Months and months ago, kleinbl00 recommended I read "Earth Abides" by George R. Stewart. It is post-apocalyptic sci-fi like you have never seen before. Written in 1949, it doesn't dwell on how most of the population of the world dies, but on what happens after. It is quiet, and practical, and odd, and after reading it, kb and I sent probably 20 emails back and forth discussing it in depth. It has a twist ending that seems like a twist at the time, but now - months later - makes me think it wasn't a twist at all. This book has made me examine my life, and the way I live in the world. I've read 4 or 5 books since then, but this is the one that stays. I'd love to have more conversations with Hubskiers about it...
This book is amazing. This and Lucifer's Hammer cemented my love of stories about the end of civilization. Earth Abides is a must read.
Bitch you'd love it. The best part about Earth Abides is it's an accidental book. George R Stewart was commissioned by The Atlantic to describe what would happen to the world if all the people went away - sort of a World Without Us circa 1948. In order to make it not a long boring essay, he interspersed his dry analyses with the subjective experience of "The Last American" exploring this new world. Halfway through writing it he determined that his interludes were more interesting and, since it didn't fit his contract, he regretfully declined the assignment. He's a fascinating dude.His 1941 novel Storm, featuring as its protagonist a Pacific storm called "Maria," prompted the National Weather Service to use personal names to designate storms and inspired Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe to write the song "They Call the Wind Maria" for their 1951 musical Paint Your Wagon.