“Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.”
Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 book, The Road, is gritty, atmospheric, and still one of the best dystopian novels. The story follows a father and son as they travel across a ravaged United States. Armed with nothing but a pistol against all the threats this post-apocalyptic world holds, The Road is a profoundly moving story of journey, destruction, and the tenderness that keeps these two characters going even when faced with so much devastation. If you loved the post-apocalyptic premise of McCarthy’s masterpiece, check out the best sci-fi and horror books like The Road here at What We Reading!
Who Wrote The Road?
Cormac McCarthy was an American novelist and playwright. As well as producing plays and screenplays, he authored twelve novels including Blood Meridian (1985) and No Country for Old Men (2005), helping to establish him as one of the leading authors in the Southern Gothic, western, and post-apocalyptic genres. The Road was first published in 2006, going on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 2007.
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1) – Stephen King
For another Southern-themed dystopian read similar to The Road, consider Stephen King’s The Gunslinger, the first book in his ‘The Dark Tower‘ series. In this tale, readers follow Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger, a lone hero trekking across the desolate stretches of Mid-World, a land slowly crumbling.
Like The Road, Roland faces a myriad of threats and enemies during his journey. While pursuing The Man in Black, he encounters an alluring woman named Alice and develops a father-son bond with a young boy named Jake. From the ravaged world to the enigmatic hero, impactful dynamics, and gripping dystopia, The Gunslinger offers plenty for fans of Cormac McCarthy to resonate with.
The Passage (The Passage #1) – Justin Cronin
Justin Cronin crafts an eerie dystopian premise in which a government breach unleashes a top-secret military experiment across society, leading to the destruction of the world. In just thirty-two hours, survivors of the initial chaos are thrust into a new primal world of predators and prey.
FBI agent Brad Wolgast, scarred by his actions in the line of duty, encounters six-year-old Amy Harper Bellafonte, a survivor of the scientific experiment that triggered the apocalypse. Driven by guilt, Brad takes on the responsibility of protecting Amy from the horrors of this transformed world, embarking on a perilous journey in search of sanctuary. Through inventive storytelling and suspense, The Passage emerges as an apocalyptic book like The Road, offering insights into the strength of human resilience and connection amidst unimaginable adversity.
The Children Of Men – P.D. James
P.D. James’ classic dystopian novel, The Children of Men, revolves around a premise where there are no children and no future. The human race has become entirely infertile over the past twenty years, and the last generation born is now entering adulthood. Civilization is beginning to collapse as apathy, violence, and suicides become more commonplace.
The protagonist, Theodore Faron, spends the majority of his time reminiscing. Until one day, the enigmatic Julian approaches him. She and her band of rebels seek his help in securing the safety of a woman named Kee, who has miraculously become pregnant. Similar to ‘The Road,’ The Children of Men is a gripping story that explores sudden societal regression, government oppression, and the enduring importance of hope in the face of despair.
Wanderers (Wanderers #1) – Chuck Wendig
Wanderers begins with Shana waking up one morning to find her younger sister caught in an eerie sleepwalking trance. Unable to speak or be awakened, she seems to march towards a mysterious destination with unwavering determination. Soon, Shana and her sister are joined by other sleepwalkers and their protectors, and this phenomenon tightens its grip on the nation.
Chuck Wendig’s novel, chronicles the epidemic, exploring the anxiety, terror, and anger as it spreads across the country. As society teeters on the edge of collapse, a violent militia forms to eradicate these sleepwalkers. The fate of the sleepwalkers hinges on unravelling the mysteries behind the epidemic. But, once the dreadful truth about the sleepwalkers is unveiled, they might hold the key to building a new world from the ruins of the old.
Going Home – A. American
Going Home is the gripping story of Morgan Carter and his arduous 250-mile trek across Florida to reach his family.
One Friday evening, as Morgan returns home from work, the Emergency Alert System blares from his car radio. Suddenly, all electronic devices, including his car, cease to function. From Tallahassee to Lake County, he embarks on a journey homeward. Along the way, he must source his food, water, and shelter, contending with increasingly desperate and fearful encounters with other people. In a world where a single second can separate life and death, even helping others can prove to be a costly mistake. Similar to The Road, Going Home is a dystopian novel that prompts readers to contemplate what would happen and how they would navigate a world where all comforts are suddenly stripped away.
The Death Of Grass – John Christopher
Like The Road, John Christopher’s The Death of Grass follows a small band of family and friends navigating a ravaged society in search of a safe refuge. However, this time, the setting shifts from an apocalyptic United States to middle England. The novel’s premise revolves around an impending disaster caused by the mysterious Chung-Li virus, which devastates the world’s supplies of wheat, rice, barley, oats, grain, and grass.
Confronted with a cataclysmic food crisis, the government initiates secret plans for survival at the expense of the few. Anticipating the impending crisis, John Custance leads his family from their London home to his brother’s rural northern valley. As the country descends into barbarism, John and his family must abandon the civilized norms and virtues they once held, embracing the violent law of the gun.
Parable Of The Sower (Earthseed #1) – Octavia E. Butler
Regarded as one of the all-time classic pieces of speculative fiction, Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower paints an alternative 2024 through the perspective of Lauren Olamina and her family. Within their sheltered enclave, Lauren’s family and neighbours strive to salvage fragments of culture from a world ravaged by war, disease, drugs, and crippling water shortages.
However, when a fire devastates their compound, Lauren loses her family, forcing her to embark on a perilous journey into a world fraught with danger. Accompanied by a small group of refugees, she ventures north armed with a revolutionary concept that holds the potential for salvation for all of humanity.
Check Out The Best Books Like Parable Of The Sower
Survivor Song – Paul Tremblay
A Goodreads Choice Award nominee for Best Horror, Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay unfolds the chilling tale of a rabies-like virus sweeping through Massachusetts in a matter of weeks. The disease, with an incredibly short incubation period of just an hour, drives victims to lose their minds, leading to frenzied biting as they succumb.
Dr. Ramola “Rams” Sherman, a soft-spoken paediatrician, receives a distressing call from her friend Natalie. Natalie reveals that her husband has been killed by a rabid neighbour, and in her failed attempt to save him, she has been bitten. With only an hour to secure a vaccine at a hospital, their survival hinges on a desperate odyssey through a hostile world filled with dangers beyond their imagination, pushing them to their absolute limits.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
