Books: End Of The World Scenarios

[darkwing_duck1]

There was also a rather good documentary special along the same lines, called Life After People (I think), which is worth checking out.

Yeah, the special is based on the book...and I DO want to see it.

I'll also second the recommendation of World War Z, by Max Brooks. It's a pretty stunning take on the idea of a "zombie apocalypse," and it's one of the most realistic treatments of the subject that I know of.

You could trade out "zombie apocalypse" for any other plague, or some massive loss of infrastructure (such as predicted by the "solar storm" people), and it would read much the same...that's what's so disturbing about it. The author really does a good job of showing humanity's good AND bad sides under pressure.

 

[Canadave]

There was also a rather good documentary special along the same lines, called Life After People (I think), which is worth checking out.

Yeah, the special is based on the book...and I DO want to see it.

I'll also second the recommendation of World War Z, by Max Brooks. It's a pretty stunning take on the idea of a "zombie apocalypse," and it's one of the most realistic treatments of the subject that I know of.

You could trade out "zombie apocalypse" for any other plague, or some massive loss of infrastructure (such as predicted by the "solar storm" people), and it would read much the same...that's what's so disturbing about it. The author really does a good job of showing humanity's good AND bad sides under pressure.

Yeah, that's an excellent point. While the zombies are part of what makes the story interesting, they're not really necessary to the story, in a way. Obviously, it needed a catalyst, but it's really not about zombies so much as it is about humanity. I think that's why I find it such a fascinating read.

 

[Mistral]

Alas, Babylon-Pat Frank
Emergence-David Palmer
Farnum's Freehold-Robert Heinlein
Lucifer's Hammer-Pournelle
Arclight-Eric Harry
The Last Ship-William Brinkley
Malevil-Robert Merle
The Steel, The Mist, and The Blazing Sun-Christopher Anvil
Plague Year-Jeff Carlson
World War Z-Max Brooks
War of the Worlds:Global Dispatches-ed. Kevin Anderson
Childhood's End-Arthur Clarke
The Stone Dogs-SM Stirling

Um, the Draka didn't end the world, they just took it over (Stone Dogs) and anyone who wants to read that should read Marching Through Georgia and Under The Yoke first.

Also the world didn't exactly end in "Childhood's End" either.

More reading:
"Down to a Sunless Sea" by David Graham
"Earthwreck" by Thomas N. Scortia

Both oldies about global thermonuclear war, but quite good.

Earth ended in Childhood's End and the Stome Dogs certainly had an apocalypse situation.

Earth Abides! Which I read because of recommendations in this very forum. Apparently the first of the post-apocalyptic novels and still sets a very high standard. Utterly believable and fascinating.

And, of course: I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson.

That was my favorite before I read Earth Abides.

I think nearly all the books I would have mentioned have already been mentioned.

Earth Abides! Which I read because of recommendations in this very forum. Apparently the first of the post-apocalyptic novels and still sets a very high standard. Utterly believable and fascinating.

And, of course: I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson.

That was my favorite before I read Earth Abides.

Skipped these for obviousness.

I think I must be one of the people who recommended Earth Abides to you. It is a book that I love and I reread every once in a while.

I also liove I Am Legend.

John Christopher's "The Death of Grass", "The World in Winter" and "A Wrinkle in the Skin".

I have read The Death of Grass and A Wrinkle in the Skin and thought both were a great read. I have never read "The world in Winter"

The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham

My favourite Wyndham book.

One that hasn'r been mentioned is The Quiet Earth by Craig Harrison. I pretty certain that I borrowed it many years ago from someone and I wanted to get my own copy after I saw the movie (which is different from the book). However I have never been able to locate it and the only used copy available at Amazon is priced at $2,475!!!

There is also "On the Beach" by Nevil Shute which deals with a group of people in Australia waiting for the fallout of full-blown nuclear war to reach them.

Skipped On the Beach because I thought everyone knew it.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Out of curiosity does anyone know any titles of non-fiction books in this vein? Awhile back at the library I was looking over a book that discussed all the possible ways the earth will come to an end, but I can't remember anything about the title or author now. It was a recent book like in the last year or two.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Out of curiosity does anyone know any titles of non-fiction books in this vein? Awhile back at the library I was looking over a book that discussed all the possible ways the earth will come to an end, but I can't remember anything about the title or author now. It was a recent book like in the last year or two.

There is Death from the Skies by Phil Plait aka the Bad Astronomer.

It deals with the various ways the world will end and the odds of it happening and all in an entertaining way.

 

[Australis]

In case no one's mentioned it, I saw a book called Last Light by Alex Scarrow at the book store, looked okay. Check it out.

 

[Mistral]

Children of Morrow by H M Hoover, which I read a long time ago...

 

[Zachary Smith]

There was also a rather good documentary special along the same lines, called Life After People (I think), which is worth checking out.

Yeah, the special is based on the book...and I DO want to see it.

I'll also second the recommendation of World War Z, by Max Brooks. It's a pretty stunning take on the idea of a "zombie apocalypse," and it's one of the most realistic treatments of the subject that I know of.

You could trade out "zombie apocalypse" for any other plague, or some massive loss of infrastructure (such as predicted by the "solar storm" people), and it would read much the same...that's what's so disturbing about it. The author really does a good job of showing humanity's good AND bad sides under pressure.

Interestingly enough, the author is Mel Brooks' son.

 

[Forbin]

Forge of God by Greg Bear. Unkown and unseen aliens decide to destroy up the planet. Agonizingly slow process played out over the course of the book in frighteningly believable way.

 

[Lapis Exilis]

The Parable of the Talents and The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler describe the journey of a small band of people traveling away from what is left of Los Angeles after the United States's infrastructure crumbles. A visionary leader has a plan to reach the stars as the only hope of a fading humanity but must struggle to reach a safe place, set up a workable community and survive a totalitarian regime that fills the vacuum of power.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood likewise describes a West that has fallen before a terrible plague which has caused rampant infertility among women. A new upper class of fundamentalists take over and implement a power structure full of terrible corruption. Widely regarded as both excellent science fiction and excellent literature.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Talking of zombie novels: my favorite is Philip Nutman's Wet Work. It's not your standard zombie stuff, since in it, there are different 'stages' of zombism; some of the undead are the standard Romero type zombies, but on the other end, some zombies are almost indistinguishable from humans - they retain their full intelligence and personality, can put on new clothes, organize ambushes of living people whom they then eat ("Body patrol, come and bag our food!"), and even take over the government which they rename the "United States of Hell".

 

[Australis]

I thought The Handmaid's Tale was about talking squids in outer space.

 

[JoeZhang]

One that hasn'r been mentioned is The Quiet Earth by Craig Harrison. I pretty certain that I borrowed it many years ago from someone and I wanted to get my own copy after I saw the movie (which is different from the book). However I have never been able to locate it and the only used copy available at Amazon is priced at $2,475!!!

Interesting book, I have a copy that I re-read over Christmas, why has it never been reprinted?

 

[Mistral]

I thought The Handmaid's Tale was about talking squids in outer space.

Not End of the World, rather a dystopian novel. With talking squids.

 

[Australis]

The Quiet Earth is over $2,000 for a second hand copy?! I must rummage through my books in storage!