Dystopia Source

Curiously, the IT people seem to know more about the outside world than anyone else. How long can they keep their secret? 

The TV series got unplugged before given a fair chance, but the novel that started it all is a fast, thought-provoking read. Is the future immutable? See what Hugo winner Robert Sawyer has to say about it. (Arguably more sci-fi than dystopian, but I’ll let it slide since I loved it so much.)

What would the world be like without children?  I have a weak spot for reproductive-focused dystopia, and James certainly wears the crown in this category (Sorry Handmaid’s Tale). The movie with Julianne Moore is intriguing but ultimately disappointing, as it departs significantly from the plot of this brilliant novel. 

Kazuo Ishiguro's masterpiece packs its punch in the reader's obliviousness to the mysterious world of his characters and the horrors that await them. If you've been spoiled (or seen the disappointing movie version), then it won't be the same ride. Beautiful, haunting dystopia at its finest. 

When a secret military project goes wrong, vampire-like creatures wipe out North America. A century later, the remaining humans struggle to survive. Not a premise that would usually intrigue me, but Cronin is a master of details, dystopia, and terrifying his readers. The third book in the trilogy, The City of Mirrors, will be published in 2014. 

Dark, gritty dystopia at its finest.  Set in the mid 2020s in California, the pair of novels describe an America spinning out of control economically, socially, and environmentally.  Butler was a prophet when it comes to environmental dangers and other challenges looming in the 21st century. Terrifying enough to make you want to start honing in on those survival skills.

Stephen King is a true prophet with this novel, foreseeing reality television and The Hunger Games long before their popularity. A truly terrifying ride, that is very different from the Schwarzenegger movie adaption. 

Western meets scifi meets a brilliant thought experiment. I have no words except absolutely extraordinary. 

Looking for trippy dystopia? Stanislaw Lem's The Futurological Congress is a black humor narrative of a future where utopia is a pharmacologically induced haze and reality is too ghastly to be experienced. The 1971 Polish novel is being released as a French animated film this year. 

Margaret Atwood's Maddaddam Trilogy is a masterpiece of modern dystopia. The third and final book, Maddaddam, will be released on September 3. 

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