Introductions

[L.N.]

Hi to everybody, I am Layla (pen name: L N Denison), I am a writer of dark, dystopic stories. I also love to read, dark, dystopic stories. I can't wait to start interacting with this group properly, and maybe share my stories.

The first dystopic novel I ever read was 1984. I love books like the hunger games series, and other books of the same ilk. My first novel is a very dark tale of oppression, and how people were overcoming the brutal regime that they had been forced to live under for so long. I would like to be an active member of this group in both capacities, as both reader and writer.

[Michele]

Welcome Layla!

[L.N.]

Michele wrote: "Welcome Layla!"

Thank you :-)

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

And welcome from me Layla. :)

[L.N.]

Thank you too :-)

[Beau]

Hi Layla.

[J.L.]

I am new to Goodreads and clicked on "Groups" for the first time tonight, figuring I'd explore what groups there were. The very first group I saw was Dystopia Land and when I entered I saw the header image of Orwell's "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" and I immediately knew I was home. Now, don't mind me, but I'm going to kick off my shoes, put my feet up, and enjoy the stay, because Four Legs are Good and Two Legs are Bad.
J.L. Pattison

[L.N.]

Beau wrote: "Hi Layla."

Hi Beau :-)

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

J.L. wrote: "I am new to Goodreads and clicked on "Groups" for the first time tonight, figuring I'd explore what groups there were. The very first group I saw was Dystopia Land and when I entered I saw the head..."

Welcome J. :) Glad you are liking our little group.

[Chris]

Welcome L.N. and J.L.

[S.J.]

@Michele, it WAS the expanded edition, and "cartoony" is exactly right. Had no idea the original ending was different, I just assumed "expanded" meant more story / character development, but to change the ending? Interesting. I'll have to check out the original and see what's what. Thanks for the info.

[Lauren]

Hey i like just joined this group and im looking forward to taking about books with the people of this group and i need new people to talk about books with! So if you can relate add me☺️

[L.N.]

Chris wrote: "Welcome L.N. and J.L."

Thank you, Chris :)

[Michele]

S.J. wrote: "@Michele, it WAS the expanded edition, and "cartoony" is exactly right. Had no idea the original ending was different, I just assumed "expanded" meant more story / character development, but to change the ending? Interesting. I'll have to check out the original and see what's what. Thanks for the info."

For the most part it is just expanded (i.e., characters doing more things but not veering off in a different direction or anything), and technically I guess the new ending could be considered an expansion, since it expands (view spoiler)[on what happens to Flagg (hide spoiler)]. But to me it substantively changed the message of the book, so it doesn't feel like an expansion. The original edition ended a little sooner -- (view spoiler)[it doesn't have Flagg turning up on some tropical beach; instead, it ends with the conversation between Stu and Frannie, where Stu muses, "Do you think people ever learn anything?" and Frannie's reply, "I don't know." (hide spoiler)] MUCH better, IMHO.

[Michele]

J.L. wrote: " I'm going to kick off my shoes, put my feet up, and enjoy the stay, because Four Legs are Good and Two Legs are Bad."

lol

[S.J.]

@Michele. It's been a really long time since I read the Stand, and while I probably won't read it again, I still enjoyed it. Interesting observations on the ending though, thanks for the insight.

[J.L.]

Thank you for the welcomes. :-)

[Michele]

S.J. wrote: "@Michele. It's been a really long time since I read the Stand, and while I probably won't read it again, I still enjoyed it. Interesting observations on the ending though, thanks for the insight."

We're doing a group read in January, over on Apocalypse Whenever, if you'd like to re-read with friends :)

[Beau]

Hello J.L, and Lauren.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Lauren wrote: "Hey i like just joined this group and im looking forward to taking about books with the people of this group and i need new people to talk about books with! So if you can relate add me☺️"

Welcome :)

[S.J.]

Thanks, Michele, I'll check out Apocalypse Whenever. Not sure I can get into the Stand as I'm just starting the Gunslinger and that could be a monster (if I end up liking that series). Haven't read that yet, so if the first book doesn't get me, I'll probably stop. Appreciate all of your great help. I'm relatively new to goodreads, not sure how the whole friend thing works, but I like your input and will send a friend invite. Thanks again!

[Heather]

Hello everyone. One of my friends invited me, so here I am! Looking forward to exploring more dystopia. I got my start with The Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World to name a few.

[Chris]

Heather wrote: "Hello everyone. One of my friends invited me, so here I am! Looking forward to exploring more dystopia. I got my start with The Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World to name ..."

Yay! Welcome Heather. :)

[Beau]

Hi Heather.

[Empress, Seeker of wonders]

Hi Heather.

