Listen Like the World is Ending with These Apocalyptic Audiobooks | Audible.au

Listen Like the World is Ending with These Apocalyptic Audiobooks | Audible.au

Listen like the world is ending with these apocalyptic audiobooks

From sci-fi thrillers to dystopian tales of hardship and determination, here are 21 gripping listens set in a future where the survival of humanity is uncertain and perilous.

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24 February 2022

Listen like the world is ending with these apocalyptic audiobooks

Apocalyptic audiobooks all have one big thing in common: each is set in a world that is ending or just on the brink of collapse. Outside of that, apocalyptic and postapocalyptic stories take on all sorts of topics, twisting and turning into so many different genres and directions. Whether you love sci-fi adventures or prefer character-driven stories that reflect on real-world issues, this collection of listens has something for everyone. Here are 21 of the best apocalyptic audiobooks sure to rock your world.

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The Worldship Humility

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The Worldship Humility is set 120 years after the Earth was destroyed by a meteor. Only a few million survivors were able to escape, and The Humility is one of the ships that carries those survivors. Among them are Sam, a bored Airlock Operative, and Yasmine, a petty thief, who somehow become caught up in a dangerous game of politics, corruption, murder, and...porridge. The first book in R.R. Haywood's The Code Series, this Audible Original is an unforgettable, gripping space adventure with a cast of charming, fully realized characters at its core. The series is narrated by Colin Morgan, who is perhaps best known for playing the title character in the BBC series, Merlin.

I Am Legend

Richard Matheson

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A plague-driven tale that’s truly dismal, Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend follows Robert Neville, the last man on Earth, as he struggles to stay alive and stay sane in the midst of the world’s newfound population: infected former human beings who have transformed into bloodthirsty monsters. Despite the ever-looming presence of vampires, this story is focused on the crushing despondency that results from such extreme isolation and on what exactly distinguishes human from monster. It has been adapted into film three times, with leads ranging from Vincent Price to Will Smith. In audio, it’s Earphones Award-winning actor Robertson Dean at the helm, delivering a thoughtful performance that echoes the endless anguish of being alone.

Archangel

William Gibson, Michael St. John Smith

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Archangel is an Audible Original written by famed cyberpunk writer William Gibson and Michael St. John Smith. This dramatic full-cast presentation stars Josh Hurley, Victor Bevine, Elizabeth Jasicki, Gabriel Vaughan, Inés del Castillo, Eric Yves Garcia, Graeme Malcolm, Jonathan Todd Ross, Neil Hellegers, Scott Aiello, and Mark Boyett. The story is set in an alternate version of 2016, where, as a result of a worldwide nuclear holocaust, the Earth is dying and America is ruled by dictator Lewis Henderson—who will do just about anything necessary to maintain power. Henderson finds a way to enter our version of 2016. His goal? Gain power in our timeline so that he can take over an unbroken Earth.

Severance

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In Ling Ma's Severance, the world is ending—but Candace Chen remains at the office, devoted to her routine. As the Shen Fever spreads, families flee the city and public transportation ceases entirely, Still, Candace, a first-generation Chinese American Millennial, keeps on working, refusing to allow her life to be shaken up any more after the recent death of her parents. Soon, she is the only one left in the office, and a group of survivors come to rescue her. But can Candace trust her rescuers, especially when she has secrets they could exploit? This satirical novel is full of adventure and humor, brought to life by the witty, pitch-perfect voice of Nancy Wu.

On the Beach

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On the Beach by Nevil Shute imagines a world that has been ravaged by war. Radioactive fallout from massive cobalt bombing has destroyed the planet, and Melbourne, Australia is the only remaining place on Earth that is not completely contaminated. But the citizens of Melbourne know it's only a matter of time, and now they face a future without hope, wondering how they should live the last moments of their lives. Narrator Simon Pebble brings the right level of depth and gravity to an unforgettable story that forces listeners to face our greatest fears.

Junkyard Cats

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Junkyard Cats is an Audible Original from Faith Hunter, the best-selling author of the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series. Shining Smith is somehow still alive, having survived the Final War and the appearance of the Bug aliens. She's taken over the scrapyard that her father left to her, but now it's something more than a scrapyard…and Shining is something more than human. The wild ride that follows is brilliantly captured by Audie and Earphones award-winning narrator Khristine Hvam.

