[Zsinj]

Recently I've become interested in the whole Armageddon/End of the World type-novels, not the asteroid or chemical warfare-type ones, but the whole God vs. Satan/ World vs. Antichrist gig. I have two of these type of books: "Baal" and "Swan Song" both by Robert R. McCammon, which I haven't read yet, but they look really good. I started reading Stephen King's "The Stand" but didn't get too far in it before I had to take it back to the library, but I certainly plan on buying it one of these days. David Gemmell's "Jerusalem Man Trilogy" also looks really good.
An Apocolypic book series that has recently caught my eye is "The Left Behind Series" but I'm seriously leery as to reading it because from what I've seen on tv and heard, it's very, VERY preachy, and you know how I feel about preaching/evangelising in books: if I want to be preached to, I'll go to church, don't bug me with it while I'm trying to read a book! :mad:
So I was wondering if there's any of you here that have read the books that could possibly tell me if these books are too preachy or not.
I was also wondering if any of you could recommend some more Apocalyptic novels in the vein of McCammon's "Baal" & "Swan Song", King's "the Stand" and Gemmell's "Jerusalem Man Trilogy" that aren't too preachy?

[AuntiePam]

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't bother with the Left Behind books. I wasn't even able to make it through the first one -- cardboard characters, sloppy writing, atrocious dialogue. And like you said, preachy.

There are probably some threads here on post-apocalypse fiction, and a google or Amazon search should bring some up too.

My favorites are The Stand, Alas Babylon, I Am Legend, Farnham's Freehold, The Rift, Lucifer's Hamner, the John Wyndham books -- gosh, there are tons of them.

[Steven Savile]

The Left Behind Books... they should be... left behind that is...

Auntie Pam has made some good suggestions there... my favourites have already been listed but I would chuck in Brian Hodge's Dark Advent, Stephen Laws' Chasm...

[Holbrook]

I would suggest you try James Lovegrove's "Untied Kingdom" It's not a world post-apocalypse novel, just British one, if that makes sense. One country fallen from grace so to speak. A good read in my opinion.

[Kamakhya]

Egads! The Left Behind books are not horror, fantasy or SF. They were written by a religious fundamentalist and are pure dogma and drivel. They are pure crap in every sense of the word. They only exist to scare people into believeing in christianity. Stay away...stay far away.

There are a number of really good post apocolyptic novels in SF. Earth Abides comes to mind first. Check out the SF boards for others. We have had several good discussions on this topic.

[Zsinj]

Well, while I appreciate the effort you gave to give me the recommendations, as I said nuclear warfare/ asteroid -type books aren't exactly what I'm looking for, and those are mostly the type of books you're recommending to me. What I'm basically looking for is the whole Satan and his demons/Antichrist try to take over the world type thing, you know, basically end times prophetical stuff in horror without all the preaching.

[AuntiePam]

Hmmmmm. Swan Song and The Stand are the only ones I can think of.

I've read other books with demons, the Antichrist, etc., but they've been on a smaller scale, no world domination attempted.

I'm hoping we can come up with some more titles though, because I'd like to read them too. (Just not the Left Behind books.)

[FicusFan]

I am in a SF/F discussion group with a Baptist minister, and he Hates the Left Behind series. Not just bad writing, or even doctrinal issues, I think. He feels they are doing a disservice in presenting those who believe to the rest of the world. I think the whole attitude is 'its been ordained we are saved, and the rest of you can just go get roasted cause you deserve it'. Very nasty stuff, and of course it is poorly written. I don't know about the religious stuff, I just don't listen when it gets into the details of that.

[Eldanuumea]

Well, while I appreciate the effort you gave to give me the recommendations, as I said nuclear warfare/ asteroid -type books aren't exactly what I'm looking for, and those are mostly the type of books you're recommending to me. What I'm basically looking for is the whole Satan and his demons/Antichrist try to take over the world type thing, you know, basically end times prophetical stuff in horror without all the preaching.

Then if this is what you're looking for, I highly recommend giving at least the first few a try. They are definitely written from a narrow point of view, and they do have an agenda.....but, they would be fun to read for someone looking for a Satan-Antichrist end-of-the-world scenario.

I am a Christian, but we don't all believe things will unfold as these writers say they will. I enjoyed the first eight or so, then got sort of tired of it.
The Antichrist figure in the series is actually a fascinating character.

[Steven Savile]

Now with THAT remit, try Gary Kilworth's brilliant Angel and Archangel books, Victor Gollancz published them in the UK and I am sure they are out of print but Abe/Ebay ought to have cheap paperbacks... and more recently Michael Morano's amazing Bram Stoker Award winning Dawn Song. There are a lot more on my shelves at home but I am at work right now...