Franklin Horton writes the kind of post-apocalyptic fiction that feels uncomfortably plausible. The Borrowed World series doesn't feature zombies or aliens—just an EMP strike that drops the grid and ordinary people trying to get home while society unravels. His characters make smart decisions based on actual preparedness knowledge, not Hollywood logic. The pacing is relentless, the survival details ring true, and you finish each book thinking "I should probably add that to my bug-out bag."
If you've burned through Horton's catalog and need your next fix of realistic survival fiction, these fifteen authors deliver. They understand that the most terrifying disasters are the ones that could actually happen tomorrow.
Start here: One Second After (first in trilogy)
Disaster scenario: EMP attack, grid down
Forstchen's One Second After is the book that legitimized EMP fiction as a serious genre. Published in 2009 with a forward by Newt Gingrich, it follows a small North Carolina town through the aftermath of a coordinated EMP attack that kills electronics nationwide. College professor John Matherson must protect his daughters while the community faces starvation, disease, and armed threats.
What makes this essential reading for Horton fans is the unflinching realism. Forstchen shows what happens when insulin runs out, when sewage systems fail, when 90% of the population dies within the first year. He doesn't pull punches on the hard decisions communities must make—who gets medicine, who gets food, what to do with refugees. The sequels (One Year After, The Final Day) continue the story but shift more toward military/political rebuilding.
Fair warning: this one is heavier on the mortality and community collapse than Horton. People die—kids, elderly, diabetics, anyone dependent on modern medicine. But that's the point. It's the most realistic EMP scenario you'll find in fiction.
Why it works: The grandfather of realistic EMP fiction. If you appreciate Horton's plausible scenarios and practical survival details, Forstchen is required reading.
Start here: Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse
Disaster scenario: Economic collapse, societal breakdown
Rawles isn't just an author—he runs SurvivalBlog.com and wrote the preparedness manual How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It. His fiction reads like prepper manuals disguised as novels, which is either a bug or a feature depending on what you're after. Patriots follows a group who saw the economic collapse coming, prepared accordingly, and retreat to their Idaho Bug-Out Location (BOL) when SHTF.
The book is packed with gear lists, tactical discussions, and detailed preparedness scenarios. Some readers find it too instructional—characters stop mid-crisis to explain radio frequencies or food storage methods. But if you read Horton thinking "I wonder what gear they're carrying," Rawles gives you chapter-and-verse on loadouts, calibers, and equipment choices.
The other books in his series jump around timelines and locations—Survivors and Founders show different groups' experiences during the same collapse. They're interconnected but readable independently.
Why it works: Maximum preparedness detail. Rawles shows his work on every tactical and survival decision. Great for readers who want the practical information alongside the story.
Start here: The Remaining (first in 8-book series)
Disaster scenario: Bioengineered plague creates infected/zombies
Molles writes military-grade survival fiction with exceptional tactical detail. Lee Harden is a Special Forces captain who wakes in his underground bunker 48 hours after a bacterium turns 90% of humanity into aggressive infected. His mission: emerge from shelter, locate survivors, help rebuild the United States. What follows is eight books of sustained tension as Lee leads increasingly desperate operations against both infected and hostile survivors.
Yes, there are zombie-like infected, but they're the backdrop—the real story is tactical operations, resource management, and the psychological toll of endless combat. Molles is a former Marine and it shows. The gunfights are realistic, the small-unit tactics are sound, and Lee makes decisions that military readers will recognize as actual doctrine rather than action-movie nonsense.
The series is complete (eight main books plus spinoffs), so you can binge the entire arc. The pacing is relentless—Molles writes short chapters with constant forward momentum, similar to Horton's style.
Why it works: Best tactical realism in the genre. If you appreciate Horton's smart protagonists who use actual skills and tactics, Molles delivers that with military precision.
Start here: 36 Hours (Boston Brahmin series) or any standalone like Nuclear Winter First Strike
Disaster scenario: Multiple—EMP, pandemic, nuclear war, natural disasters
Akart is prolific—he's written 50+ books across multiple series, all in the disaster/prepper genre. The Boston Brahmin series follows a wealthy prepared family through a solar flare/EMP event. The Yellowstone series deals with supervolcano eruption. The Pandemic series is exactly what it sounds like. Pick your disaster; Akart has written it.
