This is How the World Ends: Apocalypse in Science Fiction

The Last Policeman is a 2012 American science fiction mystery novel by Ben H. Winters. The story follows Detective Henry Palace, a young detective in Concord, New Hampshire, as he investigates a suspicious death in a world where an asteroid, 2011GV1, is on a collision course with Earth, expected to impact in six months. Society is crumbling, with many people abandoning their jobs and committing suicide, but Palace persists in his duty to solve the case. The novel explores themes of human behavior in the face of impending doom, the meaning of civilization, and the personal motivations of its characters. Despite the apocalyptic backdrop, the book maintains a strong mystery narrative with twists and turns, questioning the purpose of solving crimes when the world is about to end.

In this novel, Margaret Atwood delves into a future where genetic engineering and pharmaceutical manipulation have catastrophic consequences. The story follows Jimmy, also known as Snowman, who survives a global pandemic that wipes out most of humanity. The narrative alternates between Jimmy's current survival in a harsh environment and his past, where he grew up in a corporate-controlled world. The novel introduces the Crakers, genetically engineered beings designed to replace humanity, and explores themes of genetic modification, corporate power, and the dangers of unchecked technological advancement. Atwood raises profound questions about the ethics of scientific intervention and the future of humanity.

Published in 1959, 'Alas, Babylon' is a seminal work of post-apocalyptic fiction that explores the effects of a nuclear war on the fictional town of Fort Repose, Florida. The novel delves into themes of survival, community, and resilience as the characters navigate a world stripped of modern civilization. It remains a powerful and influential work in the science fiction genre.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, 'I Am Legend' follows Robert Neville, a war veteran who is mysteriously immune to a pandemic that has turned the rest of humanity into 'vampires'. The novel explores Neville's daily struggles to survive, his scientific investigations into the cause of the disease, and his emotional battles with loneliness and grief. The story is a powerful allegory of nuclear terror and the end of the American Dream, reflecting the anxieties of the 1950s. The novel's ending is particularly poignant, as Neville realizes he has become a legend to the new society of infected humans.

The novel follows the arrival of the Overlords, mysterious aliens who bring about a utopian era of peace and prosperity on Earth. However, this new era comes at the cost of human creativity, ambition, and eventually, human identity. The story is divided into three parts, each exploring different themes: the initial invasion, the golden age under the Overlords, and the eventual transformation of human children into a new form of psychic hive-mind consciousness. The novel raises philosophical questions about the nature of humanity, the price of progress, and the ultimate fate of the human race under alien supervision.

The Stand tells the story of a world devastated by a rapidly mutating flu virus known as Captain Tripps, which kills over 99% of the population. The survivors are drawn to two opposing forces: Mother Abagail, a 108-year-old woman who represents good, and Randall Flagg, a supernatural entity embodying evil. The novel explores themes of rebuilding society, the persistence of evil, and the necessity of standing against it. The Complete & Uncut Edition, released in 1990, includes material that was originally cut from the 1978 publication, providing a more comprehensive and detailed narrative.

The novel is set in a future England where human fertility has ceased, leading to a society in decline. The story follows Dr. Theodore 'Theo' Faron, an Oxford don and cousin to the tyrannical Warden of England, Xan Lyppiatt. Theo becomes involved with a group of dissenters who aim to challenge the oppressive regime and fight for human rights. The narrative delves into themes of politics, power, and the human condition in the face of impending extinction. The book is known for its rich social criticism and theological reflections.

The Road is set in a world that has been devastated by an unspecified cataclysmic event, resulting in the extinction of nearly all life on Earth. The story follows an unnamed father and his young son as they travel south along the road, carrying their meager possessions and a pistol with only two bullets. The father, suffering from a worsening respiratory condition, is determined to protect his son from the dangers of their new world, including cannibalistic marauders. Along their journey, they encounter various survivors, some of whom are cruel and others who show kindness. The novel explores themes of love, survival, and the preservation of humanity in a world devoid of hope. Ultimately, the father's health fails, and he dies, but not before ensuring his son's safety with a new family who may offer a chance for a better future.