That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

A National Book Award finalist, this bestseller follows a determined band of actors and musicians in the eerie days in the aftermath of a pandemic that derailed society as it had been. Dubbing themselves The Traveling Symphony, this troupe is dedicated to preserving and honoring what remains of art and humanity.

When the group encounters a violent prophet who threatens their existence, the story begins a fast-paced journey between past and present that will ultimately reveal the strange twist of fate that connects them all.

The thought-provoking book about survival and rebuilding what's been lost was adapted for television as an HBO Max original series—but you probably won't be surprised to learn that we highly recommend reading the book first.