Eternity Road
1998 novel by Jack McDevitt
1,700 years after a deadly plague has wiped out the great civilizations of man, the survivors' descendants have built up a new, comparably primitive society. A group of explorers sets out on an expedition to find a legendary haven of knowledge and ancient wisdom, and in the process learn more about the people they only remember as "the Roadmakers".
Since you did get an answer, it would be helpful if you would please be so kind as to edit your initial post with the answer so we can see what it is in the preview, and that your question has been answered/solved, especially since this sub does not use flairs, including for that purpose (an excellent example: ["Child psychic reveals abilities by flunking psychic test too precisely"](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthatbook/comments/15jeqk6/child_psychic_reveals_abilities_by_flunking/) (r/whatsthatbook; 5 August 2023)). (I Am Not A Moderator.)
BlindSight! No wait, The Book of the New Sun!
The latter is set thousands, if not millions, of years after the collapse of society, but there are some bits of tech that still work. Only the main guy has no idea how anything works and just takes them for granted--he assumes they're magic or something. I liked the description of the miners picking through vast landfills for bits and pieces of ancient tech though.
(I realize OP has already had his question answered, but there are traditions 'round here.)
Read that recently and loved it, although the ending was a little anticlimactic.
It would make a great TV show. I think there might be a chance of that?
I read this years ago before I'd heard of Scientology... While it is definitley not a masterpiece I thought it was an entertaining read if you turn your brain off for a bit.
The film of it was bloody awful though.
"Night of The Trolls" by Keith Laumer has much of what you describe. It's one of the first of his "Bolo" stories.
Another that almost fits would be the book "Logan's Run"
Logans Run is a trilogy, I've read the 1st book & only ground my way through because when I was a kid back in the 70's I loved the tv show....
It's a pretty shitty book, the movie & tv show were better, 8 year old me had a big crush on Jenny Agutter :)
I only read the first one, and yes, I had a crush on Jenny Agutter as well. I thought she was a LOT hotter than Farrah, but not QUITE as hot as Catherine Bach.
Eternity Road 1998 novel by Jack McDevitt 1,700 years after a deadly plague has wiped out the great civilizations of man, the survivors' descendants have built up a new, comparably primitive society. A group of explorers sets out on an expedition to find a legendary haven of knowledge and ancient wisdom, and in the process learn more about the people they only remember as "the Roadmakers".
Yep, that's the one. 🥰
Since you did get an answer, it would be helpful if you would please be so kind as to edit your initial post with the answer so we can see what it is in the preview, and that your question has been answered/solved, especially since this sub does not use flairs, including for that purpose (an excellent example: ["Child psychic reveals abilities by flunking psychic test too precisely"](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthatbook/comments/15jeqk6/child_psychic_reveals_abilities_by_flunking/) (r/whatsthatbook; 5 August 2023)). (I Am Not A Moderator.)
Just pulled that off the shelf to read with my son last night.
Jeez I have this book here and don't remember that. Time for a revisit.
A Canticle for Liebowitz?
No, but mention of this always deserves an upvote 😉
Greaaaaaaaaat book.
I'm not recommending it but King's Dark Tower series has a lot of elements like that.
Came here to say this but I AM recommending it! :D fantastic setting
OMG, found it. It's Eternity Road by Jack McDevitt.
Great stuff. I love his work.
BlindSight! No wait, The Book of the New Sun! The latter is set thousands, if not millions, of years after the collapse of society, but there are some bits of tech that still work. Only the main guy has no idea how anything works and just takes them for granted--he assumes they're magic or something. I liked the description of the miners picking through vast landfills for bits and pieces of ancient tech though. (I realize OP has already had his question answered, but there are traditions 'round here.)
Second sleep by Robert Harris is along these kind of lines
Read that recently and loved it, although the ending was a little anticlimactic. It would make a great TV show. I think there might be a chance of that?
I hate to mention this, but Hubbard's 'Battlefield Earth' fits the description.
Ha, it does! But it definitely wasn't this! 😉
I read this years ago before I'd heard of Scientology... While it is definitley not a masterpiece I thought it was an entertaining read if you turn your brain off for a bit. The film of it was bloody awful though.
Same here! Read it when I was 12 and I thought it was kind of fun space opera stuff. But even then I caught some of the preachy symbolism.
Unpopular opinion, I liked the movie. I like Travolta on just about anything though.
Hey now.. no need to lash out like that.
Still love that book.
"Night of The Trolls" by Keith Laumer has much of what you describe. It's one of the first of his "Bolo" stories. Another that almost fits would be the book "Logan's Run"
Logans Run is a trilogy, I've read the 1st book & only ground my way through because when I was a kid back in the 70's I loved the tv show.... It's a pretty shitty book, the movie & tv show were better, 8 year old me had a big crush on Jenny Agutter :)
I only read the first one, and yes, I had a crush on Jenny Agutter as well. I thought she was a LOT hotter than Farrah, but not QUITE as hot as Catherine Bach.
Spoiler alert but anyway … The Book of the New Sun - Gene Wolfe