Brandon Marshall Writing

When I read novels about the end of the world, I tend to care less about the circumstances which brought the world to its knees and tend to worry more about how the author develops a sense of human desperation and depravity. While a unique cause of destruction is appreciated, I truly think the nature in which humans are portrayed is most important.

5. The Fireman by Joe Hill: Joe Hill has a remarkable talent for creating relatable and real characters. In this story, an explosive parasitic fungus results in a pandemic of human combustion. A small group of individuals learn to control its power while being hunted by the healthy.

4. The Road by Cormack McCarthy: The Road really digs deep into pure desperation and the human side of the apocalypse. It portrays an amazing journey of a father and son traveling across a wasteland America with limited supplies in an attempt to survive a harsh upcoming winter.

3. I Am Legend by Richard Matheson: I Am Legend is a classic piece of American literature. It is short and sweet and gets to the point. A strain of Bacillus causes humans to turn vampire-like. It follows a man named Robert Neville who must learn how to adapt to this new life.

2. Swan Song by Robert McCammon: It kills me to place this at number 2 because it is such an amazing piece of work. It follows a group of individuals searching for “God” in a nuclear post-apocalyptic United States. It is dense with the darkest aspects of human nature and sprinkles in some paranormal aspects.

And Number 1. The Stand by Stephen King. The unabridged version of this novel made me laugh, cry, and turn pages quicker than I’d ever before. It is apparent that Joe Hill’s ability to create characters stems from his father’s natural ability. This story is packed with backstory and relationships and gives a sense of pure adventure throughout. It may take a while to get through this book, but after reading it, I felt as if I lived through their experiences myself.

Please tell me what you think or if you think another title should have made the list!