Several must read SCi-fi based Apocalyptic novels

[Keith B]

I will add another for Lucifers Hammer.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned The Postman yet.

You could call it Lucifers Hammer fanfic!!

[JackBauer]

I've been pimping Hugh Howey's "Wool" series for a while now, got to do it again. It's set in a dystopian silo (imagine the vaults from Fallout, a few thousand people in it) after a global apocalypse.

He's simply one of the best authors I've come across in a long time, (he's written a lot of other stuff too, all fantastic) and he spits them out fast (#6 was just released a few weeks ago)

http://www.amazon.com/Wool-Omnibus-Edit ... B0071XO8RA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for recommending the Wool series, enjoying them immensely!

[Shiloh]

-Dies the Fire, book #1 of "The Change" series by S. M. Stirling. I honestly couldn't put this one down. The concept of the novel seems kind of strange at first when you initially get into it, but it really gets going soon thereafter. There were a few things I didn't like too much (quite a bit of anti-Christian comments and commentary, glorifying certain activities that I would otherwise not condone, etc.) but nothing I could really drag on about for hours.

-The Protector's War, book #2 of "The Change" series. I haven't finished it quite yet, but so far so good.

LOL. I stopped reading after the second book. So many problems with the science in the book; if you can't build and make a steam engine, how do you boil water for cooking? And on and on. The series is a SCA/D&D wet dream.

Glad you liked it. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. I realize that we have to suspend some disbelief, we are after all on a zombie forum, but Stirling just couldn't keep me suspended.

I actually had quite a few questions of my own relating to the scientific theories he puts forward. After a while I gave up TRYING to poke holes in it and just went along. The story in itself was good, if you look at it from a strictly story-telling standpoint. But you're right in saying that the mechanics behind it are BS.

[Hanuman110]

I didn't dislike Dies the Fire because it differed from my personal religious beliefs. I disliked it because the Wicca speak bordered on obnoxious. The Wiccan's I've known never spoke that way unless they were at a Ren Faire.

Anyway, there's a whole thread around here somewhere that debates the merits and flaws of Dies the Fire so I'll leave my comments at that.

I've been wanting to read A Canticle for Leibowitz but I've never got around to it. This thread is going to make Amazon happy with me. I picked up Wool a few days ago and it's next up once I finish Old Man's War which has been awesome thus far.

[doc66]

I mentioned The Postman! LOL

Shorty presented a paper on A Canticle for Leibowitz a couple years ago; it actually got one of the audience to stand up and burst out "Right On!"

[silversnake]

Not sure if they really count as Sci-Fi, but here are a few I've enjoyed:

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller takes the extremely long view and broad brush strokes of civilization after a nuclear war.

Old Man and The Wasteland by Nick Cole is a nice single afternoon read also set in post-nuclear destruction. Very well written and worth the time IMHO.


Of course, if you want your apocalypse a little closer to home, you can watch a wonderful cartoon: Graveyard of the Fireflies or Barefoot Gen. Yes, "cartoon" is deliberate deception. These may be animated movies, but you'll still want your antidepressants and Kleenex handy if you watch them. They're both set in WWII Japan.

[zenger]

Awesome choices itt

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[JackBauer]

Just finished the Wool series, great reads.
Now I'm on the prologue, First Shift.

[LyraJean]

Awesome all books to look for next time I go shopping for my NOOK.

I recommend "Dies the Fire" book #1. They actually explain "The Change" in book #7. I read it because it was the only I hadn't read yet. But after book #3 there really is no more prepping/survival stuff in it. Although in books 4-7 you do meet other groups briefly. They include some Buddhist monks, Mormons who went back to polygyny. Plains Native Americans who went back to their original ways, some boy scouts and girl scouts who were in Yellowstone at the time and a group of people who adopted a Viking way of life in Maine.

Z for Zechariah
fire-us trilogy
The Girl Who Owned a City
Children of the Dust
Little House on the Prairie series I know it's not PA but I think if society does rebuild itself it will be more along these lines rather than say the medieval period at least here in the states.

The Stand
Lucifer's Hammer

[Rev]

Plains Native Americans who went back to their original ways

Yurts on wheels are not very traditional.

