SHTF novels?

[Travis McGee]

Thanks to everyone who mentioned my novel "Enemies Foreign and Domestic!"

I'd like to say that I'm now working on my second novel, the sequel "Domestic Enemies," set five years after EFAD (or about 2015). Domestic Enemies is going to be much more of a SHTF/TEOTWAWKI scenario, with America coming apart at the seams and violently breaking down along ethnic faction and regional lines.

Domestic Enemies will largely be set in New Mexico after that state's political takeover by MeCha/Aztlan radicals. "Land reform" is at the top of their agenda, but the anglo ranchers don't take kindly to being kicked off of the old "Spanish Land Grant" territories. About half of the book will take place in "The American Kosovo" of Nuevo Mexico during this low intensity civil war. It will be a violent and chaotic time, with no safe areas for anyone, so for sure it will qualify as a "SHTF" novel.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

Travis,

Get it done.

Most of these are TEOTWAWKI stories. And I agree with most (other than the SciFi group).

For a micro SHTF, try "Testament" by David Morrell. Written in the 70's, but very forawrd looking. Man with his family on the run.

I second "Swan Song" by McCammon. He usually writes horror, but this seems closer to earth.

The Stand by King is a classic.

So many......

 

[N3rday]

Yes RED DAWN all the way!!
28 days later was great as well.

 

[Travis McGee]

7.62FMJ: I've read a few by Morrell, but I never heard of "Testament." I'll look for it at the library, thanks!

 

[Mr Jody Hudson]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned what to ME is a very senior LIBRARY on the subject of survival, weapons, but most of all the Philosophy of Survival and Personal Independence!

The countless, short, fast, informative and well written novels by Louis L'Amour... http://www.louislamour.com

 

[adobewalls]

Just finished reading "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand (encouraged by the discussiosn I read here at THR). I agree the main storyline is TEOTWAWKI but SHTF as a consequence. The story is mainly philosophical, but definately worth the read for the descriptions of the knock on effects of collectivist policies and a crumbling national infrastructure.

 

[winstonsmith]

With the mention of Neil Gaiman by Dr. Rob, I have to throw in "American Gods." It's sort of a religious SHTF fan book, with the old gods brought over to America (all different pantheons, Odin and Ananzi both play large roles) versus the new gods. Gods of Highway, of Credit Card, and of Cappuchinofrappalatte.

It's wonderfully written as well. I HIGHLY suggest it for all.

There is an excerpt here: CLICK!!!

 

[45King]

Another vote for Alas, Babylon. I've read it numerous since I was introduced to it in the early sixties.

Surprised that no one has mentioned the Deathlands series by James Axler. A bit far-fetched, but then so is a lot of other sci-fi. Of course, it's more post-apocalyptic than SHTF, but still worth a mention, as is Jerry Ahern's The Survivalist, featuring ex-CIA agent John Rourke with his extensive arsenal (twin Detonics Combat Masters among other things, IIRC) and beat-up Zippo.

 

[fastbolt]

(twin Detonics Combat Masters

I always suspected that Jerry Ahern must've known somebody connected with Detonics back in those says, when it came to his faith in his character's use of the little twin Detonics guns. What were the chances of finding TWO of those pistols, at random, for real, that would reliably function? My brother had a fondness for them, as did my father ... but neither of them had much luck when it came to acceptable reliability. Many years later one of the guys at work came across another one of the "fast-backed" Detonics pistols, and that one wouldn't function worth a darn ...

Then, there was the serie's main character's preference for a Python, which is a wonderfully smooth & precise example of the breed, but which also can go out of time a bit sooner than a S&W ... especially when used under adverse conditions, and without the services of an armorer/gunsmith.

Also, I thought it was interesting that the main character preferred the lighter recoiling 185gr Federal JHP's (standard pressure, of course) and 158gr SP ammunition for his Python. Those were the days when copper jacketed 185gr .45 JHP's MIGHT'VE expanded, especially at the reduced velocities realized in shorter barrels, but the Winchester 185gr STHP DID seem to expand. Did Ahern simply prefer Federal ammunition, as it seemed from his "advertising" in his stories? Hey, remember the time John Rourke was running low on ammunition, and just fortunately happened upon an abandoned, but still fully loaded, common carrier truck filled with his two preferred calibers, in his preferred make & bullet weight?

They were still interesting books for the time, even though he ran out of interesting storylines, and his books became more sci-fi than "regular" fiction. Same thing with the Ashes series. After the first several books, you could've cut & pasted various storylines, themes and what-have-you from earlier books to make the later ones ... and then they got a bit weird in their own right. The author uses something similar in his Smoke Jensen (The Last Mountain Man) series, with similarly disappointing results, although that series remains "period", for the most part.

The Last Mountain Man series deserves some mention in this thread topic, though, as does the Lamour series. Self reliance is a strong theme, as is simplified living-off-the-land, if only from an entertainment perspective. I used to have EVERY paperback book ever printed of Lamour's stories, but after many, many years of enjoyment ... and replacing some worn out copies a few times ... I finally sold them to a used bookstore.

 

[Ed]

One of my favorites is "the Mysterious Island" Its about some guys in the Civil War that escape Richmond on a Hot air balloon and are caried to a Deserted Island in the Pacific, where they must survive with no supplies, but what they have, find or can make. EXCELLENT BOOK!!! Written in 1868 I think.

 

[Hatchett]

This was a bit of an effort of mine. I guess the SHTF a while before it's setting, but the SHTF all over again. A sort of a post-SHTF SHTF.

 

[JamisJockey]

I second Lucifer's Hammer. I read it once working a graveyard shift, alot of detail on how to survive, as well as good reading. Its more of a realistic SHTF, too....we're a target for a meteor...its happened before and will happen again!