From Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ to George Orwell’s ‘1984’, dystopian novels mirror the reality of our world.
Dystopian fiction takes the realities of our world and presents before us without sugar-coating them. Drawing from our society, religion, environment, technology or politics, dystopian fiction holds up before the readers a world that is dark and twisted but oddly familiar. Here are 5 dystopian novels that you should definitely read if you want to fall in love with the genre.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Aldous Huxley’s magnum opus, ‘Brave New World’ is the classic dystopian novel. Inspired by sci-fi novels by writers who came before the author including H.G. Wells, the book presents a grim future society created by “World Controllers”. The book draws on the capitalistic evils through the demonstration of a society where all the inhabitants are happy passive consumers subjected to brainwashing, genetic engineering, and drugs.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’ presents a scenario that is beyond every booklover’s imagination. Set in not so remote future, the story holds up a time where intellectual thoughts and books have been stamped illegal. A fireman, Guy Montag’s duty to the state is to burn books because books are thought to be the origination of misery and chaos.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
There must be very few who haven’t heard of Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ which was recently adapted into an award-winning TV series. The book is a classic dystopian novel with feminist themes playing in the background. The story presents a world where the state owns the bodies of the women and the handmaids are the ones forced into providing children to the elite.
American War by Omar El Akkad
Omar El Akkad’s debut novel, ‘American War’ sets up a dystopian world in 2072 where America is once again entangled in a deadly civil war. The book imagines America fighting a plague and a civil way and in the middle of all of it is caught one helpless family.
1984 by George Orwell
One of the classic’, George Orwell’s ‘1984’ presents a terrifying future beat down under a totalitarian regime. Everyone and everything is controlled by the dictatorial regime led by “The Party”. Rich in historical facts, ‘1984’ stands as a literary masterpiece in the English language.
