9 Great Post-Apocalyptic Books To Read During Your Coronavirus 2020 Spring Break

So, here we are, folks. These past couple of weeks, the coronavirus pandemic has slowly covered the Earth and turned our lives inside out, and upside down.

No March Madness. 

No opening day baseball. 

No large gatherings. 

No high school championships.

No youth sports.

No NHL. No NBA. 

No movie theaters. 

No St. Patrick’s Day alcoholic festivities. 

No Walt Disney World!!

With Spring Break fast approaching, and most of the hand sanitizer vanished from the store shelves, what’s a mandatory work-from-homer like you to do?

Well, if you like to read, then you’re in heaven. Time has stopped. And we’re now back in the olden days—where a good book and a glass of wine can be the perfect time suck while waiting for the pandemic to dissolve. Back in the day, books and stories were like the Netflix of today: they were first entertainment binge thanks to the likes of Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott and [insert your favorite writer here].

During your 2020 Pandemic Spring Break, I thought I'd share some of my top 9 favorite virusy books with you to read while you're lounging on the beach with your favorite beer, or holding court in your backyard with a cocktail and a shotgun, or in some sort of bunker nervously clicking on CNN.com with cup of water and a handful of sodium thiopental pills at the waiting.

Below, dear reader, you'll find something a little different. Something a little post-apocalyptic. A book that may just hit a little too close to home, or add some much-needed levity, during these crazy outbreak times.

(Note: Links provided below will shoot you off to Amazon.com)

#9

Annihilation (Southern Reach #1) by Jeff VanderMeer

When I found out that Writer/Director Alex Garland (of Ex-Machina fame) was adapting this into a movie with Natalie Portman playing the lead, suffice to say I was intrigued. And I didn't put the book down. After a bit of contemplation, it reminds me a bit of the 90's video games MYST and RIVEN - dystopian, green lands void of humans but filled with mystery around every corner - but it's much more than that. It's a science-fiction mystery, it's a study in psychology and biology, it's horrific, and it's a soap box message about humans interaction with its surrounding environment. It's pretty damn interesting is what it is and I can totally see why Garland optioned this as his next film. For your information I read the other two books in the series and I thought they were just ok. But this first one, and subsequent movie (starring Natalie Portman) are worth a read, and a viewing.

#8

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Nicely written post-apocalyptic, science fiction book by Dashner, which caters to the tween readers. Yet also serves up enough content to entertain this 40-something white male. Memories of ENDER'S GAME, THE CITY OF EMBER, Hugh Howey's WOOL and HUNGER GAMES will hit your mind in the novel realm. As well as CUBE, THE KILLING ROOM and SAW in the film realm. But don't let that dissuade you. Dashner creates a cool, interesting realm within a maze filled with kids who are pushed to their limits to try and escape. You're figuring out stuff as the main character is figuring it out, which isn't a new story-telling technique, but it always works for - especially if done the right way. Great dialogue and a great tone throughout. Like Rowling, King and Koontz, Dashner knows how to end a chapter that entices the reader to keep you reading. The only fault, and without giving too much away, I would have liked to see more 'things' in the maze. I don't know. Maybe it's my bloodlust. However, there may be a reason highlighted in the other books. That said, the last five or six chapters seal the deal as a great book and a possible great series. On to the next book! Oh, and the movie is ok. 

#7

The Mist by Stephen King

One of the very first books I ever read was Stephen King's The Skeleton Crew - a lengthy collection of King's early, previously published short stories. I think it was around 1987 or so, when I picked up this particular book from Walden Book's at The Ohio Valley Mall. And by 'picked up' I mean 'stole'. The book resonated with me on a number of levels. But the one short story that truly knocked my socks off and opened my world to the unlimited possibilities of fiction writing and crafting a good story was The Mist. For all those unaware, the story is about this strange cloud, emblematic of the current coronavirus strain, that engulfs a small town in Maine, with creatures in the fog that kill everyone caught in its path. Terrified survivors seek refuge in a supermarket, while a swarm of murderous creatures swirling around in the mist try to get in. As it turns out, the monsters outside the supermarket aren't nearly as terrifying as the psychological monsters that lurk within the survivors themselves. After I finished the story, I closed the book and thought to myself, "My god, that would be a great movie." And, minus the bleak ending, Director Frank Darabont, did indeed knock the film version out of the park. 

#6

World War Z by Max Brooks

Kudos to Max Brooks for his very, very deep thinking on the eternal question, "What would happen if the entire world were overrun with a virus that turned people into flesh-eating zombies?" Seriously though, my hat goes off to Brooks for ruminating on the subject for days and days. Very thorough thought process indeed. What would the army do? Where would people go? How would they survive? What happens when it freezes? Does the army get involved? What about zombies that end up in the water? Brooks creative minds answers these thought-provoking questions, and much more, through faux one-on-one sit-down interviews with a number of heros and witnesses to the zombie war. Which brings me to the one fault I have for this book. I thought the narrative, or rather the storytelling process (first-hand accounts) that Brooks thought up to tell his story was a bit weak. I'm not sure if having a regular, straight-forward fiction novel would have done it justice, either. However, having read Justin Cronin's vampire apocalypse fantasy THE PASSAGE as well as Brook's WORLD WAR Z side by side, I can honestly say Cronin's work - a straight-forward fiction novel - rises to the top. The film version, starring Brad Pitt, wasn't too shabby either. But the book was better. I hear the audiobook version of this book is outstanding as well. 

