There are few books I’ve waited for the delivery of as eagerly as this. Henry’s Quest by Graham Oakley is absolutely charming, with a wonderfully imaginative storyline and gorgeous illustrations. This children’s book is set in a post-apocalyptic future, a world without fossil fuels where society has regressed to a medieval subsistence. Henry is a young shepherd, and in order to win the princess’s hand in marriage he goes on a quest to capture the mythical beast PETROL.
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.
For the launch of the book, we created a series of five short films to showcase different techniques that would be vital for surviving the immediate aftermath and rebuilding the capability of your post-apoclyptic society. This one shows how to use a scavenged deep-cycle battery (perhaps from a golf buggy, mobility scooter or caravan) and the alternator from a car to keep your community electrified, and to perform electrolysis for creating crucial substances for yourself. Also see the linked series: (1/3) How to open a can without a can opener, (2/3) How to start a fire with everyday items and (3/3) How to make a gasifier stove.
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.
Many of us trying to negotiate the labyrinthine streets of large cities have become reliant on the GPS and map function of our smart phones, or else stopping to ask for directions. But what tricks could you use to find your way around a deserted post-apocalyptic urban area if you don’t have these options – perhaps getting lost on a scavenging foray, or becoming disorientated while trying to escape a spot of bother. There are a few really handy pointers you can use for urban exploration.
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.
A fitting epitaph for our own civilisation..?
The epigraph from the post-apocalyptic novel The End Games by T. Michael Martin (via @JuliaBell)
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.
One of the central themes of Chapter 1 of The Knowledge is exactly what sort of world post-apocalyptic survivors are likely to find themselves in, and how that will change over time. Nature will readily move in to reclaim our cleared farmland and urban spaces. But there are already many places today where the modern world has receded as people were forced out, perhaps by war, and these offer glimpses of what the future may hold. George Monbiot has written this fascinating feature article in Aeon magazine, Accidental rewilding.
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.
This cartoon, from the New Yorker, offers a humorous cautionary tale on the dangers of a ‘business as usual’ approach to the global issues (via @TomRaftery).
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.
The Design and Illustration tutorial blog has a very nice article on how to use graphic software like Photoshop to convert your own photograph of an urban street scene into a realistic post-apocalyptic vista, like the image on the right. Follow the tutorial here.
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.
The Last of Us is a PlayStation 3 adventure game, set in a post-apocalpytic world (see the Games article for more information). The concept art for this computer game is some of the finest post-apocalyptic artwork out there. Follow to this io9 article for the full set of images.
Want to read more about the behind-the-scenes fundamentals of how our modern world works, and how you could reboot civilisation if you ever needed to...? Check out The Knowledge - available now in paperback, Kindle and audiobook.