The Next Best Book Club discussion

A cousin of mine loves to read books about the end of the world. The best I could recommend to him was World War Z An Oral History of the Zombie War. Does anybody have any suggestions?

The Bible.
kidding.

I'll have to think about it.

This has come up before... here's a starter list:

The Stand
The Road
Earth Abides
Alas, Babylon
Lucifer's Hammer
Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Year Zero
Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse

Lauren wrote: "The Bible.
kidding.

I'll have to think about it."

ROFL! You are now my favorite person!

Also, I Am Legend wasn't bad.

Ralph wrote: "Also, I Am Legend wasn't bad."

I can't believe I forgot I Am Legend! I love that book!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/...

These are the apocolyptical fiction novels that I have read.
Check em out!

The Pesthouse is good and the story has stuck with me since I read it last year.

Galapagos

here's another one:
Dr. Bloodmoney by Philip Dick

Becky--reading your list, I was reminded of one of the great books--Lucifer's Hammer. Loved it!

I haven't read that one yet... It's on my To-read list as a highly recommended book though!

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is nominally about the end of the world, or at least our world. Granted, it's more about a perfect cup of tea....

Ooo, and to step it up, Restaurant at the End of the Universe is a little bit about the end of the, well, you get it.

Cat's Cradle
Mockingbird
The Drowned World
I Am Legend

Dean Koontz 'The Taking' One of my absolute favorites

The Martian Chronicles - Ray Bradbury.

Suzanne wrote: "Dean Koontz 'The Taking' One of my absolute favorites"

I loved that book, it scared the pants off of me (the diner scene in particular), but I didn't like the predictable Koontz ending. I was really disappointed by it.

For an offbeat read, try HG Wells "The War in the Air". It is not one of his more well known works, but is an interesting period piece and anti-war story.

Thanks everybody!

I didn't read this book, but heard that it was good, and it's an end of the world book:

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Seth, you always make such great lists.
I love when you post them for the members!!

I read one, about 25 years ago, I thought it was called the Day After or something similar, but am not at all sure... The premise was that the state of California was the only one that survived the holocaust, but if you weren't already in california, they wouldn't let you in!

I remember reading it on a greyhound bus and looking up and out of the window in New Jersey somewhere and being surprised that civilization was still there. I had gotten so wrapped up in the book that I was expecting to see devastation out of the bus window. Anyone remember the title of that one?

Hayes wrote: "I read one, about 25 years ago, I thought it was called the Day After or something similar, but am not at all sure... The premise was that the state of California was the only one that survived the..."

That sounds awesome. Someone please remember the name of this book!!

There's also On the Beach.

I also read one about 25 years ago and can't remember the name. It was about a scientist who predicted that the Earth would spin and alter it's axis, causing lands to be flooded, new lands to appear, etc. He had figured out the two points on Earth that would be unaffected and was trying to convince the Authorities to send people and books and information that would be needed to restart the World to those locations.
Does this ring a bell to anyone? It's driving me nuts that I can't remember the title.

Petra, I have On The Beach, an original hardcover I found in a used bookstore, but havent read it yet.

The second story sounds cool too. There is a group here that is made specifically for helping people recover the titles of books they have forgotten.

I think its called "what the name of that book?".
Maybe you might get more luck posting those questions there? THen come back here and let us know :)

I love On the Beach and many others.

One lesser known book that I love is Into the Forest .

Edit: For young adults (and adults) I really enjoyed:
Life As We Knew It and The Dead and the Gone which are the first two books in a trilogy. The third book is due out in 2010.

I was thinking Swan song, The stand or 2012 Thats all that comes to mind for me at the moment.

Little late but Seth has a great list! Sorry I read it after openning my big mouth! LOL!

Love, LOVE Good Omens. It's a current favorite end of the world novel ^.^

Lori wrote: "Petra, I have On The Beach, an original hardcover I found in a used bookstore, but havent read it yet.

The second story sounds cool too. There is a group here that is made specifically for helpi..."

Thanks, Lori! I posted on What's The Name of The Book. Let's see if there's a response.

Lisa, Into the Forest has been on my to buy list since almost as long as I have been a member here. Its out of print and I havent run across it yet in any bookstore or any book sale Ive been to.

I may end up having to order it online. hmmmmm

Lori, Into the Forest is one of my favorite books. Have you checked your public library or any library? It would be worth it to order it online, in my opinion. That's a shame that it's OOP. Perhaps it will come back into print at some point.

Lori, Are you certain it is OOP?: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553...

Edit: and http://www.powells.com/biblio/0553379... . This one is used, but the Amazon one looks new and it's not from their marketplace, so it looks in print.

Anyway, it is available. Most bookstores, and all that sell used books, would be able to order a copy.

Lisa, I thought I read somewhere it was. I could only find it used online. However, since I just splurged, this one will have to wait awhile :)
Thanks for the link tho!!