Literature has been a defining part of culture since the beginning of language. The dangers of modern times have led to the writing of dystopian novels, novels which warn of an unhappy future. Many people think of Dystopian novels as purely science fiction—while science fiction is a natural fit for a dystopian story, not all dystopian books are considered science fiction. Without further delay, here are the 12 best dystopian novels.
This novel isn’t the 12th best on the list (it would be rated much higher in my opinion) but it’s at number twelve because of the on going argument whether this is truly a dystopian novel or not. The definition of dystopia isn’t necessarily clear, though the general definition is that it is a society in which misery and negative conditions prevail (or a seeming utopia gained at horrifying costs.)
As far as a dysfunctional society, the island with its stranded little boys is it, and once the conch shell is no longer seen as authority, everything breaks apart. If anyone wants to argue that an anarchy could work, this book would be an immediate argument against it. This is an incredible psychological work, and I’d say their society is definitely dysfunctional enough to count as a dystopia.
This story comes from the first person Offred. Offred is a maid in a time when fertile women are forced to be breeding machines to keep the human population going. This takes place because the world is a post-nuclear world where many women can’t have children. This is a very theocratic society, and this book tends to be very pro-feminist and anti-religious, which causes it to often be protested. This is a great dystopian tale that is frightening because the logic of how the society became the way it is happens to be very believable.
Most of William Gibson’s novels revolve around a dystopian future society, but Neuromancer may be the best of them all. This novel won the sci-fi “triple crown” for writers by winning the Nebula, Hugo, and Philip K. Dick awards. In the seedy underground of a Japanese city, a computer hacker is hired to work on the ultimate hack. In a world flushed with AI, virtual reality, genetic engineering, and corporations overpowering nations, the adventure follows. Gibson beat many modern sci-fi writers to the punch, and this dystopian novel is one of the most influential in modern times.
Iron Heel is an excellent dystopian novel about the rise of a tyrannical corporate oligarchy in the United States. This book doesn’t pay attention to technology the way most future dystopian science fiction novels do now. This work stressed changes in society and politics, with the oligarchy formed by robber barons whom bankrupt all the middle class and seize power before enforcing a “caste system” of workers. This was a fantastic dystopian novel that was far ahead of its time.
Written by Stephen King under the penname of Richard Bachman, “The Running Man” is a fantastic dystopian novel about a frightening future where ratings and entertainment takes form in a man hunt, and where even the “winners” are losers. This novel is far superior to the movie, and in my opinion is one of the best novels written by Stephen King. “The Long Walk” is also an honorable mention.
I’ve probably read over 200 books the last two years, and among many good novels, “Armageddon’s Children” has been one of my favorites. This is one of the best novels written by Terry Brooks, and takes place in a post apocalyptic world around 2100, following (among others) a lone remaining knight trying desperately to fight off the demon onslaught and a group of street gang kids who roam the remains of Seattle trying to survive. The fantasy world of Shannara was supposedly spawned from the post apocalyptic wastes of Earth, and this series bridges the gap between the two.
This dystopian novel is another example of a post-nuclear world. This time the dystopia comes from a “need” for purity. As humans are being born with increasing levels of mutations and deformities, the state decides to execute anyone who isn’t “perfect,” meaning even one extra toe can be a death sentence. This attempt at forcing perfection in a post apocalyptic world is disturbing and effective, and has spawned many imitators.
Most people will know about the film with Clive Owen and Julianne Moore. The movie was very good, but is far different from the book. In this world, for reasons unknown, all men’s sperm count plummeted to zero, and without reason or explanation, mankind now faces its own extinction. The fear mongering during this time has allowed governments extraordinary powers to keep the peace, and when a woman becomes pregnant, the implications are enormous.
“The Time Machine” is one of the best science fiction novels to ever be written. This novel is the story of “The Time Traveler” who builds a machine that allows him to travel to the far distant future. While this might not seem dystopian at first glance, but a seemingly gentle and happy society is plagued by predators who harvest people for food…if that doesn’t qualify as a crappy dystopian society, I don’t know what does. The hero tells his story to a man of his time, grabs weapons, and goes back into the future never to return. This novel is where the term “time machine” even came from.
This isn’t the best written novel, but it is one of the big three of the dystopian science fiction novels. This could very well be the most recognizable of the big three, as “1984″ is synonymous with tyrannical governments, fascism, and dystopian science fiction. Even the phrases “1984″ and “Big Brother” are now part of the common culture. Orwell’s detailed novel shows how a government can manipulate the people by manipulating the truth and manipulating the news. This book is the source for arguing against a far right government getting unfettered power.
