What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedStation Eleven
Emily St. John Mandel · Book · 2014
If you loved Station Eleven, start with Station Eleven (Patrick Somerville, 2021) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Station Eleven across media.
What hooked you in Station Eleven was the way it finds profound beauty and lingering humanity amidst the wreckage of civilization.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Station Eleven
Patrick Somerville · Series · 2021
Films on the same thread
Interstellar
Christopher Nolan · Film · 2014
Explores: Existentialism, Humanity's Survival, Love and Sacrifice.
Like Station Eleven, this film explores the fragility of our existence, using the vast scale of space to highlight the intimate, enduring power of human connection and sacrifice.
The Dog Stars
Film · 2026
Shares a thread with Station Eleven: Post-apocalyptic fiction.
Fans of Station Eleven will appreciate this quiet, atmospheric look at isolation, where the simple bonds between man, animal, and memory provide a fragile hope in a desolate world.
Elevation
George Nolfi · Film · 2024
Shares a thread with Station Eleven: Survival.
This film mirrors the tension found in Station Eleven, focusing on how survivors maintain their moral compass and protect their refuge while navigating a dangerous, post-collapse landscape.
Stalker
Film · 1979
Explores: Existentialism, Human Desire, Faith vs. Reason.
If the philosophical depth of Station Eleven resonated with you, this journey into the Zone offers a similar meditation on human desire and the mysteries that define us.
Series on the same thread
The Last of Us
Neil Druckmann · Series · 2023
Shares 3 threads with Station Eleven: Survival, Loss, Hope.
Much like Station Eleven, this story tracks a transformative journey through a ruined world, emphasizing the complex emotional stakes of found family and the weight of our shared past.
The Leftovers
Damon Lindelof · Series · 2014
Shares a thread with Station Eleven: Loss.
This series captures the same haunting focus on memory and grief found in Station Eleven, exploring how individuals grapple with a world irrevocably changed by an inexplicable event.
The 100
Jason Rothenberg · Series · 2014
Shares 3 threads with Station Eleven: Survival, Hope, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction.
While more action-oriented, this series shares the core dilemma of Station Eleven: how to preserve a sense of identity and societal structure when everything you know has collapsed.
Foundation
David S. Goyer · Series · 2021
Shares a thread with Station Eleven: Civilization Collapse.
Those who enjoyed the grand, sweeping scope of Station Eleven will find a similar preoccupation with the preservation of knowledge and the survival of culture during a civilizational fall.
Podcasts on the same thread
S-Town
Serial Productions · Podcast · 2024
Explores: small-town isolation, eccentricity, social decay.
This investigative journey mirrors the character-driven introspection of Station Eleven, revealing the hidden, eccentric layers of a decaying community through the lens of a singular, complex human life.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
If you valued the historical and human perspective of Station Eleven, these deep dives into past collapses provide a sobering, analytical look at the cycles of our own civilization.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Station Eleven available as a television series?
Yes, Station Eleven is available as an original series on HBO Max. The television show adapts the story of a Hollywood star and a nomadic group of actors roaming the Great Lakes region following the collapse of civilization.
Was the Station Eleven book a finalist for any major literary awards?
Yes, the novel Station Eleven was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award. It is a national bestseller that has sold over one million copies since its publication in 2014.
What is the premise of the Station Eleven book?
Station Eleven is set during the collapse of civilization. It follows the life of a Hollywood star and a group of nomadic actors who travel across the Great Lakes region, performing art and risking everything to preserve humanity after the world has fallen.
Should I read the Station Eleven book before watching the HBO series?
Whether you read the Station Eleven book first or watch the HBO series is a matter of personal preference. Both versions explore the same narrative regarding the collapse of civilization and the nomadic actors who travel the Great Lakes region to perform.