New York Times Bestseller: A young girl’s visions offer the last hope in a postapocalyptic wasteland in this “grand and disturbing adventure” (Dean Koontz).A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick Swan is a nine-year-old Idaho girl following her struggling mother from one trailer park to the next when she receives visions of doom—something far wider than the narrow scope of her own beleaguered … the narrow scope of her own beleaguered life. In a blinding flash, nuclear bombs annihilate civilization, leaving only a few buried survivors to crawl onto a scorched landscape that was once America.
In Manhattan, a homeless woman stumbles from the sewers, guided by the prophecies of a mysterious amulet, and pursued by something wicked; on Idaho’s Blue Dome Mountain, an orphaned boy falls under the influence of depraved survivalists and discovers the value of a killer instinct; and amid the devastating dust storms on the Great Plains of Nebraska, Swan forms a heart-and-soul bond with an unlikely new companion. Soon they will cross paths. But only Swan knows that they must endure more than just a trek across an irradiated country of mutated animals, starvation, madmen, and wasteland warriors.
Swan’s visions tell of a coming malevolent force. It’s a shape-shifting embodiment of the apocalypse, and of all that is evil and despairing. And it’s hell-bent on destroying the last hope of goodness and purity in the world. Swan is that hope. Now, she must fight not only for her own survival, but for that of all mankind.
A winner of the Bram Stoker Award and a finalist for the World Fantasy Award, Swan Song has become a modern classic, called “a chilling vision that keeps you turning pages to the shocking end” by John Saul and “a long, satisfying look at hell and salvation” by Publishers Weekly.
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I read the blurb for Swan Song, and thought ‘huh, sounds like The Stand’, and yes there are similarities, but the nuclear war aspect brings with it environmental conflicts that didn’t come up in King’s book. Nuclear winter alone is enough to set Swan Song apart. I enjoyed the characters, and Robert McCammon’s lack of fear when it came to killing …
I read Swan Song way back in 1988 (released in 1987) and have re-read it numerous times since. It won the Bram Stoker award in 1988 and deserves the accolades. The fantastic characters of Swan, Josh, Roland, Colonel Macklin and yes, the Man with the Scarlet Eye all delight, horrify and captivate the reader in a way few books can. This is one of …
This book is one of the best apocalyptic stories. The good characters are believable, to the point that they feel like friends. The bad ones are believable too. The kind you don’t want to meet. The story is one you can read over and over and find something new every time.
This is the book that hooked me on Robert Mc. this one hooked me to keep reading.
(For the audio version)
What a great book! Certainly deserving of its position in the top 100 books to read! McCammon weaves an amazing tale of intrigue, horror, and hope. Yet again I found myself riveted and devouring chapters by the hour and hating when I had to stop! And I can’t say enough for the narrator, Tom Stechschulte. He perfectly …
One of the best Post Apocalypse books out there. Some very original things that make it truly epic. Stuck with me long after reading it. In fact, led me to try other books by McCammon, much to to my delight! The gentleman can write and will keep you plowing ahead with every page.
One of my favorite books when I was younger. It’s one of the inspirations for Yesterday’s Gone!
What happens after the world falls into chaos? Robert McCammon’s Swan Song is an excellent depiction of a fictional account of what could happen to the world after the fallout of war. It’s ingenious in that it offers a moral depiction of what people turned into. I’m a huge fan of this novel and feel like everyone should read it at least once.
I finally finished Swan Song and really liked it! Truly an epic tale with an amazing cast of characters, though at times it felt very much like The Stand, almost non-coincidentally so. I loved the flow and character development in the first half of the book. The latter half felt like it lost some of the in-depth character development; there were a …
I first read this book many years ago and it has always been one of my favorite post-apocalyptic novels. For a very long time I would have ranked it right up there with Stephen King ‘s The Stand but it comes from a totally different direction. The characters are well developed and I would whole-heartedly recommend this as a must read for anyone …
Post apocalyptic which resonates today’s worries and woes. However, when Swan and Sister meet, they embark on their intended mission.While rather long, the description of the morphing of beasts and the hearts of men, it is refreshing to read about two women and their role to bring peace amid the ashes.
One of my all-time favorite books, from on of my all-time favorite authors. Read my full review on my website. http://patlewin.com/2017/11/482/
I don’t normally reread books but this is one I want to reread. It’s similar to The Stand but there’s more of a sense of the supernatural.
Though I have read this book several times, I know I will pick it up and discover it all over again. Though the book takes time in a different era, when the world was on the brink of nuclear war. However it is still a heartwarming story, with good and evil and hope. The characters in this book are really incredible, I recommend curling up with …
One of my absolute favorites. I cry at the ending every time. Definitely one of my “desert island” books.
Have read this book several times, love it.
I’m a sucker for both apocalyptic horror and Robert McCammon’s blend of unique characters and adventure-focused stories. This is him at his best, along with Boy’s Life and Going South. The characters are unlike anything else in the genre, and the plot to save the world is full of some genuinely heartbreaking (and heartwarming) moments. It’s one of …
Amazing book. Have read many times. Look forward to the next time.
This is my favorite book of all time
I don’t usually read is fi or dystopian novels but this was high recommended. Well written. Good character development. Many surprises along the way that made me keep on reading.
Small details at the end made little sense…I think many authors have difficulty with endings, Nevertheless, the book was a good read, and the ending did satisfy me.