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)

Great Classic

One of the best survival books I have listened to. Could not stop listening for hours.

Thanks to the writer and two statesmen

To the late Mr Frank: Thank you for writing this book in time - it may have changed history and saved lives.
To the late President Kennedy: Thank you for reading and understanding this book and not surrendering to trigger happy contemporaries.
To the late Secretary Khrushchev: Thank you for not insisting, being open for ratio and removing the missiles from Cuba in 1962.
In fact a simple although terrifying subject. My greatest respect to Pat Frank for writing and publishing this novel in 1959 - it takes courage to go against the mainstream but often it is rewarded by changing direction to the better.
The message is what makes this book important and the storytelling gives it an extra quality. I listend in two straight sessions and it will stay in my mind forever. Also great narrating by Will Patton.

Really interesting

If you will be upset by the way people of color were treated and spoken of in the 1950s south, this book isn't for you. Otherwise it's a very interesting look at how things could have been if the unthinkable happened.

Great book, you'll enjoy it!

Would you listen to Alas, Babylon again? Why?

Yes I would, it is just how a well written book should be.

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Very consistent narration, emphasis in all the right places!

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

Yes absolutely!

Any additional comments?

Great story, good narration, what more could you want?

Realistic

Would you consider the audio edition of Alas, Babylon to be better than the print version?

This man has a very good insight. I have read a lot of post war books, and without a doubt, this one beats the lot. No Heros, no wanna be's and very practical.Even though written in the late 60s this book still relates to modern times, This should be compulsory reading for all high schools.

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

The smallest things you don't think of, are the most important.(eg) Salt over Liquor or coffee.

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?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Going to download the rest of his books

Written years ago, but still possible today. Iran

Would you consider the audio edition of Alas, Babylon to be better than the print version?

Yes, because the reader gives voice to the characters that one can only imagine when reading the book yourself.

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

When they were on the porch watching the explosions of the nuclear bombs in the distance.

Which scene was your favorite?

On the bridge defeating the thugs.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Neither, it made me worry about what would happen to all of us in America if Iran or North Korea detonate a nuclear device either above the atmosphere or direct hits on our land.

Any additional comments?

I can see how this book would influence the writer of "One Second After."

good baseline realistic apocalypse story

really interesting book in the apocalypse genre. honestly, a bit naive, they didn't know back then about nuclear winter, but still good

Timeless story of human survival

Chronologically, this story is outdated, but since the modern civilization is wiped out early on, it's very easy to forget this was supposed to have happened in our past!

It's a great tale of survivors building a new society in the face of terrible odds. 'Very inspirational, I thought!

Will Patton was a great narrator, too.

I grew up being afraid of this

Holocaust of nuclear war in the 1950's. They say we were very close to this in the Bay of Pigs. Good narration and interesting story. Some of the facts seem to be gleaned from the Japanese after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I am glad the cold war is over and this will not happen but what if it did? This book is a good story about that. Old time SiFi is worth listening to if you are into the end of the world and after the end genre. I happen to love this type of thing.

Slow start but timely story

It helped to wiki the book & place it in time & location. Glad I stumbled upon this one. A great dystopian read.