Post-Apocalyptic Show Based On A Book That Inspired Stephen King Changes The Genre’s Rules

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A new show, released in 2024, is based on a classic science fiction book that was hugely influential in shaping the genre. It even served as inspiration for one of Stephen King’s most famous novels.

A new post-apocalyptic TV show seems to appear every year, and most feel very similar. They usually depict a world-ending disaster followed by familiar struggles for survival and dealing with loss. However, some shows try to stand out, and a recent 2024 adaptation of a book does just that, offering a fresh take on the genre.

Okay, it’s definitely not flawless, but I really appreciate that this movie feels so much more down-to-earth and real within the sci-fi genre. What’s even cooler is finding out that the story behind it actually inspired one of Stephen King’s most famous novels – that adds a whole other layer of fascination for me!

Earth Abides Is One Of The Most Distinct Post-Apocalyptic Shows

The new MGM+ series, Earth Abides, starts off like many popular post-apocalyptic dramas – a lone survivor navigates a world devastated by a deadly pandemic and attempts to rebuild society. But as the story unfolds, it shifts focus. Instead of constantly raising the tension with new threats, the show delves into the more subtle and unavoidable changes that happen to humanity over time.

The central struggle in Earth Abides focuses on the main character’s desire to rebuild a society similar to the one lost. Ultimately, however, he comes to terms with accepting the new world as it is.

While Earth Abides sometimes feels typical for a post-apocalyptic story, it’s at its best when it beautifully portrays the peaceful acceptance of change and the gradual loss of human history and understanding.

Earth Abides’ Source Material Is The Foundational Text For Most Post-Apocalyptic Stories

Michael Courtney/MGM+

Today, the story of Earth Abides might feel like something we’ve seen before. But when George R. Stewart first wrote the novel in 1949, it was truly original. Unlike many stories about pandemics, Earth Abides didn’t focus on immediate disaster. Instead, it was one of the first books to consider how a global pandemic could cause lasting changes to society over the long term.

George R. Stewart skillfully used allusions, from the Bible to anthropology, to illustrate a key idea: despite our belief in free will and progress, humans are still governed by the forces of nature, just like everything else.

The Original Earth Abides Book Inspired One Of The Greatest Stephen King Novels

Stephen King has said that George R. Stewart’s Earth Abides was the main inspiration for his epic novel, The Stand. In his book Danse Macabre, King explained that after reading about a chemical weapons accident in Utah, he kept thinking about Earth Abides. This sparked the initial idea for his own story about a world after a disaster.

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2026-02-27 06:08