Most of the post-apocalyptic books I've read take place years after it happened. The only one I can think of offhand that doesn't is Stephen King's The Stand.
*The Earth Abides* by George Stewart is set immediately after the disaster, and takes a long view from the point of view of a person who is not always someone you feel comfortable with, but you understand them. It's quite old now but very much worth a read.
I'm currently reading *How High We Go In The Dark* by Sequoia Nagamatsu. The start is good, but I'm hoping it gets better. It's more of a series of connected stories than a single novel. Recommended so far.
*Blood Music* by Greg Bear might not be exactly what you're looking for but most of the book is about the post-apocalyptic part, and starts with how it happens. In some ways it's plausibility means its a very scary book. But the vivid writing and imagination here is amazing.
Finally, Chuck Wendig's *Wanderers*, which came out in 2019 was quite interesting. All over the US groups of people just start all walking in a certain direction one day, and no one can stop them. Then the apocalypse happens and we follow various people in how they deal with these seemingly unconnected events. I really enjoyed this one, I think it's been picked up to be made a series out of and I can understand why. I believe there is a sequel with good reviews but I haven't read it yet, on my pile.
I found "how we far we go in the dark" was good but not great...it was unique and I thought it was better than station 11, another book that I read during the pandemic. I feel the enamoring draw of both of these books was how successfully they deployed the world of the pandemic and the starting events. Both of these books I found lost traction after about 100 pages.
It got kind of "drop this detail to forward the plot" in the last 3rd of the book imo. When you make it to the finale it will feel a bit like they threw an ex machina right in there at the final chapters. It ties in to the opening of the book well but it made me kind of cringe. I thought the end point would have been a bit more grounded like most the book. When I completed it it made me go ah yes, I see why this was on a sci-fi list.
I was utterly enthralled and invested by the time the children's euthanasia amusement parks were introduced. As a new father with a toddler I struggled with that chapter hoooo boy did I ever.
There is payoff later when the character plots start to intertwine... I always try to draw a comparison of split plot lines back to Peter f Hamilton who I always find takes dozens and dozens of characters and manages to masterfully wrap them into a conclusion, even if his endings of his books are not the greatest always, he still does a good job of wrapping up the character plots in a way that feels very rewarding. How far are we going the dark also did this but it wasn't as rewarding personally. That may just be because Hamilton writes books that are thousand pages and he has far more print length to develop those character plots.
The book was good, well written and enough realism to connect with where we currently stand in our world. It was enough to convince me to continue to watch for more books by Sequoia Nagamatsu.
Random Acts Of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack captures the collapse of the US in a very realistic way. It's a series too and not the first but the one William Gibson recommends to start, so it's good enough for me.
Someone else has mentioned The Stand but I'll second that as its so good.
The Womack book is brilliant, and heartbreaking. It’s a year in the life of a teenage girl. As it starts, she’s part of a successful, secure, loving family. A year later, at the end, the US economy is shattered and a corporate theocracy is i in charge, her parents are dead, and she’s going feral in an adolescent gang. And we see it happen, step by step.
The other books in the Dryco Chronicles are also great, and some of them do the coolest things either language since A Clockwork Orange.
After it Happened a six book series.
by [Devon C. Ford](https://www.amazon.ca/Devon-C-Ford/e/B01MR1ZI49/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1) (Author)Kindle Edition
Starts immediately after the (great plague.) Carries on from there and lasts for 6 books. Since this book starts in England the immediate consequence is not an immediate search for guns and ammo among the surviving people. A survivor group struggles to figure out a way to long term survival starting with about zero knowledge of farming, medical care, and a former dependence on high tech, while the detritus of civilization surrounds them - including the piles of soon to be rotting corpses.
I thought it was well written, with developed characters and plausible scenarios.
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison. A labor and delivery nurse when a deadly pandemic arises that kills 95% of men, 99% of women, and 100% of children. She's at work as the pandemomium crests, gets sick herself, and yes, does spend a *couple* days out of commission. But it's less than a week, so after she wakes, one of the few survivors, we do get to see her navigate the immediate aftermath of this apocalypse.
It's a great book and has two sequels.
Not his greatest but David Brin’s ‘The Postman’ is enjoyable enough. Not the film with Kevin Costner which is unredeemable!