Zone One

Colson Whitehead

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Surely, a list of apocalyptic audiobooks would be incomplete without a book about zombies. But Zone One isn't just any zombie novel. This story, written by Pulitzer Prize–winning author Colson Whitehead, is about a plague that has divided the world in two: the infected and the uninfected. As the plague begins to recede, the living attempt to rebuild a community safe from the undead. Zone One explores the effects of postapocalyptic trauma while playing with the conventions of the zombie genre.

Oryx and Crake

Margaret Atwood

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Booker Prize–winning speculative fiction author Margaret Atwood dives into a post-apocalyptic world in her MaddAddam Trilogy, starting with Oryx and Crake. This novel follows the story of a man who calls himself Snowman. As he mourns the loss of his beloved Oryx and his best friend Crake, he tries to piece together what happened to them and to the world around him. How did the world fall apart so quickly, and why is he left with nothing but haunting memories? Campbell Scott narrates the first book in the series, bringing the character of Snowman to life.

The Road

Cormac McCarthy

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Focused on the relationship between a father and his young son struggling to survive and find hope in a world of utter devastation, this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Cormac McCarthy is deeply touching and intensely emotional. To quote Audible Editor Michael: "I recently went five years without crying. It’s not something I’m proud of; crying is a wonderful thing. I was just kind of like Zach Braff in Garden State. A few times I even tried to force it out of me by watching 'crying challenge' videos on YouTube, to no avail. Then I picked up The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It only took me two days to finish, and at the end, I found myself hugging the door frame to my bathroom making a very strange face. Only one tear came out, but it still counts, and since then I’ve gotten a lot better at it. Thanks, Cormac!"

Apocalypse Untreated

Gaby Dunn, Brittani Nichols

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Apocalypse Untreated is an Audible Original scripted apocalyptic thriller podcast that tells the story of five teenagers dealing with mental illness and the apocalypse at the same time. Told through real-time action, archived therapy sessions, and audio diaries, this podcast dives into the lives of these five characters as they fight through the apocalypse and for their own well-being. Apocalypse Untreated is created by actor, podcaster, LGBTQIA+ activist, and best-selling author Gaby Dunn, and it stars Chanel Ali (Girl Code), Jes Tom (Soojung Dreams of Fiji), and Adam Faison (Everything’s Gonna Be Ok).

Listen to this podcast

Station Eleven (Television Tie-in)

Emily St. John Mandel

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Chalk it up to Canadian politeness and optimism from author Emily St. John Mandel—but Station Eleven’s striking hopefulness is something of a rarity in apocalyptic fiction. Don’t be mistaken: The novel still does have things like a world-ending pandemic, a dangerous pseudo-religious Prophet trying to rule the postapocalypse, and a good deal of death and grief. But what Station Eleven is ultimately about is the restorative power of how our lives intersect with others, and the possibility that what is lost can maybe (slowly) be regained. Narrator Kirsten Potter does an especially magical job of bringing out the novel’s hope and humanism. (If you're interested in learning more before you listen—even if you've watched the HBO Max miniseries—check out this explainer.)

Tender Is the Flesh

Agustina Bazterrica

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It all happened so quickly. In Tender Is the Flesh, it started when a virus made all animal meat poisonous to humans. That's when the government initiated the "Transition," and now human meat is legal to eat. In this audiobook, we follow the story of Marcos, who makes a living slaughtering humans. He knows he's not supposed to make any personal connections with the people he kills, but when he's sent a fine-quality live specimen, he can't help himself. He starts treating her like a human being, which gets him thinking about everything else he's lost.

The Memory Police

Yoko Ogawa, Stephen Snyder - translator

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A surreal and haunting apocalyptic novel from Yoko Ogawa, The Memory Police is set in a world where everything is falling apart—but it's memories that are deteriorating rather than the physical world itself. Every time people begin to forget things, it's the Memory Police who appear to take the forgotten things away. At first, the things that are forgotten—hats, ribbons, roses—are easy to remove. Yet as the story progresses, people begin to forget essential parts of themselves. A young woman is determined to cling to her writing to preserve the past and her identity—even if it means spending the rest of her life hidden beneath her floorboards. Traci Kato-Kiriyama narrates the audiobook in a reflective style that matches the novel's tone and its thought-provoking, increasingly unsettling story.

Survivor Song

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In some books on this list, the world has been ravaged by a flu-like virus. In Paul Tremblay's Survivor Song, it's a rabies-like virus that threatens to overtake the world. But unlike rabies, this disease has a horrifyingly short incubation period of an hour or less. By the time you are infected, you quickly lose your mind. Natalie has just been bitten, and her friend Dr. Ramola "Rams" Sherman is her only hope for survival. But time is running out.