The handmaid's tale is a very good way to start!

[SSteppenwolFF]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Hi Heather.

The handmaid's tale is a very good way to start!"


And The MaddAddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake; The Year of the Flood; MaddAddam is a good way to continue . Margaret Atwood is a terrific writer !

[L.N.]

i've seen the film...must read the book :-)

[Heather]

I'm on the last book - MaddAddam. I'm about 30% into it. I loved Year of the Flood especially. Atwood is just brilliant in all her novels, honestly.

[Chris]

SSteppenwolFF wrote: "Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Hi Heather.

The handmaid's tale is a very good way to start!"


And The MaddAddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake; The Year of the Flood; MaddAddam is a good w..."

Having only recently read "Handmaid's Tale", I thought Atwood was pretty much a genius too. I definitely plan to check the others out too. :)

[SSteppenwolFF]

Heather wrote: "I'm on the last book - MaddAddam. I'm about 30% into it. I loved Year of the Flood especially. Atwood is just brilliant in all her novels, honestly."


I have MaddAddam but I am putting it aside for awhile because I am going to be bummed when I finish and there is no more of this series to read . Although Margaret Atwood did say a while back that she thought she might write a 4th book .

[Nadia]

Hey y'all! Although I've joined GoodReads in 2013, I haven't started using it until now. I'm into different genres of books but I must say dystopian fictions are what I lean more towards (hence why I joined this group). So if you do know any good dystopian books, let me know! :) Oh, and I'm always open to meeting new people!

[J.L.]

Hello, Nadia. Welcome.

[Keith]

Welcome Nadia!

[S.J.]

Just started The Gunslinger and for what it's worth, the first few pages were really good.

[Nadia]

Thanks y'all! :)

[J.L.]

Greeting, Sebastian.

[Keith]

Sebastian wrote: "Hello good people. My name is Seb. I'm from Ireland. I write sci fi action stories. I have written 1 sci fi action story so far. I love movies and I love writing."


Welcome, Seb!

[Anne (w/ an E)]

Hi everyone - I'm Anne. I read all different kinds of books but post-apocalyptic and dystopian are my favorites. I have read many different PA and dystopian books and my to-read list has many more on it. I am always looking to find new books and hear thoughts about the ones I have read or plan to read.

[Keith]

Hi Anne...welcome!

[J.L.]

Hello, Anne, and welcome.

[Mariana]

Hello everyone. My name's Mariana. As of late, I'm really enjoying getting to know the multidimensional world of dystopian writing and I'm looking forward for some worthwhile recommendations from the most experienced readers of the genre!

I'm currently reading The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, and it is easily turning into one of my favourites.

[shelsel.lh]

Hi

[J.L.]

Hello, srhelsel609.

[Sinéad]

Hi all! I'm relatively new to the group and thought I'd say hello. I'm a voracious reader of all kinds of fiction/non-fiction but I must say dystopian/speculative fiction is my favourite genre. Looking forward to seeing what kind of books get recommended around here! Feel free to message/add me if you want to chat or share books!

[J.L.]

Welcome, Sinead.

[Alexandre]

Hi all! I'm a writer, psychiatrist and philosopher, and I'm on my second novel (which is going to be released in February 2016). My beta-reader told me my novel belonged to the "dystopian" genre, so I'm here to see whats up. How did you write a book not knowing of which genre it was? I'm new to book forums, was just a literature addicted (read many dystopian without knowing they were called like that), not acquainted with all the nomenclature (came to know it could also belong to the soft sci-fi category!), and just delighted about everything I'm reading here. Cheers!

[Brianna]

Hi I'm Brianna I love reading more than anything, I carry a book everywhere I go. I love YA lit and dystopian lit. I love The Hunger Games Trilogy and The Mortal Instruments series. I love Cassandra Clare and John Green.

[Beau]

Hello Nadia, Seb, Anne, Mariana, srhelsel609, Sinead, Alexandre, and Brianna. Welcome to the group.

[Natalie]

Hi, I'm Natalie and just joined the group. I tend to read mostly Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Speculative, Dystopian fiction, etc., etc. I've read a number of the classics (The Handmaid's Tale, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, 1984, Ursula K. Le Guin, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, to name a few favorites), as well as some more recent ones (The MaddAddam Trilogy: Oryx and Crake; The Year of the Flood; MaddAddam, The Road to High Saffron, Pines, Nancy Kress, the East of West, Vol. 1: The Promise series, etc.). I have quite a long list of others I'd like to get to, especially John Wyndham, and am always on the look-out for new recommendations. I'm excited to join monthly group reads too, if there are any coming up.

Thanks for having me. ^.^

[J.L.]

Hello, Natalie. Welcome.