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)

one of the best books I've ever read/heard.

best performance and production. the story filled my heart and gave me nightmares. read it!

fascinating read, from beginning to end!

really made you think what you'd need to survive, but in a logical way, not an emotional scary way.

A Book before its Time...

1959 this book was a Prophetic Word to this nation, USA, get ready, its here... 7-17-2019

Completely believable situation and characters

This title was published in the late 1950's so the technology referred to is out of date, such as the old ConElRad civil defense communication system, but otherwise it feels utterly contemporary. The news items are about the turmoil in the Middle East, the adversary is still Russia, and the steps taken to survive after war are the same: competing with the rest of the population for access to shelter, clean water, medicines, sufficient food to survive, and protection from the others. This was so well written; the characters were so believable and sympatico, the situations they faced so realistic and well described. I just loved it, and was amazed I had never heard of it before. I am so glad I read a reference to it recently in a book review. It is an excellent book of its kind (dystopia, survivalist, etc). I really recommend it.

Looked forward to listening every day. Loved it!

I'm so glad I came across this book during a sale. I wouldn't have normally gravitated toward it, but the sale was the motivation I needed to give it a try. Really enjoyed the story and the voice of the reader.

Good listen

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

yes - good book, even with its content out of date.. tells it like it was when the book was written

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Randy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Randy's last meeting with his brother, Mark

As powerful as I remembered.

I read this book in 8th grade in 1978. Remembered much of the storyline. It has aged well!

One of the top 5 books from my formative years.

Even better as an audiobook!

Alas, Babylon is one of my all-time favorite books! I've read it multiple times, but this is the first time listening to it on Audible. The narrator made an already exciting book come alive!

A second after retro, oldie but a goodie

For a book I started reading more than 40 years ago, I found it as good or better than others in this genera.

Loved it!

Being written in 1959 this was a fresh look at an apocalyptic thriller. I listened 2xs. Will listen again.