"Alas, Babylon." Those fateful words heralded the end. 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.

In "Alas, Babylon," Pat Frank presents a harrowing tale of survival amid the chaos of nuclear war. Set in a small Florida town during the Cold War era, the novel intricately weaves elements of realism and speculative fiction to explore humanity's response to catastrophe. Frank's prose is both evocative and stark, capturing the psychological turmoil and moral dilemmas faced by the characters as they navigate a post-apocalyptic landscape. The book serves as a poignant commentary on the fragi...

In 'Alas, Babylon,' Pat Frank masterfully explores the theme of survival in a post-apocalyptic America, conveying the fragility of civilization through a gripping narrative set in the fictional town of Fort Repose, Florida. The novel opens with the ominous atmosphere of Cold War tensions escalating into nuclear catastrophe, weaving a tale that intricately combines realism with speculative fiction. Frank's clear, evocative prose captures both the desperation of humanity and the indomitable ...

The world is in turmoil. Following a series of nuclear attacks, the United States has been thrown into chaos. Entire cities destroyed, millions dead, many more suffering the effects of the subsequent fallout. People are being admitted to the hospital with radiation poisoning, women prematurely going into labour with premature babies, and some people’s retinas were burned from looking at the flash. Washington is no more. Gas stations and grocery stores are cleared out, people are looting, a...

“An extraordinary real picture of human beings numbed by catastrophe but still driven by the unconquerable determination of living creatures to keep on being alive.” —The New YorkerThe classic apocalyptic novel by Pat Frank, first published in 1959 at the height of the Cold War, with an introduction by award-winning science fiction writer and scientist David Brin.“Alas, Babylon.” Those fateful words heralded the end. When the unthi...

Pat Frank (May 5, 1908 – October 12, 1964) was the pen name of the American writer, newspaperman, and government consultant Harry Hart Frank. This collection contains all 5 of his novels including his most famous, the Apocalyptic Science Fiction novel, "Alas, Babylon".Novels included in the collection:Mr AdamAn Affair of StateHold Back the NightForbidden AreaAlas, Bablyon

Pat Frank's Alas, Babylon (1959) is a landmark of Cold War apocalyptic fiction, imagining nuclear catastrophe not through spectacle but through the daily ordeal of survival. Set in the fictional Florida town of Fort Repose, the novel follows Randy Bragg and his neighbors as they confront the collapse of national infrastructure, law, medicine, and commerce. Its prose is lucid, reportorial, and unsentimental, combining thriller momentum with social observation. In the literary context of the...

In "Mr. Adam," Pat Frank delivers a thought-provoking exploration of gender dynamics and societal roles through a speculative lens. This novel, characterized by its sharp wit and poignant observations, is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the balance of power shifts drastically when a catastrophe wipes out the majority of men. Frank's prose seamlessly blends satirical elements with genuine introspection, creating a narrative that challenges traditional notions of masculinity and femini...

In "Hold Back the Night," Pat Frank offers a poignant exploration of survival and human resilience in the aftermath of a catastrophic event. Set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, the narrative masterfully intertwines elements of psychological depth and socio-political commentary, probing into the complexities of human nature when faced with despair. The novel's vivid imagery and concise prose reflect Frank's keen eye for detail, capturing both the desolation and flickers of hope that charac...

After a nuclear power plant in Mississippi explodes, it was soon realized that a previously unknown form of radiation was released. The radiation caused all men on Earth to become sterile, even boys who were still inside the mother's womb. However, ten months after the explosion in Mississippi, a doctor delivers a perfectly healthy baby girl. It's soon discovered that the child's father, who has the surname Adam was more than a mile under the surface of Earth inside an old silver and lead ...

From the author of the post-apocalyptic classic Alas Babylon, comes this eerie, cold war thriller. A young teenage couple having a rendezvous one night on a beach in Florida suddenly sees a submarine emerge from the ocean. Armed soldiers disembark the vessel and a Buick drives off its landing ramp. For Henry Hazen, who is scheduled to ship out to an army training camp the next day, the sight leaves him uneasy, but he tells no one what he has witnessed. Katherine Hume is the only woman work...

From the author of the classic Alas Babylon comes this riveting story of a Marine captain and his soldiers and their arduous, difficult retreat from Changjin Reservoir to Hungnam during the Korean War—a stirring portrait of courage and sacrifice.“These are not stragglers, sir. This is Dog Company…”In Pat Frank’s classic 1951 war novel, one-hundred-twenty-six soldiers commence their long, harrowing journey at Changjin Reservoir during the h...