Recs if you like Blindness...
strange plagues (further reading)
forced into unending sleep or perilous insomnia, repeating tedious daily routines until your body rots, watching as your skin starts to glow or your hands sprout scales - these novels feature illnesses that are far from typical
if you enjoyed / find yourself enjoying my strange plagues quest, youβll find even more suggestions for further reading within the niche here!!!
the allegory is political
a collection of novels that use allegory, dystopia, and satire to examine power, control, propaganda, surveillance, and the fragility of truth. blurring the lines between fiction and reality, these stories reflect the political anxieties of both their own eras and ours.
as always welcome to suggestions !
assigned by frankie
almost every single book mentioned* on Frankie's Shelf youtube channel because their taste is wild and i love it.
updated as frankie posts. *mentioned as in the book is the focus of the video, listened in the description, or offhandedly said.
thatβs not my name!
they call me hell, they call me Stacy, they call me her, they call me Janeβ¦thatβs not my name!!!
this is a list of books featuring characters without a name
as always, taking any and all suggestions!!
The End of the World & After - But Not US-centric!
Much of the post/apoc genre is taken up by US-centric fiction, giving a very specific mindset & often a similar type of apocalypse. There's a strong focus on guns & military. Settings outside the US can provide us with unusual, diverse & interesting stories of survival
Sister list to: Zombie Apocs - But Not US-centric
Fictional settings allowed. Some books may cross borders, inc sections in the US. Allowance made for US indigenous authors
First of a series only
Suggestions welcome!
π
Bleakness Is My Weakness
For when you need to wallow in melancholy and misery: a collection of pessimistic, cynical, downbeat, depressing, doom and gloom fiction for my disillusioned friends.
More to come!
Got the holiday blues? Check out my list Christmas with the Cranks!
Disabled/ND Apocalyptic Stories
Disability & Neurodivergency stories are rare in apocalypse & zombies books. I've found as many as I could!
As always, suggestions incredibly welcome! I'd love to round this one out!
Not intended as a list of good neurodivergent & dis rep (thou many of them absolutely are - lots are even written by disabled/ND authors! I just haven't read them all, so can't recommend every book on this list), but disabled or neurodivergent characters feature heavily in these stories of survival
ααα’
Nobel prize winners in literature (authors)
Awarded annually to an author from any country, since 1901.
This list contains popular books from all the award winning authors.
Awards from 1901 -2025
modern classic sci-fi (1950-2020)
trying to keep modern classic science fiction alive! giants and significant works from late 20th century to present across the world. all sub-genres included to the best I can.
hard, soft, steampunk, silkpunk, spicepunk, aliens, robots, time travel, space opera, dystopian, clifi, apocalyptic, afrofuturism, slipstream, cyberpunk, and more
recommendations welcome!
Unnamed Narrators
Books where we never find out the narrators'/ protagonistsβ names. Feel free to comment any additions!
experimental lit
books with an experimental structure or narrative choices, metafiction, oulipo, postmodernism, etc.
weird and wonderful
weird. strange. off putting. confusing. despite this you cannot put these books down.
Disturbing Novel Iceberg - Tier 2
Tier 2 from the disturbing novel iceberg, inspired by the disturbing movie iceberg.
More taboo themes, more gore, and books that stick with you long after reading.
Itβs the end of the world as we know itβ¦
Pre-, early and post- apocalyptic dystopias
Adult Dystopian
Dystopian classics and contemporary books for adults
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
I tried to find the latest version (2026).
Books from Different Countries
In an attempt to read books from as many countries as possible, i compiled a little list... β€οΈ
Spanish literature
Some Spanish literature from all periods and for all tastes. Are you in?? :)
Nobel Prize in Lit Authors
These authors won for all their lifeβs work, but hereβs each of their most notable books to get you started!
Not all authors are listed.
I send a pestilence and plague
into your house into your bed into your streams into your streets into your drink into your bread upon your cattle on your sheep upon your oxen in your field into your dreams into your sleep until you break until you yield
