# Recommend me some good "end of the world" novels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-end-of-the-world-novels/107421 "2002-05-05T19:50:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DynoSaur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DynoSaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynoSaur)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-end-of-the-world-novels/107421/41 "2002-05-07T08:23:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ResIpsaLoquitor \* > \*\*I remember a great short story by W.P. Kinsella about how the Cubs wouldn’t be able to win the World Series until the Apocalypse. I can’t remember the name of the story, but it was published in his collection, _The Thrill of the Grass._ \*\* Ah, you’re in luck…that’s one of the few books I haven’t managed to pack yet… The story is called “The Last Pennant Before Armageddon”. As the title implies, it’s not even the Cubs WINNING the WS that will cause the end of the world, it’s them just making it there. Seeing as I’m a Cubs fan, you have no idea how true this idea rings to me… ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-end-of-the-world-novels/107421/42 "2002-05-07T08:28:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Alas, Babylon - kinda-dated tale of the aftermath of nuclear war, but if you’re a completist, add it to your list. Good choice! I recommend it as well… even though I was forced to read it in 10th Grade ;). ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-end-of-the-world-novels/107421/43 "2002-05-07T10:12:30Z")
Margaret Atwood’s “A Handmaid’s Tale” probably qualifies. It’s not the end of the world entirely, but there are big big changes afoot in society. Creepy. There is an interesting children’s book called “The Girl Who Owned a City” about the aftermath of an epidemic that only killed people over 12. It’d be a quick read but, as I recall, a good one. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-end-of-the-world-novels/107421/44 "2002-05-07T12:19:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > \*\*Margaret Atwood’s “A Handmaid’s Tale” probably qualifies. It’s not the end of the world entirely, but there are big big changes afoot in society. Creepy. > > There is an interesting children’s book called “The Girl Who Owned a City” about the aftermath of an epidemic that only killed people over 12. It’d be a quick read but, as I recall, a good one. \*\* “A Handmaid’s Tale” is good. I hadn’t thought of that one. I remember “The Girl Who Owned a City” ! Wow, childhood flashback. That’ll wake you up. 😉 They go and live in an abandoned high school, right? ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-end-of-the-world-novels/107421/45 "2002-05-07T14:01:49Z")
I seem to remember reading an interesting story a looong time ago. Perhaps in gradeschool. It was called **Z for Zachariah**. It was about the only girl left in a small town after nuclear war. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-good-end-of-the-world-novels/107421.md?page=2)