I have to write a paper on "representations of the apocalypse in the media" and I'd like to write about a novel. Problem is I can't think of any apocalyptic novels, so if you know any please help me

(what I'm looking for is basically something like Matrix, Independence Day, Taxi Driver, The Day After,... in literary form)

Z for Zachariah

but that is post Apocalypse

also The Road by Cormac McCarthy, but that is post too. :\

girlfriend in a coma by douglas coupland as far as I remember.
Into the forest by Jean hegland.

Rocco by Sheryl Jordan.

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The Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence. It's one of the only books I haven't finished because it scared me so bad. I was only like 13 when I read it, though, in my defence.

Also The Lake at the End of the World by Caroline Macdonald might be good. But I read that in grade six, so my memory's a little rusty.

thank you so much for all your suggestions!!!

I think I'll take either The Road or Into the Forest

day of the triffids or the chyrsalids.
wyndham is god

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Taxi Driver? It's been a while, but I don't remember an apocalypse, just NYC in the 70s. It is my understanding that many people who lived through that era felt an apocalypse would be preferable, but still.

Anyway, in school I read a book called Childhood's End which I think fits your criteria. I can't remember the author, although I'm fairly certain it's something a lot of people would know.

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you're right, there is no apocalypse in taxi driver

but the protagonist (can't remember his name right now) shows psychological traits of an apocalyptic person. he sees society as something evil and rotten which has to be extinguished. he feels that some "higher power" (FBI) wants him to take care of this problem which means he's the chosen one who can save the world and make it a better place. also in the beginning of the movie, there are a lot of references to biblical apocalypses like the smoke coming out of the sewery, the red light shining in his eyes, the confusion of neon lights and traffic, etc
it's more of a psychological apocalypse than a real one

Travis Bickle. I can certainly see it as a personal apocalypse, and New York City in the 70s is supposed to have been pretty hellish. I'd imagine the movie has something to do with fixing that as a metaphor for people who didn't experience it.

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revelations

you are correct!
i love both those books, good old fashion page turning sci fi.

That's as apocalpytic as you can get, LOL!

And didn't Stephen King write something? Or am I just thinking of The Stand, which I haven't read, but isn't that only about the end of the human race due to a super virus/pandemic? I thought King wrote something about the apocalypse though. I have only read about 6 of his books, so...eh.

Yes, that's The Stand. The human race doesn't entirely get wiped out, but there's a stand-off between good and evil and all of that. I don't know if he might have written another apocalyptic book thought.

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the last man- mary shelley (possibly not the easiest to get hold of)
the time machine- hg wells (features the almost end of the earth but a realistic, evolutionary apocalypse, not a religious one)

children of the dust is a good one, but it is very much a children's book and doesn't stand up so well when you're older