Favourite Dystopian Books Groups

[Emma]

For me, it would have to be 1984. I read and studied it at school and have re-read it since. Some heart-breaking/gut-wrenching stuff.

I wonder if the first Dark Tower book by Stephen King qualifies as dystopian? It's not our future, but it's a pretty bleak picture of a world that has moved on. I re-read that lately and really enjoyed it.

All the other examples I can think of are films, rather than books.

Do you have a favourite dystopian book or any recommendations?

 

[Cherub]

A bit obvious, The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. I haven't seen the TV version, would love to. Very prescient in terms of fallout from ideological war.

Lionel Shriver's The Mandibles is another very interesting dystopian work, not as brilliant but more recent.

 

[Janey]

I thought Brave New World was good and held up pretty well considering it was written in the early thirties.

A bit obvious, The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. I haven't seen the TV version, would love to. Very prescient in terms of fallout from ideological war.

Atwood wrote some great dystopian novels but The Handmaid's Tale is superb and terrifying and not too far off the treatment of women in some parts of the world today. I'm really enjoying the televised version, you should watch it.

 

[Sad Professor]

One of my favourite genres. I love:

Day of the Triffids, and in fact, a lot of John Wyndham's output.
On the Beach, Nevill Shute
I Am Legend, Richard Matheson

As well as the already mentioned Handmaid's Tale.