They’re coming to get you Barbara…..

by Beau Johnston
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5 books
Waking up one day and finding the world you knew no longer exists is a disturbing concept. But waking up in a world where humans have been usurped from their position as the most dangerous creature on the planet is nightmare material. As a species, technology has allowed humans to become estranged from the natural world. Except for natural disasters, humans don’t have to interact with the outside world if they don’t want to. Sure, we still go outside to get places, but our vehicles protect us from the elements and keep us fairly comfortable (well, more comfortable than walking long distances in the blazing sun). Eliminate the creature comforts, the guaranteed food supply, and the level of personal safety we enjoy; this is the journey these stories will take you on.
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Night of the Living Dead

John Russo, 2014
This is where it all began; the horror fan’s love affair with the Zombie Apocalypse. This is the tale of a small group of strangers who take refuge in an abandoned farmhouse and are forced to work together against an unstoppable, unkillable enemy that wears the faces of friends, family, and neighbours. The tension slowly builds as each new discovery about their enemy reveals how horrific and surreal their lives are about to become. To really set the mood, read it late at night after everyone else has gone to bed; it allows the paranoia and the claustrophobic mood of the story to subtly ensnare your imagination.

The Day of the Triffids

John Wyndham, 2010
I first encountered this story as a mini-series on television at the ripe old age of nine and finally got to read the book as an adult (and absolutely loved it). This is a disturbing tale about seven-foot tall, sentient, ambulant, killer plants who overrun humanity after a freak meteor shower turns (almost) everyone blind. The Triffids are terrifying, and the humans aren’t much better. What’s not to like?

I Am Legend

Richard Matheson, 2007
This is an ominous but entertaining tale about the last man on Earth. I've always enjoyed "end-of-the-world/last man standing” stories because they give me the opportunity to analyse the character’s plans and ask myself if I would have made the same mistakes or what I would have done differently. This is one of my "go-to" books when I'm looking for something familiar to read.

The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks

Max Brooks, Ibraim Roberson, 2010
This is a collection of short stories presented as a graphic novel. It is a companion to World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (by Max Brooks) but requires no prior knowledge. The stories range from prehistoric times through modern times. They are fantastic (and do not depict gratuitous amounts of gore). I enjoy zombie stories and graphic novels, so this book is an absolute win.

V

A. C. Crispin, 1984
This was my "go-to" book in high school (and the first “adult” book I read multiple times). I loved the mini-series, but the book was fantastic. As a teenager, I was fascinated by the idea of everyday folk using intelligence and guile to fight back against a well-armed invading army. I was a bit of a history buff as a kid, so the comparisons to Nazi Germany weren’t lost on me. The subtle manipulation of the media and the well-to-do as a way of controlling the common people still makes the hair on my neck stand on end.