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Original poster

Anyone recommend a good dystopian novel?

117 replies

anunlikelyseahorse · 29/08/2023 16:29

I need a new book, and you lot are ace at recommending a good book, so please can I request your aceness again and ask for a good dystopian read.
I've done Orwell, Huxley, Wyndham, Atwood, Herbert, and a few others. I couldn't get on with Atwood, or The power by Naomi Alderman. James Herbert was a bit hit and miss, some of his books were great, others I gave up reading. I've read Suzanne Collins and think her book are really good.
My three criteria for a good read; gets straight into the story; written in third person (can't stand first person novels) reasonably believable story line. I don't have an issue with stereotype characters. TIA

OP posts:
SometimesNine · 11/09/2023 17:18

Have you read Red Rising by Pierce Brown? If you liked Hunger Games, this is a 2014 dystopian science fiction novel, and first in the series.

snurtifier · 11/09/2023 17:15

StoatofDisarray · 01/09/2023 20:54

OMG I love Ridley Walker! Good call.

Show quote history

I was going to suggest Riddley Walker too, what an amazing novel.

FoodFann · 09/09/2023 08:07

Time and Time Again, Ben Elton

Robotalkingrubbish · 09/09/2023 08:05

I’ve read so many of the older books mentioned, all of Wyndham, Huxley, etc. On the Beach still haunts me. Such great reads!

Mysa74 · 09/09/2023 07:59

How about the Gone series by Michael grant? Its a young adult set of 6 novels in which everyone over the age of 15 vanishes one night. I've read the first 3 after finding them in a charity shop and will happily pay full price to find out what happens next 😀

AndThenItWas · 06/09/2023 07:49

Middleaugust · 06/09/2023 00:26

On the beach as others have said. Station Eleven too!

I automatically love anyone that recommends On The Beach.

Somanycats · 06/09/2023 00:58

The Hive Delio - RR Haywood First in a trilogy with the next coming soon.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 06/09/2023 00:31

Tom and Gi Fletcher have two of a trilogy out, young adult fiction, Eve of Man series. She writes the female chapters (Eve) and he writes the male (dunno the name).

No female babies have been born for 60 years, and prior to that very sparingly. Then a 60yo has a daughter and the country (future England) leaders basically hide her away selling it to her as her being too precious to mix in the dangerous man filled world outside.

It's OK. Worth a read but maybe borrow from the library rather than paying.

Middleaugust · 06/09/2023 00:26

On the beach as others have said. Station Eleven too!

Lleys · 06/09/2023 00:06

How I live now
Never let me go

IcakethereforeIam · 05/09/2023 23:46

There was a trilogy of books I think the first was called The Last Policeman (or that might have been the name of the trilogy). Planet killing comet, life going on until the end, protagonist you could root for. No idea of the author.

Needhelp101 · 05/09/2023 22:04

Day of the Triffids!

God, I wish there was a great modern film adaptation.

AndThenItWas · 02/09/2023 16:00

StoatofDisarray · 01/09/2023 20:53

I really enjoyed World War Z by Max Brooks, which is set about 20 years after a global zombie pandemic nearly destroyed the world.

Don't stop reading! I'm not into zombies, but I do love science fiction and this book is excellent. It was made into a film starring Brad Pitt, but the film was pretty one-dimensional. Unlike the film, the book is made up of dozens of oral reports from people all around the world describing what happed in their locale.

It examines every possible consequence of, and reaction to a zombie epidemic and its thoroughness is so satisfying.

Some of the stories in world war z are brilliant. Great book.

ButterRoad · 01/09/2023 21:15

StoatofDisarray · 01/09/2023 20:54

OMG I love Ridley Walker! Good call.

Show quote history

It’s a favourite of mine, too.

Britinme · 01/09/2023 21:03

Another vote for the Silo trilogy, which I read recently and enjoyed a lot.

StoatofDisarray · 01/09/2023 20:54

JaneyGee · 01/09/2023 17:37

J G Ballard?

Also, try Ridley Walker, by Russell Holborn.

OMG I love Ridley Walker! Good call.

StoatofDisarray · 01/09/2023 20:53

I really enjoyed World War Z by Max Brooks, which is set about 20 years after a global zombie pandemic nearly destroyed the world.

Don't stop reading! I'm not into zombies, but I do love science fiction and this book is excellent. It was made into a film starring Brad Pitt, but the film was pretty one-dimensional. Unlike the film, the book is made up of dozens of oral reports from people all around the world describing what happed in their locale.

It examines every possible consequence of, and reaction to a zombie epidemic and its thoroughness is so satisfying.

FrogInASock · 01/09/2023 20:50

On the Beach - Nevil Shute

DH suggested it after the awful submarine accident during a “what would you do if you actually knew you were going to die in a submarine” moment.

TakingTheHorseToFrance · 01/09/2023 20:47

I second The School For Good Mothers. I loved it but very mixed reviews on goodreads.

I'll recommend The Getaway by Lamar Giles. It's a YA book but I really enjoyed it. My 13 year old DS really enjoyed it too.

The Getaway

EyesOnTheFries · 01/09/2023 20:41

The school for good mothers by Jessamine Chan is excellent

girlwhowearsglasses · 01/09/2023 20:34

Have you read 'the Book of Strange New Things' by Michel Faber - it's very... strange... but I loved it.

"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Strange_New_Things"

The Book of Strange New Things - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Strange_New_Things

Lizlibrarian · 01/09/2023 20:29

@Dollmeup @CommonVetch I really did not like the TV adaptation of the silo. I only managed a couple of episodes. I found it quite confusing and poorly written. The book trilogy is my all time favourite and the best thing I have ever read, I highly recommend it op. The first book is Wool. I also like Sand by the same author. Hugh Howey.
My joint favourite is The passage trilogy by Justin Cronin.
I really liked Nod. It was recommended on here. It's very odd but quite interesting.
I'm just getting back into dystopian fiction after a long time being drawn to horror and I'm really enjoying it.

CommonVetch · 01/09/2023 18:27

Wool, Shift, and Dust (trilogy) by Hugh Howey. I read it years ago, and the story stayed with me. I was really pleased with the recent Apple+ TV adaptation, and have since re-read the novels. Still good!

NegativNancy · 01/09/2023 18:13

I cannot rate Dreamland by Rosa Rankin Gee highly enough. It's completely believable and absolutely addictive.
Another cracker is The Wall by John Lanchester. I suppose it's technically YA but really excellent. Having said that, I think it might be written in the first person.

JaneyGee · 01/09/2023 17:37

J G Ballard?

Also, try Ridley Walker, by Russell Holborn.