I've always been fascinated with stories concerning the end of the world, the proverbial collapse of civilization by a plethora of inventive ways; destructive alien invasion, eco-collapse, man-made catastrophes, disease and other continent shattering events. There's something emotionally stirring about a story of ultimate survival. When I was younger, it was through mythology, particularly Norse mythology with it's perpetual gloomy demeanor, that this fascination came to be. (Ok, and maybe reading
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George and just a few Jack London stories helped too.) It was crystallized in junior high school when Pat Frank's
Alas, Babylon was given for assigned reading. I was then firmly hooked. Over the years I came across more of this type of book and then I started seeking them out, both old and new. Recently I noticed a particular relevant title in my library and I thought it would share some of the better efforts in this area I'm aware of. This is not meant to be an all-encompassing list by any means, but just the ones I have read and enjoyed. If you like this type of novel, then look into some of these titles.
The Postman. David Brin
Forget the Kevin Costner movie, read the book! Set in a post apocalyptic United States, this early Brin novel focuses on nomadic survivor Gordon Krantz. While evading survivalist raiders, Gordon assumes the identity of a US Postal worker, complete with mail bag. Under this guise, Gordon gains the confidence of the people he meets, receiving free room and board since the people so desperately want to believe civilization is making a comeback. Gordon is quickly sucked into this belief and although he severely doubts himself. He becomes the bridge between communities in the Pacific NW, delivering mail and messages, keeping the hope of a better future alive.
Earth. David Brin
Set in the not too distant future, the earth is being ravaged by global warning to the extent that sunscreen and sunglasses are a must and ‘arks’ are built to preserve an increasing number of animals on the verge of extinction. As a group of scientists experiment with a miniature black hole as an alternative energy source, it escapes and sinks to the earth’s core where it orbits, signaling the earth’s destruction. In the meantime, world order is collapsing. Gianism has a strong foothold in the minds of many, a religion based on the theory that in order to save the earth, humans must submit to the inevitable and become extinct. But as scientists struggle to defeat the catastrophic effects of the black hole, they uncover upon an even greater threat. Earth is a novel well populated with many diverse and multidimensional characters. It is fun to read it now, a little over a dozen years after it’s initial publication, to see some of Brin’s predictions see reality such as the extent of the World Wide Web, personal video recorders becoming an everyday item and the exposure of corporate secrecy.
The Forge of God. Greg Bear
Aliens take over the Earth. Well, more like aliens destroy the Earth. Either way, to me, this is the best alien invasion novel I ever read. And the reason? You do not get to see the aliens at all, just their handiwork. The narrative is based around the actions of select people; how they handle the Earth shattering crisis. Intense at times and totally engaging.
Blood Music. Greg Bear
Written as a novella in 1983, this astonishing piece of hard SF garnered both the Hugo and Nebula awards. Afterwards, Bear extended it to novel length, adding a touch of the metaphysical to the ending. Scientist Vergil Ulam wanted to genetically engineer viruses to develop bioware, but instead creates intelligent cells with the capability to quickly mutate. When his employers discover his unauthorized experiments, he is told to destroy them. Unable to comply, he injects himself with the new cells to smuggle them out for further study elsewhere. This is where the fun begins. The cells immediately adapt to his body and then starts to modify it. Within weeks the cells learn of the world outside of Vergil’s body and then set out to infiltrate it with life changing results. One of the best genetic engineering SF books to date.
Aftermath. Charles Sheffield
This is one of the few novels to take a supernova event as a vehicle for disaster. In the near future, a supernova erupts in nearby Alpha Centauri. When the resulting gamma pulse hits earth, everything electronic in nature not buried underground or in a Faraday cage gets fried. This novel is seen through the eyes of a trio of cancer patients, the US president and White House staff and a Mars Expedition on it’s return flight. The cancer patients desperately need their periodic treatments, but all power has been disrupted and nearby hospitals are nearly non-functional except for basic medical needs. Hope for them is in the form of Dr. Oliver Guest. The only problem is that he is in ‘judicial sleep’ for being tried as a serial killer. A good solid read with a different perspective.
