Buzz
Earlier this year, List Universe shared an impressive compilation of 10 outstanding post-apocalyptic novels. The following list aligns with a similar theme but focuses solely on works released between 1805 and the dawn of the nuclear era in 1945. Only a handful of these titles may be recognizable to those not deeply immersed in this diverse genre, though many of the authors might be familiar.
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic literature encompasses themes such as alien invasions, pandemics, catastrophic natural disasters, societal collapse, the end of the world (“dying earth”), and large-scale wars. Many of the following works have had a significant impact, whether by inspiring other writers or shaping the genre as a whole. Most of these titles are available in public libraries and on online literature platforms like Project Gutenberg.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This list is organized chronologically. Additionally, my cutoff is July 1945, marking the start of the nuclear age. As a result, works like 1949’s Earth Abides are excluded from this pre-nuclear era list. Please verify publication dates before suggesting additions like, “What about X, Y, and Z?”
3. Le Dernier Homme (The Last Man) Jean-Baptiste Cousin de Grainville, 1805
In a distant future, Earth is on the brink of extinction, and humanity faces sterility. The final remnants of mankind are discovered in Brazil, where one individual embarks on a terrifying experiment. Grainville’s work is widely regarded as the pioneering piece in the “last man on earth” literary genre.
2. The Last Man Mary Shelley, 1826
Although sharing a similar title and theme with Grainville’s work, Shelley’s The Last Man stands apart. The narrative follows the sole survivor of a devastating plague in the late 21st century. Shelley drew inspiration from her deceased peers for many characters, with the protagonist, Lionel, believed to be a reflection of herself. Initially, critics harshly dismissed the three-volume novel upon its release, and it remained obscure until the 1960s. Today, The Last Man is celebrated as a timeless classic within the genre.
1. After London Richard Jeffries, 1885
In After London, or, Wild England, an unspecified catastrophe wipes out most of England’s population. The first section features a historian reflecting on the collapse of civilization. The vivid depictions of nature reclaiming the land resonate with themes in George Stewart’s 1949 novel “Earth Abides,” as well as the TV programs “Life After People” (History Channel) and “Aftermath: Population Zero” (National Geographic Channel), and Alan Weisman’s thought-provoking book, The World Without Us. The less-discussed second part delves into the resurgence of feudalism in England.
4. Caesar’s Column Ignatius Donnelly, 1890
This captivating, politically charged novel is categorized in various ways; it is often deemed apocalyptic due to a scene of extensive devastation. Donnelley, an agrarian populist, crafted a utopian/dystopian narrative critiquing the modern world of his time. The protagonist, a farmer, journeys to New York and witnesses remarkable innovations like broadcast newspapers, Northern Lights-powered lighting, transparent sidewalks, and airships. However, beneath the city’s marvels lie grim truths of widespread oppression.
5. The Time Machine H.G. Wells, 1895
No compilation of science fiction’s greatest works would be complete without mentioning H.G. Wells, a pivotal figure in Western literature. Wells earns his place on this list with The Time Machine. The story is well-known: A Victorian-era inventor creates a time machine, venturing hundreds of thousands of years into the future, where he encounters both gentle and brutal descendants of humankind. The Time Machine has been adapted into film twice. (The novel spans multiple genres, including general sci-fi, time travel, apocalyptic, and dying earth.)
6. War of the Worlds H.G. Wells, 1898
This groundbreaking work is likely more widely recognized than any other in its genre. Rarely does a list of “great works” in apocalyptic literature (or alien invasion tales or sci-fi classics) omit this extraordinary story of extraterrestrial attack. It has been adapted for radio (famously causing panic in 1938), film, television, and countless books. Its influence extends to modern retellings, including movies like Independence Day, which essentially reimagines War of the Worlds with a contemporary twist.
7. The Machine Stops E.M. Forster, 1909
A highly acclaimed novella, The Machine Stops feels strikingly relevant to modern readers. Its themes resonate in works like The Matrix, the Internet, and video-conferencing. Forster depicts a post-apocalyptic society living underground, entirely dependent on The Machine for survival. Unlike The Matrix, humans are conscious of their reliance and can leave, though they are deterred by the hazardous surface environment. Over time, The Machine becomes an object of veneration. This early exploration of the man-versus-machine dynamic remains a thought-provoking classic.
