Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted

[murphy]

For something written recently, try S. M. Stirling's new trilogy, Dies the Fire, The Protector's War (and to come this year), Meeting at Corvallis. All electricity comes to an end at the beginning of the series. That means no water pumps, no cars, etc. Very good books so far. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the last book in the series.

[Clangador]

Originally Posted by murphy

For something written recently, try S. M. Stirling's new trilogy, Dies the Fire, The Protector's War (and to come this year), Meeting at Corvallis. All electricity comes to an end at the beginning of the series. That means no water pumps, no cars, etc. Very good books so far. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the last book in the series.

Sounds interesting. I have the first book in the series, but have not read it yet. I'm reading 1984 right now.

[WizardofOwls]

A Secret History of Time to Come by Robie Macauley is another good one.

[Clangador]

Originally Posted by SukiTrek

Warday by Whitley Strieber is a good one. It's about two guys who hike across America after a nuclear war.

I've never even heard of that one before. is it any good?

~Clangador

[The Time Traveller]

I'm listening to Cell (Unabridged Audiobook) by some guy named Stephen King. It definitely qualifies. I'm not the biggest King fan but he seems to clicking on all cylinders on this one. If you don't know what this one is about, everyone with a cell phone goes stark raving mad after they receive some kind of pulse (maybe from terrorists) that sort of wipes their minds clean. A small group of people set off to get out of Boston and basically survive. At first I was afraid this was going to be just a zombie chase book, but the crazy people start to evolve into something else. It's not overly long like The Stand either.

[Clangador]

Originally Posted by The Time Traveller

I'm listening to Cell (Unabridged Audiobook) by some guy named Stephen King. It definitely qualifies. I'm not the biggest King fan but he seems to clicking on all cylinders on this one. If you don't know what this one is about, everyone with a cell phone goes stark raving mad after they receive some kind of pulse (maybe from terrorists) that sort of wipes their minds clean. A small group of people set off to get out of Boston and basically survive. At first I was afraid this was going to be just a zombie chase book, but the crazy people start to evolve into something else. It's not overly long like The Stand either.

I'm thinking about reading Cell. Didn't in just come out?

[piccallo]

Originally Posted by Clangador

I've recently read Day of the Triffids, The Postman, Greybeard, and Earth Abides. I'm looking for some more good post apocalyptic scifi to read. Anyone got any suggestions?

Try 'The Changes trilogy' by Peter Dickinson. It was made into a childrens tv drama in the seventies. Nearly everybody turns compleatly against technology and the world colapses into a new dark age.

[Snowdog]

Algis Budrys - Some Will Not Die, which I was reminded of in another thread.

I also recommend The Chrysalids, if you liked Triffids.

[Patrocles]

Speaking of Wyndham, I loved Day of the Triffids. I once saw a wonderful film adaptation of that, too, that was produced by the BBC. Unfortunately, as much as I've tried, I haven't been able to find it here in the video stores. There was a very inferior U.S. version with Howard Keel, but if anyone knows how to get the BBC mini-series, I'd love it.

[murphy]

Originally Posted by Patrocles

Speaking of Wyndham, I loved Day of the Triffids. I once saw a wonderful film adaptation of that, too, that was produced by the BBC. Unfortunately, as much as I've tried, I haven't been able to find it here in the video stores. There was a very inferior U.S. version with Howard Keel, but if anyone knows how to get the BBC mini-series, I'd love it.

They have a new copy of that picture at Amazon. However, it is in British format and I don't know if you can use it in an American DVD player.

[Clangador]

I'm having trouble finding some of these books you "guys" mentioned. Right now I'm reading The City, Not Long After By Pat Murphy.

[mark@hgarratt.fsnet.]

You might enjoy John Christopher - quite similar to Wyndham (from the same era)

The Winter Swan (1949)
The Year of the Comet (1955)
aka Planet in Peril
The Death of Grass (1956)
aka No Blade of Grass
The Caves of Night (1958)
A Scent of White Poppies (1959)
The Long Voyage (1960)
aka The White Voyage
The World in Winter (1962)
aka The Long Winter

fairly difficult to get hold of nowadays as most are out of print (unfortunately) though you're sure to find some on abebooks
M

[Crisspin]

Not of the classic variety, but you might also want to check out Magic Time by Marc Scott Zicree. Each of the trilogy was co-written, the first with Barbara Hambly.

The trilogy is about a science experiment gone wrong that in one big bang stops all technology from working and magic comes into the world. Some of the people begin to turn into demons, fey etc, while most scamble to simply survive. The story is most similar to The Stand, with a bit more magic .. but not so much that the story begins to feel like a fantasy. It stays modern and post-apocalyptic and the changes that happen fit into the story well.

As it is a co-written/collaborative story, each book is slightly different. The first book is written in 3rd person, while the second is 1st person with each chapter a different characters point of view. I am not a fan of switching styles, but the writing in each is good enough that its a fun read.

[Brown Rat]

Originally Posted by Clangador

Right now I'm reading The City, Not Long After By Pat Murphy.

That's a good one!

Another good one, also set in the San Francisco Bay Area, is Michaela Roessner's Vanishing Point. It features the Winchester Mystery House.

One that's OK but nowhere near as good at Roessner's or Murphy's or Earth Abides is Orson Scott Card's Folk of the Fringe.

[Clangador]

Originally Posted by Brown Rat

That's a good one!

Another good one, also set in the San Francisco Bay Area, is Michaela Roessner's Vanishing Point. It features the Winchester Mystery House.

One that's OK but nowhere near as good at Roessner's or Murphy's or Earth Abides is Orson Scott Card's Folk of the Fringe.

I read Vanishing Point about 10 years ago. I don't recall much about it.
The City, Not Long After is turning out pretty good. I'm about 100 pages into it. I read Singularity Sky by C. Stross and it wasn't bad for a kinda post Apocalyptic type book.