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Recommend to me - Dystopian edition

89 replies

Cazzovuoi · 03/01/2026 20:33

It’s my favourite genre and I’m looking for recommendations.

I’ve read the classics like Handmaids Tale and Testaments, The Road, Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Station Eleven, Vox, The Power, Ender’s Game, The Stand, World War Z, The Mist.

I’m currently halfway through Children of Men.

I need more! Please recommend your favourite dystopian novels.

OP posts:
DarkEyedSailor · 05/01/2026 21:12

Nopicplease · 05/01/2026 21:10

The trilogy is brilliant. Stick with it through the wobbly bits because there are some seriously good tie ins from the last book to the first. (Disclaimer: it was a long, long time ago when I read them)

Show quote history

Ooh I shall have to find the second one! Thank you

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 06/01/2026 18:33

Starch1e · 03/01/2026 22:39

Without Warning by John Birmingham. Post-apocalyptic rather than dystopian. 1st in a trilogy, it's 'male' style - very heavy on military, fighting and action, less so on emotions. Lots of different characters/story strands. Fascinating idea behind the dystopia.

The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist. Opposite style - focus on one woman. Swedish version of Never Let Me Go but not clones, 50+year olds deemed economically disposable.

The Things We Leave Behind by Clare Furniss. This one's YA, bit too realistic considering Reform's poll ratings.

Edited

The Unit is one of my favourite ever books, and I never see anyone recommend it!

CMOTDibbler · 06/01/2026 18:43

Tender is the Flesh
Never let me go
The Unit

KnewYearKnewMe · 06/01/2026 19:04

GlassofRosePorfavor · 03/01/2026 20:57

I who have never known men

Gosh. That was a tough book 🥲

AthenaWhite · 06/01/2026 19:17

Dreamland - near future dystopian drama set in Margate. It was so good and I still think about it now.

BloominNora · 06/01/2026 20:27

Post-apocalyptic / Dystopian:

Definitely The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin
Wool Trilogy by Hugh Howey (and Silo on Apple TV is one of the best adaptations I've seen)
Surviving the Evacuation series by Frank Tayell
I am Legend by Richard Matheson (and then despair at how they destroyed such an amazing story with the abomination that was the film)
The Institute by Stephen King
The Long Walk by Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman in the Bachman Books and if you can get an old copy, Rage from the same anthology (it was taken out of print after Columbine)

Dystopian Adjacent / Fantasy:

Powerless trilogy by Lauren Roberts,
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas (sooo much better than ACOTAR)
The Kate Daniels series by Illona Andrews

Not directly in either of the above categories (which are my favourite types of books), but I loved them and they feel similar in writing style:

Midnight Library by Matt Haigh
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 06/01/2026 21:20

Most of mine have been mentioned but can I also recommend Flesh by David Szalay (strong stomach permitted).

Growlybear83 · 06/01/2026 21:28

One of my favourite books is Level 7 by Mordecai Roshwald. I’ve read it several times and find it very disturbing.

DarkEyedSailor · 06/01/2026 22:12

I've just ordered the first Surviving the Evacuation by Frank Tayell because of this thread.

boxofbuttons · 06/01/2026 22:14

Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee is very good!

lifeisgoodrightnow · 07/01/2026 08:33

BloominNora · 06/01/2026 20:27

Post-apocalyptic / Dystopian:

Definitely The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin
Wool Trilogy by Hugh Howey (and Silo on Apple TV is one of the best adaptations I've seen)
Surviving the Evacuation series by Frank Tayell
I am Legend by Richard Matheson (and then despair at how they destroyed such an amazing story with the abomination that was the film)
The Institute by Stephen King
The Long Walk by Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman in the Bachman Books and if you can get an old copy, Rage from the same anthology (it was taken out of print after Columbine)

Dystopian Adjacent / Fantasy:

Powerless trilogy by Lauren Roberts,
Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas (sooo much better than ACOTAR)
The Kate Daniels series by Illona Andrews

Not directly in either of the above categories (which are my favourite types of books), but I loved them and they feel similar in writing style:

Midnight Library by Matt Haigh
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

You sound like you have the same taste in books as me and there’s a few on your list I haven’t read so thank you VERY VERY MUCH XX I’m bookmarking this post to read through the suggestions I’ve not read. Totally agree on the passage and Stephen King books btw

Fgfgfg · 08/01/2026 11:10

The Wall by Marlen Haushofer

SleepingStandingUp · 08/01/2026 11:14

DarkEyedSailor · 03/01/2026 20:48

The Passage- Justin Cronin. Vampires, post and pre apocalyptic. Very good, although it wobbles in the middle. First of a trilogy but I haven't read the other two yet.

the rest are good too

9 second brave new world and oryx and crake

C8H10N4O2 · 14/01/2026 12:01

Have you already worked through Neal Stephenson and Philip K Dick? If not, add them to your list.

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