Uncertainties abound in the world we live in. Countless calamities have befallen humanity, and the history of catastrophic disasters is carried by individuals who survive them. This post-apocalyptic literature engages future generations to learn how to cope with disasters. The post-apocalyptic literature is diverse and unique to the particular calamity that occurs. If you’re looking for highly gripping apocalyptic literature, we’ve got you covered. Here is our selection of the top post-apocalyptic novels that you should not miss.
1. I AM LEGEND
By Richard Matheson
For aficionados of science fiction and horror, this is a must read, incredible zombie novel. The plot centers around a guy named Robert Neville, who is the only survivor of a pandemic that has turned everyone else into zombies. There are some grisly parts throughout the novel, so if you like gore and heavy suspense, you’ll love this book.
2. THE PASSAGE
By Justin Cronin – 2010
The Passage depicts the mysterious odyssey of a little girl named Amy, who was abandoned by her mother when she was six years old and then imprisoned by unknown government officials for apocalyptic experiments. The plot centers around Amy and a special agent who discovers her innocence and helps her escape, but he is unable to save the world from a disastrous experiment gone awry.
3. WORLD WAR Z An Oral History of the Zombie War
By Max Brooks
It’s a unique take on the apocalypse based on a series of interviews conducted by our narrator that tells the tale of a zombie war that occurred ten years ago. We learn of the same plague through a patient named Zero, as well as the ways to prevent this catastrophe from reoccurring.
4. WHO FEARS DEATH
By Nnedi Okorafor – 2010
WHO FEARS DEATH is a prize-winning fantasy novel that takes place in Sudan where a child of rape (Onyesonwu) was born. When that child grows up, she utilizes her magical abilities to take revenge on the rapist father.
5. A CANTICLE FOR LEIBOWITZ
By Walter M. Miller Jr. – 1960
A Canticle for Leibovitz is a post-apocalyptic social science fiction story. After the nuclear holocaust, those who survived were opposed to nuclear weapons information, and raging mobs began murdering those who shared it. Leibowitz was the only one who stored it in his buried books for future generations.
6. AMERICA PACIFICA
By Anna North – 2011
America Pacifica is a fictional story about a frozen North American continent. Only a small island in the Pacific remains unfrozen. All the ice age survivors have assembled on this Pacific island. Darcy, a young girl, sets out on a mission to find her mother, who has gone missing and uncovers the mysteries of old America.
7. DHALGREN
By Samuel R.DELANY – 1975
Dhalgren is a novel centered on a trip to the fictional American city of Bellona, which has been cut off from the rest of the world due to an unexpected disaster. Bellona’s predicament is dangerous as there’s no radio or television signals that can reach there. Weird happenings are taking place as time dilates and contracts. There are two moons visible, and a host of other anomalies.
8. THE POSTMAN
By David Brin – 1985
The Postman is a post-apocalyptic novel about the consequences of a nuclear war. A drama student named Gorden Krantz discovers a postal service uniform and begins to play the part of a restored United States of America officer. He becomes a symbol of hope for the people that things will return to normal.
9. PLANET OF THE APES
By Pierre Boulle – 1963
Planet of the Apes is a post-apocalyptic science fiction tale about three humans on a journey to a planet where huge apes are the dominant species and humans have been reduced to animal-like states.
10. THE DOG STARS
By Peter Heller – 2012
Since we live in such perilous times, this is a must-read post-apocalyptic story about a narrator named “Hig”, who is a survivor of a deadly disease called “Blood”, and his hunt for additional survivors.
11. THE GONE-AWAY WORLD
By Nick Harkaway – 2008
The Gone-Away World is a humorous post-apocalyptic tale about the devastation caused by a world war that has killed three-quarters of the population. Gonzo is a Kung Fu trucker who has survived the battle and is the world’s sole hope.
12. THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS
By M.R. Carey
The Girl with All the Gifts is a sci-fi horror story about the after-effects of the zombie war in the following decade, which has infected the entire United Kingdom except for a limited group of people. The infected are known as “hungries” since their brainpower has been depleted and they have evolved into flesh-eating creatures. Authorities have begun to examine a certain group, specifically a girl named Melanie. She is a genius and is the world’s hope for salvation.
