Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Clangador · 5th December 2004, 09:24 PM

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?

Leto · 5th December 2004, 09:27 PM

Dr Bloodmoney by Philip K Dick
Deus Irae by K Dick and Zelazny.

I, Brian · 5th December 2004, 11:50 PM

Hi Clangador, and welcome to the chronicles-network.

Lacedaemonian · 5th December 2004, 11:56 PM

Yes, welcome to this hotpot of sadness and frustration...

Foxbat · 6th December 2004, 06:49 AM

Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazney is a particular favourite of mine (it was also made into a particularly poor film in 1977)

knivesout · 6th December 2004, 07:04 AM

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson certainly qualifies, although it is as much horror as sf. If you like Wyndham's books, it seems you'd like the Matheson one too. Through Darkest America by Neal Barrett, Jr is another good post-apocalyptic novel. Walter M Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz is a true gem of its kind and essential sf reading in general, too.

polymorphikos · 6th December 2004, 09:28 AM

The Kraken Wakes, also by Wyndham, '48 by James Herbert (bearing interesting parallels to others, but a good thriller), Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence, The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boule. Through Darkest America sounds worth it for the title alone.

Diatomite · 9th December 2004, 01:15 AM

Earth Abides, George R Stewart. A favourite of mine, also reccomended by Brian Aldiss and Jimi Hendrix.

hazelnut · 17th December 2004, 11:27 PM

Harlan Ellison's novella A Boy and his Dog, is a particular favorite of mine.

Diatomite · 18th December 2004, 03:35 AM

Yes, "A Boy And His Dog" is very good. There is a film of it also.
Greybeard, Brian Aldiss
The Drowned world, J G Ballard (also The Crystal World)

chartreuse · 21st December 2004, 11:37 PM

The Last Gasp by Trevor Hoyle
Swan Song by Robert McCammon
On the Beach by Nevil Shute (dated, but still worthwhile)
The Stand by Stephen King
Rebirth by John Wyndham
The Genocides by Thomas Disch
The Children of Men by P.D. James
Lucifer's Hammer by Niven & Pournelle - one of my personal favorites!

Has anyone read Wrath of God by Ralph Gleason? It's next on my list, but I want to make sure it's good first.

littlemissattitude · 22nd December 2004, 02:24 AM

"Farnham's Freehold" by Robert A. Heinlein, published in 1964. BUT...I recommend this one with reservations. It is an effective novel - however it has been interpreted by some as being both racist and fascist, and it carries on with Heinlein's rather retro (for us) attitudes toward women.

On the other hand, I read it for a college course in popular literature. The course was taught by a pretty politically correct professor, and he didn't seem to have a particular problem with it.

The Master™ · 23rd December 2004, 04:22 PM

Z for Zachariah by Robert O'Brien

I saw the film or tv show with Anthony Andrews... Very interesting idea...

***SPOILER ALERT***

This is information from memory of reading the book and watching the tv... So apologies if some information is wrong

The people on a farm, that is situated in a valley, see a flash in the sky one night and then all the tv and radio signals go dead...

Several days later, they realise that no post has been delivered and there is no phone line... So a couple of them go out of the valley, leaving one or two kids behind...

Some time goes by and the girl, left behind, gets a little worried but carries on caring for the animals...

A little while longer, and a stranger in a contamination suit appears in the valley...

chartreuse · 23rd December 2004, 07:14 PM

Hey, I forgot a couple!

Them Bones by Howard Waldrop - this book is so good, I can't believe I didn't mention it.
Some feminist post-apocalypse:
A Gift Upon the Shore by M.K. Wren
Children of the Light by Susan Weston
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm - this one is really well-done, about cloning and its effects on a pseudo-utopian post-apocalyptic society.

Neil040 · 4th January 2005, 06:05 PM

[quote=The Master™]Z for Zachariah by Robert O'Brien

I saw the film or tv show with Anthony Andrews... Very interesting idea... /QUOTE]

Oh I remember that! Never knew the origin of the story tho so thanks for that.. I have the same, but maybe dimmer, recollection of it.. quite good I thought at the time...

Clangador, some excellent recommendations here.. many of them I have read.. I somewhere found a web site with a pretty lengthy listing of post apocalyptic novels.. if I can find it again in my favourites I will post it here if you want

5th December 2004, 09:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Clangador Lord of Dunroamin Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 20	Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted 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?

5th December 2004, 09:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Leto Outside Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2,332	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Dr Bloodmoney by Philip K Dick Deus Irae by K Dick and Zelazny.

