6 Postapocalyptic Books to Read Before the Movie (or TV Show)

Annihilation isn't what I'd call a hard postapocalyptic story . . . it's more of a pre-apocalyptic story, or a potential-apocalyptic story. The novel takes place on a stretch of coastland known as Area X, which is under careful scrutiny by the enigmatic agency called the Southern Reach. Our protagonist, known only as the Biologist, enters with a team of women after her husband returns from his own mission completely catatonic. As the team explores the quarantined area, the dangers prove more horrifying and mysterious than they imagined, and not only their team but the entire world might depend on the success of their mission.

This novel is part horror, part thriller, part science fiction, and part an excellent character study. In February, you can catch the movie starring Natalie Portman. Check out the trailer here!

The Book of Joan has a more typical apocalyptic scenario but is anything but a typical story. War has devastated the planet, and the elite have fled to a floating station known as CIEL, which soars high above the earth's surface. But back on Earth, the woman named Joan, who has mysterious powers, is still fighting. All this sound bizarre? It is. The novel is loosely based on the story of Joan of Arc. It came out to critical acclaim, and the movie rights were purchased in auction by Stone Village Productions.

Station Eleven is a quieter, you might say more "literary," style of postapocalyptic fiction. After a deadly pandemic decimates most of civilization, the novel follows a band of traveling performers as they go from town to town performing Shakespeare for residents. While the group's ultimate confrontation with a religious leader known as the Prophet takes this book into "thriller" territory, it is still a subtly written novel, beautifully exploring the world that was left behind and what it means to live and survive in a new one. The film rights have been purchased by Scott Steindorff in a six-figure deal. Let's hope the onscreen version is as excellently rendered as the one on paper.

There's no dystopia in this postapocalyptic novel about a man surviving in a snowy Colorado with his dog and eccentric neighbor after the flu has wiped out the population. They live in an abandoned airport and spend their time flying his 1956 Cessna airplane. While flying, he hears a mysterious radio call and decides to investigate. This is another quiet yet shimmering novel that explores a new world in a unique and compelling voice. Constantin Film, which is known for its Resident Evil movies, has acquired the movie rights.

You've probably heard of this one. If not the book, maybe you know that it's being adapted into film by none other than Steven Spielberg. This debut novel was a runaway success about a young boy living in a society that has, more or less, collapsed. Most of civilization occurs online in a virtual reality simulation known as the Oasis. When our protagonist, Wade Watts, decides to undertake a competition set forth by the creator of Oasis, he finds more danger, adventure, and fame than he could have asked for. This book takes us into a unique world with an excellent mystery that keeps the pages turning. Hopefully, in the hands of Spielberg, the movie will be just as compelling. Check out the trailer here!

At almost 900 pages, this book is a doorstop. But once you dive in, be prepared to get hooked. In The Passage, we follow the protagonist, a young girl named Amy, and a cast of characters through a world decimated by a virus that has turned people into monsters (OK, they're vampires, but unlike any vampires you've seen before!). As the world changes, becoming more and more dangerous, Amy soon realizes that she may hold the key to mankind's survival. This trilogy has been picked up by Fox and will be made into a TV show, which makes sense due to the amount of material it'll have to cover.

Tyrell Johnson is a writer and editor originally from Bellingham, WA. He currently lives in Kelowna, British Columbia, with his wife, two kids, and a Siberian Husky. His debut novel, The Wolves of Winter, is a postapocalyptic thriller out in January 2018.