book rec's for the Dystopia newbie

[Wendy]

Oh also a Canticle for Liebowitz.

[Mandy]

Ellie [The Empress] wrote: "Hope you enjoy it Mandy. Another one I really loved is Mockingbird"

Thanks I've added this as one to get hold of too :)

[Judy]

Louis wrote: "Not a common suggestion but I'd throw in The Long Walk by Stephen King."

Yes! Wonderful dystopian story.

[Papaphilly]

Judy wrote: "Louis wrote: "Not a common suggestion but I'd throw in The Long Walk by Stephen King."

Yes! Wonderful dystopian story."

That is a great one. The scary part of the story is that it just is and nothing is explained why. Everyone accepts this for a fact.

[Chris]

Papaphilly wrote: "Judy wrote: "Louis wrote: "Not a common suggestion but I'd throw in The Long Walk by Stephen King."

Yes! Wonderful dystopian story."

That is a great one. The scary part of the story is that it ju..."


I absolutely love that about The Long Walk. We are beat over the head these days to think that everything has to be explained and if it isn't, it's a fault of the author. But almost nothing is explained in The Long Walk and it's better because of it.

[Greg]

Great question and awesome recommendations!

I decided to do a little more research, so I searched previous curated lists from the Huffington Post, Wired and several other publications, took suggestions from individual readers on Goodreads and Reddit, and solicited recommendations from dystopian fiction authors like Neal Shusterman, Joelle Charbonneau, David Brin and Lois Lowry to produce this list of The 110 Best Dystopian Novels: http://www.greghickeywrites.com/best-...

As a bonus, I’ve also created two PDF downloads: 1) dystopian recommendations from fourteen dystopian fiction authors, and 2) a one-page guide to the 110 Best Dystopian Novels. Happy reading!

[Mandy]

Greg wrote: "Great question and awesome recommendations!

I decided to do a little more research, so I searched previous curated lists from the Huffington Post, Wired and several other publications, took sugges..."

Love this list, thanks! I have some on my tbr and will be hunting out others.

[Greg]

You're welcome. I discovered a bunch of new books while making it--added almost 30 to my to-read list.

[Adara]

"1984" by Orwell really is the original! That said, you got some great recs for contemporary dystopian authors.

[Chris]

Adara wrote: ""1984" by Orwell really is the original! That said, you got some great recs for contemporary dystopian authors."
LOL....not quite.

1984 was written in 1949.

I "think" We may be the original dystopian (1924).
Brave New World was 1932.
My favorite, Anthem in 1938.

I won't even swear by "We" being the first, but I read an analysis of the book after I read it last year (the first I'd heard of it) and it is said to have greatly influenced the other three listed.

[Lenore]

Another early dystopia is The Day of the Triffids. Written during the 30's. It's a tough book. By John Wyndham. If anyone reads it, I'd like to know what you thought. No spoilers.

Lenore

[Greg]

The two earliest on my list:
The Republic of the Future; or, Socialism a Reality by Anna Bowman Dodd (1887)
Caesar's Column: A Story of the Twentieth Century by Ignatius L. Donnelly (1890)

[Richard]

I don't know if it is already in the list, but "The Slynx" by Tatiana Tolstoia is also an interesting read. I read it last year and enjoyed it much, although I am sure that I missed some of the irony and sarcasm of this novel (btw: i rated it and wrote a review)

[Ian J]

I'd concur that We really is the blueprint for 1984, but while not classic dystopia in the same vein, I'd check out After London by Richard Jefferies (1885)

[Chuu]

Great thread, thank you! I'm just starting "Ready Player One" and am also planning to read "Son" (book 4 of the Giver quartet) very soon.

[Martinowitsch]

Hi, i am new to this group.
Found some great suggestions in that topic for myself, thanks! :)

I miss one book here which i absolutely love and which in my bookshelf usually is placed just in between 1984 and Brave New World.

War with the Newts

Goin back to the discussion what exactly defines dystopian books - here the totalitarian government is missing and the book is stretching from the past to the future (at least when it was written). Usually its described as a black satire sience-fiction. But for me it has many elements needed for a good dystopia and since its even in UNESCO Catalogue of Representative Works i want to suggest it.

[Anne (w/ an E)]

Martinowitsch wrote: "Hi, i am new to this group.
Found some great suggestions in that topic for myself, thanks! :)

I miss one book here which i absolutely love and which in my bookshelf usually is placed just in bet..."

I know this is off -topic but you have the coolest name ;D

[Martinowitsch]

Haha, thanks :)

[Michele]

the handmaids tale really must be on your list!

[D20]

A few of the classics of the genre are available free on Gutenberg.

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subje...

