Subject
Survival -- Fiction Books
Best books
Fritz Leiber
A Pail of Air
"A Pail of Air" by Fritz Leiber is a science fiction short story published in 1951. Earth has been torn from the Sun by a dark star, freezing the atmosphere solid. A ten-year-old boy narrates his family's survival in a makeshift shelter, where they gather pails of frozen oxygen to breathe. They maintain a small fire for warmth in a world plunged into absolute darkness and cold, waiting alone on a dead planet.
Johann David Wyss
The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island
"The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island" by Johann David Wyss is a novel first published in 1812. When a Swiss family's ship is wrecked in the East Indies, they find themselves stranded without the crew. Parents William and Elizabeth, along with their four sons, must reach a nearby island and build a new life from scratch. Using the ship's surviving cargo and livestock, they create a settlement and face various adventures in their struggle for survival.
Johann David Wyss
The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original German
"The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original German by Wyss" by Johann David Wyss is a novel first published in 1812. After their ship is wrecked in the East Indies, a Swiss family finds themselves stranded on a deserted island. The parents and their four sons must build a new life from scratch, using the ship's salvaged supplies and the island's natural resources. Through ingenuity and cooperation, they create a settlement and face various adventures in their tropical refuge, all while wondering if rescue will ever come.
Johann David Wyss
The family Robinson Crusoe : $b or, journal of a father shipwrecked, with his wife and children, on an uninhabited island.
"The Family Robinson Crusoe: or, Journal of a Father Shipwrecked, with His Wife and Children" is an adventure novel written in the early 19th century. This work serves as a family-oriented retelling of the classic Robinson Crusoe story, focusing on the theme of survival after a shipwreck. The narrative follows a father, his wife, and their four sons who find themselves stranded on an uninhabited island, emphasizing their struggle to adapt to their new environment and the family dynamics involved in overcoming adversity. The beginning of the story depicts the family's harrowing experience of being shipwrecked during a violent storm. The father provides emotional support to his terrified children, highlighting themes of faith and resilience during their darkest moments. As they face the immediate dangers of the sea, he devises a plan for survival and encourages the family to work together in preparation for potential escape or sustenance. The narrative sets the stage for the family's resourcefulness, revealing their initial forays into survival as they explore their new abode and gather necessary supplies, setting in motion the adventures that follow.
Johann David Wyss
Swiss Family Robinson
"Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann David Wyss is a novel first published in 1812. When a Swiss family's ship is wrecked in the East Indies, they must survive alone after the crew abandons them. Stranded on a tropical island with salvaged supplies and animals, the family builds a new life, facing adventures while learning lessons about self-reliance, natural history, and cooperation. This classic "Robinsonade" follows their resourceful struggle to create a settlement in an unknown land, uncertain if rescue will ever come.
Jules Verne
The Fur Country: Or, Seventy Degrees North Latitude
"The Fur Country: Or, Seventy Degrees North Latitude" by Jules Verne is a novel written during the late 19th century that delves into the exploration and adventure in the Arctic regions. The story centers around Lieutenant Jaspar Hobson and his team as they embark on a perilous journey to establish a new fort in the fur-rich territories north of the Hudson Bay. The narrative immerses readers into the harsh realities of Arctic exploration, highlighting the struggles against unforgiving weather and the challenges of survival in a landscape scattered with wildlife yet fraught with danger. At the start of the novel, the story unfolds at Fort Reliance during a soirée hosted by Captain Craventy, setting the stage for the expedition. Various characters are introduced, including Paulina Barnett, a determined traveler who joins the expedition, and Sergeant Long, a steadfast soldier. The chapter sets a festive yet cold atmosphere, contrasting the warmth of human camaraderie with the severe Arctic conditions outside. As the preparation for the journey begins, the characters express their ambitions and apprehensions, foreshadowing the trials they will face in their quest for exploration, survival, and the pursuit of scientific discovery under the relentless Northern skies.
Edgar Rice Burroughs
The cave girl
"The Cave Girl" by Edgar Rice Burroughs is a novel originally published in two parts between 1913 and 1917. When frail, bookish Waldo Emerson Smith-Jones is swept overboard onto a mysterious jungle island, he encounters primitive tribes and a beautiful cave girl named Nadara. As he transforms from coward to warrior, Waldo must navigate dangerous ape-men, tribal customs, and his growing love for Nadara. Their struggle to reunite across treacherous seas and hostile forces tests whether civilization or survival matters most.