His books are fast, straightforward, and heavy on family dynamics. The protagonists are usually prepared (sometimes wealthy preppers, sometimes just capable people), and the focus is on protecting family while navigating the collapse. The writing is workmanlike—he's not trying to be literary, just tell you a compelling survival story. Each series is typically 8-10 books, and he releases new titles constantly.
Good entry for readers who want Horton-style realism but prefer family-focused narratives with slightly less graphic violence. Akart keeps the tension high but isn't as dark as some authors on this list.
Why it works: Huge catalog across different disaster scenarios. If you burn through books quickly and want multiple series to explore, Akart provides volume.
Start here: Edge of Collapse (first in series)
Disaster scenario: EMP attack, winter survival
Stone writes EMP fiction with strong character development and psychological realism. Edge of Collapse follows Hannah, a woman escaping an abusive situation when the EMP hits, and Liam, a veteran with PTSD trying to reach his daughter. They're forced to work together to survive a Michigan winter without power.
What distinguishes Stone is attention to trauma and psychological consequences alongside the survival action. Her protagonists deal with PTSD, abuse recovery, and the mental toll of constant danger—not just tactical problems. The survival details are solid (she clearly researched thoroughly), but she adds emotional depth that some purely tactical authors skip.
The series (Edge of Collapse) runs six books and maintains quality throughout. Good choice for readers who want Horton's realism and pacing but appreciate more character interiority and relationship development.
Why it works: Realistic survival scenarios with psychological depth. Stone proves you can have both tactical accuracy and emotional complexity.
Start here: The Jakarta Pandemic (first in Perseid Collapse series)
Disaster scenario: Engineered pandemic, societal collapse
Konkoly writes tight, well-researched disaster fiction that feels horrifyingly plausible. The Perseid Collapse series starts with a pandemic engineered by domestic terrorists, then follows multiple POVs through the resulting societal breakdown. Like Horton, Konkoly excels at the "trying to get home" scenario—watching characters navigate hundreds of miles through collapsing civilization.
The tactical details are solid, the pacing is excellent, and Konkoly doesn't shy from showing how quickly things deteriorate. His characters make smart decisions but still face brutal consequences because preparation only goes so far. The series is complete (five books), providing a full story arc.
He's also written the Ryan Decker series (more espionage thriller) and The Fractured State series (political thriller with collapse elements). All show the same attention to research and realistic scenario-building.
Why it works: Combines Horton's journey-home scenarios with bioterror realism. Konkoly understands both survival tactics and how pandemics actually spread.
Start here: CyberStorm (standalone) or Atopia Chronicles (sci-fi series)
Disaster scenario: Cyberattack, infrastructure collapse
Mather writes high-concept disasters grounded in real vulnerabilities. CyberStorm traps a family in New York during a cyberattack-induced blackout in winter. No zombies, no EMP—just infrastructure failure, supply chain breakdown, and people getting desperate as power stays off and food runs out.
What makes Mather's work stand out is the research. He consulted with cybersecurity experts, and the attack scenario is based on actual vulnerabilities in US infrastructure. The survival challenges are realistic—urban environment, winter cold, apartment living with no supplies. His protagonists aren't preppers; they're regular people figuring it out as they go, which makes their mistakes and learning curve feel authentic.
His other books lean more sci-fi (nanobots, AI, space disasters) but maintain the same commitment to scientific plausibility. CyberStorm is the most grounded and closest to Horton's style.
Why it works: Shows how fragile modern infrastructure really is. The cyberattack scenario is scarier because it's not theoretical—these vulnerabilities exist.
Start here: Days of Want (first in Days of Want series)
Disaster scenario: Economic collapse, civil unrest
Pike writes blue-collar survival fiction focused on working-class protagonists scrambling through collapse. Days of Want follows a broke ex-con trying to protect his daughter when economic collapse triggers civil war. The protagonist isn't a prepared survivalist—he's barely getting by when things fall apart—which makes his adaptation compelling.
Pike excels at showing how quickly society's veneer cracks. His scenarios involve economic depression, government overreach, civil conflict—disasters that feel one bad month away rather than science fiction. The survival tactics are practical because the characters aren't spec ops veterans; they're mechanics, truck drivers, regular people using common sense and grit.
The series (seven books) maintains momentum without getting repetitive. Good choice for readers who want Horton-style realism with more working-class perspective and less military tactical focus.
