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]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:24 AM - 16 comments

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.
posted by latkes at 10:44 AM - 9 comments

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]
posted by latkes at 8:13 AM - 1 comment

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]
posted by latkes at 1:43 PM - 7 comments

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]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:33 AM - 25 comments

January 7

Book: Three Moments of an Explosion

Today, another story from this book: Keep. [more inside]
posted by latkes at 8:45 PM - 3 comments

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]
posted by latkes at 8:44 PM - 1 comment

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]
posted by latkes at 6:10 PM - 7 comments

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]
posted by latkes at 9:42 PM - 4 comments

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]
posted by latkes at 6:53 PM - 0 comments

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]
posted by latkes at 6:33 AM - 17 comments

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]
posted by latkes at 5:32 PM - 1 comment

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]
posted by latkes at 2:10 PM - 16 comments