# Looking for Recent Post-Apocalyptic Book **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760 "2009-12-18T17:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/21 "2009-12-19T23:01:25Z")
You might also like _War Day_ by Whitley Strieber and James Kunetka, a travelogue about the aftermath of a limited nuclear war between the US and USSR; _The Last Ship_ by William Brinkley, about the sole surviving U.S. Navy warship after a fullscale WWIII and the new society its crew struggles to create; and, of course, the classic _On the Beach_ by Nevil Shute, about the slow dwindling of humanity as postwar radiation covers the globe. All very different; all very good. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/22 "2009-12-19T23:08:27Z")
If that’s your favorite type of fiction, I highly recommend S. M. Stirling’s 3 related series about the Change. Start with the Nantucket series: Island in the Sea of Time Against the Tide of Years On the Oceans of Eternity Then switch it all up with the first Emberverse series: Dies the Fire The Protector’s War A Meeting at Corvallis This story (somewhat) continues 22 years later with: The Sunrise Lands The Scourge of God The Sword of the Lady The High King of Montival (due in 2010) The first three are really good books. The first 3 Emberverse novels are _excellent_. The next Emberverse series is engaging and really good so far. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/23 "2009-12-20T03:28:51Z")
I’m making a list now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/24 "2009-12-20T04:31:57Z")
I know exactly what book this is. I think. I just can’t remember the title, so I’m going to go to my library’s website and see if they have a list of books I’ve taken out in the last year . . . darn, they don’t. But does this book take place in a European country, and is the main character a man, and as far as he can tell he’s the only person alive, and he travels all over Europe and into England looking for other survivors? And then at the end . . . well, you know . . . (going to look for title) ETA: This is driving me crazy. For the past five years or so I’ve been keeping lists of books I’ve read, but the computer that list is on doesn’t work anymore, so I’m googling furiously to figure this out. ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/25 "2009-12-20T04:38:29Z")
Is it _Night Work?_ That’s the one I was thinking of. I liked it, but it’s only got 3 stars on Amazon. > **[Night Work: A Novel: Glavinic, Thomas: 9781847671844: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Night-Work-Novel-Thomas-Glavinic/dp/1847671845)** > > Night Work: A Novel \[Glavinic, Thomas\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Night Work: A Novel ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/26 "2009-12-21T06:06:16Z")
For you post-apoc/dystopian fans. I had the book “One Second After” (or later or something) recommended to me as the best book someone ever read. I paid full hard-back price for it, only to discover it is basically a geographic rewrite of “Alas Babylon” by Pat Frank. OTOH, YAY! new books for my long, long list. Yes, [My Big Stolen List of Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Fiction](http://chicksrock.net/wordpress/?page_id=51) **Cat Whisperer** : I’m with you on Canticle. I don’t understand the fascination. Your description mirrors my experience exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/27 "2009-12-21T06:15:02Z")
> [@kapri](#): > > Is it _Night Work?_ That’s the one I was thinking of. I liked it, but it’s only got 3 stars on Amazon. > [Night Work: A Novel: Glavinic, Thomas: 9781847671844: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/Night-Work-Novel-Thomas-Glavinic/dp/1847671845/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261283864&sr=1-1) I’m not sure if you’re pulling my leg or asking about another book - we’ve already figured out that the book I was trying to remember was “The Strain” by Guillermo del Toro. 🙂 **Auntbeast** , that is an awesome list! I’m going to have a LOT of reading to do! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/28 "2009-12-21T06:20:07Z")
> [@Auntbeast](#): > > For you post-apoc/dystopian fans. I had the book “One Second After” (or later or something) recommended to me as the best book someone ever read. I paid full hard-back price for it, only to discover it is basically a geographic rewrite of “Alas Babylon” by Pat Frank. I hated **One Second After**. It committed the cardinal sin of post-apocalyptic fiction, turning the general population into a band of savage rapists within hours of whatever event caused the apocalypse. I’m about 200 pages into Stephen King’s **Under the Dome** and it’s about to do the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/29 "2009-12-21T12:00:41Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m not sure if you’re pulling my leg or asking about another book - we’ve already figured out that the book I was trying to remember was “The Strain” by Guillermo del Toro. 🙂 > > **Auntbeast** , that is an awesome list! I’m going to have a LOT of reading to do! There are quite a few threads in here discussing this type of fiction. I’ve been reading it for several years now and every time I think I’ve run out of books, another cool thread pops up. Someone else compiled the list, but I’ve added to it. **Justin Bailey** , try reading this type of fiction as a woman. After especially insidious books, I have to fight to not hate men. They can be very hard to read. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/30 "2009-12-21T21:28:13Z")
FYI: I have done a partial update of that list to include books I have digital copies of, in case anyone cares. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/31 "2009-12-22T01:32:09Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I hated **One Second After**. It committed the cardinal sin of post-apocalyptic fiction, turning the general population into a band of savage rapists within hours of whatever event caused the apocalypse. > > I’m about 200 pages into Stephen King’s **Under the Dome** and it’s about to do the same thing. I’m not sure I agree this is unrealistic - the stress of an event like a good sale on electronics will turn your average human into a savage. Our civilization is a thin veneer over a bunch of hairless animals. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/32 "2009-12-22T09:22:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m not sure I agree this is unrealistic - the stress of an event like a good sale on electronics will turn your average human into a savage. Our civilization is a thin veneer over a bunch of hairless animals. I’m sorry, but I have a hard time believing that in less than 24 hours after a terrorist attack that blows out the power that huge gangs of people would just start raping random people. ---
**Author:** ![JuliaSqueezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/82dd89/32.png) [@JuliaSqueezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JuliaSqueezer)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/33 "2009-12-22T14:46:05Z")
One of my favorites from a year or so ago is World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler. Did anyone else read it? ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760/34 "2009-12-22T16:28:30Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I’m not sure if you’re pulling my leg or asking about another book - we’ve already figured out that the book I was trying to remember was “The Strain” by Guillermo del Toro. 🙂 > > **Auntbeast** , that is an awesome list! I’m going to have a LOT of reading to do! Oh, sorry. I thought I’d read all the responses and didn’t see any that matched your book. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-recent-post-apocalyptic-book/521760.md?page=1)