Books for fans of “The Last of Us”
Have you just watched the first episode of The Last of Us and are you looking for a book with a similar vibe? Be sure to check out these suggestions and books like the Last of us!
We haven’t yet seen all the episodes of the post-apocalyptic series “The Last of Us” based on the cult series of games created by Sony Computer Entertainment, and it has already become famous online. Critics and viewers appreciate the faithful representation of the computer game, the cast and, of course, the dystopian plot. So if you are a fan of novels that describe a world after wars, ecological disasters, full of modified people and spreading plagues, reach for the following titles.
Cormac McCarthy, “The Road” books like the last of us
“The Road” is Cormac McCarthy’s epic, Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a man trying to keep himself and his son alive in a grim, post-apocalyptic world. Here we have a dystopian image of a society that, in order to survive, commits acts of animal cannibalism, preying on other survivors. The past and the future don’t matter. Only the present journey makes sense and serves as a warning to a world that is in grave danger.
Father and son become completely dependent on each other for survival. The relationship between the nameless father and the child is tender and sad at the same time, full of longing for a world that no longer exists. The plot created by McCarthy is devoid of sentimentality and any hope, but still contains small fragments that allow the reader to believe in mercy and dignity.
Justin Cronin “The Passage”
The story begins in the near future with government experiments on a virus that gives that infected superhuman strength. In a secret project, the military used the research of a Harvard microbiologist in hopes of creating a race of superbeings that could master any skill in just a few minutes. In the novel, we get a terrifying picture of a pandemic that has turned most of humanity into bloodthirsty monsters. The goal of the virus is to kill everything it encounters on its way. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte turns out to be the saving grace of the world.
The world seen through Justin Cronin‘s eyes becomes a terrifying place with endless war in the Middle East, terrorists, government controls and a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. In addition, the government, trying to discover the secrets of eternal life, is driving the world to extreme extinction.
The author talks about the fall of civilization not only at the global level but above all at the individual and personal level. This book is a definite “must-have” for lovers of post-apocalyptic thrillers.
Richard Matheson, “I Am Legend”
I Am Legend tells the story of Robert Neville, a man trying to survive a vampire attack caused by a bacterial infection. Bloodthirsty beasts behave like mutated zombies in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The main character spends his days surviving and his nights trying to drown out the screams of the undead. At some point, he will want to discover the scientific cause of the disease and find a cure before he is affected by it himself. The narrative takes on an intense emotional weight when Neville meets the emaciated dog, and from that moment we root not only for him but also for the brave quadruped.
I Am Legend may seem like a simple story, especially when compared to the intricate plots of other novels of this type. But Matheson‘s prose is tense, immediacy and imagery. It’s a very short book, but it delves well into morality, mythology, science, mental health, and coping mechanisms in a reality where our survival instinct is the most important.
Robert McCammon “Swan Song” books like the last of us
The story begins with a nuclear exchange between the states and the Soviet Union that turns the world into a toxic wasteland. The survivors suffer from the disease, dwindling food supplies, and an endless winter. Everyone fights. The absolutely fantastic Robert McCammon puts his characters first. It follows the individual journeys of good and bad characters, bringing them together in culminating moments. It is through our eyes that we witness the brutal aftermath of the nuclear apocalypse.
In this tale of good versus evil, the author explores the meaning of a man who allowed a real beast to take over the world. But more importantly, it also leans into the importance of values such as help and devotion in the face of despair and destruction. It shows how inconspicuous people, in the face of extreme situations, turn into heroes ready for the greatest sacrifice. The misery of radioactive mutations or mass death is a grim backdrop that further enhances the courage and heroism of the survivors.
The Girl With All the Gifts”
Attending lessons, eating pretty gross meals at lunchtime, admiring her teacher – Melanie is your regular middle schooler…who just happens to also be a zombie. She’s also potentially the key to saving humanity from a horrific outbreak of a mutated cordyceps virus that turns its host into lost husks, that sometimes blossom into walls of shrooms and fungus. When the research facility, disguised as a school which aims to study her and her zombified classmates, is compromised by a stampede of flesh-eaters, Melanie, her favourite teacher, a doctor, and a soldier go on a quest through their new, diseased world to find a cure.
If you’ve played The Last of Us, all of this should be ringing some bells: an infected girl that holds the secrets of saving the world who must be transported by a reluctant rag-tag team? A virus inspired by a brutal mushroom? Ethical dilemmas regarding the greater good that science may be able to reach, weighed against the cost of violent experimentation. Despite the plot of this book appearing very similar to the game’s narrative, it manages to deconstruct and dissect questions of humanity and monstrosity in more depth than The Last of Us and has a surprising, refreshing conclusion on how to ‘fix’ the state of the world. What’s more, Melanie’s relationship with her teacher is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and as Miss Justineau grows ever more protective of her, which becomes very reminiscent of Joel’s conflicted paternal ties with Ellie. Get it here.
What titles would you add to this list?
