post-apocalyptic books
Discover the best post-apocalyptic books for teens and adults, from classic dystopian tales like Obernewtyn and The Tripods to gripping survival stories such as Tomorrow, When the War Began. Explore curated apocalyptic fiction featuring unforgettable journeys, futuristic worlds, and resilient characters—perfect for fans of young adult and sci-fi adventure.
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Shade's Children (rack)
by Garth Nix
The Key to Survival Rests in the Hands of Shade's Children In a futuristic urban wasteland, evil Overlords have decreed that no child shall live a day past his fourteenth birthday. On that Sad Birthday, the child is the object of an obscene harvest resulting in the construction of a machinelike creature whose sole purpose is to kill. The mysterious Shade -- once a man, but now more like the machines he fights -- recruits the few children fortunate enough to escape. With luck, cunning, and skill, four of Shade's children come closer than any to discovering the source of the Overlords' power -- and the key to their downfall. But the closer the children get, the more ruthless Shade seems to become ...
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The Last Book in the Universe
by W. Rodman Philbrick
This fast-paced action novel is set in a future where the world has been almost destroyed. Like the award-winning novel Freak the Mighty, this is Philbrick at his very best. It's the story of an epileptic teenager nicknamed Spaz, who begins the heroic fight to bring human intelligence back to the planet. In a world where most people are plugged into brain-drain entertainment systems, Spaz is the rare human being who can see life as it really is. When he meets an old man called Ryter, he begins to learn about Earth and its past. With Ryter as his companion, Spaz sets off an unlikely quest to save his dying sister -- and in the process, perhaps the world.
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Freedom's Landing
by Anne McCaffrey
Kristin Bjornsen lived a normal life, right up until the day the spaceships floated into view above Denver. As human slaves were herded into the maw of a massive vessel, Kristin realized her normal life was over and her fight for freedom was just beginning… The alien Catteni value strength and intelligence in their slaves—and Kristin has managed to survive her enslavement while hundreds of other humans have not. But her trial has just begun, for now she finds herself part of a massive experiment. The aliens have discovered a new world, and they have a simple way of finding out if it’s habitable: drop hundreds of slaves on the surface and see what happens. If they survive, colonization can begin. If not, there are always more slaves.
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Invitation to the Game
by Monica Hughes
Unemployed after high school in the highly robotic society of 2154, Lisse and seven friends resign themselves to a boring existence in their "Designated Area" until the government invites them to play The Game.
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The Tripods Boxed Set
by John Christopher
Presents a series of novels that tell the story of how the Tripods came to rule the Earth and the small group of boys who work to retain their autonomy and win freedom for Earth's people.
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This Time of Darkness
by H. M. Hoover
Although both know it is forbidden, Amy and Axel hope that by following the countless ramps leading upward they can escape from their filthy subterranean world.
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Obernewtyn
by Isobelle Carmody
Born with enhanced mental powers, Elspeth Gordie faces persecution by her own post-holocaust world, but she must resist dark forces who hope to use her powers to resurrect the apocalypse.
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Fire-us #1: The Kindling
by Jennifer Armstrong
The first title in this exciting trilogy is now available in mass market. When all the grown-ups die in an apocalypse, a handful of young survivors make the trek to Washington, D.C., and discover the dark secret at the heart of the Fire-us.
