Favorite survival authors? Those you don't care for?

[CountryGent]

I thought I'd toss this out there for discussion:

What authors in the survival and preparedness genre do you like the most and/or learned from? For sake of discussion, it could be those that write fiction, nonfiction, or both. The medium can be print or digital. Alternatively, what authors do you not care for, have found unhelpful, over appear to be overrated?

Thanks!

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[MilitantBEEMER]

I like James Wesley Rawles - The Patriots series

I have no dislikes yet.

 

[USMC-03]

Matt Bracken - Enemies Foreign and Domestic series.

 

[pioneer461]

I like James Wesley Rawles - The Patriots series I have no dislikes yet.

The only criticism I have of the Rawles novels is the assumption that everyone has unlimited funds to prep, buy large remote tracts of land, class 3 weapons, unlimited ammo, equipment, supplies, etc. I'd like to see him take a crack at survivors on a budget, like me. Otherwise the stories are filled with great ideas which gets the reader thinking about prepping.

I also like William Forstchen's novel "One Second After," and sequel, "One Year After." Likely scenarios following EMP attack on the US from an unnamed enemy. One second after an upper atmosphere nuclear detonation and EMP, the United States is thrown back into the 1800's. Another Forstchen book, "Day of Wrath," deals with a terrorist attack on a public elementary school. Reads like an after-action report of an ISIS operation. The initial goal is to take out panicked parents and first responders rushing to the school to "rescue" their kids.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

One of my favorite authors : Robert A. Heinlein.
Two excellent "survival" novels by him:
Tunnel in the Sky and
Farnham's Freehold.
Andy

 

[Connor Murphy]

One Second After was eye opening.

 

[Nocaster]

I really got into this genre a few years ago, and read everything I could find. Unfortunately, most of it is poorly written and edited even worse if at all. I learned to read past the typos, bad grammar, outlandish plots, and lack of editing.

I like Bracken's books, including his non-Enemies trilogy books.

One Second After was great, too.

I read several of Rawles books, and I think there is some good info in them. Some may find them a bit heavy on religion.

None of these can compare to Heinlein's work, but IMHO he is one of the greatest writers ever. I would include The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, for ideas with dealing with an oppressive regime, and NPE environments.

A few books that suffered from many of the literary problems mentioned above but I liked anyway:
- Apocalypse Law series. (Former Green Beret dad surviving with his teenage son on a homestead after a pandemic). Decently written, semi believable story, lots of detailed descriptions of preps, tactics, etc.

-Going home (a series, with names like Surviving Home, escaping Home, etc) Some good elements, but also poorly edited and some parts are just not believable. Edit: this series jumped the shark after the second or third book.

Lights Out. - one of the original books in this genre. Poor editing, some clumsy plot devices, but overall a good story with lots of info

 

[HB of CJ]

A slightly different answer. Consider the FICTION classic "Gone With The Wind". Margret Mitchell. Dated and slightly long but an excellent story of personal survival, change and growth in Georgia during and after the War Of Northern Aggression. Economic collapse. Cultural upheaval. Federal Occupation.

 

[Certaindeaf]

A slightly different answer. Consider the FICTION classic "Gone With The Wind". Margret Mitchell. Dated and slightly long but an excellent story of personal survival, change and growth in Georgia during and after the War Of Northern Aggression. Economic collapse. Cultural upheaval. Federal Occupation.

I thought that was called the War Of Slapping The Uppity South.

lol

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I thought that was called the War Of Slapping The Uppity South.

lol

We were only uppity 'cause we were right!
Andy

 

[Certaindeaf]

We were only uppity 'cause we were right!
Andy

My people went to the Dakotas and then here. No north south cares.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

That's a good way to be.
I had relatives who fought with the 5th and 9th Infantry of Kentucky.

But I am not so serious of a history buff to not like a good joke thrown towards the South in this period.
To many "stuffys" in this hobby and not enough of the "Wait a minute , that's funny!" types.
Andy

 

[CountryGent]

Continuing the Civil War (or War of Northern Aggression, if you wish) tangent; my mother's side was originally from Texas. My great-great-great grandfather fought and died in the Battle of Raymond (near Raymond, Mississippi) on the side the Confederacy (iirc, 7th Texas). And there were a few others on that side, but that is the one that sticks out in my mind.

My father's side was still in Europe at the time. They had the good sense to get out of dodge before their own civil war broke loose in Spain. Now that conflict was truly a SHTF event for all concerned.

But, I digress.

 

[HB of CJ]

I should have said "The War Between The States". Opps. Also there was a long series of cheap pulp paperback books titled "The Survivalist." Another older series titled "Traveler". Fun reading.

My grad school English Professor would laugh and tell stories that he worked his way through school writing porn novels. He could write one in a long weekend and it paid for room and board.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

I like the title War of the Rebellion ... especially since that's what the official records are called.
Andy

 

[Certaindeaf]

Remember those Foxfire books? They came out before de innernet.
Someone gave me four pimpin Lewis and Clark books a few years ago for Christmas.. been meaning to read them, never got around to it..

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Love those Foxfire books.
A great Lewis and Clark book is Gary Moulton's one volume edited version.
Andy

 

[HB of CJ]

Lewis and Clark. Now there was a true life survival story. Is it true that they only lost one man and that was early on and probably, (?) due to appendicitis? I would have loved to have been on that trip. Or ... perhaps maybe not!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

South by Sir Edward Shackleton is always a great read and true survival tale.
Not one man died with him ... wish I could say the same of the dogs...
Andy

 

[Libertas7]

I don't really care for One Second After, and I have not read any thing else by Mr Forstchen. Patriots by James Rawles I enjoyed, as well as Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. I still have quite a few more I want to read though.