#5

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Very interesting post-apocalyptic read about a traveling group of thespians who have come together after a massive, deadly flu outbreak wipes out 99% of the world. They travel from town to town along the Great Lakes (mostly Michigan) and put on Shakespeare productions to small cities. But it's more than that. There's a whole sci-fi story called Station Eleven that comes into play as well as the death of a famous actor prior to the outbreak while performing King Lear. Sounds odd, right? Well, it is. But it all works. And each plot piece that's introduced has some sort of cosmic meaning that comes to a crescendo at the end of the book.

#4

THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin

Wow, what a monster virus of a book, but well worth the one month of reading in the end. A new, unique take on the Vampire mystique, Cronin's book covers a present day America followed by an apocalyptic America 100 years later. The cast of characters he creates talk, speak and feel lifelike, the decisions they make speaks to the characters themselves and the journey all of these characters travel is also enjoyable and creepy. Keep in mind, this is a graphic book with plenty of bloodshed and murder. Cronin also attacks the action sequences in the book with fervor and passion. He paints a very comprehensive picture of landscapes and scenery. Some beautiful writing throughout the more than 700 pages made me a bit jealous, which is always a compliment to the author. Comparisons to WATERSHIP DOWN came to mind often as I was reading this book. I'm not sure how much more there is to say besides the creatures and the overall storyline do, in fact, bring some comparisons to films such I AM LEGEND (and the book), THE DESCENT as well as Guillermo Del Toro's BLADE 2. That said, the book stands on its own as a great piece of fiction. I understand there are two more yet-be-released books in the Passage series, which makes sense considering the open-ended finale. The other two books in the series (The Twelve and The City of Mirrors) are just as fantastic. 

#3

WOOL: OMNIBUS by Hugh Howey

A very creative science fiction 'collection' of post-apocalyptic stories by Hugh Howey. Take the word 'collection' with a grain of salt. Because, put together, the six stories complete a satisfyingly eerie story Howey who, at the time, was an up-and-coming writer that eventually gained a cult writing status with these stories on Amazon.com. Kudos to Howey for taking the science-fiction genre in a new, interesting direction. Without giving too much away, he's created a thriller, a murder mystery, a horror story all merged with fantastic dialogue and character development. Highly recommended.

#2

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
This novel features the post-apocalyptic odd-couple of two men fighting off hordes of f'd up humans after a killer flu wipes out most of the United States. A mix of 'The Road' and a previous novel that I had just read called 'Station Eleven', it's an interesting story told matter-of-factly in first person narrative of a pacifist pilot that's forced to kill. A former army marine that's trained to kill, and sort of likes it--all in the name of protecting the airport that they call home. The two form a crazy, odd bond that works well in printed form. And probably could stretch into a movie version with the right actors. It's sad. It's melancholy. It questions our humanity. It praises relationships and kinships that form. And it adds a bit of warmth in this depressing, despicable, lonely planet that the flu virus has left behind.

#1

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel is very dark, very depressing, very bleak … and very, very good. From page one, you realize something ain't right in the world. The human population has exponentially been wiped from the Earth. How or Why? The reader is never told. There are whispers of ashes flying through the steel-gray sky to hint that there could have been a possible nuclear war. Plus, the absence of animals, including birds, deer and other wildlife, hint that possibly there was some sort of viral coronavirus epidemic that swept the world and destroyed the land. Another possible theory is that a meteor struck the Earth, hurling ash into the atmosphere and instantly killing 99% of the Earth’s population including animals. Who really knows. In any event, we’re thrown into the life of a father (no name throughout the book) and his son, who are pushing a cart down the road and headed South to warmer climate and some sort of happiness. Throughout the book, they have some interesting run-ins with characters including survivors described by the son as "the bad guys". In a sense you feel that some of these "bad guys" are harvesting humans to eat. In fact, there is a terrifying scene in a basement of a house midway through the book that still resonates in my brain. Personally, after reading this book, as a reader and a father of two kids I began to ask myself some rather blunt questions as I delved deeper and deeper into the novel. What would I do if I were thrust into this situation? Where would I go? Would I kill? What is the point of life? Why are we here? Why are we even trying to survive? What kind of advice could I instill into my kids that times would get better? The ending, however, gives the reader a glimmer of hope that humanity, perhaps, will continue. But, by that time, you’ll be asking yourself the question "Was it all worth it anyway."

Well, there you have it,  hopefully one these books hit a nerve, or calmed a few, during your coronavirus journey. And here's hoping our planet's outcome will end up on a more positive note than all of the stories above. Feel free to add a couple more to the list in the comments section. 

On THE ROAD with Cormac McCarthy

The first time I heard about Author Cormac McCarthy was when Billy Bob Thornton directed Matt Damon in the movie version of All The Pretty Horses.

