“Alas, Babylon.” Those fateful words heralded the end. When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of people are killed instantly. But for one small town in Florida, miraculously spared, the struggle is just beginning, as men and women of all backgrounds join together to confront the darkness.
ALAS, BABYLON is maybe the first TEOTWAWKI book written. Today there are so many POST APPOCTAYPTIC writers and series I don’t know where to start reading.
I was 15, made the varsty football squad, met my “first girl friend”…….
And Grandpa handed me a well worn copy of ALAS, BABYLON? He told me it was time flies for me to read it and to think …
This is the first post-apocalypse book I ever read. In my teens, it gave me both shivers and hope for a continuation of civilization after a nuclear holocaust. I believe its lessons pertain even in today’s world.
I was so excited when I saw this pop up on recommended deals. I couldn’t wait to reread the story I first read 30 years ago about the young woman who is the sole survivor of the apocalypse. But yeah, that’s Z for Zachariah (which isn’t available as an ebook–the only thing I can read these days).
I dug into Alas, Babylon, anyway and was delighted …
This one ticks all the boxes. Even though it was written several decades ago it still reads like it could happen tomorrow. Very tight, very scary!
This book is a timely today as when it was written in the heart of the Cold War. Pretty realistic view of what survivors would face in a nuclear holicaust. Would highly recommend it!
This book was written a long time ago, but it is evergreen. It is the seed pod of the dystopian novels we read now. Written during the Cold War, it has an eerie sense of reality mixed with hysteria and the fear of a foreign antagonist.
The threat of nuclear war looms over the world, along with the idea that some of might survive and a large …
Interesting post-apocalyptic novel. Very real. Can this happen today?
Gave scientific information without getting too technical.
What can you do without electrical power and communications?
Without access to power, money and class mean nothing.
This is a true test of human nature .
I recommend this book.
Very good what if book for its time. Dated now. But still one of the all time classics
Old book, well written!
Wonderful book to read about post war situation in the US. Very interesting read and some very good suggestions in the event that we would ever have to get ready for this type of situation
Published in the 1950s, this is the grandfather of all postapocalyptic books out there. It’s outdated in some respects, but still has good core strengths that make it readable today. Community joining together to survive a disaster. Family, blood or chosen, bonding. It also has a strong message of hope and survival.
Pat Frank wrote this in 1959, one of the most realistic and frightening novels written about a nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. I’ve read this novel many times since it was published, it always reminds me of the consequences of diplomacy ignored.
Alas, Babylon, is a striking novel of character and resourcefulness in the face of adversity. The story that so captured me that I have read it at least 5 times evolves around the struggle to survive in conditions for which no one is prepared and the relationships that shift and grow. But the bigger picture is with way some people rise to the …
I had read it in high school in the 60’s. Worth rereading.
The best post-apocalyptic book I have ever read.
Written in 1959 and sounds like it was written today. Will reread.
I have my mom’s original paperback of this novel. It was so interesting to me because it took place where I lived, but in the worst case scenario of my parents’ generation.
Excellent book for reluctant readers. I taught this book in high school English classes years ago. My students loved it. It’s still pertinent.
This book isxdated but well worth reading. Nuclear war has always been a possibility, especially tye Baby Boomer generation. We grew up with “Duck and cover” literature, and school drills that had us crouching under our desks like pretzels protecting heads with hands.
The book itself has likeable characters, is well written and very …
Fabulous