A group of British boys are stranded on an uninhabited island after their plane crashes during wartime. Initially, they attempt to establish order, creating rules and electing a leader. However, as time passes, their civility erodes, and they descend into savagery and chaos. The struggle for power intensifies, leading to violence and death. The novel explores themes of innocence, the inherent evil in mankind, and the thin veneer of civilization.

This novel follows a group of rabbits as they flee their warren due to a foreseen catastrophe. The rabbits, led by Hazel and his psychic brother Fiver, face numerous challenges and adventures as they search for a new home. They encounter predators, hostile rabbit communities, and human threats. The book explores themes of leadership, survival, and freedom, all set within the natural world and its inherent dangers.

In this post-apocalyptic novel, the majority of the world's population is blinded by a comet shower, leaving society vulnerable to the Triffids - venomous, mobile plants that were previously farmed for their oil. The protagonist, who retains his sight after being hospitalized during the comet shower, must navigate this new world, dealing with the Triffids and the desperate remnants of humanity. The novel explores themes of survival, adaptation, and the inherent fragility of civilization.

"The Worst Journey in the World" is a gripping account of the Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole in 1910-1913. The book vividly describes the perilous journey undertaken by a team of explorers, their struggles with brutal weather conditions, and the tragic loss of their leader and four other members on their return from the Pole. The narrative is not only about physical survival in harsh conditions, but also about the psychological toll of such an expedition, making it a timeless testament to human endurance and spirit.

This novel tells the story of four Westerners who are kidnapped and taken to the mysterious Shangri-La, a utopian lamasery high in the mountains of Tibet. As they get to know their captors and the peaceful way of life in the lamasery, they must each decide whether or not they want to stay in this idyllic paradise that seemingly offers immortality, or try to escape back to their former lives. The story explores themes of time, happiness, and the often complex choice between the familiar and the unknown.

The novel centers on a naval officer who, after his ship is torpedoed during wartime, finds himself struggling to survive on an isolated rock in the North Atlantic. As he battles the elements and the limits of human endurance, the narrative delves into his past, revealing the nature of his character through flashbacks and hallucinations. The protagonist's fight for survival becomes not only a physical battle but also a psychological journey, exploring themes of isolation, identity, and the human will to live. The story takes a metaphysical turn, culminating in a twist that challenges the reader's perception of reality and the protagonist's true fate.

The novel follows a young British backpacker who, while traveling in Thailand, discovers a secret island utopia that is home to a small international community of travelers seeking to escape the tourist trail and modern society. Seduced by the idyllic setting and the promise of an alternative way of life, he joins the group, but as he becomes more entrenched in the island's routines and secrets, he realizes that this paradise is not as perfect as it appears. The community's isolation and the pressures of maintaining their hidden Eden lead to a breakdown of social norms and a spiral into paranoia, violence, and chaos, ultimately revealing the dark side of human nature and the illusion of utopia.

Set in a Japanese POW camp during World War II, the narrative revolves around the lives of Western prisoners who struggle to survive under harsh conditions. The story focuses on an American corporal, known for his savvy trading and black market dealings within the camp, earning him the nickname "King Rat." His entrepreneurial spirit and cunning allow him to rise above the desperate circumstances, but his actions and morality are called into question as he forms complex relationships with fellow prisoners. The book explores themes of survival, power dynamics, and the moral ambiguities of life in captivity, as alliances are formed and tested in the face of adversity and the fight to stay alive.

Set in the Judean desert, the book tells the story of a group of individuals who have chosen to quarantine themselves for forty days in order to find spiritual growth and healing. Among them is a young man who believes he is the son of God. As they battle the harsh conditions, their physical and psychological limits are tested, leading to a climactic and tragic end. The novel offers a unique interpretation of the biblical story of Jesus's forty-day fast in the wilderness.

This novel is set during World War II and follows a group of young friends in a British town who discover a crashed German aircraft. Inside, they find a machine gun, which they take as a trophy and set up in a hidden fortress. As they gather more weapons, their fortress becomes a place of refuge and resistance. The story explores themes of friendship, the innocence of youth amidst the horrors of war, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters as they navigate their own private war. Through their adventures, the novel delves into the impact of conflict on children and the blurred lines between play and reality in wartime.