Thornton W. (Thornton Waldo) Burgess
Whitefoot the Wood Mouse
"Whitefoot the Wood Mouse" by Thornton W. Burgess is a fictional children's book likely written in the early 20th century. The story follows Whitefoot, a cheerful and wise little wood mouse, who spends a happy winter in Farmer Brown's sugar-house, eluding numerous natural enemies. The narrative highlights themes of happiness, friendship, and the struggles of a small creature navigating a world filled with dangers. The opening portion of the book introduces Whitefoot as a contented character who embraces the present and finds solace in his cozy winter nesting place. Despite his numerous enemies, including bears and owls, Whitefoot manages to remain optimistic and eventually builds a friendship with Farmer Brown's boy, who provides him with food. However, as the winter progresses, Whitefoot's home becomes threatened when the boy begins to use the wood pile for a fire, leaving Whitefoot anxious about his safety. Throughout these early chapters, readers are invited into Whitefoot's quaint life, where joy and worry coexist, setting the stage for his evolving journey and relationships within the forest.
Johann David Wyss
The Swiss Family Robinson; or, Adventures on a Desert Island
"The Swiss Family Robinson; or, Adventures on a Desert Island" by Johann David Wyss is a novel first published in 1812. When a Swiss family's ship is wrecked in the East Indies, they find themselves stranded without the crew. The parents and their four sons must reach a nearby island and build a new life from scratch. Using salvaged supplies and the island's resources, they create a settlement and face various adventures. Will they ever see civilization again, or will this island become their permanent home?
Manly Wade Wellman
Half Around Pluto
"Half Around Pluto" by Manly Wade Wellman is a science fiction novella published in the late 1950s. The story revolves around the inhospitable and frigid environment of Pluto and the survival challenges faced by a small team of astronauts. The tale highlights themes of isolation, human resilience, and the emotional complexities of relationships in extreme circumstances. The narrative follows Lieutenant Wofforth and his crewmates, Jenks and Corbett, who are stranded on Pluto after their scout rocket crashes. While trying to make their way back to Base Camp, Wofforth faces not only the harsh elements but also the tensions that arise among the crew due to their dire situation. As they journey across the desolate landscape, they must contend with dwindling supplies and the psychological strain of isolation. After a tragic conflict leads to the death of his companions, Wofforth continues alone, ultimately reaching Base Camp, only to find it locked and inaccessible. However, he is unexpectedly reunited with Lya Stromminger, the ship's first mate, who had chosen to stay behind. Together, they find hope in the possibility of survival on Pluto, setting the stage for a new beginning.
Raymond F. Jones
The Year When Stardust Fell
"The Year When Stardust Fell" by Raymond F. Jones is a science fiction novel published in 1958. When Earth passes through a comet's tail, mysterious dust causes all machinery to seize and fail worldwide. In the isolated town of Mayfield, high school student Ken Maddox and his father work desperately to understand the phenomenon as civilization collapses around them. With violence spreading, food shortages mounting, and time running out, they must find a solution before humanity loses everything it has built.
Kris Neville
The Winning of the Moon
"The Winning of the Moon" by Kris Neville is a science fiction novel written in the early 1960s. The story revolves around the tense interactions and unforeseen complications that arise during a scientific experiment on the moon, specifically an underground nuclear blast conducted by Soviet scientists aimed at analyzing the lunar mass. The narrative captures the humor and frustrations of the American team stationed on the moon as they deal with the consequences of the blast and the challenges of working in an isolated extraterrestrial environment. The plot follows Major Charles Winship and his team as they prepare for the detonation of the Soviet bomb, believing it may release accumulated stresses on the lunar surface. When the explosion causes an unexpected moonquake that jeopardizes their base, the team faces a series of mechanical failures and communication issues with their Russian counterparts. As tensions rise and they scramble to repair damages with mismatched equipment and inadequate resources, the American crew grapples with the absurdity of their predicament, ultimately finding themselves in a precarious situation. Despite the initial animosity, the story highlights themes of cooperation and the shared human experience amidst the chaos of interstellar exploration, culminating in a bittersweet reflection on their situation over vodka with their Russian counterparts.
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