8. The Night Land William Hope Hodgson, 1912
This horror-fantasy novel is among the earliest entries in the “dying earth” subgenre. Set millions of years in the future, the sun has extinguished, and humanity’s descendants, known as “abhumans,” fight for survival in colossal pyramid fortresses against the encroaching darkness and external threats. The only natural illumination comes from Earth’s lingering volcanic activity. H.P. Lovecraft praised the novel as “one of the most powerful works of macabre imagination ever penned.”
9. The Scarlet Plague Jack London, 1912
Jack London, renowned for his tales of the northern wilderness (The Call of the Wild, etc.), also penned this apocalyptic story set in 2072, six decades after the “scarlet plague” wiped out most of humanity. A survivor recognizes the urgency of preserving human knowledge before it vanishes forever. Notably, just six years after London’s novel was published, the Spanish flu pandemic struck, claiming between 50 to 100 million lives from 1918 to 1920—a death toll surpassing that of both world wars combined.
10. R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) Karel Čapek, 1921
This Czech play is celebrated for coining the term “robots.” Its storyline, reminiscent of Terminator or Battlestar Galactica, revolves around robots designed to serve humans but who ultimately revolt and annihilate their creators. An interesting tidbit: A 1938 BBC adaptation of R.U.R. is recognized as the first science fiction program ever broadcast on television.
11. Last and First Men Olaf Stapledon, 1930
In Stapledon’s expansive narrative, Homo sapiens represents the first and most rudimentary of 19 future human species on Earth. Spanning 2 billion years, the novel chronicles the rise and fall of numerous civilizations. Stapledon foresaw concepts like genetic engineering and nuclear devastation in Last and First Men. His visionary ideas profoundly influenced writers such as C.S. Lewis, Brian Aldiss, and Arthur C. Clarke.
12. The Shape of Things to Come H.G. Wells, 1933
Wells’ final inclusion on this list remarkably predicts the aerial devastation of cities in the next global conflict and the advent of submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Wells advocated for a utopian vision of a unified, secular world government dominated by science, offering dissenters the option of a Socratic end. Sci-fi enthusiasts may recognize the 1936 film adaptation starring Raymond Massey, which, while thematically aligned, diverges significantly from the novel. Wells himself penned the screenplay.
15. Nightfall Isaac Asimov, 1941
Nightfall stands out as the only work in this list not set on or near Earth, yet it is undeniably apocalyptic. A distant civilization thrives under the constant light of six suns. Scientists uncover that every 2,049 years, the primary sun is eclipsed, plunging the world into temporary darkness. Since this civilization has never experienced night, past eclipses triggered societal collapse—a fate that repeats. A profoundly influential tale, Nightfall was later expanded into a novel by Asimov and Robert Silverberg and has been featured in at least 48 anthologies.
Notable Extras: By The Waters of Babylon, Zothique, Rescue Party, The Moon Maid
14. Anthem Ayn Rand, 1938
In many respects, this novella serves as a counterpoint to Wells’ The Shape of Things to Come, though perhaps unintentionally. The antagonist is an oppressive, centralized regime that seeks to eradicate individuality—a recurring motif in dystopian literature. The protagonist, Equality 7-2521, excels in mathematics and science but is assigned the role of a street sweeper by the government. He flees the city through an abandoned subway and uncovers a world beyond the tyrannical state. Alongside his love, he discovers the past through a preserved library. An intriguing aside: Rand once proposed to Walt Disney that Anthem be adapted into an animated film, believing animation could convey the story more effectively than live action.
13. When Worlds Collide Edwin Balmer and Philip Wylie, 1933
This captivating story and its sequel, After Worlds Collide (1934), left a lasting impact on science fiction and fantasy. Elements of When Worlds Collide can be traced to comic strips like Flash Gordon (debuted in 1934) and Superman (who first took flight in 1938). While the scientific accuracy of these apocalyptic tales is questionable, they remain entertaining, albeit occasionally verbose. The plot revolves around two rogue planets entering our solar system: “Alpha,” which will devastate Earth before circling the sun to destroy it entirely, and “Beta,” which will settle into a stable orbit. A group constructs spaceships to escape to Beta. The 1951 film adaptation by George Pal, which alters some characters, is a beloved classic from the golden age of sci-fi cinema. A remake is reportedly slated for the 2010 movie season.
