'm always reccomending it. There's a pretty good ypong adult series about the aftermath of the moon's orbital shift, but I can't remember the title just now...
The Stand, of course. Must add The Road (Cormac McCarthy) and The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood).
How about Y: The Last Man? or Colson Whitehead's Zone One?
HM (Honey) Brown's Red Queen. If you haven't read Honey Brown you are missing out on a brilliant author.
The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner (more of a dystopian novel, really). The Postman -- the book is a great read -- even if you didn't like the movie...
"Alas, Babylon" got me started, too! Loved "A gift Upon the Shore. Did anyone else enjoy "The Postman" (David Brin)? Two books some of you might like are "The Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse" By Victor Gischler and "Mister Touch" by Malcolm Bosse. They are both a little more humerous, will make you laugh in spots..Thanks for some new titles!
One I haven't seen mentioned is "Eternity Road" by Jack McDevitt, which takes place in the future after a plague. I think I liked it in part because the people are in the southern US(Memphis, TN.) in part of the book. Also, I think "Armageddon's Children" by Terry Brooks is a good one to add to the list. These are two of my favorite authors.
Some great suggestions here!To all the recommendations, I'll add Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which I haven't seen mentioned yet.
Hilary wrote: "The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner (more of a dystopian novel, really). The Postman -- the book is a great read -- even if you didn't like the movie..."Yes...Brunner specialized in dystopian futures which are more 1984ish but are great to read also.
Ed wrote: "Some great suggestions here!To all the recommendations, I'll add Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, which I haven't seen mentioned yet."
Its more dystopian but a great book and awesome movie.
Alex Scarrow's Last Light and Afterlight...also great reads.
Tracey wrote: "One Second After by William R. Forstchen"Really loved this book. It was rec. to me by a young person I used to work with.
I'm sorry that the author of the article likes her apocalyptic books to have a happy ending. That surely knocks out the very best of the genre: The Road, Children of Men, and Zone One by Colson Whitehead.
sm stirling - dies the fireshows how a number of PA society structures are implemented
Atwood's "Oryx and Crake" and "The Year of the Flood" are two of my faves, as well as the "The Walking Dead" graphic novels.Although I thought the first third of "Swan Song" was very good, the rest fell flat for me. There were also too many similarities to "The Stand," which I liked much better.
There are some great sounding suggestions in the Comments. My "to read" list is growing!
That;s the problem with 'to read' lists - they always grow and never seem to shrink!!
The comments remind me of a bunch of great books I'd forgotten about, particularly SWAN SONG, which is well worth a revisit (too bad much of McCammon's later stuff hasn't been nearly as impressive). But I'm surprised I didn't stumble on mentions of J.G. Ballard's really amazing set of books on various apocalypti, especially THE WIND FROM NOWHERE and THE DROWNED WORLD. Sturdy and unexpected pieces, now nearly half a century old, but if you can find 'em, read 'em.
So many good titles to add to my reading list! I don't see The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner. That was my "gateway drug"...love that phrase.
Leigh wrote: "So many good titles to add to my reading list! I don't see The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner. That was my "gateway drug"...love that phrase."Har .. I have a hand-me-down copy of THE SHEEP LOOK UP in the back seat of my car, awaiting re-reading...
And though I am loathe to add zombie apocalypses in general -- too many, most awful -- Mira Grant's "Newsflesh" trilogy-to-be, with FEED and DEADLINE already out, actually transcend the genre, by offering commentary about our current media-obsessed world AND politics AND friendship AND rebellion, all wrapped up in a pretty cool twist on the zombie-trope.
The Best post-apocalyptic series I have ever read would be the "Pelbar Cycle" by Paul O Williams I haven't seen that one listed few know about it but it is exceptional. I also like Alas Babylon I must have read that 8 or 9 times.
What about "War Day" by Whitley Streiber and James Kunetka? FABULOUS!
I would definately have to add The Road by Cormac McCarthy also Oryx and Crake/Year of the Flood by Margret Atwood. YES to Stephen King and Justin Cronin's, The Passage.Far North by Marcel Theroux is another favorite and his Makepeace and Zoe in White Horse share unimaginable journeys and the the persistence of hope and a profound definition of what it means to be human.
