Reviews

Apocalyptic Books: My Top-3

By June 9, 2020June 12th, 2020No Comments

Stop reading news about Covid-19 all day long! Try to read something about fictional apocalypses.

Here are three books that can take your mind off all these pandemic matters.

The War Of The Worlds By Herbert George Wells

The War of the World, first published in 1897, is a classic science fiction novel, an example of good invasion literature. Those who are used to reading just for fun may find it a bit boring, but true fans of sci-fi will appreciate it.

The unnamed protagonist lives in Surrey, England. So-called ‘meteor’ lands next to his home. The object looks like a big cylinder. The cylinder is a Martians’ ship.

People go to them with a white flag. Alas, the aliens won’t establish good relations with humans – the Martians incinerate the deputation. Their goal is to take over Earth.

Wells’ novels give us a chance to understand how previous generations imagine the possible scenarios of the Future.

An interesting fact: The War of the World influenced real science – it inspired Robert Hutchings Goddard, the American engineer who invented the liquid-fuelled rocket and multistage rocket.

The Mist By Stephen King

This is a terrific novella written in the genre of horror.

A strange mist quickly spreads across the small town, Bridgton. David Drayton and his son Billy go to the local grocery store to replenish supplies.

The mist turns out to be dangerous – it’s full of bizarre aggressive creatures.

David, Billy and many other customers are trapped in the market. Each who will dare to leave the shelter risk being killed in a minute. On the other hand, the store isn’t a safe place as well…

Stephen King is depicting different patterns of human behavior in disaster. Some characters of the book don’t lose self-control – they try to break the stalemate for themselves and companions in misfortune, but others are ready to kill anybody for their own survival.

The Road By Cormac McCarthy

The action in the books I’ve already talked about takes place during the time of great destruction. In the novel by McCarthy, the apocalypse has already happened.

A father and his son walk through the USA blasted by an unspecified cataclysm a few years ago. The travelers have nothing except for a pistol. They don’t know what awaits them ahead.

Critics argue over the genre of The Road. This book could be called a sci-fi novel or a lyrical epic, a horror or an adventure story. The main thing is that it is a vivid and eloquent narrative that must touch your heart.

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