13. ON THE BEACH
By Nevil Shute
On the Beach is a post-apocalyptic story about the aftermath of a nuclear world war and its effects on the people of Melbourne after a year. They are concerned about the impending lethal radiation from the Northern Hemisphere.
14. THE CHILDREN OF MEN
By P. D. James – 1992
The Children of Men is a fascinating tale about the topic of depopulation in the United Kingdom. Infertility is one of the most pressing issues threatening the human population’s survival. It also shows the aspiration for a democratic society.
15. STATION ELEVEN
By Emily ST. John Mandel – 2014
Station Eleven is based on the pandemic apocalypse known as the Georgia Flu, which led to the annihilation of the majority of the human population, similar to what we’ve witnessed firsthand with COVID-19. It is about a woman named Kirsten, a flu survivor who is now a member of a traveling theatre group.
16. ONE SECOND AFTER
By William R. Forstchen
One Second After is set one second after the United States was attacked by an electromagnetic pulse. As a result, anything that relies on electric power has been rendered useless. The water, the internet, and the transportation system have all stopped working. This has resulted in a food and water deficit.
17. THE WALKING DEAD
By Robert Kirkman
The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic graphic novel series about Rick Grimes, who was shot while on duty and awakens from a coma in a zombie apocalypse. The story follows him and other survivors on their quest to protect themselves from zombies.
18. WE STAND ON GUARD
By Brian K. Waughan
We Stand on Guard is a science fiction novel focusing on the resistance of Canadians to the US invasion of their country. The book discusses America’s employment of huge robots and heavy weapons.
19. THE COMPLETE MAUS
By American cartoonist Art Spiegelman
The Complete Maus is a graphic novel in which the author interviews his father about his experiences as a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. Different state citizens are represented in the book by animal names, such as German are cats.
20. CLOUD ALTAS
By David MITCHELL – 2004
Cloud Atlas is a metafiction novel based on several narratives, one of which is set in a post-apocalyptic future on the island of Hawaii. The universality of human nature is the theme of this book.
21. THE ROAD
By Cormac McCarthy
The Road is a post-apocalyptic tale about a young boy who goes on a road trip through lifeless America with his father to explore the impacts of the apocalypse.
22. DEAD SILENCE
By S. A. Barnes
Dead Silence is a horror story about a woman named Claire who has lost her job and eventually has nothing to lose. She embarks on an investigation with her team and discovers Aurora, a space-liner that mysteriously vanished twenty years ago in the solar system.
23. ALL THAT’S LEFT IN THE WORLD
By Erik J. Brown
All That’s Left in the World is a post-apocalyptic romantic tale about two boys, Jamie and Andrew, who lost their loved ones to a deadly pathogen. The lads must live with what is left in the world, which requires them to trust and expose their secrets to one another.
What is the difference between apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic?
Stories in the apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic categories often show characters trapped in a world lacking in everything that makes the world an easy place to live in, while at the same time adding new dangers to the mix. When a disaster occurs, and the characters must survive as it is occurring, it’s apocalyptic. If the destruction has already happened when the story starts, then it’s considered post-apocalyptic.
What is a post-apocalyptic book?
A post-apocalyptic novel or story is in the science fiction family. An end of the world event has occurred and those who remain are surviving and trying to begin again in what’s left of their world.
What is an example of post-apocalyptic literature?
There are several post-apocalyptic themes in the Bible which include the Garden of Eden, Noah and the Ark, and the book of Revelation. Modern literature with this theme are found in The Stand, The Road, I Am Legend, and The Last Man.
What is the difference between post-apocalyptic and dystopian?
The differences are sometimes intermingled and often are used together in writings and shows. Post-apocalyptic is shown as worlds with much poverty and a lack of resources. There is sickness due to nuclear fallout or disease and a shortness of nutritional food. Everyone is in survival mode and there may not be harmony within the population.
Dystopian worlds may have a figurehead that is feared or worshipped (which can be because of fear). The government is oppressive, many have a police state, people are afraid of the outside world, and the world they are in is in decline.