5th December 2004, 11:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
I, Brian Admin and Tea-boy Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: UK: SCOTLAND: Posts: 5,370	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Hi Clangador, and welcome to the chronicles-network.

5th December 2004, 11:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lacedaemonian ***Dux Bellorum*** Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 3,351	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Yes, welcome to this hotpot of sadness and frustration...

6th December 2004, 06:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Foxbat Haggis Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,371	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Damnation Alley by Roger Zelazney is a particular favourite of mine (it was also made into a particularly poor film in 1977)

6th December 2004, 07:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
knivesout cheap,flashy little crook Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,998	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted I Am Legend by Richard Matheson certainly qualifies, although it is as much horror as sf. If you like Wyndham's books, it seems you'd like the Matheson one too. Through Darkest America by Neal Barrett, Jr is another good post-apocalyptic novel. Walter M Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz is a true gem of its kind and essential sf reading in general, too.

6th December 2004, 09:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
polymorphikos Scrofulous Fig-Merchant Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,126	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted The Kraken Wakes, also by Wyndham, '48 by James Herbert (bearing interesting parallels to others, but a good thriller), Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence, The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boule. Through Darkest America sounds worth it for the title alone.

9th December 2004, 01:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Diatomite Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 9	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Earth Abides, George R Stewart. A favourite of mine, also reccomended by Brian Aldiss and Jimi Hendrix.

17th December 2004, 11:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
hazelnut vizsla vizsla Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Harlan Ellison's novella A Boy and his Dog, is a particular favorite of mine.

18th December 2004, 03:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Diatomite Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 9	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Yes, "A Boy And His Dog" is very good. There is a film of it also. Greybeard, Brian Aldiss The Drowned world, J G Ballard (also The Crystal World)

21st December 2004, 11:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
chartreuse Those damn slithy toves! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 15	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted The Last Gasp by Trevor Hoyle Swan Song by Robert McCammon On the Beach by Nevil Shute (dated, but still worthwhile) The Stand by Stephen King Rebirth by John Wyndham The Genocides by Thomas Disch The Children of Men by P.D. James Lucifer's Hammer by Niven & Pournelle - one of my personal favorites! Has anyone read Wrath of God by Ralph Gleason? It's next on my list, but I want to make sure it's good first.

22nd December 2004, 02:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
littlemissattitude Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: California Posts: 3,370	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted "Farnham's Freehold" by Robert A. Heinlein, published in 1964. BUT...I recommend this one with reservations. It is an effective novel - however it has been interpreted by some as being both racist and fascist, and it carries on with Heinlein's rather retro (for us) attitudes toward women. On the other hand, I read it for a college course in popular literature. The course was taught by a pretty politically correct professor, and he didn't seem to have a particular problem with it.

23rd December 2004, 04:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
The Master™ Right hand of Vengence!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,753	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Z for Zachariah by Robert O'Brien I saw the film or tv show with Anthony Andrews... Very interesting idea... *SPOILER ALERT* This is information from memory of reading the book and watching the tv... So apologies if some information is wrong The people on a farm, that is situated in a valley, see a flash in the sky one night and then all the tv and radio signals go dead... Several days later, they realise that no post has been delivered and there is no phone line... So a couple of them go out of the valley, leaving one or two kids behind... Some time goes by and the girl, left behind, gets a little worried but carries on caring for the animals... A little while longer, and a stranger in a contamination suit appears in the valley...

23rd December 2004, 07:14 PM	#14 (permalink)
chartreuse Those damn slithy toves! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 15	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted Hey, I forgot a couple! Them Bones by Howard Waldrop - this book is so good, I can't believe I didn't mention it. Some feminist post-apocalypse: A Gift Upon the Shore by M.K. Wren Children of the Light by Susan Weston Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm - this one is really well-done, about cloning and its effects on a pseudo-utopian post-apocalyptic society.

4th January 2005, 06:05 PM	#15 (permalink)
Neil040 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 93	Re: Good Post Apocalyptic Books Wanted [quote=The Master™]Z for Zachariah by Robert O'Brien I saw the film or tv show with Anthony Andrews... Very interesting idea... /QUOTE] Oh I remember that! Never knew the origin of the story tho so thanks for that.. I have the same, but maybe dimmer, recollection of it.. quite good I thought at the time... Clangador, some excellent recommendations here.. many of them I have read.. I somewhere found a web site with a pretty lengthy listing of post apocalyptic novels.. if I can find it again in my favourites I will post it here if you want

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