EARTH ABIDES By George R Stewart

Published : 1949
Pages : 312
Overall Mark : 8/10

Isherwood Williams fins himself one of the few survivors of an unknown eppidemic that has wiped out most of the human race. He soon meets some other survivors, and together they prepare to rebuild the human race, but after years of bringing up a new generation without the ability to teach them or train them to do anything that could be of benefit, such as the ability to repair damaged buildings or to hunt for food, Ish questions his standing as the leader of the group.

Clearly the influence for Stephen King's The Stand, this post apocalyptic novel doesn't go down the road of giving us an unbelievable view of the future but instead gives a view that seems frightening belieavable and very probable. None of the characters have ridiculous abilities that make their lives easier, and they don't have a moral code that precludes them from exacting punishment against those they distrust. This novel is simply put a wonderful example of survivalism set against a nautral or unnatural disaster of epic proportions.