Why it works: Grounded in economic reality rather than exotic disasters. Pike shows how collapse affects people without bug-out locations or prep.
Start here: Going Home (first in Survivalist series)
Disaster scenario: EMP, long journey home
A. American (pen name) writes detailed survival fiction focused on gear, skills, and preparedness. Going Home follows Morgan Carter, stuck 250 miles from home when an EMP hits, carrying his get-home bag. The entire first book is his journey home, dealing with breakdowns in order, resource scarcity, and other travelers—some helpful, many hostile.
Like Horton's Borrowed World journey sequences, this is all about the "getting home" challenge. A. American includes extensive detail on gear, pack contents, navigation, and survival decisions. Some readers love the tactical minutiae; others find it slows the pacing. If you're the type who notices when authors get firearm details wrong, you'll appreciate American's accuracy.
The Survivalist series runs eleven books, following Morgan and his community through long-term survival and rebuilding. It's complete, so you can read the entire arc.
Why it works: Maximum gear and tactical detail. For readers who want to know exactly what's in the bug-out bag and why.
Start here: Days of Panic (SHTF series)
Disaster scenario: Various—EMP, grid down, infrastructure failure
Payne writes multiple series in the survival/prepper genre, all emphasizing realistic scenarios and practical preparation. The SHTF series follows different characters through various collapse scenarios—EMP, cyber attacks, natural disasters. Each series tends to be 5-10 books, released quickly.
Payne's strength is pacing—short chapters, constant tension, and enough tactical detail to feel authentic without drowning in specifications. His protagonists vary from prepared veterans to regular people adapting on the fly. The writing is straightforward and moves fast, similar to Horton's approach.
Good option for readers who want multiple series to explore, all delivering similar themes with different characters and specific disaster triggers. Payne is prolific, so there's substantial backlist to work through.
Why it works: Fast-paced with solid tactical foundation. Multiple series means you can find the disaster scenario that interests you most.
Start here: The Days of Noah (Economic Collapse Chronicles)
Disaster scenario: Economic collapse, government overreach
Goodwin writes prepper fiction with strong libertarian/Christian themes. His Economic Collapse Chronicles series follows a prepper family through economic collapse, resource scarcity, and government attempts to control the population. The survival details are solid, and the scenarios emphasize self-reliance and community over government solutions.
Fair warning: Goodwin's books carry explicit political and religious messages. If you're looking for purely tactical survival fiction, that might be distracting. But if you appreciate prepper fiction that validates distrust of government overreach and emphasizes faith-based community, Goodwin delivers that alongside competent survival scenarios.
The series runs multiple interconnected trilogies (Days of Noah, Days of Elijah, etc.), all set in the same universe showing different aspects of the collapse.
Why it works: For readers who want prepper fiction that aligns with conservative Christian/libertarian worldview. Solid survival tactics with philosophical framework.
Start here: The End (first in New World series)
Disaster scenario: EMP, multigenerational survival
Hopf's New World series is epic in scope—spanning decades and multiple generations through EMP-caused collapse and slow rebuilding. The End begins with the initial EMP strike, following Gordon Van Zandt, a retired Marine trying to protect his family in San Diego.
What makes this series distinctive is the long view. Many post-apocalyptic series focus on immediate survival—weeks or months after the disaster. Hopf's series (nine books) covers years, showing not just survival but rebuilding, new societies forming, and eventually Gordon's grandchildren living in a world that's moved past modern technology.
The later books shift toward more political/military conflicts between emerging factions. If you've ever wondered what generation two and three of post-collapse society look like, Hopf provides that narrative arc. The early books are closest to Horton's style; later ones are more post-apocalyptic nation-building.
Why it works: Shows long-term consequences beyond immediate survival. For readers interested in the decades-long aftermath, not just the first crisis.
Start here: EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse (Survival in a Powerless World series)
Disaster scenario: EMP, natural disasters, various collapse scenarios
Hunt is another prolific author in the survival genre, with multiple series covering different disaster types. His writing emphasizes family protection and community survival, with protagonists who are capable but not superhuman. The scenarios are researched and plausible, the pacing is quick, and the survival tactics are practical.
Hunt releases books rapidly—he has 30+ titles across various series. Quality is consistent, and he doesn't get bogged down in excessive technical detail. Good for readers who want competent, straightforward survival fiction without too much military jargon or gear discussion.
