Calling Readers: Post your favorite survival fiction books!

Alas Babylon-Pat Frank
Lucifers Hammer-Niven and Pournelle
These started it for me back
In the 70's and have never been topped

Both are written by scientists and although Babylon is a bit dated,being written around 59 when The Russians had to launch their missles from close in on the coasts it's and excellent work,like Hammer,well researched and written,,,, read them both many times over

I still need to read Heinlein. However, there is one quote of his that I think fits, here; I had it at the top of the Survival spec page on WoWWiki for years.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

When I was a kid, my first survival novel was "My Side of the Mountain", and the same Christmas I got a copy of Camping and Woodcraft by Kephart.

Lucifer's Hammer

The story details a cometary impact on Earth, an end to civilization, and the battle for the future. It encompasses the discovery of the comet, the LA social scene, and a cast of diverse characters whom fate seems to smile upon and allow to survive the massive cataclysm and the resulting tsunamis, plagues, famines and battles amongst scavengers and cannibals.

ETA .. Hot fudge sundae on Tuesday.
(if you read the book you'll understand)

Just because I am a traditional old school kind of guy, my favorites of fiction are....

Robinson Crusoe by Dafoe and The Mysterious Island by Verne.

Both deal with surviving and using scavanged materials and your wits to create a viable lifestyle. Further, the fact that it is done on a 17th and 18th and 19th century level is good food for thought in the event of an EMP or some other event that knocks out the lights.

Tunnel in the sky by Rober A heinlein, Alas babalon I balieve that was frank somebody and down to a sunless sea. the author escapes me at the moment. All great stories centered around survival.

Funny how an oldie like Alas Babylon comes on first and a semi oldie like Lucifiers Hammer comes in second?

I loved Lucifer's Hammer, but it is only my second favorite.

My vote for best of all time has to be Earth Abides by George R. Stewart. Any of you who haven't had the pleasure of reading it, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

reply to post by shutdownormeltdown


I had forgotten Earth Abides. I liked the first one, detested the sequel.

I don't know if it has been posted yet, but The Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z by Max Brooks .