Leave the World Behind

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In Rumaan Alam's Leave the World Behind, a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award, two families of strangers with seemingly nothing in common are forced to rely on each other as the world around them seems to be ending. Hardworking white Brooklynites Amanda and Clay are taking a much-needed vacation from their busy life. They're hoping for quality time with their teenage son and daughter in the luxurious home they’ve rented in a remote area of Long Island. Late at night, they receive an unexpected knock on the door. Ruth and G.H., the wealthy older Black owners of the house, have arrived in a panic. A blackout has swept the city, and they've come seeking shelter. But with the WiFi out and the television not working, Amanda and Clay don't know what to believe and who to trust.

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World

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A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World is a survival story about Griz, a young boy who doesn't know what the world was like before everyone died. Now he lives on a remote island with his parents and his dog. That is, until the thief comes. If you love postapocalyptic fiction, suspenseful stories, and very good dogs, this is the perfect listen for you. This audiobook is narrated by the author, C.A. Fletcher, who offers an atmospheric and engaging performance that will leave you hooked on every word.

Hollow Kingdom

Kira Jane Buxton

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Would you ever have imagined that a crow would be humanity's only hope for survival during a zombie apocalypse? Well, that’s exactly what transpires in Kira Jane Buxton's Hollow Kingdom. S.T. is a domesticated crow who loves nothing more than his owner, Big Jim, and some Cheetos, the very best food in the world. Then one day, Big Jim's eye falls out, and S.T. begins to suspect that something might be wrong. Robert Petkoff narrates the voice of S.T. with a sense of humor and earnestness that is perfect for the character.

The Book of M

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In a near future rocked by catastrophe, Ory and his wife, Max, live in hiding from The Forgetting—a plague-like phenomenon that robs victims of their memories, leaving a strange, inexplicable new power in their place. When Max comes down with early, dreaded symptoms, she flees to protect her husband. But Ory, determined to spend his last days with Max before she forgets him entirely, sets out in a barely recognizable world to find her. Grappling with questions about love, survival, hope, and grief, Peng Shepherd's apocalyptic novel is as heart-wrenching as it is haunting. With dual narration from voice actors James Fouhey and Emily Woo Zeller that Audible listeners call “captivating,” “superb,” and “perfect,” The Book of M is a rare postapocalyptic gem and utterly absorbing listen.

2034

Elliot Ackerman, Admiral James Stavridis

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Could the next world war mark the beginning of the end of the world? Co-written by former military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis, 2034 is an apocalyptic geopolitical thriller that imagines a near-future naval clash between the United States and China in the South China Sea that ultimately leads to disaster on a global scale. This audiobook includes an all-star cast of narrating talents—Emily Woo Zeller, P.J. Ochlan, Vikas Adam, Dion Graham, and Feodor Chin—and an exclusive interview with Admiral Stavridis.

The Book of Koli

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From M.R. Carey, the author who brought us The Girl with All the Gifts, comes a new apocalyptic trilogy—The Rampart Trilogy—beginning with The Book of Koli. Koli has lived in the small village of Mythen Rood his entire life—and for his whole life, he's been told not to go beyond the walls of his village if he wants to stay safe. Beyond Mythen Rood is a landscape of overgrown forests, choker trees, and deadly seeds. And if the forest itself doesn't kill you, the shunned men who live in the forest will. But when Koli is exiled, he'll have no other choice but to take to the woods and fight for survival. This novel is expertly narrated by Theo Solomon, who captures Koli’s initial innocence and his growth toward strength and resilience.

Impact Winter

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Set in a chilling near future, Impact Winter focuses on a group of survivors who have been holed up in the fallout shelter of a medieval castle for seven long, dark years—ever since a comet hit the Earth and blotted out the sun. While they've been underground, the world has been taken over by nocturnal beasts with a thirst for blood. At last, the survivors are ready to rise up and mount a resistance, led by Darcy, a battle-tested vampire hunter, and her younger sister, Hope. Can they save what's left of humanity? Performed by a full cast and featuring immersive 3D audio, this heart-pounding story of horror, adventure, and the apocalypse is a powerhouse Audible Original, created by Travis Beacham, the writer and director behind hits like Pacific Rim and Carnival Row, and executive producers of The Walking Dead.

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