You’ve come to the right place if you’re interested in reading exciting tales of how humanity will survive the end of the planet. We’ve compiled the best apocalypse books to keep you on the edge of your seat!
These books are filled with adventure, suspense, and the resiliency of the human spirit in the face of tragedy. If you enjoy reading about post-apocalyptic adventures or dystopian futures, this collection has something for you.
Let’s begin.
Top 15 Apocalypse Books to Read
If you want the best apocalypse books, check the books below:
Things We Didn’t See Coming – Steven Amsterdam
This collection of short stories follows the narrator over three decades as he battles for survival in a world that is becoming increasingly violent due to numerous terrible occurrences.
In the opening tale, “What We Know Now,” the narrator is a nine-year-old fleeing the city with his parents just before the Y2K catastrophe hits. This narrative is set before the turn of the millennium when the world is still familiar.
But in each of these tales, it’s clear that the narrator retains his fundamental humanity and sense of humor despite the violence and severity of his experiences.
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The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
A country called Panem is located where North America formerly stood. Panem is divided into two sections: the affluent Capitol and 12 extremely underdeveloped, tightly governed districts.
The Capitol institutes the Hunger Games as retribution for a failed uprising. These are compulsory fights to the death that are broadcast on television and involve young people from every area.
Katniss Everdeen moves up to replace her sister when she is chosen. The Hunger Games series became a global phenomenon.
It became known as one of the best apocalypse books ever written and, on its own, launched the dystopian young adult novel genre into the spotlight of popular culture.
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Eternity Road – Jack McDevitt
Grand ruins, concrete motorways, and everyday artifacts now found in every Illyrian home are the Roadmakers’ legacy in this vastly altered landscape. Haven is a rumored secret sanctuary where their civilization’s secrets are kept.
Chaka receives a book called “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court,” which inspires her to pursue the career of her missing brother.
Chaka sets out on a trek to the northeast with a diverse group that includes Silas Glote, Flojian, Jon Shannon, Quait Esterhok, and Avila Kap.
On their journey, they encounter enormous ruins, flying trains, robbers, reclusive engineers, antiquated computers, slavers, and oddball balloonists, eventually learning about their mysterious origins.
The Maze Runner – James Dashner
Thomas awakens in the Glade with only his name on his mind. Other boys live in this open courtyard surrounded by a stone labyrinth who also have amnesia.
Despite their memory loss, they are united by a shared conviction: despite the dangerous monsters inside the maze, freedom exists outside it.
The young adult dystopian series “The Maze Runner” is the first installment. Over several novels, it develops, gradually disclosing complex facts about the universe and its puzzling circumstances.
Severance – Ling Ma
This modern tale is set in New York City during a serious sickness. Routine-loving Candace Chen initially misses the illness.
When Shen Fever spreads, individuals depart, and businesses cease operations. Subways also stop here. As the fictitious blogger NY Ghost, Candace finds herself all alone and begins to take pictures of the deserted city.
She can’t, however, live alone forever. She is being asked to go to a location called the Facility with a group commanded by IT specialist Bob to restart society. Candace is concerned Bob may discover a secret of hers. Should she flee these rescuers’ grasp?
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Tender is the Flesh – Agustina Bazterrica
This brief, grotesque tale centers on food following a virus pandemic. Marcos works at a facility that once used to be known as one that processed people for food.
His dad is losing his memory, his wife left him, and Marcos despises thinking about his job. Everything happened in a flash.
First, it was said that a virus rendered all animal meat unsuitable for consumption. Then, the government legalized the consumption of human meat.
Marcos tries to concentrate on computation and numbers but receives a living person as a gift one day. He begins treating her like a human even though touching others is forbidden.
He begins to feel bad about what has been lost and what yet has a chance of being rescued.
Bird Box – Josh Malerman
It’s been five years since things started to get terrible. There are now very few survivors, including Malorie and her two young children. They occupy a vacant home close to a river. Malorie has always yearned for a more secure location.
It’s time to go now that the kids are four. But the trip will be unsettling. They must travel 20 kilometers down the river in a boat while being blindfolded.
Only their intellect and the little children’s keen ears will do. They risk dying if they make the wrong option. They are also being followed, although they are unsure if it is a person, an animal, or a monster.
The Dog Stars – Peter Heller
A severe flu that killed everyone Hig knew, yet he survived. His wife and companions have left. He shares a hangar at a small, deserted airport with his dog, Jasper, and Bangley, a surly man carrying a revolver.
