Comments on: Young Adult Appreciation Month: (Post-)Apocalypse/Dystopia Day

By: Kay

Kay — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:03:57 +0000

Thank you for such a great post! I love post-apocalyptic/dystopian novels and am always looking for new suggestions. I read Obernewtyn recently and really enjoyed the universe, so there’s a big chance I’ll read the next one. Genesis has been tempting me too!

By: Rhiannon Hart

Rhiannon Hart — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:18:45 +0000

Thanks for those climate apocalypse recommendations, Diana. I did read Life As We Knew It a month or so ago because the Smugglers recommend it, and while it’s not strictly climate change as we’re expecting it to be, it’s definitely a great climate-kills story. I’ll look for the others you mentioned.

Hehe, I’m so basking this Aussie fiction love-in.

And P.S. Diana, I can’t wait for the release of your book over here!

By: News from the Post-Apocalypse | Senor Parrot's Perch

News from the Post-Apocalypse | Senor Parrot's Perch — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:55:16 +0000

[...] of the start of the end of time. What will the world look like then? The Book Smugglers has a fantastic review of several books dealing with the post-apocalypse. Wars aren’t the only cause of the apocalypse, these days, we also have environmental [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:44:09 +0000

Great reviews, I’ve got to add these to the look for lists, especially Genesis. You do a great reincarnation of Rod, by the way. Thanks.

By: KMont

KMont — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:44:56 +0000

Wow, this is a lot to absorb. The last book reviewed, Tomorrow, When the War Began, sounds pretty promising. Actually they all sound good. If I had to pick just one, right now, I don’t think I could. Must look into these some more – sans those frustrating Amazon summaries.

By: Bart's Bookshelf

Bart's Bookshelf — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:40:55 +0000

I’m very lucky to have had an Aussie as on online friend for a number of years (although given the cricket today, I might have to reassess that, when I log in to MSN Messenger…) who recommended the Tomorrow Series to me last year, and I have to just agree with how fantastic it is, I devoured the entire series (inc The Ellie Chronicles) just as quickly as I could get hold of the books.

If one arrived in the middle of another book, that book was immediately forgotten about

Brilliant, brilliant series.

(and I remember loving On The Beech as a teenager as well, but I am a ‘Pom’ so I’m genetically unable to claim Aussies are the best at anything, however good they may be! :wink:)

By: Thea

Thea — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:20:04 +0000

Celia – Thanks! Isobelle Carmody is just fantastic. I am so stoked that Random House rereleased the entire series for a new generation to discover and love

Karen – Genesis was pretty intense, wasn’t it? I understand your feelings – I still am grappling with some of the debate and philosophical pondering in that book! I hope you enjoy Exodus and Tomorrow.

Rhianon – My pleasure! Obernewtyn has long been one of my favorites, and strangely enough I had to read On the Beach in middle school and it has really stayed with me all these years! You Aussies and your awesome apocalypse (and fantasy) stories

As for Climate-Change dystopias, I think it’s a sub-genre that is really gaining ground now, as Diana says. Exodus is the second flood-catastrophe book I’ve read this year (Flood by Stephen Baxter being the other – though that is an adult SF novel), and just the other day I saw this one coming out soon as well: Island at the End of the World by Sam Taylor.

I think the prevalence of nuclear holocaust/apocalypse books overshadows the climate change variety, but in time I’m sure we’ll see more emerge. I haven’t read The Carbon Diaries 2015, but maybe I’ll hold off on that if it wasn’t that great. I hope you do get a chance to read (and hopefully enjoy) Exodus!

Diana – More book suggestions! My poor, poor wallet. Hehe. No seriously, of the books you mention I’ve only read Life as We Knew It (my favorite book of last year), and I have Feed to read as well. I’ll definitely have to check the others out. Thank you!

Jamie – My pleasure! I’m so glad the recommendations are helpful for you, and I hope you enjoy some of these fab titles

By: sharonluvscats

sharonluvscats — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:57:59 +0000

Oh I <3 this post. I'm such a huge dystopian novel geek. I've had both Exodus and Zenith sitting in my tbr pile for some time. Your review makes me want to start reading them right now.

This is the first that I've heard of Obernewtyn Chronicles. I will have to check them out especially since there is a cat on the cover!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:08:16 +0000

I LOVE dystopian day!!! This is awesome. Dystopian novels have always been something I’d stumble across and fall in love with, but you guys are laying them out there with titles, authors and suggestions for others. It’s great. Thanks Smugglers!

By: Diana Peterfreund

Diana Peterfreund — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:25:28 +0000

Rhiannon. Aside from the several mentioned here, you can also try THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND, FLOODLAND, FEED, LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, and THE SKY INSIDE, for books that deal with apocalypse through (or partially through) climate change. (Granted, LIFE… is not about human-caused climate change, but still).

Honestly, I don’t think there’s a dearth. It’s one of my favorites, too.