Alex
Regarding message 50 from Rhonda...I don't think King would be Shakespeare, better Dickens. His stories are character driven like King's. There are many good quotes in King, none I have memorized, but I don't have that many quotes from Shakespeare memorized either.
Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde is brilliant. The amount of colour references that he crams into what is 'in effect' a PA book is superb. Dies the Fire had me working out the best way out of the city for about 6 months afterwards, one of my friends was so freaked out by it that she couldn't finish it. I guess that says everything you need to know about the quality of the book.
I wonder if Ellison's "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream" qualifies as PA. It's really terrifying.
Susan wrote: Did anyone else enjoy "The Postman" (David Brin)?I'm really surprised that there seems to be only one mention of David Brin's The Postmanamong all the comments. I must've read that book at least three or four times.
George wrote: "Perhaps the author of this list just hasn't read that many books in the genre, or isn't much familiar with it? I'll put in my own support for A Canticle for Leibowitz, and while Lucifer's Hammer is..."Perhaps the author of this list is just saying which are her favourites, rather than trying to define what's 'best' in the genre. Responses to books are always personal and subjective. There's no definitive top 5 in any list.
The Last Ship by William Brinkley belongs in this category, though it is also about the sea, a ship that survived the worldwide nuclear war, and the men (over 100) and women (around 25) who form the nucleus of the rebirth of the human race.
Susan wrote: ""Alas, Babylon" got me started, too! Loved "A gift Upon the Shore. Did anyone else enjoy "The Postman" (David Brin)? Two books some of you might like are "The Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse" By Vict..."I loved The Postman. The movie completely missed the mark, but I thought the book was great and was actually getting ready to suggest it myself.
Thanks, Jessica (#133). I was hoping someone would mention "War Day." It's very realistic, in the same way that "Earth Abides" (my original pick) is. The practical details create a sense of urgency and anxiety, while the ordinary humanity of the protagonists give us the personal connection that creates suspense. No monster, no evil forces; just the challenge of being (remaining)human when we're up against the holocaust.
Reid wrote: "*Sigh* I always have to put in a plug for Riddley Walker, Expanded Edition, though it never seems to make anyone's list. I love this book and think it the best post-apocalyptic work of all time."
The first of the genre that I read years ago and that had been intermittently haunting me ever since. I recently re-acquired it so I could re-read it.
The first of the genre that I read years ago and that had been intermittently haunting me ever since. I recently re-acquired it so I could re-read it.
Leah wrote: "Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank was the book that got me addicted to post-apocalyptic fiction!"Absolutely. Cutting edge in it's time. Followed by Farnham's Freehold. I also don't see Lucifer's Hammer of Footfall. Though, those last two might not meet the "end-of-the-world" requirements in that they borth show light at the end of the tunnel.
Paul
Leah wrote: "Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank was the book that got me addicted to post-apocalyptic fiction!"Me too-loved that book!
Reni wrote: "I knew there were others out there who loved this stuff but it's sure nice to know I'm not alone! I've read many of the books mentioned but haven;t even heard of The Swan Song. Will put it at the..."What Reni says! For me, the apocalyptic appeal is escapist, although why apocalyptic scenarios should be something to escape to is beyond me. More unaddressed issues...?
Still getting used to this format. Reni wondered whether our interest in apocalyptic lit lay in our anxieties.
Thinking about quasi-apocalyptic stuff like Gore Vidal's Kalki, or Ursula LeGuin's Lathe of Heaven (in which the world 'ends' several times--[not a spoiler]). Super Sad Love Story, already mentioned, would fall into this class.
Johanna wrote: "The Stand, of course. Must add The Road (Cormac McCarthy) and The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)."Handmaid's Tale! Of course! So disturbing I don't have an interest in re-reading. Brilliant writing!
Sharon wrote: "Reid wrote: "*Sigh* I always have to put in a plug for Riddley Walker, Expanded Edition, though it never seems to make anyone's list. I love this book and think it the best post-apocalyptic work of..."Difficult to read, because of the author's use of future English. Maybe too much work...?
Just visited my local library website to key in titles from this board that I thought to be interesting, for later checkout. About 10. All but one were on a waiting list!
Most definitely Swan Song should be on the list. One of my favorites!