"An Evil Cradling" is a harrowing memoir of a man's four-year captivity in Beirut, Lebanon. Captured by fundamentalist Shi'ite militiamen in 1986, the author, an Irish citizen, endures solitary confinement, starvation, and brutal physical abuse. Despite his grim situation, he manages to find humanity in the most unlikely of places and individuals, including one of his captors. His eventual release is a poignant moment of triumph against the backdrop of his traumatic ordeal.

"The Siege" is a historical fiction novel set during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II. The story revolves around the Levin family and their struggle to survive the harsh winter and the brutal blockade imposed by the German army. The narrative explores the themes of love, hope, and endurance in the face of adversity, providing a poignant depiction of the human spirit's resilience during one of the most tragic periods in history.

"Endurance" is a gripping account of the 1914-1916 Antarctic expedition led by Sir Ernest Shackleton. The expedition went awry when their ship, Endurance, was trapped and eventually crushed by ice, leaving the crew stranded on the ice floes. The narrative vividly portrays the crew's struggle for survival in the harsh Antarctic environment, their 800-mile open boat journey to South Georgia, and the eventual rescue. The story is a testament to human resilience, leadership, and the indomitable spirit of survival against all odds.

This book is a detailed account of Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole, as told through the journals of a member of the expedition. It provides a gripping and poignant insight into the harsh realities of polar exploration in the early 20th century, including the team's scientific endeavors, their struggle against the brutal Antarctic conditions, the camaraderie among the men, and the tragic death of Scott and his companions on their return journey from the South Pole.

"Alive" is a gripping true story of survival, recounting the harrowing ordeal of a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashes in the Andes mountains in 1972. Stranded for over two months in the harsh, freezing wilderness, the survivors face unimaginable hardships, including avalanches, starvation, and the devastating decision to resort to cannibalism to stay alive. The book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the will to survive against all odds.

"Touching the Void" is a gripping tale of survival and adventure that follows two mountaineers on a dangerous climb in the Peruvian Andes. After one climber breaks his leg, his partner is forced to leave him behind in order to save his own life. The injured climber, left alone in the wilderness, must find the strength and determination to crawl back to base camp, despite his severe injuries and the harsh elements. This true story is a testament to the human spirit and the will to survive against all odds.

"Dark Eden" by Chris Beckett is a dystopian science fiction novel set on a planet called Eden, where a small group of humans have been stranded for generations. The descendants of the original survivors have developed their own unique culture and language, but their limited resources and lack of knowledge about the outside world create a constant struggle for survival. As the protagonist, John Redlantern, challenges the beliefs and traditions of his community, he embarks on a dangerous journey to find a way off the planet and discover the truth about their existence.

This science fiction novel unfolds on a pair of twin planets, so close together that they share a common atmosphere, allowing adventurous individuals to travel between them using hot air balloons. The story follows the inhabitants of one world who, facing an ecological disaster caused by deadly spores, embark on a daring journey to their sister planet in search of a safer habitat. Along the way, they encounter various challenges, including hostile environments and creatures, as well as confronting their own societal issues and personal dilemmas. The narrative combines elements of adventure, speculative technology, and deep human drama, exploring themes of survival, innovation, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of the unknown.

This gripping tale follows a 12-year-old boy and his wolf cub companion as they embark on a perilous journey in the prehistoric wilderness. Their mission is to fulfill a promise to his dying father by finding and destroying a demon-possessed bear that threatens their world. Along the way, they must navigate treacherous terrains, confront supernatural forces, and learn to trust each other in order to survive. The story is a compelling blend of adventure, survival, and the bond between human and animal.

"One" is a post-apocalyptic novel that plunges the reader into a world ravaged by a catastrophic event, leaving it bleak and desolate. The story follows a man's desperate journey across this devastated landscape in search of his family. Battling against the odds, he encounters various survivors, each coping with the loss and trauma in their own way, and faces numerous threats that emerge in this new, harsh world. The narrative is a gripping exploration of human resilience, the power of hope, and the unyielding bond of family, set against the backdrop of a world irrevocably changed by disaster.