A much better book to read...

[bluegargantua]

So I really liked Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. It's a book from the 50's so the concerns of gender and race are interesting in retrospect. Also, atomic war in the 50's is a lot different than atomic war in the 80's or 90's and probably a lot more deadly (both in terms of weapons and in terms of our understanding about the after-effects of a massive nuclear war).

But when civiliation goes to hell in a handbasket, here's one way that it might come through. Perhaps a bit optimistic, but I do think it was a fairly realistic survey of what life would be like post-holocaust in areas not directly hit by bombs. The technical and practical information flowed through the narrative easily without being forced. So yeah, I liked it a lot.

later
Tom

Comments

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

-I've got that one in my to-be-read pile. Merci for the review; I'll try to get to it before the next Great Cull.

[bluepapercup]

I really enjoyed that book, I read it when I was in college and it definitely set a high standard for post-atomic war themed books.

Glad you liked it.

[mazianni.livejournal.com]

I found that in high school I think, and very much enjoyed it. It's definitely a classic. I think I need to dig up a copy again and re-read it.