He hears a message one day on the radio of his aircraft. He begins to wonder if there is a better life somewhere else.
He takes a great chance, continues after the line of no return, and obeys the command. But he discovers more than he anticipated, including good and negative things.
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Metro 2033 – Dmitry Glukhovsky
Artyom was born before a nuclear war destabilized Moscow. Some people had to live in the Metro. Infant Artyom was rescued by a soldier named Sukhoi from rats that had killed his mother and other people at his post.
When Artyom is an adult, Sukhoi learns that mysterious beings, “The Dark Ones,” are causing problems. The entire station is terrified by them.
Artyom embarks on a dangerous trek to the Metro’s hub to discover more about the Dark Ones and convey a crucial message.
He encounters psychic powers, evil gangs, rebels, killers, odd library creatures, and the irrationality of civilization in disarray along the way.
Swan Song – Robert McCammon
Both of the major powers employed their numerous nuclear weapons during the Cold War. The result was an extremely chilly and chaotic planet.
Now that the US is in ruins, many individuals are looking for better places to reside. The book “Swan Song” was published in 1987. It shows how, throughout the Cold War, people were terrified of nuclear war.
Its combination of a gripping story about humans surviving with concepts about spirits and other supernatural beings makes it one of the best apocalypse books. It also discusses the concept of beauty.
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The Slynx – Tatyana Tolstaya
Not everyone may enjoy this unique novel. Benedikt is content with the state of affairs two hundred years after everything disintegrated in an incident known as the Blast. He has a job where he copies old books and pretends a new leader writes them.
He’s not particularly important, but he isn’t a slave or an odd four-legged creature called a Degenerator. He owns a home and has enough of mice to eat.
Also, he has no weird body changes, such as extra fingers, gills, or strange growths in his eyes.
So far, he has managed to dodge the menacing Slynx beast lurking in the wilderness and the watchful Saniturions who hunt down anyone with an opposing opinion.
Lucifer’s Hammer – Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
This 1977 novel is a classic work of science fiction. It concerns two catastrophic events.
First, a large comet collides with Earth, creating enormous quakes and tidal waves.
As a result, towns become submerged, and oceans turn into steam. The demise of civilization ushers in a new Ice Age.
But for the terrified individuals who manage to live, it’s the start of a difficult battle to survive. This conflict is more deadly and challenging than anything they have yet encountered.
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A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World – C.A. Fletcher
This book is about Griz, who was raised in a post-apocalyptic society. The catastrophe severely hurt people and the world. According to Griz, there aren’t enough people to play a football game.
Griz and their parents weren’t truly alone, even though they resided on a solitary island. They had their dogs and each other. But then a thief arrived.
Griz is now on a hunt to catch that thief. Griz considers it important to be devoted to what they cherish in a world without rules.
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
The book’s title, “Alas, Babylon,” gave a horrible indication of what would come. Many people would have died instantly in the United States during a nuclear war. Life became a nightmare of starvation, disease, and cruelty for those who made it.
A thousand years’ worth of advancement vanished overnight. However, some people managed to survive in a little Floridan town despite all odds.
They came from various racial groups, age groups, and backgrounds. Together, they had to summon the fortitude to confront the challenges ahead.
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Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
“Oryx and Crake,” the first novel in the MaddAddam trilogy, is not simply a love story but offers a glimpse into the future.
Snowman, the main character (formerly known as Jimmy), is attempting to survive in a world where he might be the sole remaining human.
He is devastated by the loss of Crake, his best friend, and the wonderful Oryx they both adored. With the assistance of some exceptional youngsters, Snowman embarks on a quest for answers.
They pass through an area that was once a bustling city but has since devolved into an untamed wilderness due to genetic experimentation by large corporations.
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Conclusion
We’ve discussed some incredible post-apocalyptic literature. From timeless classics to contemporary tales, these works show how people endure while everything crumbles.
Authors like C.A. Fletcher, Jerry Pournelle, and Margaret Atwood created an exciting and sometimes scary world. They cause us to reflect on what it means to be a human in trying circumstances.
These works serve as a reminder that humans are resilient even in the face of adversity. They also cause us to reflect on the decisions we make in our daily lives.
So, these novels have it all, whether you’re looking for exciting adventures or tales of how individuals persevere under challenging circumstances. Read them to learn about the fascinating realms they transport you to!