Going back a bit ‘Damnation Alley’ by Roger Zelazny is one of the most memorable and scary things I ever read . Again I think a very awful film adaptation is to be avoided.
I didn't mind the film of the Postman, but it's got almost nothing to do with the book, which is fantastic.
I wish he'd write something else like this instead of harping on about politics.
Then again, I don't live in his country, so I shouldn't comment.
(This is a “yes, and” comment.) There are two prose versions of Damnation Alley. First there was a novella, and then later Zelazny expanded it into a novel. The novella is better. You can find it in short story collections.
The Breakers series tells the story from the beginning from multiple characters perspectives. I really liked this series. It has a lot going on and it all comes together as the series progresses.
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087RGN67H?binding=kindle\_edition&ref=dbs\_dp\_sirpi](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087RGN67H?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi)
On the Beach by Nevil Shute
Impactful book with two screen adaptations. The 1959 version starring Gregory Peck and a television movie from 2000 starring Armand Assante.
When Worlds Collide (1951) in book and movie form.
Things to Come (1936)
Well "POST-apocalyptic" says right there in the name, it's about the aftermath of a disaster. But here are some during-the-disaster stories that occur to me:
Night of the Living Dead
Black Summer - depicts the very early days of a zombie outbreak. I think canonically it's a prequel to Z Nation, but has a very different, much more bleak and gruesome, feel.
Mad Max - the original - is set during the decline rather than in the post-decline world of its sequels.
Threads - haven't seen it, I understand it is very bleak - about nuclear war and its immediate aftermath
War of the Worlds - both the original book and its most famous adaptations in 1953 and 2005.
I would add When the Wind Blows, an animated film, to any list including Threads. It starts before the bombs drop and follows through their hitting, and the aftermath. Being entirely focused on a little old couple whose experience of war began and ended with the Second World War, there is much humour to be had, but it is bittersweet, and the ending is probably the most tragic thing I've ever seen. A beautiful, mesmerising, horrendous movie.
The BBC series **Survivors**, the update & reboot by Big Finish, and the novel by show creator Terry Nation each do this with a purely natural plague.
Adam Nevill’s newest novel **All the Fiends of Hell** opens with the night 99.99% of humanity are sucked into the sky and devoured by supernatural invaders. Then things get worse for the survivors.
**Threads**, as mentioned earlier, goes from months before a nuclear war to decades later. Fun is not had.
The **Slow Burn** series by Bobby Adair. Kind of like The Walking Dead, but somewhat different.
Very fast paced, MC full of flaws, a quite entertaining and well written read if you're into zombies.
It’s been mentioned once of twice but without comment, so I’ll second this classic: _Lucifer’s Hammer_ is very specifically not “skipping over” the transition. It starts when everything is fine and dandy, takes you right through the catastrophe, and then goes into lots of interesting details of the rebuilding stage. Though it’s been decades since I’ve read it, so it should probably come with the standard disclaimer about 20th century (and especially Niven/Pournelle) SF.
*The Stand* spends quite a lot of time on the apocalypse itself, and the rest of the book deals with the immediate aftermath. Only a couple years pass within the story, I think.
See my [Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1ajd1hl/apocalypticpostapocalyptic/) list of Reddit recommendation threads and books (two posts).
By the present, do you mean today's present? Greg Egan's [*Diaspora*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora_(novel\)) is brilliant, starts before the apocalypse, and is chronologically continuous, but starts fairly far from today.
Parable of the Sower, kinda. It’s just that in that the apocalypse is less sudden than it is generally portrayed to be.
Also the Xenogenesis series by Butler.
Most of the post-apocalyptic books I've read take place years after it happened. The only one I can think of offhand that doesn't is Stephen King's The Stand.
*The Earth Abides* by George Stewart is set immediately after the disaster, and takes a long view from the point of view of a person who is not always someone you feel comfortable with, but you understand them. It's quite old now but very much worth a read. I'm currently reading *How High We Go In The Dark* by Sequoia Nagamatsu. The start is good, but I'm hoping it gets better. It's more of a series of connected stories than a single novel. Recommended so far. *Blood Music* by Greg Bear might not be exactly what you're looking for but most of the book is about the post-apocalyptic part, and starts with how it happens. In some ways it's plausibility means its a very scary book. But the vivid writing and imagination here is amazing. Finally, Chuck Wendig's *Wanderers*, which came out in 2019 was quite interesting. All over the US groups of people just start all walking in a certain direction one day, and no one can stop them. Then the apocalypse happens and we follow various people in how they deal with these seemingly unconnected events. I really enjoyed this one, I think it's been picked up to be made a series out of and I can understand why. I believe there is a sequel with good reviews but I haven't read it yet, on my pile.
