Just finished the Witch of Hebron last night, both were very fun to read.
Iâve read most of the books listed in this thread. While I agree that Rawlesâ literary abilities are abysmal, I still use Patriots as an introductory book for non-preparedness minded folks. I just tell them itâs an idealist checklist disguised as poor fiction, and you better be able to ignore the bible-thumpingâŚ
I read World Made by Hand this past summer and was favorably impressed. The author also wrote a non-fiction piece that was an interesting look at things, âThe Long Emergency.â
Iâd add two more very political oriented books, both by Wyoming writers, although youâll have to overlook some of their politics, some of the plot can be mildly entertaining.
âNeither Predator nor Preyâ is by Mark Spungin, a former CSM, and NCOIC of the WYARNG Marksmanship unit.
âMolon Labeâ by Kenneth Royce, AKA âBoston T. Party.â
Boston surviving Y 2 K and other disasters. http://javelinpress.com/surviving_y2k.html I have one new I can let go.
I have most of the above books mentioned, I will 2nd the âMolon Labeâ recommendation.
I just started reading 
series of books, sort of a Australian âRed Dawnâ scenario. Really easy read(8th grade level) and they just made a movie based on the series of books. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_KhErNyiq8
Check out âSafe Area Gorazdeâ by Joe Sacco.
"Safe Area Gorazde is Joe Saccoâs 240-page opus about the war in the former Yugoslavia. Sacco spent four months in Bosnia in 1995-1996, immersing himself in the human side of life during wartime, researching stories rarely found in conventional news coverage. The book focuses on the Muslim enclave of Gorazde, which was besieged by Bosnian Serbs during the war. Sacco spent four weeks in Gorazde, entering before the Muslims trapped inside had access to the outside world, electricity or running water. "
I didnât like Luciferâs Hammer at all. It takes about 200 pages or 2/3 of the book before the comet even hits, and nothing happens in that time.
Both Armageddon books are great reads. I look forward to the third. I still think them as I drive up and down the highway. I like the problem solving not so much the Zombie angle. I could not out them down I devoured both books.
My collection:
A Canticle for Leibowitz Walter M. Miller, Jr
A Gift Upon the Shore M.K. Wren
A Heritage of Stars Clifford D. Simak
A Hunters Fire Floyd D. Dale
A Hymn Before Battle John Ringo
A meeting at Corvalis S.M. Stirling
A Sweet Sweet Summer Jane Gaskell
A Time for Dragons Gary Gentile
After the Bomb Gloria D. Miklowitz
After the Rain John Bowen
Aftermath Charles Sheffield
Aftershock Chuck Scarborough
Afterwar Janet Morris ( editor )
Against the Fall of Night Arthur C. Clarke
Against the Tide of Years S.M. Stirling
Alas, Babylon Pat Frank
The Alien Years Robert Silverberg
All Fools day Edmund Cooper
Alongside Night J. neil Schulman
Agviq Michael Armstrong
Among Madmen Jim Starlin, Daina Graziunas
The Andromeda Strain Michael Crichton
Ariel Steven R. Boyett
Armageddon 2419 A.D. Philip Francis Nowlan
Armageddonâs Children Terry Brooks
Armor John Steakley
Ashes Ashes Rene Barjavel
Atlantis Greg Donegan
Ballroom of the Skies John D. MacDonald
Beasts John Crowley
Between the Strokes of Night Charles Sheffield
Beyond Armageddon Walter M Miller Jr ( editor )
Beyond the Burning Lands John Christopher
The Black Death Gwyneth Cravens, John S. Marr
Black Monday Bob Reiss
Body Armor: 2000 Joe Haldeman ( editor )
Bone Dance Emma Bull
The Breaking Earth Keith Laumer
Califiaâs Daughters Leigh Richards
Callyâs war John Ringo, Julie Cochrane
The Calling of Bara Sheila Sullivan
Carriers Patrick Lynch
Cataclysm :Day the World Died Don Pendleton
Chicago Red R.M. Meluch
Childhoods End Arthur C. Clarke
City of Illusions Ursula K. LeGuin
Conquistador S.M. Stirling
Costiganâs Needle Jerry Sohl
Countdown to Midnight H. Bruce Franklin ( editor)
The Country of the Blind Michael Flynn
Damnation Alley Roger Zelazny
Dark December Alfred Coppel
Darkening Island Christopher Priest
Davy Edgar Pangborn
Dawns Uncertain Light Neal Barrett, Jr
The Day After Doomsday Rena Vale
The Day New York Went Dry Charles Einstein
The Day the Oceans Overflowed-Charles L. Fontenay
The Day of the Drones A.M. Lightner
Daybreak-2250 A.D. Andre Norton
Dead Morn Piers Anthony, Roberto Fuentes
Deadly Image Edmund Cooper
Deathday William C. Dietz
Deep Fathom James Rollins
Deus Ex Machina J.V. Brummels
Dhalgren Samuel R. Delany
Dies the Fire S.M. Stirling
Domain James Herbert
Doomsday Fred Warshofsky
Down There in the Darkness George Turner
