SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Please, suggest me a book which is similar to City of Ember...

Similar in what way? What did you like about it?

The theme. Simplicity.

Have you read The Buried Life, by Carrie Patel? This is similar in that it is an underground city with mysterious origins. It is more of a police procedural than City of Ember though.

Of course, I am looking for a post-apocalyptic story...

Sachin, it would help if you describe exactly what you liked about City of Ember and what it is you're looking for. It helps the recommendations that people provide be more in line with what you're looking for.

Here are the things I liked about City of Ember:

- Post-apocalyptic setup for survival which was failing
- Unique economy flow
- Solving torned puzzle
- Unfamiliarity with objects familiar to us like candle and matchstick
- The experience our heroes got to experience after getting out
- Simple story flow

Older SF, and by that I mean pre-Sputnik, which was marketed as much to teens as to adults, is more likely to be like what you're describing.

You talk about, if I understand correctly, a straightforward story line that explores ideas about a society that is very different than ours, but is not alien. The characters are human, but their technology, economy, etc. is different because there has been some sort of apocalypse and the recovery isn't going well.

I'm sorry I don't have any titles in mind, but I do advise you look to some of the very old classics.

I wonder, too, if you might like some Steampunk, especially that which is marketed to teens and children. Maybe not (for example)
Leviathan, because there's a fair bit of knowledge of real history necessary, and there's a fair bit of political intrigue. And also because it's Alternate History, not Post-Apocalyptic. But maybe yes - my teen son loved the trilogy.

@Cheryl Your second paragraph - Great observation. Thanks a lot. It'd help me.

You might like Wool by Hugh Howey.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Glynis wrote: "You might like Wool by Hugh Howey.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1..."

Yes, definitely worth a try, Sachin.

Thanks a lot guys...

Hmmm...

Simplicity of tale, style and character, as well as an experience of leaving an underground area could be sort of loosely similar to Pawn of Prophecy?

There aren't many puzzles, and the old civilizations aren't ours, but there's a lot of exploration and new experiences.

I think YA novels (Garth Nix's The Fall and the Seventh Tower series) also have stories that sound similar to that--especially dystopian ones. The Seventh Tower is about a society that lives in a bunch of towers who bind demons to them for power from above clouds that lock the world in eternal night. The world is so cold, no one can live out there. Or can they?

Divergent, too, is about living among the ruins of our society, and changing homes along with outlooks.

Ok, thanks a lot, The Fall is now on my (I-must-live-to-200) list, too!

Cheryl wrote: "Ok, thanks a lot, The Fall is now on my (I-must-live-to-200) list, too!"

Haha! I hope they live up to the test of time--I read them years ago, but I very much enjoyed them. There are moments that still burn in my mind. :-)

Here's a happy coincidence. I'm reading a book right now that is probably perfect.

Main character is YA and the book is fairly short and the plot and characters are accessible... but... 1. there is a sort of a mystery/ gradual relevation, and 2. there are mature words & scenes, and 3. there are complex themes to think about.

The young people are raised very differently than their parents, and so they're almost 'alien' in a way, and a lot of things we understand, including economy and technology, are different for them.

The apocalypse was a few decades ago from the current story, and recovery has hit a big bump, as we learn gradually.

Lots of What-If and World-Building but a good story beyond that, too. (Just beware the awkward beginning, do not DNF too early... it's all crafted intentionally.)

Orbital Resonance by John Barnes