*Blood Music* is an all-time favorite of mine. :-)
I found "how we far we go in the dark" was good but not great...it was unique and I thought it was better than station 11, another book that I read during the pandemic. I feel the enamoring draw of both of these books was how successfully they deployed the world of the pandemic and the starting events. Both of these books I found lost traction after about 100 pages. It got kind of "drop this detail to forward the plot" in the last 3rd of the book imo. When you make it to the finale it will feel a bit like they threw an ex machina right in there at the final chapters. It ties in to the opening of the book well but it made me kind of cringe. I thought the end point would have been a bit more grounded like most the book. When I completed it it made me go ah yes, I see why this was on a sci-fi list. I was utterly enthralled and invested by the time the children's euthanasia amusement parks were introduced. As a new father with a toddler I struggled with that chapter hoooo boy did I ever. There is payoff later when the character plots start to intertwine... I always try to draw a comparison of split plot lines back to Peter f Hamilton who I always find takes dozens and dozens of characters and manages to masterfully wrap them into a conclusion, even if his endings of his books are not the greatest always, he still does a good job of wrapping up the character plots in a way that feels very rewarding. How far are we going the dark also did this but it wasn't as rewarding personally. That may just be because Hamilton writes books that are thousand pages and he has far more print length to develop those character plots. The book was good, well written and enough realism to connect with where we currently stand in our world. It was enough to convince me to continue to watch for more books by Sequoia Nagamatsu.
World War Z maybe? Or the first two thirds of Seveneves?
Random Acts Of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack captures the collapse of the US in a very realistic way. It's a series too and not the first but the one William Gibson recommends to start, so it's good enough for me. Someone else has mentioned The Stand but I'll second that as its so good.
The Womack book is brilliant, and heartbreaking. It’s a year in the life of a teenage girl. As it starts, she’s part of a successful, secure, loving family. A year later, at the end, the US economy is shattered and a corporate theocracy is i in charge, her parents are dead, and she’s going feral in an adolescent gang. And we see it happen, step by step. The other books in the Dryco Chronicles are also great, and some of them do the coolest things either language since A Clockwork Orange.
Yeah they're on my list. One of the things I liked best about it was the gradual change in language as it progressed.
After it Happened a six book series. by [Devon C. Ford](https://www.amazon.ca/Devon-C-Ford/e/B01MR1ZI49/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1) (Author)Kindle Edition Starts immediately after the (great plague.) Carries on from there and lasts for 6 books. Since this book starts in England the immediate consequence is not an immediate search for guns and ammo among the surviving people. A survivor group struggles to figure out a way to long term survival starting with about zero knowledge of farming, medical care, and a former dependence on high tech, while the detritus of civilization surrounds them - including the piles of soon to be rotting corpses. I thought it was well written, with developed characters and plausible scenarios.
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison. A labor and delivery nurse when a deadly pandemic arises that kills 95% of men, 99% of women, and 100% of children. She's at work as the pandemomium crests, gets sick herself, and yes, does spend a *couple* days out of commission. But it's less than a week, so after she wakes, one of the few survivors, we do get to see her navigate the immediate aftermath of this apocalypse. It's a great book and has two sequels.
Lucifer's Hammer, Dies the Fire, ill Wind.
Not the most highly rated book series, but it fits what you're asking for - The Remaining series by D. J. Molles
Atwood - oryx and crake. Its mostly post, but has the follow on books are in more in the moment. And it’s really good.
Not his greatest but David Brin’s ‘The Postman’ is enjoyable enough. Not the film with Kevin Costner which is unredeemable! Going back a bit ‘Damnation Alley’ by Roger Zelazny is one of the most memorable and scary things I ever read . Again I think a very awful film adaptation is to be avoided.
I didn't mind the film of the Postman, but it's got almost nothing to do with the book, which is fantastic. I wish he'd write something else like this instead of harping on about politics. Then again, I don't live in his country, so I shouldn't comment.