Lucifer's Hammer. Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Niven and Pournelle are the undisputed SF tag team champions. Everything they write together is exceptional and Lucifer’s Hammer is right up there with the best of their work. This is the quintessential disaster novel, the one all others are judged by. The basic premise is a behemoth of a comet slams in the earth essentially destroying civilization all across the globe by massive earthquakes, tidal waves, etc. Like The Forge of God, the story revolves around several characters trying to survive the catastrophe. Truly a classic!
The Killing Star. Charles Pelligrino and George Zebrowski
This book is more like dozens of really cool scientific ideas strung along the lines of a novel format. As a novel, it fails in several areas, but the scope of the ideas are truly inspired. The premise centers around the idea that if there were interstellar species that could travel at relativistic speeds, one would not have a clue if that species was benign or otherwise until it was too late. We find out in the future when relativistic bombs hit the earth. Not content to just do that, the aliens then try to wipe out all pockets of humanity amongst the inner and outer planets.
Dust. Charles Pelligrino
Another book by the versatile Pelligrino, but one in which he attempts to imbue more of a plot and engaging characters, which, for the most part, works. He still needs to work on character development, but, again, his scientific basis for the novel transcends this flaw. An eco-catastrophe work based on the premise of what would happen if the food chain was missing a crucial element, setting the earth up for another mass extinction cycle. Killer dust mites swarms abound and vampire bats go into a frenzy as scientist Richard Sinclair tries to unravel what is happening. And that is just the start... Not for the faint of heart as it is quite scary and visceral.
Ill Wind. Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason
This is an eco-disaster thriller chillingly based on believable scientific conjecture. An oil supertanker has an accident off the coast of California and the oil company attempts to clean up the spill utilizing an experimental oil eating microbe. The microbe, however, turns out to be more mobile than suspected and is airborne across the country, destroying all petrochemical products from gasoline to plastic. Needless to say, it doesn’t take long before society starts to collapse. There’s a very cool scene in this book involving the effects of strong microwaves have on metal teeth fillings that would make you cringe the next time you see a microwave tower.
Childhood's End. Arthur C. Clarke
Not a true end-of-the-world book, but one that comes close enough to be categorized as such. Aliens arrive and help guide us towards our evolutionary destiny. We find out that they have tried to help us in the past, through visionaries like Confucius, Mohamed and Jesus, but their teaching were corrupted and turned into religions. At first all war, poverty, disease, etc. are eliminated and then, after several decades, all the children of earth merge themselves into a universal mind to wander off in other dimensions. The older human generations are left on earth to live out their lives without the ability to procreate, the last ones of their kind.
Alas, Babylon. Pat Frank
The book that started my passion for end-of-the-world scenarios. Set in a small town in Florida after a nuclear catastrophe it shows the horrors and challenges survivors must face. Quite moving for one like myself growing up during the Cold War. Very engaging and shows human nature in a positive light.
The White Plague. Frank Herbert
Yes Virginia, Frank Herbert wrote more than the classic Dune series. In this contemporary novel, molecular biologist John O’Neill’s family is killed by a terrorist bomb in Ireland. Grief plunges him into madness and he plots revenge against humanity by developing a fatal virus that targets only women. For the virus’ vehicle, he uses money, so it spreads quite rapidly and thoroughly. Viewed in light of today’s Anthrax and Small Pox scare, this novel hits home.
Moonseed. Stephen Baxter
Moon rocks that have been moth-balled for decades are brought back out in the research arena and some moon rock tailings are dropped on the ground in Scotland. Unbeknownst to anyone, the moon rocks were contaminated with an extraterrestrial nanovirus and it attacks the Earth’s rocky mantle with a vengeance. While a few drastic measures help slow the spread of destruction, a trip to the moon to solve the puzzle is hastily planned and executed. Grand in scale and scope.
Cradle of Saturn. James P. Hogan
In the future, the space program is as dead as it is today, except for private ventures, like the one that placed people at a permanent base on one of Saturn’s moons. When a chunk of Saturn is ejected into the inner solar system like a newborn comet, there are few worries on Earth. However, as it cruises around the Sun, it’s original trajectory was changed and it makes a near miss pass between the Earth and Moon, causing enormous gravitational stresses that threaten to wipe out the Earth’s population. Much of this conceptual plot is based on the works of Emmanuel Valikosky.
