When asking why anyone likes a particular genre, the answer will generally come back in various forms. With post-apocalyptic fiction, there is a more concrete answer.
Post-apocalyptic and dystopian genres do something very concrete, which is to provide a glimpse into a slightly altered world, and most of the time the smidge of fiction does not fall far from a possible future or world we live in. Whether it is a warning about climate change or a dystopic world where a socio-political aspect is hypercharged, the issues presented make commentary about societal issues and give perspective on what could be if the brakes aren’t slammed.
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You might be thinking, well science fiction and gothic fiction tend to take stabs at societal issues and foreshadow forthcoming, but what is distinct about post-apocalyptic fiction is the idea of looming fear of the world ending (not to be dramatic), which causes some form of unity even over party lines.
To dive into why post-apocalyptic fiction is so popular, start by defining what it is, to begin with.
What Defines Post-Apocalyptic Fiction?
As the name states, to be considered post-apocalyptic fiction the plot must take place shortly after a world-changing event. Usually, this event is related to an inhabitable planet, but it could also be an illness, overthrow of government, etc, etc. From there, the plot is set around the new way of life that people are forced to adapt to, and generally, this change is socially or politically charged in order to engage readers in a comprehensive and intellectual discussion about society.
Often this genre is confused with dystopian, although a cross-over is also very common among popular books in the genre, but there are some key differences. As mentioned post-apocalyptic has an emphasis on taking place after an event, whereas dystopian does not require a sudden and drastic change. Usually, dystopian novels involve some kind of re-envisioned world where something fundamental is different, and also they can take place in the past or present as opposed to the future, but a crossover between the two genres is extremely common.
As post-apocalyptic fiction is almost always taking place in the near future, it has many timeless elements that make it so popular.
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Why Is Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Timeless?
If you look at some of the best post-apocalyptic books of all time, they are often timeless. Look at The Handmaid’s Tale, while it was written in the 80s, it struck a chord with modern audiences as the social issues regarding women and bodily autonomy are still relevant today, and the series was produced almost in tandem with the beginning of the #MeToo movement.
Taking it back even further, Mary Shelley is not only the mother of science fiction but also post-apocalyptic fiction, having written the first book in the genre called The Last Man. The plot of this book set the stage for every single post-apocalyptic book to come after, featuring a horrific event that changed the world, decreased the population, and left the survivors questioning society.
These themes will always be relevant to every generation, making these books timeless and to be enjoyed for centuries to come.
Providing A Portal To Another Way Of Life
Generally, this genre takes the social-political issue at hand and provides a look into what life could be like if that issue was exaggerated just enough to change the world. By taking a peek through a portal into another way of life, these stories act as warnings regarding what could happen if a stop is not put to the spark of change.
These warnings have proven to be very influential in how people think regarding big issues, while it is not the only issue often discussed, climate change is a charged topic that is explicitly prevalent in post-apocalyptic books. The warnings present in this genre make it very popular, and relatable across generations and pop culture.
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How The Genre Sparks Conversations About Society
When humanity is tested, the existing issues become even more prevalent. Often post-apocalyptic book has the element of survival, where the characters are adjusting to a new way of life and kick into survival mode. As seen in the survival genre, when people are tasked with surviving they do the unthinkable, and their previous issues are exaggerated.
Bringing back to The Handmaid’s Tale example, the book talks about systemic misogyny and body politics, which although have been issues for hundreds of years are still very relevant to pop culture.
This way of expressing perspectives, creating warnings, and telling a story opens up conversations about the issues and might even help people understand them. Literature is about sharing perspectives, and post-apocalyptic fiction does that by breaking down complex topics so that anyone can understand them.