[Christopher]

Hey thanks in advance if anyone follows through with an honest review for my book. Its already free on Kindle Unlimited which I figure many of you avid readers already have... Here's a link for it or you can view it through my profile.

https://www.amazon.com/Planetfall-Ori...

It's an adventure sci-fi titled Planetfall Origins. It chronicles the life of soldiers in the distant future. (I was a modern-day soldier and this book helped me to work through a lot of my trauma.) The novel deals heavily with authority, wades through issues regarding loyalty, and dabbles in dystopia.

If you liked Battlestar Gallactica, Starship Troopers, or Firefly, you will likely have an affinity for this work as well. I am 5,000 words into the sequel so if you like series, then I've got you covered. Thanks.

[Vir]

The Heart Goes Last - Margarete Atwood
This one sucked me right in. I read this one a year or two ago and still think about it randomly throughout my days.

The Running Man - Richard Bachman
I grew up loving this movie so i had to read the book. Even though this book is absolutely nothing like the movie I found myself loving it even more than I thought I would.

Sleeping Beauties - Stephen King - I actually have not read this one yet, but plan on this being my next read.

[Mike]

Yes, I heard that Sleeping Beauties may be one of King's best.
Mike L.

[Justin]

Ready Player One
The Giver series
Divergent of course
California by Edan Lepucki (Odd, but cool)

[Emmie]

Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken is a favourite of mine. I highly recommend it.

[J.M.]

Your favorite dystopian novel?

A couple of my favorites

Handmaid’s Tale
divergent
new Kings of Tomorrow

[Maggie]

Great thread...I nabbed a few titles I'd missed, can't wait to try them! To add a few of my favorites that I haven't seen mentioned:

Absolutely loved The Testing series. Also book 1 only of the City of Ember (thought later books in the series were a little weak).

I may be painting the idea of "dystopian" with too broad a brush in my own mind, but I would definitely include Ender's Game in my favorites list.

Any fans of short stories should check out Diverse Energies; I found it to be a wonderful collection with a focus on non-traditional protagonists.

[Jovan]

Try this for real-life dystopia: The Damned Balkans: A Refugee Road Trip.

[Anne]

The Stand by Stephen King. Sorry if its already been mentioned

[Treeza]

Currently reading Lucifers' Hammer by Larry Niven & although the book is almost 40 years old it's brilliant...bit like The Stand but without the supernatural aspect :)

[Hope]

I really liked:


The Lying Planet

Hurst

Truth

The End of Refuge

Construct 11 Part 1 The Construct 11 Series

Neverwhere

City of Words

[Papaphilly]

Teresa wrote: "Currently reading Lucifers' Hammer by Larry Niven & although the book is almost 40 years old it's brilliant...bit like The Stand but without the supernatural aspect :)"


That was a great read.

[Helen]

In case anyone is needing a new rec, here are some of my favourites that haven't been mentioned:

The Last by Hanna Jameson (2019)
The Power by Naomi Alderman (2016)
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (2017)
The Girl with All the Gifts by M R Carey (2014)
Huis clos: suivi de Les Mouches or No Exit in English by Jean-Paul Sartre (1946) - I've only read it in French so I can't attest to how the English translation sounds


Enjoy!!

[Olga]

“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. Dark dystopian. Beautifully written. Fast read.

[DanLadMan]

Olga wrote: "“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. Dark dystopian. Beautifully written. Fast read."


Interesting book. Thanks for the recommendation 🥰🥰🥰

[Rock]

Dark and depressing with no cause given and nothing but loose ends. Not recommended whatsofreakingever and I am generally a fan of the author.

[Lawrence]

Olga wrote: "“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy. Dark dystopian. Beautifully written. Fast read."

Rock is right about nothing but loose ends. There are many books and short stories that are vague and have no real conclusion. I think of these as slice of life stories. The Road gives us a slice of life in a very bleak period and you are left to your own thoughts as to why some characters carry on with their lives.

I'm in your court, recommended...

[Patricia]

i liked
Wolf by Wolf
Wither
Crown of Coral and Pearl

[Dana]

You might try my 6-book SCAVENGER Series: https://www.amazon.com/Scavenger-Plac...
Most dystopian books have urban settings, but SCAVENGER is set in rural Idaho.

[Gab]

Isn't 1984 the place to start for any newbie?

[Lauren]

Gab wrote: "Isn't 1984 the place to start for any newbie?"

I recommend starting with "We" then "Brave New World" then "1984" as the inspiration for both Brave New World and 1984 came from "We".

[Canette]

Hunger Games

[James]

I suggest you read Antunites Unite by Terry Birdgenaw
It's been called 1984/Brave New World for the modern age.
Since it's book 3 of a trilogy, you might like also to read the first two books Antuna's Story and The Rise and Fall of Antocracy

[John]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

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