Alas, Babylon

Rating:
Summary: A thought-provoking classic.
Review: I read this book for school, and found myself fascinated by it, and it was easy to read it a seocnd time. The development of characters and the entire concept (a Swiss Family Robinson for the the Atomic Age) leads to thought on everything from nuclear war to society's norms anbd how either could collide. While the filler towards the end gets a little-too cutsie-wootsie (the strong focus on the children and their "antics" is too close to the original Swiss Family Robinson), the beginning and third quarter are exciting, and will be a classic forever.

Rating:
Summary: Now and forever a testament.
Review: The book, Alas, Babylon is a tale of post-apocalyptic living and the horror of human nature. Written by Pat Frank in 1959, this book still holds truth till today. In the book the hardships and struggles are clearly defined as well as the enormous courage and undertaking by those under the Bragg house. This novel takes ordinary people and turns them to heros after the annilation of the United States, the Soviet Union, and the world. A must read for any of those who may need comforting in the view of the unconquerable human spirit and capacity to love instead of hate.

Rating:
Summary: simple & interesting
Review: Written in 1959 Alas, Babylon was one of the first post-nuclear
apocalyptic novels. The author generously grants his
characters a fallout free zone in which to maneuver since
there would be little to write about otherwise. He focuses
on the can do attitude of the survivors while understating
the profound emotional dislocation that would surely accompany
such a situation. The narrative is linear and extremely easy
to read. As a bonus, there is an appendix giving interesting

historical and biographical info. Try it.

Rating:
Summary: simple & interesting
Review: Written in 1959 Alas, Babylon was one of the first post-
apocalyptic novels. The author generously grants his
characters a fallout free zone in which to maneuver since
there would be little to write about otherwise. He focuses
on the can do attitude of the survivors while understating
the profound emotional dislocation that would surely accompany
such a situation. The narrative is linear and extremely easy
to read. As a bonus, there is an appendix giving interesting
historical and biographical info. Try it.

Rating:
Summary: As pertinent today as when it was written
Review: I have wanted to read "Alas Babylon" for over a year now, and I actually ordered it from Amazon several months ago. For one reason or another, though, it always seemed to get pushed behind another book. Normally, when I enjoy a novel as much as I enjoyed this one, it would annoy me that I put off reading it for so long. However, in light of September 11th, I'm glad that I did, for two reasons.

The first is that this novel reminds us of mankind's near infinite capacity for self-destruction, or at least creating the mechanism for it. Osama bin Laden and his fellow psychopaths could only dream of the systematic cruelty the Soviet Union perpetrated on its own citizens, let alone the tightrope nuclear balance of terror that the superpowers walked. However, they are cut from the same cloth, and it is lunacy to try to co-exist with them. Moreover, the rationalization of the irrational, the attempt to explain the unexplainable (for instance how both the US and the USSR created strategies to "win" a nuclear war) can only lead to heartache.

Secondly, and most important, "Alas Babylon" reminds us of the indomitable spirit of man. Even as his characters struggle to grasp some normalcy from incomprehensible nuclear destruction, they cling to that which makes them human: hope, love and faith. While some may find it odd to be reading apocalyptic fiction in this time of war, I found this novel to be uplifting, an affirmation really, of the good we have seen around the world in the face of evil.

I realize I am going about this backwards, but for those of you not familiar with the plot, it runs as follows. It is sometime in the mid-1960's (a rough guess) and the nuclear balance of terror has broken down. The country is in ruins, the state of the world is unclear, and communities are left to fend for themselves. The readers follows the lives of one small community in Florida for the first year following "The Day" as they struggle to survive and maintain the rule of law. Frank masterfully captures the full scope of the struggle, from almost prophetic descriptions of weapons, tactics and strategy (the novel was published in 1958) to searing characterizations of people in crisis.

"Alas Babylon" operates on so many levels, it has something for everyone. One could easily sit down and read it as an adventure/techno-thriller and come away completely satisfied. It is also a rather scathing critique of war and the bureaucratization of the military. It is not as simple as "war is bad" though, Frank argues through one of characters (a retired admiral) that while war, particularly nuclear war is insane, the price of peace is rational preparedness enacted by professionals, combined with a dialogue that humanizes the enemy. Above all, though, "Alas Babylon" is a testimony to the ingenuity and compassion of man. Yes, we have made mistakes, yes there is evil among us, but the majority of human beings are basically good when given the chance, and that, in these times as much as in the Cold War, is what we must never lose sight of.

Rating:
Summary: Tight 2 Death
Review: this book was off the chains i read it for an honors english class my freshman year and thought it was good but i had to do notecards on it this book is awesome if you haven't read it i highly recommend it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Humanistic Science Fiction
Review: First of all, this is not a Science Fiction Novel. This is a classic Novel written almost 35 years ago at the Cold War. The reason why it is such a good read is because todays generation can get a real good feel as to the mood of the American Culture at that time. Since it takes place mostly in Florida I particular liked it since it was very descriptive of the local area were I live. It's is remarkably realistic, and deals more with the impact of day to day life of the individual rather than try to write a novel on all of mankind. It will make you think, it may make you shudder and many times you will think " I never thought about that".

This novel effectively takes you from the time just before a Nuclear War to its aftermath, and how a group of people in a small town in Florida cope, Tourists and all. Its documentation as to the War itself is chilling and gets to the core. The aspects of survival are well thought out and is definitely a page tuner. This is a recommended book for everyone wanting to learn about those times and for the people my age, (late forties), will bring back memories.

A good companion to this believe it or not is "Lucifers Hammer" by Larry Nivin/Jerry Pournelle, which also deals with catastrophe but deals with many aspects not brought out in this one.

A good, recommend booked, and well worth the small price.

Science Fiction that could have been Science Fact.

Rating:
Summary: Read This Book Now
Review: If you have not read ALAS, BABYLON, read it now. Pat Frank in his newspaper-reporter style tells what happened in Florida when the United States was the victim of nuclear destruction. Back during the Cold War when ALAS, BABYLON filled the bookshelves, the book seemed to be a piece of escape literature. Now, it gives some insight into survival, a subject on our minds.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Book--Part II
Review: This is a continuation of a review I wrote about 3 years ago. In essence, this book outstripped the all the other so-called "factual" nuclear war fiction novels. The facts were presented in an unbiased manner. There was not a trace of pseudo-scientific junk that laces many nuclear war stories. Pat Frank did the world a service by writing this book. It is a shame that it was never made into a movie. It would have kicked "On The Beach" right in the keister. "Alas, Babylon" should be mandatory reading in High School english classes. It would teach many people. And when you come right down to it, Randy Bragg did fill the leadership position his brother had wished. Randy took steps towards survival when others would have scoffed, an in doing so saved his life. One can only hope for America that if a nuclear attack ever comes, people will behave like Randy Bragg.

Rating:
Summary: What if the cold war happened?
Review: I just finished readiing this book. It was a manitory read for school. When the teacher first gave me the book I thought to myslef I don't want to read it. But as I was reading it turned out to pretty good. Alas, Babylon is about a group of people trying to survive after the events of nuclear warfare. Randy Bragg is the self- proclaimed leader of the town of Fort Repose. His brother is in the air force and sends his family over to live with him. The group has to adjust to living with no electricity, very little food, and communication. The survivors have to live off their wits and the land. There are a lot of difficult problems that they have to face but they have to strong to overcome the crises. This is a great read, must-buy, and a timeless classic.