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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:
1vandal2 · 29/08/2023 19:22

Shatter me by Tahereh Mafi.

mrsfeatherbottom · 29/08/2023 22:20

Children of Men by PD James is a great book.

Also Station Eleven as mentioned already

WonderingWanda · 29/08/2023 22:47

The Children of the Mountain series by R A Hakok is for teens but I enjoyed reading them.

Iloveanicegarden · 29/08/2023 22:52

Another vote for Children of Men P D James. Dystopian or prophetic?

Costacoffeeplease · 29/08/2023 22:54

The last one at the party. Can’t remember the author

Tygertiger · 29/08/2023 22:54

The Girl With All The Gifts is good. I also enjoyed The Pharmacist.

MadamePickle · 31/08/2023 13:47

After Dark Jayne Cowie, or anything by Christina Dalcher.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 01/09/2023 07:37

Tygertiger · 29/08/2023 22:54

The Girl With All The Gifts is good. I also enjoyed The Pharmacist.

The Girl with all the Gifts is good as is the sequel.

MadamNoo · 01/09/2023 07:40

Patrick Ness is very good (I think classed as YA). -The Knife of Never Letting Go series

ButterRoad · 01/09/2023 07:53

Sarah Hall’s The Carhullan Army — about a group of renegade female freedom fighters set in a near-future Lake District under an authoritarian government after a ‘collapse’.

FunnyAngel · 01/09/2023 07:57

The Flame Alphabet. Is seriously the most dystopian thing I’ve ever read. I’ve never known anyone else read it.

CrepuscularCritter · 01/09/2023 08:03

Alas Babylon by Pat Frank. Very dated/of its era, but the account of nuclear engagement is chilling.

Dollmeup · 01/09/2023 08:05

I'm going to recommend the Wool trilogy by Hugh howey too. I'm excited to watch the series.

Coffeetree · 01/09/2023 08:06

Ohhh! A chance to recommend my all-time favourite: "We" by Evgeniy Zamyatin. The novel that inspired Nineteen Eighty-Four.

ShellySarah · 01/09/2023 08:06

The Chrysalids

clowniform · 01/09/2023 10:15

I don't think these have been mentioned yet:
M.T. Anderson, Feed (YA)
Alexandra Kleeman, Something new under the sun
Yoko Ogawa, The memory police
Yoko Tawada, Last children of Tokyo
Walter M. Miller, Last canticle for Leibowitz (if you like Station Eleven)
Jack Womack, Random acts of senseless violence (why is this so little read?!)

Riverlee · 01/09/2023 13:27

Margaret’s Ark - Daniel Keohane
On the Beach - Nevil Shute
The Wall - John Lancaster
The girl with all the gifts - M Carey

I thought it would be a genre I’d hate as I usually hate depressing storylines (and avoid watching the news), but since covid, quite enjoyed them, after stumbling across Margaret’s Ark on the kindle.

JaneyGee · 01/09/2023 17:37

J G Ballard?

Also, try Ridley Walker, by Russell Holborn.

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.

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!

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.

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

EyesOnTheFries · 01/09/2023 20:41

The school for good mothers by Jessamine Chan is excellent

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

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.