Down to a Sunless Sea David Graham
The Drought J.G. Ballard
The Drowned World J. G. Ballard
Dune Frank Herbert
Dust Charles Pellegrino
The Dying Leslie Horvitz
Earthrise William C. Dietz
Earth Winter Richard Moran
Earthwreck! Thomas N. Scortia
Ecotopia Emerging Ernest Callenback
The Edict Max Ehrlich
Empire Orson Scott Card
The Empire of Ice Richard Moran
The End of the Dream John Brunner
Erewhon Samuel Butler
Eternity Road Jack McDevitt
Evolutions Shore Ian McDonald
Exiles Trilogy Ben Bova
Exit Earth Martin Caidin
Fallen Angels Larry Niven, jerry Pournelle, Michael Flynn
False Dawn Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Farnhamâs Freehold Robert A. Heinlein
Fire Lance David Mace
Fireworks James A. Moore
The First to Awaken Granville Hicks
Footfall Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
Footprints of Thunder James F. David
The Forever Hero L.E. Modesitt, Jr
Future Primitive Kim Stanley Robinson ( editor )
The Gate to Womenâs Country Sheri S. Tepper
Gorgon Child Steven Barnes
The Green Rain Paul Tabori
Greybeard Brian W. Aldiss
Gust Front John Ringo
The Harvest Robert Charles Wilson
Heat Arthur Herzog
Heavy Weather Bruce Sterling
Hellâs Faire John Ringo
Hello America J.G. Ballard
Here Abide Monsters Andre Norton
Hieroâs Journey Sterling E. Lanier
The Hot Zone Richard Preston
Ice Anna Kavan
Ice! Arnold Federbush
Ice and Iron Wilson Tucker
The Ice Schooner Michael Moorcock
Ice Quake Crawford Kilian
Ill Wind Kevin J. Anderson, Doug Beason
The Immortals Tracy Hickman
In The Drift Terry Carr ( editor )
Island in the Sea of Time S.M. Stirling
Iris William Barton. Michael Capobiango
Ironmaster Patrick Tilley
The Last Breath Eugene Carl Shaffer
The Last Hope of Earth Lan Wright
The Last Ship William Brinkley
The Last World War Dayton ward
Level 7 Mordecai Roshwald
Logans Run William F. Nolan, George Clayton Johnson
Logans World William F. Nolan
The Long Afternoon of Earth Brian Aldiss
The Long Tomorrow Leigh Brackett
Long Voyage Back Luke Rhinehart
The Long Winter John Christopher
Looking Backward Edward Bellamy
The Lost Continent Edgar Rice Burroughs
Lost Horizon James Hilton
Lucifers Hammer Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
Make Room! Make Room! Harry Harrison
Malevil Robert Merle
The Man Who Awoke Lawrence Manning
The Marked Man Charles Ingrid
The Martian Chronicles Ray Bradbury
Maximum Ice Kay Kenyon
Memories Mike McQuay
Mister Touch Malcom Bosse
Mockingbird Walter Tevis
Moonfall Jack McDevitt
Natureâs End Whitley Strieber, james Kunetka
Nerves Lester Del Ray
The Nitrogen Fix Hal Clement
No Room For man Ralph S. Clem, Martin Harry Greenberg (editors )
Not This August C.M. Kornbluth
The Nuclear Catastrophe Bett Pohnka, Barbara C. Griffin
O-Zone Paul Theroux
October the First is Too Late Fred Hoyle
On the Beach Nevil Shute
Orion Shall Rise Poul Anderson
Other Americas Norman Spinrad ( editor )
The Parasite War Tim Sullivan
The Past Through Tomorrow Robert A. Heinlein
The Peace War Vernor Vinge
People of the Sky Claire Bell
Perfect People Robert Lieberman
Phantom Regiments Robert Adams ( editor )
The Plague Albert Camus
Plague War Jeff Carlson
Plague Year Jeff Carlson
Pockets of Resistance Will Sundown
The Postman David Brin
Pulling Through Dean Ing
The Puppet Masters Robert A. Heinlein
Pure Blood Mike McQuay
The Purple Cloud M.P. Shiel
Queen City Jazz Kathleen Ann Goonan
Re-Birth John Wyndham
Red Alert Peter Bryant
Red Shadows Yvonne Navarro
Revolt in 2100 Robert A. Heinlein
Rings of Ice Piers Anthony
Riverworld series## Philip Jose Farmer
The Road Cormac McCarthy
The Ruins of Earth Thomas M. Disch ( editor )
Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman-Walter M. Miller, Jr
The Scourge of God S.M. Stirling
The Sea is Boiling Hot George Bamber
The Sheep Look Up John Brunner
Shudder Child Warren C. Norwood
Single Combat Dean Ing
Some Will Not Die Aldis Budrys
The Steel, the Mist, and The Blazing Sun- Christopher Anvil
The Stone War Medline E. Robins
The Sunrise Lands S.M. Stirling
Supernova Roger MacBride, Eric Kotani
Survival 2000 series: James McPhee
Blood Quest
Frozen Fire
Renegade War
Survival Margin Charles Eric Maine
Survival World Frank Belknap Long
Survivors John Nahmlos
The Sword of the Spirits John Christopher
Thunder of Time James F. David
The Time Connection Thomas F. Monteleone
The Time of the Great Freeze Robert Silverberg
Time Storm Gordon R. Dickson
The Time Swept City Thomas F. Monteleone
Tomorrow! Philip Wylie
The Trinity Paradox* Kevin J Anderson, Doug Beason
Triumph Philip Wylie
Twilight of the City Charles Platt
Under the City of Angels Jerry Earl Brown
