Apocalyptic Fiction

I recently completed the first book in Kim Stanley Robinson's Three California's trilogy.... The Wild Shore. Of course, I liked it a lot, which didn't surprise me as I generally like his stuff. It was written back in the early 80's and so uses one of the two most common devices used back then for ending the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI). Nuclear destruction and/or some sort of biological warfare on the human race. A list of post-apocalyptic books using one or the other of these devices makes for pretty good reading. You have, at the head of the class of course, Stephen King's The Stand, Earth Abides by George R. Stewart, Alas Babylon by Pat Frank, and Nevil Shute's On The Beach. Wikipedia has a marvelous discussion and description of the history of this genre of fiction.

Modern post-apocalyptic fiction authors have largely replaced nuclear destruction with environmental catastrophe as a device for ending civilization. Perhaps the most dramatic example of this is the blockbuster movie The Day After Tomorrow, which depending on your political views, you either loved or hated.

Juvenile fiction hasn't lagged in this genre. Scott Westerfeld has written an excellent trilogy for teens starting with the book titled Uglies. Scott skillfully combines a number of teen issues into his post-apocalyptic world (including some interesting environmental issues). Poking around his website provides some fascinating insight into many of these teen issues.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention a third plot device that has provided the fans of this genre with a number of marvelous books and movies. The idea of something from outer space, either an asteroid/comet hitting Earth, or aliens of one form or another invading Earth. The Day of the Tryffids by John Wyndham (movie and book), the movies Armageddon and Independance Day, and Lucifer's Hammer by Jerry Pournelle are all highly recommended and high on my favorites list.

Back to KSR's The Wild Shore. I can see the influence this series might have had on S.M. Stirling and his current books (Dies the Fire trilogy, Conquistador and The Sunrise Lands) portraying the world after some "event" that ends civilization as we know it. I think a large part of why these books appeal to me (and I'm certain this is true for many others) is the desire to live a simpler life. Technology has crowded our lives to the point of breaking.

but anyhow...that's a post for the future