I don’t just write post-apocalyptic fiction, I’m also an avid reader. And by “avid” I mean that I read a lot of it. I’m not entirely sure what draws me to the genre so much.
Perhaps in part it’s because one gets to imagine mankind living outside of what is considered “normal.” You know, the working a forty hour week to afford your home and two cars. Maybe catch a movie or play a round of golf on the weekend once the lawn is mowed and you’re done running the kids here and there for whatever organized form of play they’re enrolled in.
The very premise of the In Times of Trouble story is the possibility of a community coming together to not only survive in a post-apocalyptic world, but to thrive and rebuild. To form a self-governing society with a hyper-local economy that lives in harmony with the seasons and the immediate world around them.
I also think that there’s a natural curiosity about man’s darker nature. About the possibilities that lie in a world without society and its laws to contain us within the confines of what is considered “civilized.” Where there’s nothing to stop one from destroying someone who causes offense or harm. Where one takes what they want to satisfy whatever needs or urges present themselves in the moment.
It’s a genre rife with possibilities, from those proven very real, as evidenced by history, to those a little more fanciful or sinister.
Countless times since the release of my first book in 2020, I’ve been told that it was someone’s introduction to post-apocalyptic fiction. If I have time, I’ll often recommend other books that perhaps someone might enjoy. So that’s what I’ll do here, share my favorite post-apocalyptic reads with you!
One Second After – William Forstchen
I believe this is one of the first in modern post-apocalyptic fiction I read, and it blew me away.
“One man struggles to save his family and his small North Carolina town after America loses a war, in one second, a war that will send America back to the Dark Ages…A war based upon a weapon, an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP). A weapon that may already be in the hands of our enemies.
Months before publication, One Second After has already been cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read, a book already being discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as a truly realistic look at a weapon and its awesome power to destroy the entire United States, literally within one second.”
There’s now four books in the series and while the second one is a little “meh,” the third one makes up for it. I have not yet read the fourth, but it’s on my list!
The New World Series – G. Michael Hopf
As you can see, there’s a lot there to sink your teeth into but somehow you’ll still blaze through all of them before you know it. The books are loaded with great storytelling despite the well used trope of an EMP attack on the U.S.
Hopf was also very influential on my own writing, both in style and by posting videos about writing on his social media pages.
V-Plague Series – Dirk Patton
This one is interesting in that it’s the end of the world where humans have mutated into ravenous wild beasts by a bioweapon.
“John, a retired soldier, and Rachel, a young doctor, find themselves thrown together in a shattered, post-apocalyptic landscape. Together, they must escape the unstoppable menace of the infected, the threat of fellow survivors and the final showdown with America’s greatest enemy.With a main character that is the Jack Reacher of the apocalypse, this is a series that has been hailed by readers and critics alike.“
There are a LOT of books in this series. Patton also wrote a couple side books that play into this series which, last I knew, was being looked at for a TV series.
77 Days In September – Ray Gorham
This is another one of those, “EMP, guy is trying to get home” books.
“On a Friday afternoon before Labor Day, Americans are getting ready for the holiday weekend, completely unaware of a long-planned terrorist plot about to be launched against the country. Kyle Tait is settling in for his flight home to Montana when a single nuclear bomb is detonated 300 miles above the heart of America. The blast, an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP), destroys every electrical device in the country, and results in the crippling of the power grid, the shutting down of modern communications, and bringing to a halt most forms of transportation.
Kyle narrowly escapes when his airplane crashes on take-off, only to find himself stranded 2,000 miles from home in a country that has been forced, from a technological standpoint, back to the 19th Century. Confused, hurt, scared, and alone, Kyle must make his way across a hostile continent to a family he’s not even sure has survived the effects of the attack. As Kyle forges his way home, his frightened family faces their own struggles for survival in a community trying to halt its slow spiral into chaos and anarchy.“
It’s definitely a good read, and interestingly, by the ending I was really emotionally invested in the book, something unusual for this genre. Gorham followed this up with Daunting Days Of Winter, which was also good. I still hope he writes more, although it’s been quite a while since his second book.
Surrender The Sun – A.R. Shaw
“In the year 2030, a mini ice age hits earth like it did in 1645. A war-weary community scrambles. A recluse veteran must take charge or most will die from the effects of severe weather but also from man himself.”
After a while, even I have to admit you need a break from the EMP plot device, which is why this book was a refreshing change of pace.
Anything By Franklin Horton
The only reason I saved Franklin Horton’s books for last was because there’s so much to read, you won’t have time to read any of the above titles. To date, he’s written over 30 books and I’m sure even as I’m writing this he’s got three more in the works.
All of his stories are excellent and filled with characters full of personality. Part of what I really enjoy about his books is how they also all tie into each other somehow. This is a big universe Horton has created, and you’ll be drawn in quickly.
The three series I’ve read are The Borrowed World, The Locker Nine Series, The Way Of Dan Series, and The Mad Mick Series which together is more than two dozen books!
I would start with The Borrowed World, which kind of sets the tone and the scene for the rest of them. Then you could read the rest of them in about any order, although I did it this way: Locker Nine, Way Of Dan, then Mad Mick. Horton recently released the start of a new series, the first of which is titled Willie.
I dare say that for now that’s more than enough for even the most voracious reader to dig in to. You’ll notice I haven’t even touched on classics such as The Road, The Stand, or even some other newer series like Chris Weatherman, aka Angery American’s, Going Home series. Not to mention countless other series and stand alones I’ve enjoyed over the years.
If you’ve read a good post-apocalyptic story, let us hear about it in the comments!