The Vampire Earth series E.E. Knight
Vandenberg Oliver Lange
Vault of the Ages Poul Anderson
Vector Henry Sutton
Voices of Hope David Feintuch
Voyage from Yesteryear James P. Hogan
Walden Two B.F. Skinner
Wanderer Donald E. McQuinn
War and Peace Stanley Schmidt ( editor )
War Day Whitley Strieber, James Kunetka
A War of Shadows Jack L. Chalker
Warrior Donald E. McQueen
Wastelands John Joseph Adams ( editor )
Watch the Rhine John Ringo, Tom Kratman
Waters of Death Irving A. Greenfield
The Way the World Ends James Morrow
When the Devil Dances John Ringo
When Worlds Collide Edwin Balmer, Philip Wylie
Where The Late Birds Sang Kate Wilhelm
Wild Country Dean Ing
The Wild Shore Kim Stanley Robinson
The Wind From Nowhere J.G. Ballard
Wintermind Marvin Kaye. Parke Godwin
Winters Daughter Charles Whitmore
Witch Donald E. McQuinn
Wolf and Iron Gordon R. Dickson
The Wounded Planet Roger Elwood, Virginia Kidd ( editors )
Year of the Cloud Ted Thomas, Kate Wilhelm
The Year of the Quiet Sun Wilson Tucker
Yellow Eyes John Ringo, Tom Kratman
8.4 Peter Hernon
40 Minute War Janet & Chris Morris
1633 ( and sequels ) Eric Flint
43,000 Years Later Horace Coon
If the shit really does hit the fan, I want something with lots of pages for use as toilet paper. Softness would also be a criteria.
Now you can buy Lights Out at Amazon.com
i just ordered Patriots. looking foward to it!
I was interested until I saw the youtube video of the author talking with James Yeager.
Didnât read all the post, but if âFirefoxâ has been mentioned donât read on.
In the 70âs I purchased the âFirefoxâ series (12 books) and believe me they are awesome. The skills used in rural Appalachia for generations and my grandparents when the came across on the boat.
The following link, you can download for free or purchase them from Amazon.
http://tslrf.blogspot.com/2009/07/download-firefox-books-for-free.html
youll have to sift through the religious garbage and totalitarian dictatorship of the main character (rawles himself, obviously) to get any decent info out of it. it really could have been a great book, if rawles had more writing skill then that of a 10yo composing a âwhat i did during summer vacationâ essay.
Have read many of the books mentioned in this thread. All of them, eventually, lost my interest and agreeableness to some degree.
Whatever is coming compares to nothing man can fully grasp, so I think the more you read from different points of view, the future-wiser you become.
APOCALYPSE 2012 is a non-fiction work by Lawrence E. Joseph. Lots of scientific discussion that is easily understood. Lawrence talks about things that other physicists arenât comfortable discussing. He is independently wealthy and seems to give two shits about what some folks think about his information sharing.
It is a fun read and should open an eye to some more possibilities ahead. Since we are all trying to grasp and prepare for the future, Mother Nature is prolly gonna have her say. He focuses on lots of natural science with a spice of humor.
Happy Holidays to you all.
As stated by others I found Patriots hard to get through but managed. It was good information cloaked in terrible literatire.
Alas, Babylon and Luciferâs Hammer (finishing it now) were both very good books in spite of their age.
For kids, something with good survival info and skills without the scary TEOTWAWKI stuff is My Side of the Mountain. My kids and I read it together from time to time.
Between Amazon/Kindle/and Google Books I read all 7 books in this series. I would recommend on pure SHTF entertainment value. Two thumbs up!
Im about 25% of the way through this book and have to say it is a much better read than âPatriotsâ. In fact I see some swipes the author takes at âPatriotsâ. But both of them should be read to give one a more well rounded idea of what they will need preparation wise. I think that âLights Outâ teaches the reader to be more crafty in a survival situation, using a lot of field expedient resources and techniques.
a grocery receipt is a better read then patriots
I enjoyed Lights Out more than One Second After and much more than what I read of Patriots⌠Which really isnât saying alot.
Just finished Tooth and NailâŚ
On itâs own merit itâs good (not great). Relative to most of whatâs out there in the genre it was very good IMO.
Written from the troops on the grounds perspective during a âzombie-likeâ TEOTWAWKI. First time Iâve seen that done.
My biggest complaint was the repetitive descriptions of the gore/mayhem (âlimbs flying⌠stinking, rotting flesh thrown everywhere⌠etc⌠etcâ).