Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Dystopian fiction

51 replies

UnarmedKoala · 26/11/2017 20:38

I’ve recently discovered Margaret Atwood and now have a new genre of fiction to read, can anyone recommend some good authors or books? I’ve read and loved Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, and the Hunger Games trilogy. Nothing too sci-fi (I have read a couple of Clare North books but they didn’t quite hit the spot)

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
cdtaylornats · 05/01/2018 07:26

If you prefer Dystopian Fantasy then

The Hollows series by Kim Harrison - first book Dead Witch Walking
Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling and the books in the Emberverse series

Nottheduchessofcambridge · 04/01/2018 23:35

Ready player one, I really enjoyed. Again a bit Teen but still good.

ptwmummyof2 · 04/01/2018 23:32

I would second The Passage by Justin Cronin, one of my favourites!

I've also just finished Birdbox which was fab, a really interesting concept.

mareemallory · 04/01/2018 21:26

The Chimes by Anna Smaill

cdtaylornats · 04/01/2018 21:23

The Postman by David Brin
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller
Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven
Supervolcano series by Harry Turtledove

CourtneyLoveIsMySpiritAnimal · 04/01/2018 20:26

1984 is brilliant and more relevant than ever.

Alduos Huxley Brave New World.

Rhodiolia · 04/01/2018 20:22

Age of Miracles, it's about a young girl and what happens when the world begins to slow down.

Ratinthehat · 02/01/2018 07:05

I don't know if this fits I love black mirror type programmes but absolutely love "the passage" by Justin Cronin (think that's his name) trilogy.

I also liked some classics such as:

1984, animal farm ect

Stickystickstick · 01/01/2018 22:32

Lanark by Alastair Gray is I guess dystopian and at times a hard read (technically rather than story wise) but really worth it

BaconAndAvocado · 01/01/2018 22:14

I'm currently reading The Power about a feminist dystopia (sounds like a contradiction in terms!)

Very unusual and exciting so far.

Modestine · 28/12/2017 03:09

Ooooh. Might try Fractured Europe - thanks.

3EyedRaven · 27/12/2017 20:15

I’m reviving this.
Red queen series by Victoria aveyard might appeal if you liked the hunger games?

MsLucyVanPelt · 20/12/2017 19:30

Ooh, my favourite.

More postapocalyptic than dystopian maybe but:

Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban
Zone One by Colson Whitehead

undertheradarplease · 20/12/2017 19:25

The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry is fabulous. It's YA fiction, but then again so are a fair few of the books mentioned on this thread.

emsmum79 · 20/12/2017 00:39

Earth Abides by George R Stewart. It's in the SF Masterworks series, but those who aren't keen on sci-fi still love it.
The Wool trilogy
1984
Ready Player One
I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream (terrifying title and stories)
Battle Royale

Liliywil · 09/12/2017 15:13

I really enjoyed reading The Circle by Dave Eggers.

LarryUnderwood · 09/12/2017 11:51

And more horror-ish but sort in the same vein is World War Z. Nothing like the film at all, it is a wonderful collection of ‘survivor stories’ after a zombie apocalypse, it’s got some really great scenes, exciting and sometimes quite moving. It’s tense but not scary and not that gory considering the setting). I love it, can you tell!

LarryUnderwood · 09/12/2017 11:45

Post apocalyptic rather than strictly dystopian but the stand by Steven King is fab. And station eleven is wonderful.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 09/12/2017 11:40

Also Robert Westall's Futuretrack 5. A world of Ests (the establishment), and unnems (the unemployed). Again, young adult literature with big themes.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 09/12/2017 11:37

John Christopher - The Prince in Waiting trilogy. V. bleak young adult fiction with a surprising pay-off. And The Death of Grass - written about the same time as the Day of the Triffids, but much much darker.

motherlondon · 09/12/2017 11:29

The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver

mizu · 08/12/2017 21:43

The Wool Trilogy is fab.

American War is a book by Omar somebody, sorry can't remember his surname. Haven't read it but it's on my amazon list, set in the future in, yep you've guessed it, America Grin

How I live now.

And I'm another whose favourite book is The Handmaid's Tale.

PippaPiper · 30/11/2017 20:21

Place marking as I enjoy a good dystopian read.
My contribution to the thread is Then by Julie Myerson.

Obliviate · 30/11/2017 20:18

I love a good dystopia but I haven't got one to recommend that hasn't already been mentioned. I have recently downloaded a book called Gather the Daughters but I've not read it yet. I read The Power earlier on in the year and its one of my favourite reads of 2017.

YoungYolandaYorgensen39 · 30/11/2017 07:44

Brave New World
A Clockwork Orange
The Giver - Lois Lowry (young adult fiction)
Uglies
Logan’s Run
The Iron Heel
Neuromancer
The Running Man
The Drowned World

Swipe left for the next trending thread