Each series is typically 3-6 books, making them digestible story arcs that don't require massive time investment to reach conclusions.
Why it works: Reliable, fast-paced survival fiction. Multiple series means you can explore different scenarios and find what resonates.
Start here: The Containment (Age of Embers series) or The Collapse (Grid Down Saga)
Disaster scenario: Pandemic, EMP, societal breakdown
Schow writes gritty post-apocalyptic fiction that doesn't pull punches on how bad things get. His protagonists face extreme violence, moral dilemmas, and situations where every choice has terrible consequences. The Age of Embers series (pandemic) and Grid Down Saga (EMP) both show rapid societal deterioration and characters struggling to maintain humanity while doing what's necessary to survive.
Schow's work is darker and more violent than some authors on this list. If you appreciate Horton but wish he'd push harder into the brutality of collapse, Schow delivers. The survival tactics are sound, but the emphasis is on how quickly people become monsters when systems fail.
Not recommended if you want lighter survival fiction or heroic characters. Schow writes desperate people in desperate circumstances making brutal choices.
Why it works: Unflinching look at worst-case scenarios. For readers who want survival fiction that doesn't soften the horror of societal collapse.
Start here: Nuclear Survival: Southern Grit or EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse
Disaster scenario: Nuclear war, EMP, infrastructure collapse
Fires writes Southern-set survival fiction with emphasis on rural survival skills and community bonds. His protagonists are typically rural residents—farmers, small-town mechanics, people who already have some self-sufficiency skills—dealing with various collapse scenarios.
The Southern setting means different survival considerations than urban-focused authors: longer distances between resources, less density of threats, but also less access to supplies. Fires emphasizes hunting, farming, and rural survival skills alongside tactical preparedness.
The writing is straightforward, the pacing is steady, and the survival scenarios are practical rather than exotic. Good choice for readers interested in rural/Southern perspectives on collapse rather than the usual urban or suburban settings.
Why it works: Rural survival focus. Shows how collapse plays out differently in less populated areas with self-sufficient communities.
The survival fiction genre is huge, and quality varies wildly. These authors all deliver on the core elements Horton fans are looking for: realistic scenarios, competent protagonists, solid research, and pacing that keeps you turning pages. Here's how to navigate based on what you're craving:
Want EMP scenarios specifically:
William R. Forstchen, Kyla Stone, G. Michael Hopf, A. American, Bobby Akart
Want maximum tactical/military detail:
D.J. Molles, James Wesley Rawles, A. American, Steven Konkoly
Want family-focused survival:
Bobby Akart, Kyla Stone, G. Michael Hopf, Jack Hunt
Want urban survival scenarios:
Matthew Mather (CyberStorm), Steven Konkoly, Ryan Schow
Want pandemic/bioterror scenarios:
Steven Konkoly, Bobby Akart, Ryan Schow
Want long-term rebuilding beyond immediate survival:
G. Michael Hopf, William R. Forstchen (later books), Mark Goodwin
Want working-class/blue-collar protagonists:
Chris Pike, Sam J. Fires
Want maximum realism and research:
William R. Forstchen, Matthew Mather, James Wesley Rawles, Steven Konkoly
Want the darkest/most violent scenarios:
Ryan Schow, D.J. Molles (infected combat), Hubert Selby Jr.
Want fast releases and substantial backlists:
Bobby Akart (50+ books), T.L. Payne, Jack Hunt, A. American
These are genre books written for entertainment, not literary awards. The prose is functional, the plots move fast, and the focus is on "what would really happen" over character introspection or stylistic innovation. That's not a criticism—it's what the genre does well.
Most of these authors release in series (typically 5-10 books) rather than standalones. That means you're committing to multiple books if you get hooked, but it also means sustained story arcs and character development over time.
Quality control can be an issue with prolific indie authors. Some books will have editing errors, inconsistencies, or rushed conclusions. That's the trade-off for authors who release multiple books per year at $4.99 rather than traditional publishing's one book every two years at $28.
But if you're reading Franklin Horton, you already know this genre and its conventions. These authors deliver what you're looking for: realistic scenarios, smart protagonists, tactical accuracy, and the question "what would I do?" running through every chapter.
Stock your e-reader, pack your bug-out bag, and get reading. When SHTF in your fiction, at least you've got entertainment covered.
