Looking for apocalyptic-type books

[DiscoDiva]

I'm looking for any good apocalyptic-type of books: the type that result in most of the people in the world disappearing, and the few left starting over to rebuild society. I know this sounds like a strange request, but I am fascinated by the way people rebuild a society after a major destruction, and I love reading this type of book! (hee hee, a friend said it makes me sound like I'm some type of crazy survivalist woman living in a cabin in the mountains waiting for the world to end -- I swear I'm not!) The cause of the devastation can be disease, war, the Rapture, whatever.

The ones I've read include:
The Stand by Stephen King
Left Behind (the whole series)
Out of The Ashes (the whole series)
The Taking by Dean Koontz

Any other books you'd recommend?

[mrsface]

Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

I'm reading it right now, actually, and it is fascinating. My mom, sister and numerous aunts have all read it and reccomended it to me. I'm only a third done, but I really like it (as much as I can like reading about nuclear war and the destruction of life as we know it :rolleyes: )

Andrea

[DiscoDiva]

Cool, thanks!

[Myra]

Try Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland. He also explores the apolocalypse theme to a lesser extent in Life After God. Then come back and tell me what you thought!

[DiscoDiva]

Thanks!

[KarenS]

One of my favorites that I reread periodically is called "Down To A Sunless Sea" by David Graham. It takes place in the mid 80's (written in the mid 80's, so based on the world as it was then) after a world economic and fuel crisis has devastated the western economy. The main characters are a an airline pilot, his crew, and his passengers. While they're in the air a series of nuclear bombs are set off and ... well basically the whole world is gone by this chain reaction of attack and counter attack and only those in the airplane are left alive. The book talks about how they figure out a way to survive.

I don't know if you can find it new, but I think there are used copies on Amazon for sale. It's really well written.

Karen

[Asha]

blindness

i don't know if it's quite what you are looking for, but it is a survivalist story and is one of the best books i have read. it's basically about this white blindness that spreads amongst the population and the people who catch this disease are quarantined. it is beautifully written and will leave you thinking for days.

[sublime311]

Here is a link for you (i'm not sure what the actual website is about, but they have a whole section on post-apocalyptic books:

http://www.pamedia.com/books/

[pocket]

How about Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood? And Orson Scott Card's books often have an apocalyptic theme.

[karlatta]

Everything I was going to suggest has already been mentioned in this thread!

I loved Alas, Babylon. I've read it 5 or 6 times, at least.

I was also going to suggest Orson Scott Card's books. Especially the Ender series (start's with Ender's Game). Some of the books are about trying to preserve society before a terrible event happens, some are about trying to establish society after a terrible event. They're very well written - I really enjoy them.

My DH suggested On the Beach by Nevil Shute. I haven't read it, but he says it's good.

[DiscoDiva]

Oh wow - plenty of great reading coming up. I hope Half Price Books has most of these. Thanks and keep the ideas coming!

[ysolde]

On the Beach is fantastic!

BTW, I love The Stand (fave King).

[pocket]

I love The Stand too - one of my all-time favorites. I think that you would like The Dark Tower series by Steven King.

[Ummm]

Tomorrow, When the War Began (Tomorrow Series)
by John Marsden

He is an australian author, and these were written for teenagers, however I think adults would enjoy reading them too (hey look at Harry Potter)! I read it when I was in high school, so I haven't read it for a while now... but this was the first book that popped into my mind when you asked!

[Etoile]

"The Girl Who Owned A City" is a kids'-young adult book about a world in which all of the adults are wiped out by an illness that doesn't affect kids. The kids build a society. It's kind of like The Stand meets Lord of The Flies. Good book.

[DiscoDiva]

I can't wait to read all of these!! :)

[DiscoDiva]

I'm off to Half Price Books tomorrow, so hopefully I can find some of these. Thanks everyone!!

[Secret_Squirrel]

I just saw this thread.

Years ago, I read Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I didn't know if it was still in print, but I found it on Amazon. It's about a huge comet that hits earth, and what happens to the survivors. I remember it was so thrilling (and terrifying!), I gave it to my mom to read and she loved it, even though she never reads fiction.

[DiscoDiva]

Years ago, I read Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I didn't know if it was still in print, but I found it on Amazon. It's about a huge comet that hits earth, and what happens to the survivors. I remember it was so thrilling (and terrifying!), I gave it to my mom to read and she loved it, even though she never reads fiction.Sounds great - thanks!!