The End: A Guide to the Best Dystopian Reads
What will the end of times look like?
In the riveting worlds of dystopian literature, things have gone terribly wrong. While the worlds in dystopian literature may appear utopian on the surface, they are actually oppressive and controlled as a result unchecked power, technological advancements gone wrong, or environmental disasters.
Whether you’re new to dystopian literature or a seasoned reader looking for your next read, here is a quick guide to five subgenera of dystopian literature and selected titles.
1. Post-apocalyptic
Post-apocalyptic dystopian literature combines two themes: the aftermath of a global catastrophe and a society that has crumbled into a nightmarish state, whether through a nuclear war, a natural disaster, or a viral outbreak. The event would have fundamentally changed the planet, leaving behind a harsh and unforgiving environment.
In this new world, societal structures and infrastructure have collapsed and basic necessities like food, water, and shelter are scarce, and technology may be unreliable or altogether non-existent. Characters in post-apocalyptic dystopias are primarily focused on basic survival and must contend with hunger, thirst, disease, and the dangers posed by the environment and other survivors.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
In Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic novel, The Road, a man and his young son journey south through a ravaged America. The world has been blasted by an unspecified cataclysm, leaving behind a desolate landscape choked with ash and devoid of most life. The boy has never known a world with sunshine, plants, or animals.
The father and son travel on foot, scavenging for food and supplies in the ruins of civilisation. They are constantly on guard against the dangers that lurk in this desolate world, including starvation, the harsh elements, and other desperate survivors who have resorted to violence and cannibalism.
The Road is a harrowing tale of survival, but it is also a story about the enduring power of love and compassion in the face of unimaginable hardship. It explores themes of hope, despair, the human capacity for cruelty, and the unwavering love between a father and his son.
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2. Technological Dystopia
Technological Dystopia feature a world setting where advancements in technology, originally intended for progress, have led to a dark and oppressive society instead.
Themes such as overdependence on technology, loss of privacy, surveillance, and the threat of artificial intelligence are commonly found in such stories. These conditions creates a dehumanising society where individual autonomy is relinquished to technology and those who control it.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick
In the dust-choked aftermath of a nuclear war, Rick Deckard, a weary bounty hunter in San Francisco, hunts down escaped androids known as replicants. These advanced bioengineered beings are nearly indistinguishable from humans and have been deemed too dangerous for Earth.
As Deckard tracks down his targets, he begins to question his own humanity and the nature of empathy. The lines between human and replicant blur, especially when he encounters a group of escaped replicants who seem more human than some of the jaded humans he interacts with.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence, empathy, and what it means to be human. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you turn over the last page.
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3. Totalitarian Dystopia
Totalitarian Dystopia depicts a society ruled by a single, all-powerful entity. This entity, often a totalitarian government or an individual leader, exerts complete control over every aspect of citizens’ lives, from information access and communication to work, relationships, and even personal thoughts.
Individuality is seen as a threat, and conformity is strictly enforced. People are pressured to think and behave in a way that aligns with the state’s ideology. Citizens are under constant surveillance, with no privacy whatsoever. In totalitarian dystopia, basic freedoms like freedom of speech, assembly, and religion are severely restricted or nonexistent. The all-powerful entity maintains its control by crushing dissent and enforcing order.
The Bees by Laline Paull
In Laline Paull’s The Bees, we enter the claustrophobic and rigidly hierarchical world of a beehive. It’s a dystopia, ruled by a tyrannical Queen with a strict caste system that determines a bee’s worth and lifespan.
Flora 717, born into the lowest caste of sanitation workers, is different. Mute and seemingly weak, she possesses an unusual ability to produce “Flow,” a vital substance that feeds the hive’s larvae. This anomaly catches the attention of higher-caste bees, propelling Flora on a journey through the different social classes of the hive. As Flora navigates the hive’s hierarchy, she witnesses the harsh reality of the caste system and begins to question the established order. She befriends bees from different castes, learns about the world outside, and uncovers the secrets of the Queen’s power. With newfound knowledge and a growing sense of rebellion, Flora challenges the status quo and sparks a movement for change within the hive.
This tale uses the beehive as a metaphor for a rigidly controlled society. While the story takes place in a fantastical setting, it offers a reflection on our own world and the potential dangers of blind conformity.
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4. Dystopian Satire
Dystopian satire takes the core concept of a dystopian society — a world gone terribly wrong — and injects it with humour, irony, and sometimes even absurdity. This subgenre uses sarcasm and exaggeration to critique real-world issues and societal problems.
The humour can be biting and uncomfortable, forcing readers to confront the ugliness of the situation. Situational irony and dramatic irony are prominent tools. The characters may be oblivious to the absurdity of their situation, or the audience may be aware of a terrible truth that characters are oblivious to.
The satirical elements in dystopian satire may mask a deeper message about the dangers of complacency or the importance of fighting for change.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
In Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, firemen don’t extinguish flames, they start them. Guy Montag, a fireman in a futuristic America, spends his days burning books, a practice deemed necessary to maintain societal happiness. Knowledge and critical thinking are seen as disruptive and dangerous. People get their entertainment from “Seashells” implanted in their ears and “Family” parlour walls that project interactive experiences, eliminating the need for independent thought.
Bradbury uses exaggeration and dark humour to expose the dangers of censorship and the emptiness of a society that shuns intellectual pursuits. The firemen themselves are a ridiculous notion, a symbol of the destruction of knowledge. The “Seashells” and “Family” walls represent the mindless entertainment that numbs critical thinking and replaces genuine human connection.
Montag’s journey becomes one of rebellion. He steals books, hides them with the help of a group of outcasts who have memorised forbidden literature, and grapples with the weight of newfound knowledge. The climax comes when Montag is forced to choose between his loyalty to the fire department and his newfound love for books.
Fahrenheit 451 explores a world where knowledge is feared and individuality is stifled. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of free thought, the dangers of censorship, and the enduring power of literature.
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5. Utopian Dystopia
Utopian dystopia might seem like an oxymoron since utopia implies a perfect society, while dystopia paints a bleak picture. This subgenre is premised on a twist — a society that appears idyllic on the surface but harbours a dark secret beneath.
In utopian dystopia literature, the society is presented as a utopia, with seemingly perfect harmony, order, and fulfilment for all citizens. However, the dark secret lurking beneath the surface is a hidden cost to this seemingly perfect society. This cost could be the suppression of individuality, the exploitation of a hidden class, or a twisted definition of happiness. The methods used to maintain this utopia may be ethically dubious. This could involve social engineering, mind control, or the exploitation of a particular group to maintain the privilege of others.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
In Kazuo Ishiguro’s haunting novel, Never Let Me Go, Kathy H., a young woman in her thirties, narrates the story of her life at Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic boarding school in England. Kathy and her close friends, Ruth and Tommy, spend their childhoods in a sheltered environment filled with art classes, sports, and discussions about mysterious guardians who watch over them.
One recurring topic at Hailsham is the concept of “completions,” a euphemism for when students leave the school, never to return. As Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy grow older, they begin to understand the truth about their existence. They are clones, created solely to donate vital organs when they reach a certain age.
Never Let Me Go is a chilling yet beautifully written exploration of love, loss, and the ethics of human cloning. The idyllic facade of Hailsham crumbles as the characters grapple with their mortality and the limited choices afforded to them.
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