On a side note, I hear Billy Bob was more than a little pissed off that his 3-hour opus was edited by the Weinsteins and released at a mere 2 hours. I would’ve loved to see Thornton's version, because I hear it stays true to the overall feel of McCarthy's novel.

Then, a couple years ago, the Coen Brothers announced they were shooting a movie called No Country for Old Men based on another McCarthy novel.

"Hmm," I thought to myself. "I’m going to have to pick up one of his books."

Finally, Oprah Winfrey picked McCarthy’s latest novel The Road for her precious Book Club. She even visited the reclusive author for a one-hour interview to talk about the book. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of Winfrey. But I will say that she is getting people to read. And, even if it is mostly Baby Boomer white women, I’m happy to see novels getting their due attention on the national platform. Plus she had a couple good picks in the past including The Corrections, The Color Purple and The Grapes of Wrath.

That was that. My interest was piqued. I picked up The Road on Amazon.com and devoured it in less than a month. (Hey, I'm a slow reader with very little time on my hands!)

So, how was it? Well, it’s very dark, very depressing, very bleak and very good.

From page one, you realize something ain't right in Denmark. The human population has exponentially been wiped from the Earth. How or Why? The reader is never told. There are whispers of ashes flying through the steel-gray sky to hint that there could have been a possible nuclear war. Plus, the absence of animals, including birds, deer and other wildlife, hint that possibly there was some sort of viral flu epidemic that swept the world and destroyed the land. Another possible theory is that a meteor struck the Earth, hurling ash into the atmosphere and instantly killing 99% of the Earth’s population including animals. Who really knows. To be honest, does it even matter? I don't really think so.

In any event, we’re thrown into the life of a father (no name throughout the book) and his son, who are pushing a cart down the road and headed South to warmer climate and some sort of happiness. From my point of view, I would say the book takes place on the East coast. Possibly Virginia. Maybe North Carolina or even West Virginia.

Throughout the book, they have some interesting run-ins with characters including survivors described by the son as "the bad guys". In a sense you feel that some of these "bad guys" are harvesting humans to eat. Although most of the cannibalism is insinuated, there are a few well-written scenes that set the tension meter high. In fact, there is a terrifying scene in a basement of a house midway through the book that still resonates in my brain.

There aren’t too many horrific scenes. However, there are just enough to make the reader comprehend that the world has changed. The rules have changed. And it’s a violent world where every man and woman are, pretty much, on their own. It’s almost like humans are deer running around in the wild scavenging for food. To put it bluntly, this is the father and son's life. And, in a nutshell, this is the book. Traveling around. Looking for food. Finding shelter. Hiding from strangers on the road. Defending themselves at all costs.

The young son is thrown into this seemingly uncaring, terrifying world with no sunshine, no fun, no school, no friends and, most importantly, no motherly love. While the father, who coughs up bloody clots every morning, is dealing with his own demons and slowly coming to grips with his own mortality. It’s a truly shocking reality that, I suppose, all of us must face when Death comes a knockin'.

Personally, as a reader and a father of two kids, I began to ask myself some rather blunt questions as I delved deeper and deeper into the novel. What would I do if I were thrust into this situation? Where would I go? Would I kill? What is the point of life? Why are we here? Why are we even trying to survive? What kind of advice could I instill into my kids that times would get better?

The ending, however, gives the reader a glimmer of hope that humanity, perhaps, will continue. But, by that time, you’ll be asking yourself the question "Is it all worth it anyway."

The writing is extremely simplistic, but effective. And highlighted by the fact that there are no quotation marks throughout the book. At times this can be a bit frustrating, especially if you're a copywriter. The conversations between the father and the son are brutally honest and very realistic. Nothing in McCarthy's writing seems to be forced. There are no flashy words and the prose is very straight-forward. In fact, it almost reads as a blow-by-blow journal of thoughts and actions of the father, told in a third-person point of view.

On a personal note, after reading the book I attempted to write a short story that mimicked McCarthy’s prose in The Road. (Enter Price is Right failure song here) Not a chance. It's truly difficult to write this way. Like I said, it may seem simplistic, but the author chooses his words as carefully as a master chef chooses ingredients for an award-winning dish.

I heard the McCarthy thought up the idea for the book when he was traveling with his young son. He was in a motel, looking out the window. He glanced to his son, who was sleeping on the bed, then glanced back to the window and imagined the hills on fire. That's when the whole novel hit him like a ton of bricks.

There you have it. The Road is a fantastic read. McCarthy is a great master of his craft. And I strongly urge you to pick up a copy and see for yourself.

FILM NOTE: Numerous movie web sites have reported that a film based on The Road is in the works with John Hillcoat set to direct. For all of those unaware, Hillcoat directed The Proposition, a gritty psuedo-western set in Australia. It’s also rumored that Viggo Mortensan or Guy Pearce will play the father. From a movie point of view, the book reminds me of a mixture of Se7en, The Unforgiven, Saving Private Ryan and Mad Max if they were all directed by Terrence Malick (The Thin Red Line, The New World, Badlands). All I can say, is I hope they stay very, very close to the feel of the book.