‘Mousse’s Top 10 List of Doomer Fiction.
I’m not into the militia porn, battle scenes don’t do it for me. Here’s my alternative to James’s list.
Life As We Knew it, by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Planetary problem. A great description of the quick downward spiral, goodbye J-I-T, a page-turner. Written for teens, and from a teenager’s point of view, which is sufficient explanation for the ending. This is the first, and best of three in the series.
One Second After, by Al Forstchen
EMP. Very well written, a modern doomer classic, and the best for looking at history and how societies might reorganize. Damn near everybody loves this book, and with good reason.
Omega, by Stewart Farrar
Collapse. This book stars witches, a welcome relief if you tire of the virtuous Christians triumphing over all, again and again. I mean you, Rawles, and you, T.C. Sherry, try to apply your principles to the pages with something smaller than a trowel. Anyway. Good adventure, and an excellent look at what it might mean to be in the minority.
The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck
Famine, war, life in general. Not technically a doomer book, but it’s my list. Read the book and watch the 1937 movie too for a glimpse into our resource-starved future.
Into The Forest, by Jean Hegland
Societal decay and collapse. This was a raw book, painful to read, and, probably the one closest to the truth. There’s not much happy joy joy here.
On The Beach, by Nevil Shute.
Nuclear. Read the book, then watch the movie. Try not to slash your wrists as you think about Fukushima and all the other power plants.
Alas, Babylon, by Pat Frank
Nuclear. Sure it’s dated, but it is still a classic. Look for the one with the foreword by David Brin (The Postman). Enjoy their journey, and consider the life they choose.
Earth Abides, by George Stewart
Disease. Buy the Cliff’s Notes if you have to, this one is deep, but really, pay attention to the tribe and the decisions the society must make to keep itself intact.
Noah’s Castle, by John Rowe Townsend.
Economic collapse. If you struggle with hoarding vs. prepping, or the conundrum of sharing, this book is for you.
Dies The Fire, S.M. Stirling
I still don’t know what the issue is here. This is the best book in the series, and if it is the only one you read, probably that’s a good decision. The battle scenes are tedious, victory to the virtuous, spare me. BUT, the food scenes, the farming, those are worth the price of admission. If you’re wondering if you should stash some wheat, read this book. And get yourself some beans and rice too.
Jim's note: buy these books through my Amazon links, you tight bastards. Scroll down for my regular Monday article posted previously.
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2 comments:
Some old time classics in there.
Into the Forest has some very good points, but it is also one of may favorite books to pick on. The likelyhood, given their actions at the end, that the two young ladies survive another couple of years is very slight.
I did not find One Second After to be particularly realistic in its post-apocalyptic governance. What I did think it did an extremely good job of is not ingoring the plight of people who need modern medicine to survive. You get to see them die slowly and often painfully.
The "happy" ending of Susan Beth Pfeffer is a bit of an illusion. Robert Edric's more recent "Salvage" is similar. An ambivelent, slightly upbeat ending, where in all likelyhood everyone is toast in the long run.
Nice review list. I dropped some spare change in the Bison hair-club-for-men stewpot as I made a purchase on Amazon. Thanks for the suggestions.
Oh, and BTW - I totally LOL'd with this line:
"This book stars witches, a welcome relief if you tire of the virtuous Christians triumphing over all, again and again. I mean you, Rawles, and you, T.C. Sherry, try to apply your principles to the pages with something smaller than a trowel."
Classic. Haha.
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