Book recs?

[ceebee_eebee]

Hey, flist. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm kind of obsessed with books about plagues. History, fiction, whatever. But I think I've read all the ones I've been able to find at this point and I'm dying for some new ones. Do any of you have a taste for this type of speculative fiction? Got any good recs for me? I'd be SO appreciative.

Comments

[livii.livejournal.com]

Not plagues, but I'm reading Kim Stanley Robinson's Wild Shore right now, which is set in California after the USA was bombed back a couple hundred years or more by nukes in 1984. There are some interesting implications brought out about the effects of these nukes. It's speculative fiction and does deal with the rebuilding bit that's like rebuilding after a plague, maybe? Anyway, I'm about 2/3 in and enjoying it a fair bit (even though it's somewhat dated), and would recommend that.

My thing is really the lead up to plagues/extinction scenarios, and then the rebuilding afterwards, so I guess that's what I know more of. I read Cormac McCarthy's The Road a few months ago and that's a really chilling post-near-extinction scenario book (the event's not specified in the book, but in an interview McCarthy suggested it was an asteroid strike). Very fascinating read.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

I've heard of The Road but not the other. KSR was the one who wrote the Mars series, right? I really enjoyed those back a hundred years ago when I read them. I'll definitely take a look. Thanks!

[livii.livejournal.com]

Yep, I've never read anything else by him, but he did write the Mars book. This is a trilogy as well, with three different futures for California? I only have the one book, but it's cracking along nicely.

I just like talking about books. :D

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

I used to read incessantly. But then I got so deep into the interwebs that I stopped reading as many books. It makes me sad. I need to get back to my roots.

[ravenskyewalker.livejournal.com]

I have the same problem! I'm addicted to books (have worked in libraries and then bookstores for 20+ years), but am also addicted to the Internet, so can -- way too often -- hang out at the computer for hours, not getting any book-reading done. So very sad...