Good books about the apocalypse or a post-apocalyptic world

[Ronstang]

Alas Babylon

 

[Kadarin]

I already mentioned Hyperion for Dan Simmons. I think that's the best of all his sci-fi books by far.

The Hyperion series is most excellent, but I would not at all describe it as being apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic.

 

[L1FE]

Just finished Hunger Games (and its sequel) last week and would definitely recommend the series.

 

[eakers]

The Year of the Flood (Margret Atwood) was okay.

 

[compbuilder00]

Alas, Babylon

World War Z

Wastelands

World War Z was probably the best book I've read in the last 6 months. Just a great book overall

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Nevil & Pournelle "Lucifer's Hammer"
Another really good one. This one is end of the world by a comet.

A Canticle For Leibowitz.

Good Omens

For another odd take on the Apocalypse, check out Sir Fred Hoyle's October the First Is Too Late, published in 1966.

These are all great, enjoyable books.

 

[ahenkel]

On the Beach

 

[dennilfloss]

The Handmaid's Tale

 

[Wag]

The Hyperion series is most excellent, but I would not at all describe it as being apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic.

I consider it post-apocalyptic in a sense of being gone from the Earth long after the apocalypse. It certainly is interesting in the way it looks at the Catholic Church as an "interstellar" institution (I bet they hate this book with a passion).

If you haven't read The Postman don't let the movie throw you. Kevin Costner wouldn't know the meaning of "irony" if it hit him in the head.

 

[nageov3t]

On the Beach was really amazing... it's not a pewpewaction book, but it's about the last piece of society left alive and waiting for death after a nuclear war wiped out the rest of the world (small coastal city in Australia surviving until the seasonal winds bring fallout down from the north)

also, Day by Day Armageddon (a zombie novel)

 

[Jadow]

terry brooks word and void and genesis of shannara series

 

[Born2bwire]

Cat's Cradle.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Another mention for World War Z. It is just pure fvcking awesome. (Zombie Apocalypse)

Also, another mention of Brave New World... really quite outstanding. Used as the basis for a lot of authoritarian/evil government type films/stories.

And another favorite "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" Well, anything I've read by Phillip K Dick has been pretty badass... but this is worth special mention. (Blade Runner was very loosely based on this story)

 

[ThePresence]

The Children of Men

 

[Pheran]

I will second the nominations for The Stand, it's one of King's best. Also, I haven't read World War Z, but I would recommend The Walking Dead for a good zombie apocalypse story.

 

[jemcam]

Alas Babylon

Awesome book, one of my favorites of all time.

http://www.amazon.com/Alas-Babylon-P...9037942&sr=1-1

 

[mundane]

..

 

[totalnoob]

Atlas Shrugged.. Not post apocalyptic..but it is about the gradual decline and collapse of civilization. http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugge...tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1279039881&sr=8-1

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

World War Z

 

[dr150]

World War Z

This.

 

[KDOG]

1984?

 

[Kadarin]

Greg Bear's Eon (and its sequel Eternity) deal somewhat with an apocalypse on Earth from a unique perspective. They written during the 80s so there's still the concept of the US vs Soviet worldview. Not as good, but still worth checking out are his novels The Forge of God and Anvil of Stars, that detail the story of an Earth destroyed by a xenophobic alien race in the present day, and what humanity does about it.

 

[nick1985]

The Stand

this x1000

 

[GrantMeThePower]

I just needed to chime in and reiterate what some have said....

World War Z
Lucifer's hammer (really good, don't skip this one)
Day by Day Armageddon

The passage is very interesting too. Reading it now.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

José Saramago's Blindness isn't exactly post-apocalyptic, but it does trace the lives of people affected by a sweeping catastrophe. It's pretty good.