I write mainly one genre of fiction: noir-y crime espionage thrillers…
But I also write post-apocalyptic thrillers under the pen name J.E. Heskett. Why the distinction? Because post-apoc thrillers take place in the future, generally. And it’s an entirely different breed of reader who likes the “post-apoc” flavor of thriller vs. the modern day kind.
Also note: lots of people make a distinction between “dystopian” and “post-apocalyptic,” which I’m not going to get into here. Assume I mean both. Here’s an article discussing the differences, if you’d like to know for yourself.
So why do I write these?
I’ve always loved post-apoc tales, as a reader. One of my favorite reads as a teen was The Stand by Stephen King, which I think qualifies. Over the years, I’ve devoured books like 1984, Fahrenheit 451, Hunger Games, Station Eleven, The Road, Handmaid’s Tale, Maze Runner, and many more.
Diving into these words that could be is harrowing and fun.
But, as a writer, there’s something even more exciting about composing post-apocalyptic fiction. Post-apocalyptic plots have an inherent mystery built into every story set in a shattered world:
How did the world get to be this way?
And, as a writer, that gives you something extra to play with. Not only are you telling a love story or crime story or adventure story or a quest story, you can also increase the mystery factor by dripping out details about the world. You can answer as much or as little of that question as you like.
The Road or Mad Max: Fury Road? Both of these tales give you almost no answers.
Handmaid’s Tale? The decline of civilization is documented throughout the book, and learning about the history is one of the best parts of the novel.
If you like my thrillers, but post-apoc isn’t your jam, I understand your hesitation. But maybe you haven’t found the right post-apoc novel yet. Let the mystery of a changed world suck you in and give you something to puzzle through.
