With season 2 of The Last of Us in full swing, fans have been treated to more beautiful landscapes, heartbreaking performances, and vicious surprises (no spoilers here, promise). It seems that now more than ever, audiences are seeking stories that present post-apocalyptic circumstances in a realistic and compelling way.
If you’re looking for some post-apocalyptic stories with similar circumstances and human experiences, look no further. Take a look at these choices for anyone looking for reads that evoke the same feeling as The Last of Us.
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5. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Fans of Margaret Atwood will be aware of her proclivity towards dystopian and speculative fiction. After all, The Handmaid’s Tale is one of the greatest dystopian novels ever written. However, fewer people have read her journey into post-apocalyptic fiction, and it is well worth the read.
Years after a plague wiped out the majority of the population, a protagonist named Snowman struggles to survive in this wasteland. In the past, he grew up as a young man named Jimmy, who witnessed the downfall of society alongside his childhood best friend Crake, and the mysterious figure of Oryx, an elusive woman whom both loved.
Why we recommend it: In a similar vein to The Last of Us, Oryx and Crake presents a relevant premise and a compelling look at humanity’s potential future.
4. A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C.A. Fletcher
Post-apocalyptic novels often tug at our heartstrings, but the addition of man’s best friend certainly adds a layer of genuine warmth to a story. In a world where the population has dwindled down to almost nothing, a young boy named Griz sets off on a perilous journey to rescue his stolen dog, Jess. With only the company of his other canine pal Jip, Griz will encounter various dangers while maintaining his belief that loyalty and those that you love are essential to your survival.
Why we recommend it: The Last of Us finds much of its heart in the character of Ellie, a young girl tasked with a dangerous mission that she never asked for. Readers will certainly connect with Griz in a similar way.
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Subscribe to our weekly newsletter3. The World Without Us by Alan Weisman
If you’re interested in the more science and real-world side of The Last of Us, this nonfiction option allows readers to explore the hypothetical idea of what would happen to the planet if humans were to cease to exist.
Journalist Alan Weisman delves deep into how everything from natural resources, to wildlife, to man made items would adjust, take over, or die out entirely.
Why we recommend it: While a nonfiction choice may seem a little out of left field, The World Without Us provides an in-depth look at what a post-apocalyptic future would look like in both the short and long term. Would we really see giraffes in the middle of the city? Guess you’ll have to read it to find out.
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2. The Passage by Justin Cronin
If you’re searching for a novel that highlights the devastating lasting effects of a viral apocalyptic event, The Passage is the perfect choice. The novel takes place in two timelines, with the first section covering the onset and outbreak of a military experiment gone wrong, which turns its hosts into vampire-like monsters.
The second part of the story takes place 93 years after the initial infection, and follows a group of survivors in California, viewing the long term effects of the infection and the generations that have followed the outbreak.
Why we recommend it: A perfect blend of timelines and the human experience, this exploration of multiple generations in a post-apocalyptic society will surely appeal to fans of The Last of Us.
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1. The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
A classic post-apocalyptic science fiction tale, John Wyndham’s The Day of the Triffids takes the idea of an unnatural creature derived from plants and nature, and the horror that follows once they decide to no longer be contained.
In a world where triffids (seven-foot-tall, walking carnivorous plants) are harvested for the oil that they produce. When an unprecedented meteor shower blinds the majority of the human population, the triffids seize the opportunity to take over and destroy their disoriented overlords.
The few survivors who have retained their sight will have to fight for their survival and find a way to rebuild a new world and a new way forward.
Why we recommend it: While The Last of Us expands upon the idea of an infection based on fungus, this classic tale touched on the power and potential danger of nature and plant life decades prior.
While post-apocalyptic fiction can often seem hopeless, The Last of Us provides its audience with a complex and layered new world, with characters fighting to survive in unprecedented circumstances, and finds a way to inject that ray of hope into its narrative. Hopefully, these books can provide you with that same optimism. Enjoy the rest of the season!
