Five Unsettling Dystopian Books That Will Creep You Out
They Are My 5-Star Eerie Reads
I am a fan of dystopian fiction and science -fiction. I do not know the reason, but I always thought it had to do with my curiosity, wanting to be more than what we are, and hoping for worlds, societies, and cultures that are so full of possibilities compared to our current world. But I have realised that dystopian fiction is not the most popular genre ( a quick poll on IG will tell you this). There are either ardent lovers of the genre or people who feel it is just a flight of fantasy.
I feel fiction, especially science fiction, opens our minds to new ideas and possible technologies, and dystopian fiction warns us of the dangers if the powers of tech, people and politics are left unchecked.
Here is my list of creepy dystopian fiction novels that I adore.
1. I Who Have Never Known Men
Thirty-nine women and a girl spend their lives in captivity in an underground bunker. These women are guarded by jailers who carry whips at all times. All the necessary facilities to survive comfortably, like running water, electricity, food, and clothing, are provided. However, there are rules such as no touching, fighting or hiding from the view of the guards. Their lives are uneventful and monotonous. However, one day, emergency sirens blared in the bunker, and all the guards evacuated, leaving the cell open unintentionally. These women who have been living in captivity for 12 years are suddenly free. They got out of the bunker to discover that the world was completely different from the one they came from. They are not sure if the planet they are inhabiting is even Earth.
While the above is just a small sneak peek, the book is much more than this. As a reader, I was intrigued and wanted to understand the reality of their lives. The book is narrated from the POV of the only girl who is the last survivor in the group. The world, interactions between women, and relationships are all experienced from the girl’s point of view. With seemingly only 40 people left on the planet, there is so much humanity in the book and the human condition is depicted most accurately.
2. Never Let Me Go
This book is part of the New York Times Top 100 books of the 21st century. Never Let Me Go is a dystopian fiction that reads like a literary fiction.
A group of students reside at a boarding school in Hailsham, UK. These children stay at Hailsham until the age of 16, where they receive education in history, literature, and the outside world. After graduating from Hailsham, they are provided a brief period of a year or two before starting their service. The service period differs from person to person, and after completing the service, they begin donations.
I know the description shared is very cryptic, but any more it will become a spoiler. This book is written from the POV of the protagonist, who is reminiscing about her childhood, friendships, and relationships transitioning into present adulthood. While some aspects of the story, such as conflicts between friends and teenage relationships, seem trivial and boring, the curiosity to find the truth kept me hooked and captivated. The book culminates in a satisfying climax.
Read more about this book here.
3. The Handmaid’s Tale
It is unlikely you have not heard about this book as it has been adapted into a famous web series. The Handmaid’s Tale displays a future where the population has become sterile due to poor lifestyle. A political party comprising strong individuals envisions a society based on Christian ideals, where a bunch of fertile women will be responsible for bearing children for the elite. Once a handmaid fulfils the duty at one house, she will move to another, thus resolving the infertility issue. The party overthrows the government and forms a state of Gilead.
The story is about the life of a handmaid called Offred, who is captured while trying to escape with her family and is now living in Gilead. The story captures her physical and mental turmoil, yearning for family, and struggle for survival.
This novel is a heart-wrenching story which will scare you. Margaret Atwood released the second book in this series some 15 years after this one. It culminates the nightmare of the first book with a hopeful end.
4. Station Eleven
Station Eleven is another post-apocalyptic dystopian fiction novel, part of the New York Times Top 100 books of the 21st century. Humanity is decimated(99%) and is back in the dark ages. A few people are living in settlements that are few and far away.
The story follows Kirsten, who was a child artist in a Broadway theatre production before the apocalypse. Kirsten, with her troupe, travels from town to town performing Shakespearean plays for a living. The world is unsafe with rampant killing for a few provisions, and in this, there is a religious cult that is amassing followers and gaining power. Kirsten and her troupe face a run-in with the Prophet, and escaping narrowly from the cult, they finally make a home at a haven called “The Museum of Civilization.
Although the book was released in 2014, the story feels extremely relatable and scary, post-pandemic.
5. I Am Legend
I Am Legend is also an apocalyptic dystopian fiction, wherein a virus strain has turned humans into vampires. The virus infects both alive and dead humans. Neville, the sole survivor, prepares his house every night for the sieges by the vampires who attack his house only at night, as vampiric strain cannot tolerate the daylight. The twist comes when Neville encounters a woman in broad daylight, who is uninfected. He captures her, and through her, he begins to understand the new world that is shaping up after the collapse of humanity. He eventually realises that he is the biological deviant and an exception in the new world.
This book captures emotions ranging from horror, hatred, and disgust to isolation, alienation and resignation. I Am a Legend is a creepy book that will blow your brains out.
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