Why I Write About Bleak Dystopias

[SunHi]

Hey guys, I've been following this group for a while and want to add to the conversation. I want to share my blog post about why I write bleak dystopias.

Here's a snippet:

I’ve always had an obsession with real life dystopian societies. At the ripe old age of fourteen, I delved into the corrupt worlds of Hitler’s German, Stalin’s Russia and apartheid South Africa. Dystopian novels such as 1984, Brave New World and Animal Farm kept me awake at night and during math class, sneaking in a few lines of reading. But my obsession didn’t stop there; I began creating my own worlds – making them as corrupt and dark as possible. I wanted to really “go there.” I’ve always wanted to go there. That’s just who I am. I don’t like limits and I will probably never accept them. I don’t want to censor myself and I don’t want to pretend that the world is a nice place where the bad guys get their comeuppance — eventually. I know that’s not true. That’s not to say that justice is never served – sometimes it is. And it’s not to say that every person is a low-life, corrupt scam bag – some of them really aren’t like that most of the time. But it is to say that the world can be a dark place and it’s up to the individual to not only fight the darkness of the world; but to resist the darkness within their own heart if they want to live a life that creates more good than suffering.

You can read more here, if you like: http://sunhimistwalker.com/2012/08/12...

So, tell me, why do you enjoy reading dystopian and post-apocalyptic fiction?

[Danielle]

I live in the United States and since I was a kid, the good ol' USA has been no. 1 (so to speak, no offense to anyone, but that's just how people thought). Growing up, I found a love for history and what I realized is that no one ever stays no. 1. Not the Greeks, or the Romans, not Alexander's Empire, the Persians or the great British Empire on which the sun never set. No one ever got to stay no. 1 for long. And at 200 years old already, how much more time did America have?

So it got me thinking about things. What would happen if something major happened...and how would I survive? That's how I become interested in dystopian fiction. It took those thoughts and turned them into these fantastic books. I figure, eventually things are going to shift and I spent a lot of time imagining how I would survive. Its one of those day dream games you play in your head. If zombies attacked right at this moment, what would you do...? I know what I would do. :D

[SunHi]

Yes, I agree that no one remains #1 for long. And, the slide down is usually gradual, not sudden. It starts with the little things, like the inability to get a job as fast as you use to. Well, I guess that's not so little. So do you see yourself as a "rugged individual" or do you think it is better to be part of a strong group?

[Danielle]

I say strong group. There is safety in numbers for one, and people can all contribute what they do best. Whether its cooking, hunting, fighting, care giving. Everyone has to pull their weight though.

[SunHi]

Danielle wrote: "I say strong group. There is safety in numbers for one, and people can all contribute what they do best. Whether its cooking, hunting, fighting, care giving. Everyone has to pull their weight th..."

Wait, is that a Jericho pic as your avatar. I loved that show! I hate that it ended.

[Danielle]

Yes it is. I loved it too. Too bad it got canceled.

[Bret]

For me it is all about two things for the most part.
1. Right now we work forty hour weeks, crunching all of our time into a system that protects us and yet fills us with stress. It is fun to step out side for a while and watch that system break. You get to see people fall back on there basic instincts. In a way it is like going back in time.
2. There is no other option but to fight for what you believe in. Things have gotten so bad that it is do or die. There is something comforting in knowing there is nothing more to lose. The characters are in such a bad place that it can only go up from there, making the little things that much sweeter.

[Nicholas]

Very interesting convo. Bret you are exactly right, I believe people enjoy seeing the system crumble because it sub-consciously causes so much stress. So what if we lost access to the internet, couldn't txt our friends and weren't able to get a double venti starbucks latte? The world would not end, it would just become less convenient.

The reason I read and write dystopian and post apocalyptic literature is because it helps me deal with the stress of my job. I work trying to protect communities from disasters. I know, better than most how close we are to a massive event. Whether it be a pandemic, terrorist attack, emp or yellowstone.

Writing allows me to control the destiny of my characters and in turn maybe I feel like I can control mine a bit more.

Thanks Sunhi, Bret and Danielle for a vert engaging convo.

[Bret]

Nicholas wrote: "Very interesting convo. Bret you are exactly right, I believe people enjoy seeing the system crumble because it sub-consciously causes so much stress. So what if we lost access to the internet, cou..."
Right, no matter how out of control the book gets, you know there is someone steering it in a good direction.

[SunHi]

Bret and Nicholas, I agree with both of you. For me, reading and writing dystopias and post-apocalyptic stories is a stress reliever. For some reason it just relaxes me. I hope that doesn't sound too bad. ;-)

[Bret]

SunHi wrote: "Bret and Nicholas, I agree with both of you. For me, reading and writing dystopias and post-apocalyptic stories is a stress reliever. For some reason it just relaxes me. I hope that doesn't sound t..."

Ha, I was thinking the same thing when I wrote my statement.