6 of our favourite post-apocalyptic novels
Sometimes, the story really gets going after the world ends. Events like a zombie apocalypse, extinction-level disease, or the dreaded nuclear war are perfect kicking off points for some of literature’s best tales. Today, we’re recommending some of our favourite post-apocalyptic novels – who knows, maybe they’ll make you feel better about the current state of the world.
1. Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan & Pia Guerra
We’re kicking things off with a great way to ease into this genre – a graphic novel series. Y: The Last Man follows the story of Yorick Brown – the only man on Earth to have survived the simultaneous death of every other male. With his pet monkey, Ampersand, Yorick sets out to find his mother and sister on the other side of the country. So begins the 3-time Eisner Award-winning (The Oscars of comics) series that will have you on the edge of your seat for 60 issues. So get comfortable, and get familiar with Y: The Last Man.
2. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood has a talent for writing haunting, beautiful, creepy dystopian novels (see: The Handmaid’s Tale), and this kick-off to a three-part series is no exception. Told from the perspective of “Snowman” (real name Jimmy), Oryx and Crake introduces us to a world full of primitive, human-like creatures who may or may not be genetically engineered humans.
3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Road is essential reading for anyone wanting to delve into the world of post-apocalyptic literature. It’s a bleak, minimalist story set in the cold of a nuclear winter. The book follows a father and son, who are journeying towards the coast, with no clear idea of what comes once they get there. This one is haunting, and won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
4. Wool by Hugh Howey
In the future, a group of humans has retreated below the surface of the planet to escape deadly toxicity. Within a giant silo, these people have formed a regulated society, wary of breaking the rules in place to protect. Things get really interesting, however, when Sheriff Holston, traditionally a lover of the rules he upholds, breaks rule number one by asking to go outside.
5. World War Z by Max Brooks
Forget the movie (if you saw it), World War Z bears little resemblance to its cinematic counterpart beyond a shared inciting incident. The story is told through first-person interviews and accounts of events that happened after a zombie outbreak. If you want a treat, listen to the audiobook, which features several familiar voices reading for the numerous characters.
6. Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
Beatles fans may recognise this title as the book given to John Lennon in 1965 which reportedly fuelled his anti-war passions. The book tells of the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust which has decimated the USA, killing millions of people in an instant. However, one town in Florida has, for whatever reason, remained unaffected.
What’s your favourite post-apocalyptic story?