With our list of the best dystopian books by classic authors such as George Orwell, Margaret Atwood, and Aldous Huxley Margaret Atwood, it’s time to consider which other dystopian novels and short stories you should read.
The dystopian story will suprise you
This article will show you some basic information about Dystopian novels and the list of best dystopian novels of all time
Introduction to the Dystopian Novel
What is a Dystopian Novel?
A dystopian novel is a science fiction novel in which society has been radically transformed, often by technology and scientific discoveries.
It is also a story of the future where the world has been turned upside down and nothing is as it seems. The main character usually struggles with their identity and they must fight to survive in a world that they are not used to.
The Dystopian Novel genre has evolved over time, but the most common themes are usually survival, dystopia, rebellion against oppression, and questioning of authority.
What is a Post-Apocalyptic Society?
A post-apocalyptic society is a society that exists after an apocalyptic event. The term can apply to any event, but in popular culture, the word often refers to a future world where civilization has collapsed due to some great catastrophe.
There are many ways in which a society can be destroyed or cease to exist, such as nuclear war, pandemic, natural disaster, or famine. In a post-apocalyptic setting, humans have been reduced to small tribes and communities that struggle for survival in the aftermath of this disaster.
A Brief History of Dystopian Novels
Dystopian novels are stories that depict a world in which humanity has been subjugated by a totalitarian or authoritarian regime.
The term “dystopian” comes from the Greek meaning “abode of Zeus”. These types of novels were originally written for adults and later adapted for children.
Dystopian novels have been around since the early 1800s, with their first appearance in 1816 when Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was published. They continued to be popular until the 1960s when dystopian literature began to shift toward utopian literature.
The Different Types of Dystopian Societies
Dystopian societies are not just a thing of fiction. They exist in our world. There are many different types of dystopian societies, and each has its own characteristics.
In order to understand the different types of dystopian societies, we should first understand the different definitions of dystopia.
Dystopian societies can be seen as an exaggerated representation of society that is either negative or positive. Dystopian societies can also be classified into three categories:
1) Dystopian Societies with a negative view: These dystopian stories create a dark vision without hope for humanity and depict how humans would react if they were to live in such an environment
2) Dystopian Societies with a positive view: These stories show how humans would react under certain circumstances if they were to live in this world
3) Dystopian Societies with neither a negative nor a positive view: These stories show how humans would react if they were to live in this world.
This has been seen through society in the novel “The Hunger Games” and “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. The dystopian societies in these novels are meant to be negative and depict what people would do if they ruled the world.
4) Dystopian Societies with a negative view: These stories show how humanity would react if they were to live in this world. This has been seen through society in “Animal Farm” and “Brave New World”. These novels are meant to be a positive dystopia.
Top best dystopian society novels of all time
- 1984 by George Orwell
This Novel is considered classic in many of the great dystopian novels exploring the minds of future civilizations
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
With the release of The Handmaid’s Tale, based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. Atwoods’ The Handmaid’s Tale is a totalitarian-themed dystopian novel set in the future, focusing on the stories of oppressed women living in the theocracy of Gilead.
Top of the best Dystopian Novels
- Lord of the Flies
Lord of the Flies has earned the title of a modern classic and is gaining popularity in school curricula.
- Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)
Orwell’s world is very different from many of the other worlds we read about in the famous dystopian novel. When you study Orwell’s dystopian version of Taiwan, you start to see parallels to the world we live in today. George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) is perhaps the most famous dystopian novel in the world, the adjective “Orwellian” is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary, “Big Brother”, “thought crime” And phrases like “Xinfeng” are part of the language. Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 combines themes of sexual repression, authoritarianism, and psychological manipulation.
- Jack London, The Iron Heel
The post-apocalyptic novel is another short story, but a must-read for any fan of George Orwell’s first dystopia.
- A Clockwork Girl
A must-read for the 21st century, A Clockwork Girl is one of the foundational books of the dystopian genre. This is an absolute classic and must-read.
- Never Let Me Go
This novel has been called a cross between The Giver and Don’t Let Me Go, two of my other favorite classic dystopias. This novel is listed for its exploration of gender, family, and social norms. Indeed, Never Let Me Go is set in London in the late 1990s, making it a new type of “modern historical dystopia”.
- Huxley’s Brave New World
This is another great book that will introduce the new reader to the dystopian genre. To be honest, I thought stories like this had never been published, which is why I think this is one of the greatest dystopias of all time. One of my favorite classic dystopian books is the 1977 end of the world version. Huxley’s Brave New World is one of the best classic dystopias to read.
- 451 degrees Fahrenheit
451 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature at which the paper in the book ignites and burns… 60 years after its publication, Ray Bradbury’s world-renowned novel 451 Degrees Fahrenheit has become a global set in a dark and dystopian future Literary classic.
- Animal Farm
An intriguing story with strong dystopian elements, George Orwell’s Animal Farm should be on your must-read list. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a novel that allegorically alludes to the political prelude to the Russian Revolution and Stalinism.
- A Clockwork Orange
Often cited as one of the best novels of the 20th century, this book tells the story of a dark, dystopian nightmarish future filled with violent gangs. Aside from the language of A Clockwork Orange and the writing process, A Clockwork Orange is a really interesting look at the head of a teenage troublemaker named Alex and how the dystopian society around him is trying to cure his condition.
- This Perfect Day
This Perfect Day (1970) is a science fiction novel by Ira Levina that is often compared to other dystopian hits ”1984” and ”Brave New World”. This plot from Yevgeny Zamyatin’s books is familiar because it inspired many dystopian novels such as 1984, Brave New World, and 1984.
- Last Post
The novel is about a London-based utopian society called a world state that measures time in “post-Ford” (or A.F.) years—and that, too, is certainly not a utopia.
- We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
The often unrecognized father of modern dystopian novels is the slender Yevgeny Zamyatin. We preceded Orwell and Aldous Huxley and inspired Brave New World. Orwell is often described as a real dystopian sculpt, but Orwell was actually inspired by Zamyatin’s incredible Russian novel We.
- Dark Constellations
Good dystopian books from Dark Constellations stay with you for a long time, and Ray Bradbury’s prophetic novel doesn’t disappoint.
Conclusion
Dystopian fiction is set in speculative versions of our world some apocalyptic, some afflicted by disease or violence—envisioning a society in a destructive social and political future. Almost always, these books are set in a future period after another world war brings our world to the brink of collapse and a new government rises to form a “utopian society” that is actually authoritarian. Whether it’s a sci-fi book about robots ruling the world or a speculative fiction not too far from real life, dystopian fiction never goes out of style.