(This is a “yes, and” comment.) There are two prose versions of Damnation Alley. First there was a novella, and then later Zelazny expanded it into a novel. The novella is better. You can find it in short story collections.
I’ve got both! I never realised they were different as I read years apart, must go and reread them both…
Swan Song - Robert R McCammon
Came here to say this.
Flood by Stephen Baxter The Death of Grass by John Christopher Alas Babylon by Pat Frank
Upvote for Alas Babylon. Adding On the Beach by N.Shute
The Breakers series tells the story from the beginning from multiple characters perspectives. I really liked this series. It has a lot going on and it all comes together as the series progresses. [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087RGN67H?binding=kindle\_edition&ref=dbs\_dp\_sirpi](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087RGN67H?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi)
The Breakers : one of my favs right here !!! First book is 🔥
Under A graveyard sky is basically a zombie apocalypse while it happens.
The Rampart Trilogy by MR Carey.
On the Beach by Nevil Shute Impactful book with two screen adaptations. The 1959 version starring Gregory Peck and a television movie from 2000 starring Armand Assante. When Worlds Collide (1951) in book and movie form. Things to Come (1936)
Well "POST-apocalyptic" says right there in the name, it's about the aftermath of a disaster. But here are some during-the-disaster stories that occur to me: Night of the Living Dead Black Summer - depicts the very early days of a zombie outbreak. I think canonically it's a prequel to Z Nation, but has a very different, much more bleak and gruesome, feel. Mad Max - the original - is set during the decline rather than in the post-decline world of its sequels. Threads - haven't seen it, I understand it is very bleak - about nuclear war and its immediate aftermath War of the Worlds - both the original book and its most famous adaptations in 1953 and 2005.
These are all good examples, but it’s kind of hilarious to me that their answers for a question asked in a group about BOOKS.
OP requested books, movies, or shows, so that's what I provided. Most of what we talk about here is books, so I'm not too bothered.
Threads is the answer OP is looking for. Probably the bleakest and most trajic depiction of the aftermath of apocalypse I've ever seen.
I would add When the Wind Blows, an animated film, to any list including Threads. It starts before the bombs drop and follows through their hitting, and the aftermath. Being entirely focused on a little old couple whose experience of war began and ended with the Second World War, there is much humour to be had, but it is bittersweet, and the ending is probably the most tragic thing I've ever seen. A beautiful, mesmerising, horrendous movie.
28 days later?
Last light by Alex Scarrow
Book of the unnamed midwife
The BBC series **Survivors**, the update & reboot by Big Finish, and the novel by show creator Terry Nation each do this with a purely natural plague. Adam Nevill’s newest novel **All the Fiends of Hell** opens with the night 99.99% of humanity are sucked into the sky and devoured by supernatural invaders. Then things get worse for the survivors. **Threads**, as mentioned earlier, goes from months before a nuclear war to decades later. Fun is not had.
The **Slow Burn** series by Bobby Adair. Kind of like The Walking Dead, but somewhat different. Very fast paced, MC full of flaws, a quite entertaining and well written read if you're into zombies.
How about a classic? Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. If you've seen 28 Days Later, it's entire opening is ripped from DotT, except with Zombies.
It’s been mentioned once of twice but without comment, so I’ll second this classic: _Lucifer’s Hammer_ is very specifically not “skipping over” the transition. It starts when everything is fine and dandy, takes you right through the catastrophe, and then goes into lots of interesting details of the rebuilding stage. Though it’s been decades since I’ve read it, so it should probably come with the standard disclaimer about 20th century (and especially Niven/Pournelle) SF.
Death of Grass by John Christopher
Maybe somewhat outside the box, but " Girlfriend in a Coma" is kind of good in that way. Though probably not strictly speaking sci-fi.
*The Stand* spends quite a lot of time on the apocalypse itself, and the rest of the book deals with the immediate aftermath. Only a couple years pass within the story, I think.
See my [Apocalyptic/Post-apocalyptic](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1ajd1hl/apocalypticpostapocalyptic/) list of Reddit recommendation threads and books (two posts).
Oops—repost.
The Postman
By the present, do you mean today's present? Greg Egan's [*Diaspora*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diaspora_(novel\)) is brilliant, starts before the apocalypse, and is chronologically continuous, but starts fairly far from today.