Apocalypse Fiction Club
In this club, we read fiction about the apocalypse! The rules of apocalypse fiction club are very loose – we refuse to be confined by genre, era, or author! I’ve proposed a list of 3 works for the first three months, and included a survey for participants to vote on what we want to read month four. See club talk for more details on the specific books that are already scheduled.
Posts for this club should be tagged: apocalypsefiction_club.
December 29
Book: Station Eleven
Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end. Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Travelling Symphony. [more inside]
July 11
Book: V for Vendetta
V FOR VENDETTA takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. In a world without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything comes a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask who fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts.
July 6
Book: On Such a Full Sea
In a future where US society has segmented rigidly into rich consumers, the poor, and a labor class who have occupied the buildings of former cities, one of these laborers sets out on a quest... [more inside]
May 1
Book: All the Birds in the Sky
Hugo and Nebula Award short-listed novel about the end of the world―and the beginning of our future. A sort of coming of age novel, philosophical exploration of nature and technology, action/adventure/romance with some bittersweet humor on top. [more inside]
February 1
Book: The Wake
In 1066, the world ended.
"when i woc in the mergen all was blaec though the night had gan and all wolde be blaec after and for all time. a great wind had cum in the night and all was blown then and broc. none had thought a wind lic this colde cum for all was blithe lifan as they always had and who will hiere the gleoman when the tales he tells is blaec who locs at the heofon if it brings him regn who locs in the mere when there seems no end to its deopness."[more inside]
January 7
Book: Three Moments of an Explosion
Today, another story from this book: Keep. [more inside]
January 6
Book: Three Moments of an Explosion
In this recent collection, China Miéville explores the fantastical, terrifying, surreal and moody. The Apocalypse Fiction Club will discuss three stories from the collection over the next three days. Today: Polynia. [more inside]
December 29
Apocalypse Fiction Club: China Miéville's Three Moments of an Explosion
Wednesday, January 6th, we'll start talking about China Miéville's recent short story collection - Three Moments of an Explosion. As an experiment, I'm going to try doing a few posts, one for each of several of the more "apocalyptic" stories in this collection... [more inside]
December 2
Book: Brown Girl in the Ring
The rich and privileged have fled the city, barricaded it behind roadblocks, and left it to crumble. The inner city has had to rediscover old ways-farming, barter, herb lore. But now the monied need a harvest of bodies, and so they prey upon the helpless of the streets. With nowhere to turn, a young woman must open herself to ancient truths, eternal powers, and the tragic mystery surrounding her mother and grandmother. She must bargain with gods, and give birth to new legends. [more inside]
November 11
Apocalypse Fiction Club reminders
Apocalypse Fiction Club reads coming up!
Brown Girl in the Ring - Wednesday, Dec 2
Three Moments of an Explosion - Jan 6, 2016
The Wake - Feb 1, 2016 [more inside]
November 4
Book: Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
Inspired by the medieval wall painting of the legend of Saint Eustace at Canterbury Cathedral, and utilizing a made-up language filled with double meanings and puns, Russell Hoban’s 1981 story of a newly come of age boy in a post-nuclear England is widely admired by readers, critics, and authors. Gather round and share your experiences reading this especially striking apocalyptic tale! [more inside]
October 28
Apocalypse Fiction Club reminder: Nov 8 discussion of Riddley Walker
You still have time to power-read through this linguistically virtuosic fable about puppetry and St Eustace after the end of the world. [more inside]
October 21
Apocalypse Fiction Club schedule and discussion area
I propose we read a book a month, with a scheduled discussion on the first Wednesday of each month. Here’s what I propose to launch this club, with a focus on which books I’d like to start with. I am open to suggestion and feedback here. Yay! [more inside]