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)

Excellent Rendition

I found the story to be fascinating, while some if the cold War concepts may seem dated at first glance, the core ideas are quite timeless. The narrator did a wonderful job with accents and different tones for the characters and I found myself enjoying sitting on the front porch listening to the story as though someone where there telling it to me. highly recommended.

Great nostalgic fiction

I read this in high school during the cold war. It has just as much insight into the reality of "surviving" nuclear war. Only problem is not taking into account the effects of nuclear winter.

Very Good Book

Even tho it was written long ago, the writing aged really well. its not jarring the way some older books are - it doesn't age itself. I found the characters engaging even tho many are very one dimensional. I do wish the author had showed or told more, but I understand that, in context, the protagonist would have no reason to know more. even so, I would have liked to learn more about the world.

I found the performance to be excellent. It kept me entertained all the way through.

Great Story

Very good storyline. It was new author for me. l enjoyed the characters and the story.

A Citizen of Ft. Repose

I’ve lived in the area of Central Florida, between Orlando and New Smyrna Beach, where most of the book is focused, for well over 50 years. The terrain, waterways,flora and fauna are well known to me. I first read the book when it was published as a young teenager of a military family, well aware of the nuclear sword that hung over our heads. I was curious to find out how one might survive the aftermath of a nuclear attack. As a city boy with a country heritage, I’d live with family without electricity, or running water, who ate what they grew, raised or hunted, long enough to understand, accept, value and be content with that kind of life. Several of the book’s solutions to many survival problems made sense to me because I’d seen them lived out in daily life. As a kid it gave me hope in a very scary time. I read it every decade, or so. It’s a good story and reminds me that humanity has survived for several millennia, often in spite of itself, and may yet find ways to live with itself.
BTW-Many of the bigger, nicer, more expensive homes built in the 1950s Orlando area have built in bomb shelters that exist to this day. They’re advertised as tornado shelters, or now, as panic rooms.

Terrific!

Even though this book was written many years ago, and some of the 60's era references seem quaint by modern standards, the overall theme remains relevant and the storytelling is simply superb. Very easy to relate to the characters and their situation. A thoroughly enjoyable audio book experience.

surprisingly good

I did not know what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised. The story was very entertaining and the narrator was above excellent

A Timeless Classic

At a time when society has grown soft and utterly disconnected, oblivious to the possibility of truly devastating events, this book should be required reading.

One of my favorite books.

A post apocolyptic story of love, loss, anf redemption! Well wtiyyen and it shows the resilliance of the Human Family !

Quite Good.

I'm not sure what happened the first 4 chapters really. I just wasn't that into it at first but chapter 5 is when things get interesting and it hooked me. The characters were likeable and the story well done.