It is so true that humanity always aims and looks forward to constant progress and it often wants to create this movement to words a very superior standard of living. Have you ever wondered if all of this turned upside down, then what? Thoughts like these are what is answered in dystopian novels. In the case of world history, diving into a fictional world of dystopian always seems to be this exercise which exists in masochism.
The world of dystopian fiction always fascinates us because these fictional novels draw us on very vivid aspects of our own world that we exist in. It mirrors elements of the environment we live in, the society that we are a part of, the religion that we practise, and our involvement with politics or technology. Dystopian novels present to us a world that is very fairly familiar but is very frightening on its own.
We present to you some of the top 10 best dystopian novels that you should probably get your hands on and live those fantasies to the fullest, read on and enjoy.
1. Stand On Zanzibar
Author: John Brunner
Year of publish: 1968
This book is the winner of the very prestigious Hugo award in the year 1969. This novel concerns itself with what would happen or what would lead to in case the world gets overpopulated. It depicts a very serious world in which a huge corporation is making attempts to take over the management of a fictional African land and speed up its development. You can call this novel a predicament of the anxieties from the 1960s such as increasing racial tensions, commercialisation, and eugenics.
Several chapters in this book are devoted towards world building.
2. Children of Marn by P.D. James
Author: 1992
Year of publish: 1992
In this particular novel humanity is given the tendency of becoming very infertile and the focus is on United Kingdom which has descended into something called as an autocratic nation which is governed by a self appointed council and warden. In this country it is shown that how the immigrants are exploited and the elderly are treated as a burden and are often forced to step on the suicidal path when they turned 60 years old. This book throws light on the struggle between a dissent group who want reform and the ruling government. This novel was also adapted into a film which won awards and several accolades.
3. Battle Royale
Author: Koushun Takami
Year of publish: 1999
This dystopian novel has a very strong case and is regarded as one of the most influential novels of the dystopian modern times. It is set in a very authoritarian Japanese state which arose from the history of Japan which was victorious in the World War II. The novel is basically about a group of 50 high school children who are kidnapped and are sent to an island to fight till their death. They are made to wear explosive collars to ensure that they behave obediently. It was published in the Japanese language in 1999 and was later translated into English in the year 2003.
4. Nineteen Eighty-Four
Author: George Orwell
Year of publish: 1949
Most of George’s class six talk about modern culture and this read is no different. This novel talks about Winston Smith who lives in a country that is more like a version of Britain but is subsumed into Oceania. He lives under his Big Brother’s constant watch.
5. Brave New World
Author: Aldous Huxley
Year of publish: 1932
If you look at it then this particular novel is a utopia, however, this illusion it soon disintegrates. The author here predicts genetic modification and the advances that has taken place in the reproduction as well as psychology that are mainly available to an elite society. It talks about social hierarchy that is based purely on intelligence where the citizens of the country are placated through consumption of drugs. The name of the drug is Soma.
6. The Handmaid’s Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
Year of publish: 1985
Won’t you agree that the television adaptation of this novel has definitely made those red cloaks and those white cowls very familiar to millions around us, however, the book is very much narrower in scope of imagination but it is very powerful and talks so intensely. It talks about the American women who are oppressed by a government that follows religious fundamentals.
7. The Road
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Year of publish: 2006
One describes this award-winning novel as bleak, beautiful, and breathless! This novel has the capacity of grabbing you right from its very first sentence and it just doesn’t let go of your curiosity. The story revolves around a man and his son and their journey across a post apocalyptic America.
8. Fahrenheit
Author: Ray Bradbury
Year of publish: 1953
When this novel was written, the author faced a lot of slack because it was written considering the real concerns of the society and hence underwent a lot of censorship. It talks about the story of a particular guy called Montag who is a fireman who is employed to burn the positions of those people who outlawed the books.
9. The Wall
Author: John Lanchester
Year of publish: 2019
The book talks about how in the near future the seas are going to rise and Britain will evolve itself in order to keep its waters away and the People’s out. However this particular wall needs to be manned and the country’s youth drafted for this purpose in long stints. The story talks about the disconnect between the old and the young in society and it is definitely a tale of our times.
10. Vox
Author: Christina Dalcher
Year of publish: 2018
This novel has a very chilling story line and it is about a world where women are literally limited to just hundred words per day they have a utterance bracket and they wear a bracelet that counts the number of words Diya uttering. It is a very entertaining novel.
