Alas, Babylon [Mass Market Paperback]

Pat Frank (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 279 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Books, Inc.; First Edition/ First Printing edition (May 1964)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000VAUIU6
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (360 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,681,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Pat Frank" was the lifelong nickname adopted by the American writer, newspaperman, and government consultant, who was born Harry Hart Frank (1908-1964), and who is remembered today almost exclusively for his post-apocalyptic novel Alas, Babylon. Before the publication of his first novel Mr. Adam launched his second career as novelist and independent writer, Frank spent many years as a journalist and information handler for several newspapers, agencies, and government bureaus. His fiction and nonfiction books, stories, and articles made good use of his years of experience observing government and military bureaucracy and its malfunctions, and the threat of nuclear proliferation and annihilation. After the success of Alas, Babylon, Frank concentrated on writing for magazines and journals, putting his beliefs and concerns to political use, and advising various government bodies. In 1960 he served as a member of the Democratic National Committee. In 1961, the year in which he received an American Heritage Foundation Award, he was consultant to the National Aeronautics and Space Council. From 1963 through 1964 the Department of Defense made use of Frank's expertise and advice, and this consultancy turned out to be his last response to his country's call. His other books include Mr. Adam and Forbidden Area.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

165 of 174 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shute's "On the Beach" wasn't the only good WW-III yarn, July 19, 2002

By 

R. L. MILLER (FT LAUDERDALE FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alas, Babylon (Perennial Classics) (Paperback)

This story deals with the Soviet nuclear attack on America that fortunately didn't happen. Where "On the Beach" was written from a British/ Australian perspective, this book is based in the American south, perhaps making Pat Frank the Pat Conroy of post-apocalyptic fiction. In 1960, during the height of the Cold War, Randy Bragg, descendant of an old Florida family, gets a heads-up from his career Air Force brother and prepares his family and his town for when "the button gets pushed". Younger readers who didn't live through the Cold War might find this story a bit campy, but as one of the kids taught by teachers to hide under my desk, I'm in no position to scoff. The book's short length (by today's standards) might make you take it for pulp fiction at first glance, but the fact that it's still in print four decades later is a testament to its quality. Rather than just crank this thing out, certain that no one would notice the picky details, Frank did his homework on this story. Even down to the dog tag on the collar of a wild stray German shepherd in one passage--as a one-time resident of Rochester NY the same as that dog, I can testify to the fact that the phone exchange on his tag really did exist back in those days...

101 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alas, Babylon, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Alas, Babylon (Hardcover)

Two brothers growing up in Ft. Repose, Florida would often sneak down to the African American congregation to listen to the intense, hell-fire preacher. After every convicting statement he belted to his congregation he would follow them with "Alas, Babylon." Frome then on, Randy a former politician, and Mark a high ranking officer serving in military intelligence would use this phrase as a code. As an intense nuclear threat puts Mark Bragg and his family in trouble Mark sends his family to Ft. Repose, Florida for fear that one of the first targets will be the his intelligence base. Mark sent a telegram prior to the arrival of his family reading, "Urgent you meet me at Base Ops McCoy noon today. Helen and children are flying to Orlando tonight. Alas, Babylon." The story begins to unfold from there as the plot thickens and becomes more detailed and complex. The book is about the unthinkable happening; a nuclear strike and survival after the such a devastating event. A provocative story written by a great author, Pat Frank which is easy to follow and very interesting. His foresight into what could possibly happen is incredible. Even smallest details don't go unattended. Thrilling suspense that will keep the pages turning and your mind thinking. A book for anyone who enjoys an apocolyptic thriller, conspiracy plots, or just a plain old great book.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Character-driven survival story, May 12, 2005

By 

D. Rahmel "Dan Rahmel" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alas, Babylon (Perennial Classics) (Paperback)

I like this book, but not for the reasons I expected. First, unlike most post-nuclear books, this is mostly a strict survival story with few nuclear elements. In fact, the characters only encounter radiation in one small subplot. Therefore, the nuclear war is merely a backdrop.

The book tells a survival story where a small town is cut off from the rest of the world (which mostly no longer exists) and must make do with existing skills and resources. The central hero, Randy, is appealing and believable.

The characters are the main reason to like this story. None of the main characters "turn bad" post-apocalypse style, so the tension is mostly generated by sympathizing with these people and their trials. A simple story, but certainly worth reading.