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Alas, Babylon

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Alas, Babylon

By: Pat Frank
Narrated by: Will Patton
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About this listen

This true modern masterpiece is built around the two fateful words that make up the title and herald the end - “Alas, Babylon.” When a nuclear holocaust ravages the United States, a thousand years of civilization are stripped away overnight, and tens of millions of people are killed instantly.

But for one small town in Florida, miraculously spared, the struggle is just beginning, as men and women of all backgrounds join together to confront the darkness. Will Patton's narration paints this classic tale as an ominous picture of the terrible possibilites of the nuclear age.

©1959 Harry Hart Frank (P)2010 Audible, Inc. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Nuclear War

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Critic reviews

  • Audie Award Winner, Fiction, 2012
"An enthralling and vivid story of the follies and failures of people, their courage and cruelty, their treachery and triumphs. Mr. Frank is a magnificent writer." ( Chicago Sunday Tribune)
"A warm, continuously interesting story of what can happen to a group of ordinary people in a perilous situation." ( New York Herald Tribune)
“Will Patton is a calm and steady narrator whose quiet intensity wraps around this post-apocalyptic saga...He reflects the tones of deference of women to men, nonwhites to whites, and children to adults. In a conversational tone, he quietly brings the characters and their relationships to life.” ( AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant
The only thing I would say to anyone thinking about reading/listening to this book is that it is a more adult take on the whole post apocalyptic genre. It does not need mad psychopaths or maniac new religions to keep you interested or on edge. I watched "The Silence" the other night and I have worked my way through most ot "The Walking Dead" and other ersatz masterpieces of the genre, even King's wonderful "The Stand". They all seem to need to over egg the pudding by having a single bad guy who takes over from the horror of the actual situation people are living through with the collapse of life as they have known it.. I find that I go back to Alas Babylon every time as a work that impresses on the reader the sheer horror of nuclear weapons and the possible futures they offer with no need to gild the lilly with lunatics and zombies. This is a straightforward account of what an apocalyptic event might be like and what sufviving would entail. Every time I read it I get totally drawin in. Also regards narration on this version - Will Patton is always worth the money.

The horror of the situation grabs you

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Fantastic narration and themes that despite being old, are still relevant today. Some uncomfortable writing in relation to race since this was written in different times

Absolutely fantastic narration

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like a 1950s version of One Second After. both good books. 4+ stars. both of their time. this from the missile gap times. but it all kicked off in the meddle east, and that part could have been written yesterday.

good story. but of its time

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An unusual concept for this story. I love alternate history, but didn't expect this to be so riveting. As per usual, masterfully performed by Will Patton, an actor at the very top table of talent. Recommended.

Really solid listen.

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I am really enjoying this one...the voices are great, very atmospheric...



Loving it to the point that I am buying extra food, more flour..more canned goods!...feckin' apocalyptic novels, they always haunt my nightmares

loving this so far

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