When it comes to the apocalypse, there are plenty of popular video games, TV shows, and movies available. the last of us, the girl with all the gifts, and fallout 4 always make us want to curl up with a good post. apocalyptic novels later. choose your poison; we’ve covered every criminal, from nuclear warfare to disease and zombies.
So if wandering the wasteland has you craving some doomsday reading, check out our list of these essential sci-fi readings for inspiration.
You are reading: New post apocalyptic books
here are the 15 best post-apocalyptic books to read:
a boy and his dog at the end of the world by c.a. freighter
A boy and his dog at the end of the world is the first non-fantasy novel by c.a. fletcher (charlie fletcher) and is an absolutely captivating story that is a must read for survivalists and post-apocalyptic enthusiasts. the main character is quite likeable, and the story is exciting and gripping, with some interesting scenarios. Follow Griz as he is on the hunt for the man who stole the family’s beloved dog. I can’t go into much more detail than, for fear of breaking the blood oath, you’re basically forced to sign at the beginning of the story that says to keep the secrets of the book close to you so you don’t spoil it for others. however, I will say that even after the novel ended, I wanted to stay in that world. in fact, A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World quickly became one of my favorite books of 2019 so far. it is brilliant writing that is full of suspense, intrigue, and great characters. and due to how much i enjoyed fletcher’s first novel, i am eagerly awaiting whatever his second non-fantasy novel is and am following him on social media.
the path of cormac mccarthy
The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel the road is pretty much a must-read when it comes to the best post-apocalyptic books. the gloomy, minimalist style seems appropriate for the nuclear winter setting, and while the book doesn’t have much of a plot, it manages to be thoroughly absorbing.
Although you’re generally a person who likes wordy resolutions and explanations for everything, I still found this book incredibly compelling, even though it doesn’t have any of those things. there is no definite beginning, climax and conclusion: it is just a father and son wandering towards the coast, with no clear idea of what they will do when they reach it. it is implied that there was some kind of nuclear war, but there is no further explanation than that. Readers who can get past that will find McCarthy’s writing style both poetic and hauntingly beautiful. Read the official synopsis here.
stephen king’s position
it seems only natural to include horror master stephen king on this list with his apocalyptic contribution the stand. it’s about a plague accidentally unleashed on the world from a government lab, wiping out most of humanity (except for those who are mysteriously immune), which would be compelling enough in its own right; but, being stephen king, he, of course, also has to add some supernatural elements.
god is also present; Not the benevolent deity we’re used to, but the angry, vengeful god of the Old Testament, which gives this book the feel of an epic Bible story. If you’re feeling especially ambitious, you can read the uncut version, which is several hundred pages longer than the one originally published in 1980. Read the official synopsis here.
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hollow kingdom by kira jane buxton
I don’t think it’s possible to get excited enough about kira jane buxton’s hollow kingdom, it’s that good. Admittedly, it’s a different kind of post-apocalyptic tale than what you’re used to, as it’s completely unique. tells the story of humans plagued by diseases caused by technology, sure, but it’s told from the perspective of a hopeful, heart-filled tame crow. the crow goes on a journey with his dog friend in tow to try to solve this apocalypse: what happened, how to stop it, etc. you’ll meet incredibly memorable characters along the way and be amazed by the book’s surprising prose and beauty.
I should also note that hollow kingdom is a lot of fun, which is not typical of apocalypse tales. If you’re open to the idea of a post-apocalyptic comedy that essentially feels like The Secret Life of Pets for adults, you should definitely read Hollow Kingdom.
world war z by max brooks
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since the author, max brooks, is the son of comedian mel brooks, and used to write for snl, you might expect world war z to be a humorous and far-fetched book (similar to the guide zombie survival); this would be a mistake. is a serious socio-economic and political commentary set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse.
It’s also very different from the movie (if you’ve already seen it); Rather than an action-packed thriller, the book is set up more like a documentary, with a series of interviews and eyewitness accounts. that doesn’t mean it’s boring in any way; on the contrary, it is a real page turner. Of course, we also include it in our list of the best science fiction books to read, as well as the best zombie books. Read the official synopsis here.
the earth respects george r stewart
in earth remains by george r stewart, we once again see disease as the chosen device to end humanity. Apparently, this book is actually what inspired Stephen King to write The Stand (see above). like the road, this book does not have much action, but focuses more on the sociological repercussions of the apocalyptic plague. it’s fascinating, but not in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat; progressing at a languid pace, taking place over several years, yet still managing to be both fascinating and unsettling.
It may seem that there is nothing to distinguish this book from the hordes of other post-apocalyptic novels, but the reader should keep in mind that this book was one of the first of its kind and thus helped promote the genre. . however, reading this book while home alone with a cold is not recommended. Read the official synopsis here.
oryx and crake by margaret atwood
oryx and crake is the first installment in the three-part maddaddam series from award-winning author margaret atwood. not only has the rest of humanity been eradicated, except for the main protagonist, but the world has been taken over by a new breed of genetically modified, docile and simplistic humans. Atwood has a knack for writing dystopian novels that are close enough to our own reality to be almost doable, and that’s what makes them so delightfully creepy. orxy and crake is absolutely attractive, intelligent and stimulating; it raises many ethical questions regarding the direction in which science is headed and whether or not it might be going too far. Read the official synopsis here.
