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Alas, Babylon

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Alas, Babylon

By: Pat Frank
Narrated by: Will Patton
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About this listen

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. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Nuclear War

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)
All stars
Most relevant
The only thing I would say to anyone thinking about reading/listening to this book is that it is a more adult take on the whole post apocalyptic genre. It does not need mad psychopaths or maniac new religions to keep you interested or on edge. I watched "The Silence" the other night and I have worked my way through most ot "The Walking Dead" and other ersatz masterpieces of the genre, even King's wonderful "The Stand". They all seem to need to over egg the pudding by having a single bad guy who takes over from the horror of the actual situation people are living through with the collapse of life as they have known it.. I find that I go back to Alas Babylon every time as a work that impresses on the reader the sheer horror of nuclear weapons and the possible futures they offer with no need to gild the lilly with lunatics and zombies. This is a straightforward account of what an apocalyptic event might be like and what sufviving would entail. Every time I read it I get totally drawin in. Also regards narration on this version - Will Patton is always worth the money.

The horror of the situation grabs you

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like a 1950s version of One Second After. both good books. 4+ stars. both of their time. this from the missile gap times. but it all kicked off in the meddle east, and that part could have been written yesterday.

good story. but of its time

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Fantastic narration and themes that despite being old, are still relevant today. Some uncomfortable writing in relation to race since this was written in different times

Absolutely fantastic narration

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Very enjoyable because it is set and was written in 1950s America, rather than coming across as dated it was more like historical fiction which I enjoyed a lot. For a post apocalyptic story it is not at all as grim and gory as a modern book would be - cannibalism, slavery and the other usual depravity and gore that you expect in a more modern post apocalypse story! These things are maybe hinted at rather than really appearing in the story, apart from the odd bad guy most people are pretty decent and most behave in a relatively civilised manner. It is strangely almost a positive story, I wouldn't be too concerned about letting a younger reader / listener have this book. I have read reviews elsewhere that described it as having some racist and sexist elements to it - which there of course are going to be, it is set in Florida and was written in 1950s America! It is not as realistic in many as a more modern book would be, but I personally forgive that as it was a very enjoyable listen with interesting characters and settings. If you can credit the book for being written in more innocent times in terms of what would be acceptable amounts of horror and gore (there really is none) and enjoy it as an innocent predecessor of the modern post apocalypse book, it is very well worth a listen and very enjoyable. - I love the game Fallout 3 which has loads of 1950s styling and a post nuclear war setting, so this may have clouded my judgement a bit but I enjoyed the listen a lot.

Classic... Nuclear War 1950s setting.

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If you could sum up Alas, Babylon in three words, what would they be?

Couldn't stop listening!

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

The central character 'Randy' was very interesting. A reluctant hero.

Any additional comments?

This was just a great story. I was surprised that it was written way back in the 50's. It is so relevant to today. Great characters. Great story. Definately a must listen audio book. Will Patton speaks with a very understated passion that really sucks you into this world.

Amazing Journey into Armageddon

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