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wilcoy [Celluloid 11.17.07] post apocalyptic review book

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Year: 1959
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics
Author: Pat Frank
Cataclysm type: Nuclear
Amazon link: Link
Post apocalyptic concentration: 7 out of 10
"Mad Max" level: 2 out of 10
Review by: wilcoy
Rating: 8 out of 10

Key Characters:
Randy Bragg

Overview:
Alas, Babylon is a classic book that depicts the events of an atomic war between the United States and the Soviet Union in the early sixties. The focus of the book takes place around a small town called Fort Repose in Florida. This town is spared a direct hit yet there is no more power or water. The citizens have to begin anew with farming techniques that their grandparents used years ago. They also they have to find clean drinking water and salt to preserve foods and supply nutrients. At the same time Fort Repose has to defend itself from marauding outlaws who have wandered in from contaminated cities..


The Story:
Randy Bragg is a thirty something local attorney in the town of Fort Repose. He receives a chilling message from his brother who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Mark tells Randy to prepare for an atomic attack and that he is sending his wife and children to arrive in the coming days to Fort Repose. Mark asks his brother to stock up on supplies and to take care of his family pending the attack. Within a week of Mark's family arriving, the bombs go off and all out war is waged by the United States and the USSR. Randy stocked up on supplies to provide for him and Mark’s family for a couple of months. Soon after the war has begun communication and power is shut down and Fort Repose regresses back to a more simpler existence by learning to farm without motorized equipment and fishing for food. After a month Randy begins to take charge and assembles a local militia to protect against lawless groups and individuals who are coming from out of the county to scavenge and steal. Theres alot more to this, so read it!

The Rating:
Alas, Babylon is a great book to read. Although the book was published over forty years ago the theme of a post-atomic war still resonates strongly. This the basic story of how a small American can band together and find the will to survive. The book for the most part is straight forward and has a few twists to keep things interesting. Its just pure fun to read how folks can improvise and figure out ways to substitute things that we all take for granted in our daily lives. By and large if you stop by your local library and you’re wanting a great post-apocalyptic story by all means pick up Alas, Babylon. I give it a 8 out of 10.

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Ashley (3 years ago) Reply

I just found this a little interesting, Pat Frank aka Harry hart frank worked as a goverenment consultant after WWII. Alas Babylon was pulished before the cuban missle Crisis. I know it was published after hiroshima but how would he know that the US would ever be under such a devastating threat? But i love this book

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Anonymous (2 years ago) Reply

I had to read it for summer reading and was instantly bored with it. Alas, Babylon just isn't where my interests lie. If I were reading it just for pleasure, I probably would have put it down after the fifth page.

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Sami (2 years ago) Reply

I love this book! I am reading it for a portfolio assigned by my teacher. I am making a website for it for my portfolio. At first I was a little dissapointed by the plot line but was absorbed by the suspense later on! Amazing!!

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Anonymous (2 years ago) Reply

If i was reading this book for pleasure and not for a class assignment i would've put it down after the first page. It is not very eye appealing to me because i'm not into nuclear wars and stuff.

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alexis (1 year ago) Reply

i felt like the book was tryinq to predict the future but it also held some what of the truth because who knows maybe the world would end like that. im glad my teacher assigned us this because the book was quite enjoyable althouqh some of the chracters werent called for in the book.

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teh (1 year ago) Reply

i thought this was a great book to read! The story may have been straight forward but it was still interesting to read about how Randy and his group will survive. Its one of my favorite books now, im glad my teacher assigned this book.

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amber (10 months ago) Reply

I had to read this book years ago before my freshman year in high school and I didn't want to at all! But I eneded up loving it, im actually about to go buy a copy to reread it and see if its still one of my favorites!


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