[ironprism]

Does anyone have any insight about how armageddon is portrayed in science fiction. Do authors intend to warn or poke fun at the end of the world? Is there a general trend, at least in science fiction, of 'science destroys humanity'?

Are these books generally uplifting or depressing? I realize that the topic has a very wide range of attitudes, but I am interested in hearing if anyone has noticed any trends with authors or subject matter in apocalyptic novels.

Also, any reccomended reading material adressing sf Armaggeddon?

[Shehzad]

A number of books address SF apocalypse - of the nuclear kind, though. In fact the "post-apocalyptic scenario" is/was a staple of SF. Is this what you had in mind?

[ironprism]

Yes, that's part of it. Any ideas or book reccomendations?

[Shehzad]

Well, I have this book called Afterwar which is edited by Janet Morris. It is a collection of short stories by various authors about a post-apocalyptic scenario. I've also read piles of shorts here and there about the topic but I can't really remember the names now.

[Rob B]

The Stand by Stephen King. 99.9% of the population is wiped out by Captain Trips a superflu. Randal Flagg gathers the baddies in Vegas while Mother Abigail calls out to the goodies in Hemford Home.

Swan Song by Robert R. McCammom. Often compared to The Stand in terms of apocolyptic-ness. Nuclear war devastates the world, the survivors pare off against each other.

Riddley Walker by Russel Hoban. I've heard great things about this book, but haven't tracked it down.

[Barbarossa]

An absolute classic with a lot of influence on the post apocalyptic sub-genre is "A canticle for Leibowitz"

[Penumbra]

The first SF/F story/film to bring it up was "Them" and it served as a model for many. I remember the professor saying "We may be witnesses to a biblical prophecy fulfilled!" in talking about the ants who were mutated by nuclear experiments.

The image is so powerful that it is difficult for writers to ignore when they need a model for devastation and possible recovery. Writers, depending upon their religious background, tend to paint their most potent thoughts, the ones that affect humanity, in the terms they believe already happened or will happen. Hindu writers had a nuclear age of their own according to sanscrit and legends. Jews often resurrect the Holocaust. Mulims write of the Crusades. Christians seem to keep bringing up Armageddon.

In a forthcoming novel, I use the theme to help bring about the colonization of the moon. I call it "Luna Parabella." You've raised an interesting topic.

[ironprism]

It seems to me that it is intrinsic to human nature to want to know where we came from and where we are going. That's the motivation for both science and religion. SF allows authors to provide their own answers, and "pick one of many valid paths." It also allows them to exaggerate the effect of a single factor (think Vonnegut's "Player Piano").

Do people agree? disagree? have anything to add?