Hopeful Post-Apocalyptic Reads

One reason I set the Elemental Artist series in a post-apocalyptic world is because reading about people thriving after a cataclysmic event fills me with hope. I love the notion of people relearning how to relate to each other. Of building new communities without technology. Moreover, there’s something romantic about reviving lost skills.

Each of the stories I’ve listed below provides a perspective I enjoyed. Like always, the affiliate links cost nothing extra, but will help support my writing. And best of all, none of these stories feature zombies, cannibals, or any of the other monsters prowling through the genre!

Near-Future Books

Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton

This is a beautifully written novel about a man dealing with the end of the world. It explores vulnerability and isolation both in the primary and secondary settings. I found the story stunning, and the character arc beautiful. It was also the inspiration for the movie The Midnight Sky.
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org

The Lightest Object in the Universe by Kimi Eisele

Set just after the collapse of society, this story focuses on the many ways people deal with trauma. Some pick themselves up and rebuild and some run away while others lean into kindness. The story begins with the primary characters physically separated (East Coast vs West Coast) but I enjoyed the setup. Because of the separation, the reader has time to experience both what’s going on across the country while also watching a city rebuild itself.
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Station Eleven is a literary novel about a troupe of performers who travel through the post-apocalyptic Great Lakes region, and bring music and Shakespeare to survivors of a flu pandemic.

But even though the story seems to skip between both time and point of view characters, I enjoyed watching the seemingly-disjointed stories weave together. HBO’s serialization of the book stayed moderately close to the original tone and story.
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org

Far Future Post-Apocalyptic Stories

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey

I loved the idea of female librarians traveling like gunslingers to deliver… “literature”. The book features queer and non-binary characters, which added tension and conflict to the story. Because of the feel of the greater world, this is perhaps the most dystopian book on this list, while also the shortest!
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org

Wool by Hugh Howey

Originally published as an indie book, Wool is set in a community which is thriving despite their post-apocalyptic world. While the planet is toxic and unlivable, the survivors have figured out how to flourish. I loved how the community adapted and have festivals, raise children, and even go on vacation.
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org

Oil and Dust by Jami Fairleigh

No hopeful post-apocalyptic book list would be complete without the Elemental Artist Fantasy series! Oil and Dust is the first book of the series and introduces the reader to Matthew Sugiyama, a naïve young artist on a quest to find his birth family. For the full blurb, book blogger reviews, and a content warning, click here.
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org

Graphite and Turbulence by Jami Fairleigh

This is the second book in the Elemental Artist Fantasy series. In it, Matthew learns nothing is as simple as he expected… including fatherhood. For the full blurb, book blogger reviews, and a content warning, click here.
Amazon.com | Bookshop.org

Have you read any of these stories? If you can recommend additional hopeful post-apocalyptic books, please share them in the comments below!

Header Photo by Tj Holowaychuk on Unsplash