I love dystopian novels almost as much as I love fantasy fiction. Sometimes they kind of freak me out because I can see them coming true, but generally I enjoy the critique on modern society.
So I found a handy list on wikipedia of dystopian novels. I've derived my list from it; thus my recommendations* are in chronological order.
1932: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley- It's been years since I read this, but I remember reading it for fun, not because my teacher made me.
1938: Anthem by Ayn Rand- This made me value my independence and identity even more than I did before.
1949: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell- I chose 1984 for my 10th grade English project. I wrote, directed, & edited a short film adaptation. America keeps inching closer to Big Brother, and I'm like, "Please just go read 1984 before you give away our liberties."
1953: Fahrenheit 451** by Ray Bradbury- I thought I would like this book. I love dystopian novels, and I hate censorship. But it was just too weird for me, and not in a good way.
1953: Fahrenheit 451** by Ray Bradbury- I thought I would like this book. I love dystopian novels, and I hate censorship. But it was just too weird for me, and not in a good way.
1954: Lord of the Flies by William Golding- So incredibly creepy. A plane crashes, and only teenage boys survive. The ensuing chaotic civilization is disturbing.
1985: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood- Women's importance is pretty much dependent on their reproductive abilities. Who doesn't love a good feminist dystopia?
1992: The Children of Men** by P.D. James- The whole world becomes infertile, and the last generation of children become monsters.
1993, 2000: The Giver and Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry***- Children's dystopian literature! Love love love The Giver. The sequel is decent.
2002: Feed by M.T. Anderson- Have you ever wanted a computer in your head? That personalizes ads for you at the mall? That keeps track of you, your activities, your location at any given point in time?
2005-2007: Uglies, Pretties, Specials,** and Extras** by Scott Westerfield- I loooooove this trilogy plus companion novel. I've lost count of how many times I've read Uglies whilst waiting for each subsequent novel to come out. In the future, everyone gets plastic surgery on their 16th birthday. But that's not the only surgery they have... cue sinister music
2008-2010: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins- I'm
just assuming you've read these or plan to read these or you're a book
snob who can't read something considered popular by the masses.
2011: XVI by Julia Karr- In the future, girls receive tattoos on their 16th birthday... simultaneously turning them into sex objects. The ending is a little rushed, but most of the book moves at a really good pace.
*Or anti-recommendations, as with Fahrenheit 451
**I have only read these books once, as opposed to the rereads of the other books listed.
**I have only read these books once, as opposed to the rereads of the other books listed.
***She has a third book in this loosely-connected trilogy, but I have not read it.
I love this list! Dystopian novels are some of my favorite - I would also add Fahrenheit 451 to your list.
ReplyDeleteI love dystopian novels (obviously). I haven't read Fahrenheit 451 yet, but I'll add it to my To-Read list. Once I get around to it, I'll be sure to update this list! Thanks for the rec. :)
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