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jboh's review against another edition
4.0
Not bad. Would’ve preferred an ending with less hope of normality. Nonetheless a worthwhile read.
lizella's review against another edition
4.0
first read Alas, Babylon as required reading in 6th grade. I couldn’t remember the name of the book or author, but would remember bits and pieces and hoped I would run across it again one day. It was one of the first apocalyptic stories I read and introduced me to a genre that I have revisited frequently. After finally finding it again and giving it another read, it held up to my expectations.
Set in cold war America, Alas, Babylon explores the potential aftermath of nuclear war. While the specific circumstances of the threat to life as we know it may have changed, current threats are just as real, preserving its relevance. In many ways, the more technologically advanced our society becomes, the more varied and catastrophic the consequences.
Fort Repose, a small town in Florida is the setting for this survival story centered on a small group of neighbors. The book chronicles the hardships and triumphs, ingenuity and tenacity of people who have to figure out how to live without the necessities of modern life in a town cut off from the rest of the world. Frank explores the scenario in all aspects from loss of electricity and fuel, to the return to the barter system and upheaval of class and society infrastructure. The story’s structure puts the reader in the middle of the situation and makes you wonder how you would fare in similar circumstances. While Alas, Babylon does take some dark turns, on a whole, it is a story of hope despite an uncertain future.
Set in cold war America, Alas, Babylon explores the potential aftermath of nuclear war. While the specific circumstances of the threat to life as we know it may have changed, current threats are just as real, preserving its relevance. In many ways, the more technologically advanced our society becomes, the more varied and catastrophic the consequences.
Fort Repose, a small town in Florida is the setting for this survival story centered on a small group of neighbors. The book chronicles the hardships and triumphs, ingenuity and tenacity of people who have to figure out how to live without the necessities of modern life in a town cut off from the rest of the world. Frank explores the scenario in all aspects from loss of electricity and fuel, to the return to the barter system and upheaval of class and society infrastructure. The story’s structure puts the reader in the middle of the situation and makes you wonder how you would fare in similar circumstances. While Alas, Babylon does take some dark turns, on a whole, it is a story of hope despite an uncertain future.
karenleagermain's review against another edition
4.0
Many stories have been written about Nuclear War, but what sets Pat Frank's "Alas, Babylon" apart, was it was published in 1959, at the height of the Cold War. This book is very scary and I can imagine even more so for people who read it when it was initially published.
A modern companion book would be Cormac McCarthy's "The Road", as it had many similarities in theme and tone. Although, the characters in Frank's novel are stuck in a contamination zone and their range of space is stiffling, adding to the tension in the story.
The book is a horror story. Many of the characters turn into animals and the actual animals turn into beasts. Our core group of characters, a motley bunch of friends, neighbors and relatives are forced to scrape by and use both brains and brute force to resolve problems. I loved how the town library, on the verge of extinction prior to the attack, becomes an indispensable resource and the librarian a town hero. Frank really seems to know his stuff going into writing this novel, because he lists problems that would arise in such an event that never even crossed my mind. Scary, scary stuff.
I rated this four out of five stars, only because I found it difficult to get into. I read this book over the course of several months and only after getting sick and making good progress, was I able to find it gripping. After a hundred pages in, I was totally captivated and I finished it up in less than a day.
This book will leave you with jangled nerves.
A modern companion book would be Cormac McCarthy's "The Road", as it had many similarities in theme and tone. Although, the characters in Frank's novel are stuck in a contamination zone and their range of space is stiffling, adding to the tension in the story.
The book is a horror story. Many of the characters turn into animals and the actual animals turn into beasts. Our core group of characters, a motley bunch of friends, neighbors and relatives are forced to scrape by and use both brains and brute force to resolve problems. I loved how the town library, on the verge of extinction prior to the attack, becomes an indispensable resource and the librarian a town hero. Frank really seems to know his stuff going into writing this novel, because he lists problems that would arise in such an event that never even crossed my mind. Scary, scary stuff.
I rated this four out of five stars, only because I found it difficult to get into. I read this book over the course of several months and only after getting sick and making good progress, was I able to find it gripping. After a hundred pages in, I was totally captivated and I finished it up in less than a day.
This book will leave you with jangled nerves.
twstdtink's review against another edition
3.0
This book could have easily earned four stars from me if it weren't bogged down with a bunch of mundane war terminology. The parts about how people behaved after the nuclear bombs dropped was extremely well written. I fell in love with all the characters and thought it was a very advanced book for the time it was written in (1950's). I LOVED that it was set in Florida (not far from where I live now, actually) and listed numerous small town cities that I'm familiar with. All in all, if you can get past the boring parts, it's a really good book.
kellerko's review against another edition
3.0
I loved this book as a teen and wrote about it on my college essays. Liked it less on this read and bristled at the way African Americans and women were portrayed- had to remind myself it was that time period. Still love the story of how different folks respond to war and who survives and how.
spinstah's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a little while to ease into the language; it’s very different from more contemporary fiction and certainly feels of its time to me. Once I settled in, I did enjoy the story. It mostly focuses on the aftermath of a terrible nuclear attack, in an area that happens to remain habitable. So, more focused on survival, less on the disaster. If you like these kinds of stories, and you think you could get past the language (including accompanying attitudes about women and Black people) this is worth picking up.
angelarwatts's review against another edition
4.0
Really good book. My Ma really liked it and so I read it, and my Dad's reading it right now too haha.
tittypete's review against another edition
4.0
Good story. A little dated but perhaps that makes it interesting too. Alas, Babylon is an apocalypse story that takes place at the during a tense part of the cold war when the US was in the "missile gap" with the USSR. Meaning, the Soviets had ICBMs and we still only had bombers. So our nuclear deterrent was diminished by the Russian's first strike capability. Sort of historically unique window of history that makes the event immediately preceding nuclear doomsday seem fairly and grimly plausible. It also takes place int eh south during a time when segregation was still a thing svn though the Supreme Court had recently said it shouldn't be. Adds another interesting bit of background. I liked this story and it rekindled my prepare bug.
krism's review against another edition
5.0
The book was written in 1959 and was one of the first apocalyptic stories of the nuclear age. It focuses on a small town in Florida that is unscathed by any direct hits but is now almost completely cut off from the rest of the nation. Lots of things go wrong but lots of things also go right as they struggle to survive and rebuild. An interesting book!
maryehavens's review against another edition
5.0
My dad and brother have been after me for years to read this book. Now I know why! It was brilliant. A bit heavy at times on the military lingo (although, it made me want to join the Armed Forces to, maybe, increase my chance of survival) but it was fast-paced and kept you "in" Fort Repose.
It was written in 1959 so there are some dated things (language, segregation, a woman appalled at breast-feeding :) ) but everything else is completely easy to relate to.
The structure of the book was my favorite as it dealt with right before, right after, and then several months up to a year after The Day. I think the structure is what made this particular apocalyptic book so very good. That, and one kick-ass librarian!!! :)
It was written in 1959 so there are some dated things (language, segregation, a woman appalled at breast-feeding :) ) but everything else is completely easy to relate to.
The structure of the book was my favorite as it dealt with right before, right after, and then several months up to a year after The Day. I think the structure is what made this particular apocalyptic book so very good. That, and one kick-ass librarian!!! :)