Post-holocaust

Post-holocaust is a sub-genre of science fiction dealing with the aftermath of a catastrophe---usually nuclear war, but not invariably. It rose to prominence following World War II, because for the first time it was believed that man had the capacity to destroy his civilization. One early example, though, was written in the 1930s---Stephen Vincent Benet's story "By The Rivers of Babylon."

Related Topics:
Science fiction - World War II - Stephen Vincent Benet

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Most post-holocaust stories feature primitive descendants of modern-day people, usually in a pseudo-medieval society. Those whose backstory includes nuclear warfare often also feature mutation, of animals, plants and humans alike. Mutants may be anything from the heroes of the story to inveterate enemies of the protagonists.

Related Topics:
Medieval - Nuclear warfare - Mutation

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A seminal work in this subgenre was Walter Miller's A Canticle for Leibowitz. Many subsequent stories were clearly derivative of this novel. Things like a recrudescent Church (Catholic or other), pseudo-medieval society, and the theme of the rediscovery of the knowledge of the pre-holocaust world were central to this book.

Related Topics:
Walter Miller - A Canticle for Leibowitz

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Other writers who have written post-holocaust books include:

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• Robert Adams The Horseclans books
• Poul Anderson Vault of the Ages
• John Christopher The Burning Lands books
• Mick Farren The Texts of Festival
• Pat Frank Alas, Babylon
• Robert Heinlein Farnham's Freehold
• Edgar Pangborn Davy, Still I Persist in Wondering (short stories)
• S. M. Stirling The Fifth Millenium series, the Change World series
• Philip Wylie Tomorrow

At this time, the post-holocaust subgenre has fallen out of favor, but some of its major works are considered classics of science fiction, notably A Canticle For Leibowitz.

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