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Synopsis
The survivors of an H-bomb attack are forced to rely on their own resources amidst the ruins of Fort Repose.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
In Fort Repose, a river town in Central Florida, it was said that sending a message by Western Union was the same as broadcasting it over the combined networks. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
In Fort Repose, a river town in Central Florida, it was said that sending a message by Western Union was the same as broadcasting it over the combined networks. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By M. T. Gibbs
Format:Paperback
Nuclear war viewed through the eyes of a small isolated Florida community.
It seemed to me from reading the blurb that any story that didn't move location in its entirety must be somewhat lacking in its lasting appeal to the reader. Oh how I was wrong.
First off, I am a big sucker for this kind of apolcalyptic tale, stories where a small group of people watch society fall apart around them are perfect for portraying not only the often overlooked fragility of modern life but also the inherent animal strength of mankind forced to survive in a world torn apart.
Because of this Alas Babylon is one of my favourite ever novels, vying with the Day of the Triffids for that crown but where that story is fantastical and science fiction this is oh so real and chillingly possible.
I could go on for pages praising this book and its author but I won't! Suffice to say, this is an incredible novel. Not for fantastical settings or powerful character dynamics but for the simple and yet effective style in which it illustrates the world we know (albeit a somewhat old fashioned world) being blown apart and an average guy striving to look after those he loves.
For anyone who ever looked at the world around them and thought... What if? What if suddenly everything we rely on and base ourselves on was stripped away. Would I survive? Read it and find out.
It seemed to me from reading the blurb that any story that didn't move location in its entirety must be somewhat lacking in its lasting appeal to the reader. Oh how I was wrong.
First off, I am a big sucker for this kind of apolcalyptic tale, stories where a small group of people watch society fall apart around them are perfect for portraying not only the often overlooked fragility of modern life but also the inherent animal strength of mankind forced to survive in a world torn apart.
Because of this Alas Babylon is one of my favourite ever novels, vying with the Day of the Triffids for that crown but where that story is fantastical and science fiction this is oh so real and chillingly possible.
I could go on for pages praising this book and its author but I won't! Suffice to say, this is an incredible novel. Not for fantastical settings or powerful character dynamics but for the simple and yet effective style in which it illustrates the world we know (albeit a somewhat old fashioned world) being blown apart and an average guy striving to look after those he loves.
For anyone who ever looked at the world around them and thought... What if? What if suddenly everything we rely on and base ourselves on was stripped away. Would I survive? Read it and find out.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I have an affinity for post-apocolyptic novels. I was hesitant to purchase this novel because I was afraid that it would be too dated for me to enjoy. As it turned out, Alas, Babylon IS dated, but not so that it interfers with the story.
What I enjoyed the most was recognizing the context of the times that this story was written and the writer's attempt to address social issues of that era. Pat Frank made an obvious attempt to give women power; the President is a woman and a young girl saves the day by catching fish when no one else could. This is interesting because the battle for passage of the Civil Rights Amendment hadn't really begun when this book was written. Although I did find his discription of the women's need to have a man to take care of rather outdated. But, it was interesting because I can't imagine someone writing those types of stereotypes today. Also, the writer touches (however slightly) on southern segregation. I felt that he tip-toed around this subject a little too lightly, but I don't think that he was writing about that subject so his light treatment of racism and segregation didn't bother me too much.
All in all I enjoyed this novel immensly. I wouldn't be put off by the fact that it was written forty years ago either.
Now, can anyone recommend any other post-apocolyptic novels to me? Please send any recommendations to: Aphrodite0000@yahoo.com
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Alas, Babylon' is a novel that falls into the post disaster category, being about a Florida community trying to survive the aftermath of a nuclear war. It could be acccused of being a 'cosy catastrophe' - despite a continental holocaust little really bad happens to the main character and he actually seems to benefit from the experience in many ways. However, it is well written and since it was originally published in 1959 it gives an insight into the politics and societial structures of the time. If (like me) you've enjoyed the catastrophe literature of John Wyndham and John Christopher it's certainly worth a look......pity about the really flimsy covers of this edition though........
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I thought this book would be dated but when you read it you realize that human nature and the will to survive is never dated material. Neither is a good book! You come to know and care about the characters - what is happening around the world is secondary to what is happening to them directly. This is their story - not a story of how the world is coping. Read it and enjoy it for what it is - a scary, but uplifting story.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This book is excellent. One has only to think of Yugoslavia or the worst-case-scenarios of the Y2K problem to see how timely this book really is. It is a study of survival What makes it unique amongst such stories is that the focus is on the survival of the community as a whole, not just an individual. Most stories of the collapse of civilization are about its effect on one individual. The collapse of civilization becomes nothing more than a backdrop for exciting and heroic personal adventures. This novel was first published during the Cold War (in 1960) nearly 40 years ago. Since the Cold War is over, isn't it hopelessly out of date? Sadly, it is not. One has only to watch the evening news to see how grimly relevant it is.
Pat Frank states in the Foreword that his purpose was to show realistically how terrible a nuclear war would be. His theme is stated and restated, that there will be no winners, no victors in such a war. All will be destroyed. Ironically, this is the one area where the book is out-of-date. It was written before we knew about nuclear winter. Also, too many atomic bombs fall. The radiation level would be much higher than he portrays. Realistically, there would be no survivors.
This flaw is what makes the book relevant and valuable. Forget a nuclear war between two superpowers. The true subject of the book is to look at what happens to a small town that is suddenly and totally isolated. What happens to the ordinary citizen? What happens to Randy, his family and his friends?
Alas, Babylon is utterly realistic. The town has to learn to defend itself -- so that it can then cope with the truly serious problems of survival. I'm not going to say what solutions are found.
I am going to recommend reading this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
One of the first Post-apocalyptic novels!
A good read, a bit dated, but nontheless a very good read. It is a very early example of the post-apocalyptic novel.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. C. J. Murphy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Alas Babylon
As a post apocalyptic novel I rather enjoyed it and learned a great deal about the US military and nuclear technology. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr T
4.0 out of 5 stars
Original 1950's Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction
Randy Bragg is living an unspectacular late 1950's existence in well-named Fort Repose, Florida. Things begin to change when he is contacted by his brother Mark, an Air Force... Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2011 by John M. Ford
4.0 out of 5 stars
Could you survive after a nuclear attack?
I bought this book having read recommendations by other people. Alas, Babylon consistently features in top 10 recommendations for post-apocalyptic fiction and it is not difficult... Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by W. Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
Alas, the passing of time
Written in 1959 and one of the first influential apocalyptic novels about the threat of nuclear holocaust, the tale follows the decisions of Randy Bragg, a Korean War veteran and... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2009 by Budge Burgess
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alas, Babylon - Pat Frank
I first read this book when I was twelve or thirteen, some thirty
odd years ago, and have read that original copy to peices over the years,(literally). Read more
odd years ago, and have read that original copy to peices over the years,(literally). Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2005 by Teresa Nieto
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great as a teenager, even better now!
I read Alas, Babylon in high school and thought it was a fantasic story. I have had to re-purchase this book a number of times...friends loved it and kept it. I now have it again! Read more
Published on 19 Aug 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent - one of the best of it's genre!
I couldn't put it down; best post nuclear holocaust novel I've read since The Last Ship!
Published on 10 Aug 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of the best books I read
It was an extraordinary real picture of human beings trying to struggle for their lives by catastrophe. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 1999
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