I’m richard matheson legend
here we have another author recommended by the same stephen king; in fact mr. King claims that Richard Matheson may be the author who has most influenced him. If that’s not enough endorsement for I’m Legend, I don’t know what is. The movie version starring Will Smith is definitely fantastic, but if you’ve only seen the movie and not read the book, you’re definitely missing out.
This book is unique in that the plague is vampires, not zombies, and Robert Neville is not one of the few humans left on earth, he is the last. the movie makes them look more like zombies; in the book, they are much scarier. the heartbreaking loneliness neville experiences is absolutely chilling; that, combined with the creatures, makes this book truly nightmare-inducing. Read the official synopsis here.
one second after william r forstchen
The premise of New York Times bestselling author William R. Forstchen’s warning one second later is this: An electromagnetic pulse emitted by three nuclear weapons completely disables all electronic devices, causing society as we know it to collapse.
The scariest part of this novel is that the setting is by far the most realistic of all the post-apocalyptic concepts; it was, in fact, based on a perceived very real Forstchen threat. Admittedly, the writing style can be a bit grating at times, but the premise of the story is very interesting if you’re not particularly sensitive to the repetitive dialogue and sometimes preachy nature of the book. is essential reading for those looking for the best post-apocalyptic books. Read the official synopsis here.
a song for leibowitz by walter m. miller, son
1961 hugo award winning novel a song for leibowitz by walter m. Miller, Jr., is made up of three parts, with a gap of six centuries between each part, with the first part taking place six years after the 20th century. Like many post-apocalyptic books, it’s a cautionary tale against nuclear war and taking the dangers of science too far.
is unique in that the timeline spans over a century, and humanity seems determined to destroy itself not just once, but multiple times; and although set in the future, each section reflects something from our own history, illustrating how humanity is doomed to repeat its mistakes. Which makes sense, considering it was written during the cold war era. It’s also kind of anti-science, pro-religion, so keep that in mind if you choose to pick it up. Read the official synopsis here.
justin cronin passage
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Since this is a vampire novel, we’ll first remove the obligatory twilight comparison; this is definitely not twilight-esque. zombie apocalypse books are rampant; the passage may be the first we hear about a vampire apocalypse (and why not?). not just any vampire, either; these are government-designed vampires, although they mostly adhere to traditional mythos (with a few twists, though they don’t glow in the sunlight).
This is a heavy job, over 750 pages long, but one that could easily be finished in a few days due to its compelling nature. the beginning of the story is absolutely gripping, and while it lags in places after that, it’s worth a little patience. Epic in scale and wonderfully complex, this is one doomsday story you won’t want to miss. Read the official synopsis here.
ay, babylon by pat frank
here we have another nuclear war-induced holocaust, an idea that gained popularity during the cold war era, and whose concept is always chilling in its realism. Published over half a century ago, this book has stood this test of time; remains as poignant and relevant today as ever. It’s certainly a product of its times, but in a way it’s quite progressive in the sense that racial and gender roles tend to fall by the wayside after the apocalypse.
alas, babylon is less somber than many of the other books on our list; it is full of hope and is really a story of survival and the triumph of the human spirit (although, of course, the subject matter is depressing in nature). Read the official synopsis here.
the day of the triffids by john wyndham
In the day of the triffids we have perhaps the most unique doomsday scenario: rampant blindness resulting from the earth passing too close to a green comet combined with killer plants. like walking, poisonous, semi-intelligent plants. is another book that seemingly grew out of cold war paranoia, but without the nuclear war component.
is fascinating, despite the unabashedly capable nuances, namely the few sighted people debating whether or not they should bother with the blind majority, and the treatment of women as glorified incubators. once again, this is a book that is certainly a product of its time; so if the aforementioned transgressions can be forgiven for that reason, the novelty of the story is captivating. Read the official synopsis here.
robert mccammon’s swan song
swan song is a delightfully unique blend of post-apocalyptic horror and fantasy; think the booth, but with a nuclear war instead of a deadly virus. it has similar supernatural and good versus evil elements (and is just as long). Please note that the gritty realism contained here is not for the faint of heart; the book is often scary and horrible things happen to the main characters.
It’s heartbreaking, but also hopeful, and contains spectacularly developed characters that you’re sure to grow fond of. do yourself a favor and pick this one up if you’re a fan of the genre; don’t be put off by the length, because we promise you won’t want it to end. Read the official synopsis here.
the book of m: a novel by peng pastor
I recently spent a week in early July to read a couple of new post-apocalyptic books I hadn’t read yet, including this one: the book of m: a novel by newcomer peng shepherd. and honestly, it was one of those books where you get lost. after the first few chapters, I was completely engrossed in its unique apocalyptic setting.
In the book of m, the apocalypse begins when people begin to lose their shadows and, along with them, their memories, in an epidemic known as oblivion. I know, I know, it sounds a bit cheesy, as far as the premises go. however, I found myself enjoying it much more than I thought I would after initially reading the description of it.
The characters are well-formed and nearly all are memorable in their own way, and somehow Peng paints them in a way that makes you feel like you’re right there with them, trying to solve the mystery. of lost memories and how this is happening. It’s a brilliant story, right up to its climax, and Peng does a great job of presenting the reader with an unsettling apocalypse that is truly riveting.