Alas, Babylon

By: Pat Frank

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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)

I dont know what took me so long to read it

I have heard for years about alas Babylon but just never took time to read it. now that I have I'm glad to have done so. not much in the lessons learned or really any new revelations but it was a good book.

there were interesting aspects as to the thinking even from so long ago that still remain relevant to today's precarious situations we are faced with in this day and time. so I would recommend this to preparedness minded folk just starting out.

Great Book

What an interesting, well written story. Hard to believe that it was written 60 years ago.

Love Will Patton

He’s such a great voice of books.. for the first few hours of listening I had no idea it was written in 1959! It’s crazy how that doesn’t really matter to the story.. it’s about life after a nuclear war so I guess the stories would be similar if it happened today. You do need to like post apocalyptic subject matter to enjoy this book I think.. I do, so it was very interesting to me.

Realistic assessment – how we kill ourselves off

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, because it was a realistic portrayal of how surviving neighborhoods would band together to survive. It also dealt with the problems you would have after a nuclear war. You were cheering on the survivors

What was one of the most memorable moments of Alas, Babylon?

pulling on the knowledge of old timers. Like when the preacher told them why there was no fish during the heat

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

not compelling enough to do in one sitting. But definitely over the weekend

I couldn't stop listening.

What did you love best about Alas, Babylon?

Will Patton brings this book to life. The beauty of the town, the people who come together to help each other was very moving.

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love Patton as the narrator. This book read would not have the same impact without Patton and his passion.

Any additional comments?

Loved the book.

Great Book! Classic!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book. It is so well written, and the narrator is perfect for the story. This book is a classic but is very much relevant today.

What did you like best about this story?

I like the author's ability to add detail and context without losing the reader. I also like that the subject matter is still relevant. Would any of us be able to survive if we had to live as people 100 years ago did?

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is totally believable! I bought this book not realizing who narrated it. I immediately recognized his voice from movies he has acted in. Very distinct. A nice surprise.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, absolutely

Explosive and Thought-Provoking

This was required reading in high school, and I decided to listen to it again as an adult. If anything, the story is more compelling from the perspective of a grown-up instead of a student. There were numerous political situations in the 1950s and 1960s that could have led to the scenario vividly described in this book actually happening. The author helps you feel the characters' fears and conquests. A great book.

Still Compelling 53 years later

I first read this book as a senior in high school. It grabbed me so much I remembered picturing myself not being able to put it down in study hall. I just listened to it again now at 70 years old and still found it a good read/listen.

read as a child

I read this when I was a kid. I grew up in the 60s and 70s and I remember the feeling of overhanging doom that MAD would cause. This book resonated with me for that reason. What I didn't remember was the racism of the white people with the exception of the lead character, and the sexism of all the characters. I guess I just thought it was normal! We have come a long way since 1959 when this was written and the early 70s when I read this for the first time.

Classic

The book that launched my love for reading almost 30 yrs ago....still holds up. Still makes me wish there was a large subsection of the Fiction world that looked into the post-apocalyptic lives of the survivors. I so wish Pat Frank had written more. I gave 5 Stars because I couldn’t give 6!!!