What are the oldest science fiction novels that you know of?
By Island_Rapid
Is this actually a true story? I’m not sure, but it feels like it.
Reader discussion: The Purple Cloud
Public reader discussion about The Purple Cloud in the WeRead Catalog by M. P. Shiel.
Books about being one of the last people on Earth?
By draft_ribbon
I usually prefer female protagonists, but I’m totally open to reading anything as long as it’s along this kind of plot. Edit: thanks for all the suggestions!
Is there a common ancestor for neighbor and neigh?
By CafeSleepy90
I was only able to find answers through Google with AI, so I came here to see what people thought. I just realized the spelling looks basically the same today and got curious if there’s any connection. Thanks!
M.P. Shiel's "The Purple Cloud" (1901) is the scariest science-fiction book I've read (thus far).
By Mug-Couplet
I’d really recommend it. I know the “popular” version got cut down by Shiel himself, but it still keeps most of the story. Just don’t look at it through modern eyes—try imagining someone picking it up and reading it back in 1901. I’ve got a reprint from the 1930s too, but I think it’s public domain.
Post-apocalyptic sf or fantasy recommendations for books about the aftermath of the apocalypse.
By glimmer_ocean49
I’ve liked post-apocalyptic stuff forever, but I’ve always felt like there aren’t many stories that really get into the whole rebuilding/surviving and just trying to live through it. Most things either skip ahead or don’t spend much time on coping. Like, I’ve enjoyed The Postman by David Brin (it’s set way after, but still dealing with the mess) and A Canticle for Leibowitz, which goes back even further. On the other hand, Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling is more directly about the apocalypse itself and a group trying to build something workable afterward. I also think Alas, Babylon (Pat Frank) is a solid classic—nuclear war, then it’s mostly about people in Florida trying to restart their lives. And the TV show Jericho is great too, since it’s basically a small town figuring out how to handle what’s happening. I guess what I’m trying to find is more of that “after” focus. I’m trying to avoid zombie novels, but besides that I’m open to pretty much anything.
Just finished MP Shiel's The Purple Cloud
By MidnightEclipse7
Can we talk about how gorgeous his writing is? I haven’t read tons of stuff, but this book’s prose honestly feels way better than a lot of others I’ve come across. Like, the first example alone—about sailing back and forth to Geneva and the whole range of moods in the lake—just made it feel so vivid. And the second one too, with that whole idea of one day feeling like a thousand years and death kind of coming gently at the end… I don’t even know, it’s kind of wild how the sentences flow. I also really liked what he was dealing with in the story: how people get morally messed up, and how loneliness/being cut off can mess with your head. Overall I had a good time reading it, and it still feels like it doesn’t get talked about enough.
Looking for creative post-apocalyptic fiction with a sense of "liminal space," isolation and exploration
By ShadowWatches5
Hey! I’m looking for some really good post-apocalyptic stuff that feels lonely and has that whole exploration vibe—like wandering around a dead hotel in The Last of Us. I’m open to any kind of media. Thanks!