SOLVED. most of humanity extinct, 2 women try to save books for future generations [s]

[Gay]

most of the world had been destroyed. 2 surviving woman are collecting books to save for future generations. many cults and uncivilized groups have formed. animals and plants starting to reappear
great story akin to "the road" or "the stand"

[Sarah]

I know that in Alas, Babylonby Pat Frank there were two women, one a librarian, who used the library's resources for information on how to make due in the post-nuclear-war world.

Can you tell us a bit more about the setting? Was it a wasteland (which is my guess, since you made it sound like animals and plants wern't there and were finally coming back), was this story starting directly after the apocalyptic event or a while later (or before even)? Any idea of the age of the book?

[Gay]

I read the book about 12 years ago. It is not Alas, Babylon, which I also enjoyed reading.
It takes place 10 or so years after an apocalyptic event. Most of the land is wasteland, but some areas are starting to bounce back. The two main characters live in a house on a farm and have filled it with books. There are nearby groups that have become religious cults and also farm. I'd love to find it again and revisit a great story. Thanks for trying to help!

[Shane]

Earth Abides by George R. Stewart? There's quite a deal made out of keeping books for future generations there, although I'm not sure it was women doing it...

[April Ann]

Here is a summary for Earth Abides

Summary: Returning from a field trip, Isherwood Williams discovers that a mysterious plague has destroyed human civilization during his absence and makes his way to San Francisco, where he finds a few survivors who build a small community, living like their pioneer ancestors.

[Gay]

Thank you for your response, but this is not the book either! Hopefully we'll track it down!

[April Ann]

Here's what I've found so far:

by Doris Lessing, 1988.

Summary: In the ruined, barbaric world of the near future, a lone woman cares for a deserted child and surveys her city's disintegration, the hordes of safety-seeking people, and her own painful adolescence, childhood, and infancy.

Eternity Road by Jack McDevitt, 1997.

Summary: A post-apocalyptic novel follows a small band of survivors--a scholar, a soldier, and a healer--led by a young woman as they journey through the fantastic, ruined America of the Roadmakers, a land both prehistoric and computerized.



The Gaia Websters by Kim Antieau, 1997.

Summary: In her quest to save her post-apocalyptic Arizona community from an epidemic, a woman with supernatural healing powers discovers that the only cure may lie in her shadowy past and the ghosts that prowl her dreams.

[April Ann]

What else was going on in the book? Was there war? Was it science fiction with robots and cyborgs etc?

[Gay]

These sound like interesting reads, I'll want to check out the Doris Lessing book. This book is mostly quiet and pastoral. No robots or any machinery is in use. Food is home grown. No war exists. I think the only threat was from the "fundamentalist" cult they come in contact with. It was mostly a relationship story about these two women. So frustrating that the name eludes me. I'll see what other details come back to me. I appreciate your detective work!!

[April Ann]

If I'm not mistaken Doris Lessing won a Nobel Prize.

[April Ann]

What about The Children of Men by P.D. James.
1993
It doesn't look like an exact match, but it's an excellent read all the same.

Summary: In 2021, with the human race becoming extinct because of the infertility of all males, Oxford historian Theodore Faron is drawn into the schemes of an unlikely group of revolutionaries out to save society

[April Ann]

The Land of Empty Houses A Novel by John L. More, 1998.

Summary: In 2021, with the human race becoming extinct because of the infertility of all males, Oxford historian Theodore Faron is drawn into the schemes of an unlikely group of revolutionaries out to save society.

The End of Days by David Dolan, 1997.

Subject Headings:Bible -- Prophecies --
End of the world
Armageddon (Christian theology)
Christian fiction
Christian apocalyptic fiction
Christian apocalyptic fiction

[This Is Not The Michael You're Looking For]

The original description has nothing in common with Children of Men.

[Nancy]

This rings a bell with me, and I was thinking it was something of Laurie King's, but it's not. Is it set in California? The book I'm thinking of was set in California, with some other outposts of "civilization," in Oregon, and the women have to travel through desolation and unsafe areas between the two places.

[Gay]

Nancy - I think this is it!! Hopefully, you can remember the title since it still eludes me!
Love having help - Thanks ladies!

[Mel]

How about this one:
A Gift Upon the Shore
Description:
This novel has a strong theme about fundamentalism. A nuclear holocaust destroys life and two female survivors in Oregon struggle on amid the nuclear winter and plagues. The book asks what’s really important – a devotion to books and knowledge conflicts with the single-minded drive of fundamentalism.

Sounds pretty on point. Found it on this site which seems to have a full list of post-apocalyptic novels:

http://www.abebooks.com/books/apocaly...

[Gay]

THIS IS THE BOOK!! Thank you so much for solving this mystery. I truly recommend this as a wonderful, complelling story for all who love books!

[Lisa]

Thanks Gay. I'm adding it to my to-read shelf.

[Nancy]

Okay--now have to wrack my brain and come up with the title for you!

[Nancy]

Nancy wrote: "Okay--now have to wrack my brain and come up with the title for you!"
It's funny, but looking at this book it doesn't quite seem right. I will have to read it. I am wondering if I am conflating a couple of books.