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Original poster

Post apocalyptic books - recommendations?

160 replies

Resilienceisimportant · 28/12/2024 22:22

Hello everyone. I have read the usual and really like this genre or very though provoking books. Last I read was Children of Time. I liked the concept but the spiders weren’t for me 😂.

Would anyone have any recommendations? Thank you!

OP posts:
itwasmadeofelm · 29/12/2024 10:12

The last one at the Party is brilliant!!!

Brefugee · 29/12/2024 09:56

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 28/12/2024 23:10

The Chrysalids, John Wyndham.

came here to say this - it is one of my favourite books.

could add the latter parts of The Day Of The Triffids, which is very bleak indeed in describing the actual apocalypse and the immediate aftermath.

And because i jumped in very early, has anyone mentioned The Parable of the Sower by Olivia E Butler (she relatively recently released a second part of this, which i haven't yet read so thanks for the reminder)

Cherrypi · 29/12/2024 09:54

I who have never known men by Jacqueline Harpman is a great one.

2025Y · 29/12/2024 09:47

Ok so I've just bought The Passage! For £5.99 it better be good ;)

theallotmentqueen · 29/12/2024 09:47

The Oryx& Crake series by Margaret Atwood. Far superior to Handmaid’s Tale in my opinion, and very much slept on.

Edit- just seen it’s been already recommended! Clearly we all have excellent taste lol

Brody77 · 29/12/2024 09:43

In the doldrums by Simon Dieppe
amzn.eu/d/f8TS7dB

Manysocks · 29/12/2024 09:42

Also recommend The Passage, Silo series, Bird Box, Station Eleven and Death of Grass.
Also, The Country of Ice Cream Star, Nod and Never Let me Go.

Not exactly Apocalyptic, but I loved The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It’s the book that stayed with me.

Maryqueenofstots · 29/12/2024 09:39

Plague Times trilogy by Louise Welsh

2025Y · 29/12/2024 09:36

Pieceofpurplesky · 29/12/2024 02:06

Here are some not mentioned!

The Grace Year
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
The Girl with all the Gifts
The Gender Games (and the subsequent series)

Oh yeah the Girl with All the Gifts. Couldn't remember what that was called. Excellent book and the film wasn't too bad either.

2025Y · 29/12/2024 09:34

The Fireman by Joe Hill.

Loved it!

Ilovegermany · 29/12/2024 09:32

Robert Harris The Second Sleep.

TennisLady · 29/12/2024 09:30

Agree with the Swan Song and Passage recommendations!

Domain - James Herbert

Pieceofpurplesky · 29/12/2024 02:06

Here are some not mentioned!

The Grace Year
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
The Girl with all the Gifts
The Gender Games (and the subsequent series)

AdaColeman · 29/12/2024 01:42

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch, a gripping dystopian read.

Irie1980 · 29/12/2024 00:48

Might be a bit close to home but this was a brilliant read, and horrifying.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_War:_A_Scenario

Nuclear War: A Scenario - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_War:_A_Scenario

WomanIsTaken · 29/12/2024 00:44

Came on to say the MaddAddam Trilogy too, and see it's already been recommended and that you've already read it. I'm now going to check out the other things you've thumbs-upped, OP, as I'm likely to enjoy those titles too.

Not quite post apocalyptic, and more in a kind of niche mysti-fi genre, is the compelling Canopus in Argos: Archives series by Doris Lessing, which I whole-heartedly recommend.

MyOliveDog · 29/12/2024 00:20

Some rather grim feminist ones
Suzie McKee Charnas Walk to the end of the world & following
Meg Ellison Book of the unnamed midwife
Sherri S Tepper the gate to women’s country

Luminousalumnus · 29/12/2024 00:17

The Postman - David Brin

ILoveAnnaQuay · 29/12/2024 00:17

The Stand by Stephen King

Original poster
Resilienceisimportant · 29/12/2024 00:16

You guys all seriously rock. Thank you. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to post and all of your recommendations.

OP posts:
Givemethreerings · 29/12/2024 00:15

Swastika Night by Katharine Burdekin

Original poster
Resilienceisimportant · 29/12/2024 00:07

countdowntonap · 28/12/2024 23:42

MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood

Love anything by Margaret Atwood - completely agree.

OP posts:
WagnersFourthSymphony · 28/12/2024 23:57

Interesting to consider the divide between post-apocalyptic and sci-fi/ cli-fi

SomethingBlues · 28/12/2024 23:52

The scythe series by Neil shusterman. Really compelling

WearyAuldWumman · 28/12/2024 23:51

Earth Abides, George R Stewart

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