Alas, Babylon

De: Pat Frank

Narrado por: Will Patton

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.

Reseñas de la Crítica

• 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)

Classic post nuclear Apocalypse story

In Alas Babylon, Pat Frank provided one of the first atomic war disaster stories that is still chilling when reading it in 2011. I first read this book in the 60’s and will always remember the list of contaminated zones being read on the radio which included the phrase: “the New England States”. Although the story presents several of the difficult trials and tribulations affecting a central Florida town of Fort Repose, it does so in a fairly innocent way. The classic confrontations between roaming bad guys and the town seems more like a clash with bullies than the outside threat that other books describe. While it is a bit naïve, it was still fun to read again. I give Alas Babylon a good read.

A great apocalyptic read.

A great story for anyone who loves the "nuts and bolts" of post apocalyptic fiction. While a lot of apocalyptic fiction includes tons of action, and never ceasing antagonists, this story is actually quite calm and while it was very interesting, I never felt like I had to rush through some shootout just to hear how they set up a water supply, or what they did for food. in general, just a good read.

Also, an important note. A lot of apocalyptic fiction today is written from the Republican/conservative point of view, this however is refreshingly not. It is not overly political either. it is on the sexist side, as far as "a woman's place" and all that, buy given the time period I'm not surprised. There is also some talk of racism, but the narrator makes it clear he is pro integration, and the black characters, while somewhat over "southernised" have as full storylines as any other characters.

A Cut Above

A post-apocalyptic yarn from the late 50s? Sounded like it would be Mad Men meets The Road. Probably be kind of irrelevant, too. Horrendously dated for a start, full of square jawed men and fainting women facing down Those Dirty Commies. Well, so much for preconceptions.

Short version is it's just a great story that's very well told and with pitch-perfect narration. Will Patton really does do a first class job here from start to finish.

Thoroughly recommended.

As realistic today as when it was written in 1959

What made the experience of listening to Alas, Babylon the most enjoyable?

I read this book in high school as required reading in the 60s and thought it was excellent. Over the years I have read it at least an additional three times...maybe more. It is a great character study with true to life scenarios. It depicts in great detail the horrible aftermath of an all out nuclear war. No one would win and the book explains why that is. I highly recommend it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Randy Bragg, the main character, who becomes a leader when a tremendous burden is placed upon him. Does history make the man or does the man make history?

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

Absolutely. I couldn't put it down and I had read it before!

Any additional comments?

It is easy to see why this book is a classic. It is well worth the investment in time to listen to no matter where you live or what your age is.

Thoroughly enjoyable story. Great narration.

Pat Frank tells a great story of survival in the aftermath of nuclear armageddon. The characters are well developed and you care about their outcome. The narrator does a very good job voicing the characters and paces the story so that it is always interesting.
I've listened to this story three times over the years and it never gets old.