In a macabre twist, I’ve realized one of my favorite niche book genres is where every single character (or almost every character) in the book, esp. ones you’ve become connected to, dies, either partway through the book, or it is revealed that they’re dead men walking partway through the book.
Examples that don’t spoil anything include; Seveneves by Neal Stephenson and On the Beach by Nevil Shute. I have some other examples that ARE spoilers that I’ll list in the comments.
Now, I don’t think all apocalyptic novels truly fall in this category. For instance, in Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel, it’s a pandemic, and obviously a lot of people die. However, the main characters are survivors and thus you don’t get that same personal sense of loss. I would also say books like Battle Royale and Hunger Games don’t quite fit the mold, because you don’t really build the emotional connection to most of the characters that die.
Appreciate any other suggestions!
by bandinterwebs
6 Comments
SPOILER examples:
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(I can’t figure out how to “hide” text with the spoiler feature from my phone. Please don’t read further if you want to avoid spoilers!!!)
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– the Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
– the Passage by Justin Cronin
My first thought was And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie), although it’s a murder mystery instead of an apocalyptic novel.
Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven.
… Some of these are probs spoilers so read at ur own risk!!
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I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (one of my faves of all time tbh)
Severance by Ling Ma
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (also the Decagon House Murders which were inspired by her!)
Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy
Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut
It’s bizarre and fun, and it will be no surprise that everyone dies. He puts an asterisk next to any character’s name that dies.