The Postman
by David Brin · first published 1985
60% recommend40% neutral
This is the story of a lie that became the most powerful kind of truth. A timeless novel as urgently compelling as War Day or Alas, Babylon, David Brin's The Postman is the dramatically moving saga of a man who rekindled the spirit of America through the power of a dream, from a modern master of science fiction.He was a survivor--a wanderer who traded tales for food and shelter in the dark and savage aftermath of a devastating war. Fate touches him one chill winter's day when he borrows the jacket of a long-dead postal worker to protect himself from the cold. The old, worn uniform still has
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I am not your traditional sci-fi fan, so while the books below may not be considered masterpieces or even "true" sci-fi, they may be a good "gateway drug" for others like me: - The Postman by David Brin - The Dog Stars by Peter Heller - I am Legend by Richard Matheson
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗Usually special operations/espionage/post-apocalypse type fiction. Some recent examples: - The Dog Stars by Peter Heller (I've re-read this a number of times) - The Postman by David Brin (Again, re-read this many times). Nothing like the movie. - Sapiens - The book series by Dalton Fury (RIP). His fiction is great, and if you do a little OSINT on the places in the book,…
on “Ask HN: Have you stopped reading books?” ↗The Postman by David Brin The Dog Stars by Peter Heller I Am Legend by Richard Matheson Anything by Dalton Fury (RIP) One Second After by William Forstchen Black Autumn by Jeff Kirkham
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗One may jest but the subtext of The Postman (particularly the David Brin novel, which I can recommend) is analysing which pre-apocalyptic institutional operating models are predisposed (or otherwise) to being rebooted/reconstituted even after the…
on “Postzegelcode” ↗I can't recommend David Brin enough: 1. The Postman 2. Earth 3. Existence
on “Sci-Fi Novels You Should Read” ↗Haven't read it, but I have read Alas, Babylon. Sounds similar but definitely worth checking out. One book I was thinking of in my post is The Postman by David Brin. In it, the post-apocalypse was triggered by a cascading series of disasters, including (non-nuclear) warfare and disease... but the final societal collapse was caused by domestic militants…
on “The vision of nuclear holocaust in Threads (1984) remains visceral and urgent” ↗One thing few writers focus on, in terms of the post-apocalypse, is dental care. A cavity can literally kill you if it progresses far enough. David Brin actually addressed this in The Postman; maybe this is why everyone in post-apocalyptic television and most films has shiny white teeth - they know!
on “Dentists reveal new tooth decay treatment” ↗