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
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Msmerricat
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Apr 20, 2012 04:48AM
I am new (as of last week) to this genre so I am happy to have found this list. Hugh Howey's 'Wool: The Silo Series' had my Kindle glued to my hand for several days. I need to find Earth Abides and some of these others. :)
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Message 154: Msmerricat - you have GOT to read Swan Song! It's on here a whole bunch of times for a reason. It's a great, roller coaster of a ride.
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."Agreed. It's a challenge to get in tune with the language structure but well worth it.
Leah wrote: "Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank was the book that got me addicted to post-apocalyptic fiction!"One of my favorites!
My all time favorite is Patriots by James Rawles.Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
World War Z by Max Brooks
Lucifer's Hammer, Earth Abides, Swan, and On The Beach. Just read Earth Abides for bout 5th time.
"Down to sunless sea" is a worthy additionto the list
Sharon wrote: "Message 154: Msmerricat - you have GOT to read Swan Song! It's on here a whole bunch of times for a reason. It's a great, roller coaster of a ride."I am making a list lol! It keeps getting longer.
Tatiana wrote: "I loved Lucifer's Hammer. It was one of the first apocalyptic books that was very well written that I read."Yes, this is one that started it all, so to speak. "Lucifers Hammer". Preceding that, "Alas Babylon" is right in there as well. Also, a newer book, "Dies the Fire".
Msmerricat wrote: "I am new (as of last week) to this genre so I am happy to have found this list. Hugh Howey's 'Wool: The Silo Series' had my Kindle glued to my hand for several days. I need to find Earth Abides and..."Loved the Wool Omnibus! Just finished reading his new prequel to it Legacy: First Shift.
Just finished "Dies The Fire" by Sterling. I could hardly leave it alone to do chores! Part of the appeal, I'm sure, is that it takes place in my state. but I think most anyone would like it.
The Obernewtyn Chronicles by Isobelle Carmody!
Susan wrote: "Just finished "Dies The Fire" by Sterling. I could hardly leave it alone to do chores! Part of the appeal, I'm sure, is that it takes place in my state. but I think most anyone would like it."Then there are the next, what, 8 in the series? what a ride.