[BigDaddyTX]

Thanks for all the great recommendations. I've bought several of the books from Amazon already and I've got more in my basket for next month when my wife replenishes my book allowance.

[LyraJean]

Plains Native Americans who went back to their original ways

Yurts on wheels are not very traditional.

well sort of. They also had some blondes and actually practiced animal husbandry with the buffalo. I think when I said traditional I was remembering the one guy who says he now understands all the rules that the older folks remember. You have to since you are probably living with your inlaws inside a Tipi.

It's not like Rudi's people were authentic Celts either.

[Blast]

Daniel Suarez's
Daemonand sequel
Freedom Plots of both books focus on what happens to society when IT's system get compromised globally by a MMO/game designer. Great stuff, solid real world basis foundation. I envy anyone who's picking up for the first time..

I just finsihed reading these two books. WOW!! Good, somewhat believable stories based on cutting edge technology. They are also scary as what happens seems somewhat possible, at least the intitial actions of the computer program. They were also nuanced enough that I kept flipping back and forth as to which side I was rooting for. Excellent books.
-Blast

[JackBauer]

Daniel Suarez's
Daemonand sequel
Freedom Plots of both books focus on what happens to society when IT's system get compromised globally by a MMO/game designer. Great stuff, solid real world basis foundation. I envy anyone who's picking up for the first time..

I just finsihed reading these two books. WOW!! Good, somewhat believable stories based on cutting edge technology. They are also scary as what happens seems somewhat possible, at least the intitial actions of the computer program. They were also nuanced enough that I kept flipping back and forth as to which side I was rooting for. Excellent books.
-Blast

Glad you liked 'em Blast!
FYI Suarez has a new book coming out July 19th, Kill Decision which has interesting premise. I pre-ordered it for my NOOK, look forward to it's release.

[Winston Smith]

I'd strongly suggest "Wastelands" It's a lot of shorts stories, probably all can be read in an hour or so, from some great authors(Orson Scott Card and Stephen King are some of my favorites). The cool part is the stories very quite a bit, and take Post Apoc in lots of different settings.

[Cavediver]

FYI Suarez has a new book coming out July 19th, Kill Decision which has interesting premise. I pre-ordered it for my NOOK, look forward to it's release.

Good to know!
I thought Daemon was a pretty darned good book, and just plausible enough to make you think...
OTOH, Freedom, while still a good book, went out on a sci-fi-ish limb.

I just got my hands on a nook; I think I've spent more on books in the last three weeks than I have in the last year. Damn that wireless "Buy Now" function!

[LyraJean]

I just found Wool: Omnibus and Wastelands both for the NOOK. I'll see if I can get away so I can purchase them tomorrow.

[deadcat7382]

The Postman
Most everything by Heinlein
Damnation Alley great book! crappy movie, book by Roger Zelazny

[silversnake]

The Postman
Most everything by Heinlein
Damnation Alley great book! crappy movie, book by Roger Zelazny

Never seen the movie (though I've heard the title) but I wasn't aware Zelazny wrote the book. Only familiar with his Amber series. May have to check it out. Thanks.

[Zombie309]

What are the good Heinlein post-apoc books? I love him as an author.

[LyraJean]

I bought Wool Omnibus
While cruising the Nook store I found for free "The Post-Apocalypse Dating Guide" I haven't read it yet so who knows it might be good for a laugh.

[Confucius]

I bought Wool Omnibus

Enjoy

Hugh Howey is seriously one of my favorite authors now.

[Wormjello]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "The Stand". My favorite pre-apocalyptic book is "Atlas Shrugged" and "Camp of the Saints" is almost as terrifying but then so is the daily news.

[Winston Smith]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned "The Stand". My favorite pre-apocalyptic book is "Atlas Shrugged" and "Camp of the Saints" is almost as terrifying but then so is the daily news.

I loved The Stand (so much better than the mini-series, which was still very good). If you enjoyed that, try the Dark Tower series. I'd read the first 4, and am now halfway through rereading the 3rd after restarting the series 2 weeks ago before the movie comes out this fall. The Dark Tower universe is central to all of SK's books, but is particularly closely related to The Stand.