Guy Montag begins this classic novel as a fireman: meaning he is a man society calls on to burn all books, which are outlawed. Unlike “1984″ or “Brave New World,” “451″ doesn’t speak politically against the left or the right politically, but speaks against the dumbing down of society, specifically on how Hollywood pop culture slush and TV entertainment can create an entire nation of people who are not only incapable of fighting for their rights, but who don’t even realize the importance of doing so. This is a brilliant novel that shows Guy going from soldier of the state to an independent free thinker who must go on the run to survive.
While this dystopian masterpiece and “Fahrenheit 451″ could be interchangeable as the top two, “Brave New World” gets the nod because the writing itself is the best. This novel is incredible, showing a society where left leaning thinking and self hedonism is taken so far to the extreme that one person’s utopia turns out to be an appalling place where the irony of a peaceful existence has caused society to lose all concept of art, honor, religious beliefs, or anything that often defines culture. The “utopia” has people who have no sympathy, no empathy, and this vision of a future is as chilling as any other on this list.
Contributor: Shane Dayton
Great list. Another could be Jennifer Government. Just got done reading it. Basically, in the near future Corporations run the world. Good book.
In the near future??? That’s already happening…
Robert Kaplan’s “Imperial Grunts: The American Military on the Ground” has the immediacy, depth, and nhgisit characteristic of all his work (all essential reading in my view). The topic in brief is what our military is doing in roughly 120 countries around the world, mostly far away from reporters and photographers. The book provides a window on the different faces of the American empire, and the soldiers–for it has fallen largely upon them to define America’s foreign policy on the ground–who defend it. The countours of the so-called long war are already visible in the range of activities–from building schools and clinics to training indigenous forces in counterinsurgency to fighting hot wars in Iraq and Afghanistan–as are the capabilities required to advance American interests. These include foreign languages, combat and survival skills typical of special forces, and above all, high-level problem solving outside the reach of the chain of command.At the same time, the book provides a candid view of the America that produces these warriors, the parts of the country and class system from which they are drawn, the personality traits typical of the different branches, and how they find meaning making extraordinary sacrifices so far away from home.
is Dune considered dystopian?
I think because the society, even if it is slightly dystopian, is not the main conflict, it does not qualify as a dystopian novel. It may have some elements of a dystopian novel, but it is so different from the rest of the novels on this list I don’t think it would truly qualify as a dystopian novel. Incredible book though.
This list is excellent. However, I have just one complaint:
You are missing two very important dystopian works:
We the Living by Ayn Rand (the most "novelistic" of her novels; depicts Soviet Russia in 1922)
and WE by Yevgeny Zamyatin, which greatly influenced both Orwell and Huxley.
I think all three of the big dystopian novels (1984, BNW, F451) are true; that is to say, I think we have elements of all three: We have an ambitious government, we watch too much TV, and most people in America don't even really care. We also have pervasive, terrible influence of religion in society, which, is detailed in The Handmaid's Tale (especially Becky Fischer [Jesus Camp] as Aunt Lydia, who is the most terrifying villain I have ever come across.
“We also have pervasive, terrible influence of religion in society”
Despite the fact that believers give more to secular charities than non-believers do? Despite the fact that religious followers are more likely than the non-religious to donate money and time?
http://www.hoover.org/publications/policy-review/article/6577
Better get your facts straight. There are people who do terrible things in the name of religion. So what? People can do terrible things in the name of anything. If anything, the facts show that religion has an overall more positive influence on society than negative.
First, that to say that every true believer or person involved with religion is bad or fits the same mold would be a mistake, however, organized religion viewed as a whole is extremely problematic to almost every culture on Earth. It sponsors extremism and elitism across the board, and an us vs. them mentality. In the U.S., the religious right spreads disinformation, abhors education, and is a constant barrier to developmental science. It causes more of the problems we face today from the environmental to foreign policy, than it does positively keeping a select group of people from fearing their own mortality. There are many people that identify as religious followers, pointed out in your link, that do so for only family or traditional reasons. These people barely if at all practice religion. In the PC world we live in, anyone bringing up that they question religion’s sensibilities faces being ostracized by their family and communities, so that many would rather not rock the boat. Your point really proves nothing as many atheists have been some of the world’s largest philanthropists it’s ever seen. If a dystopia ever comes to pass, then I’m afraid it will be at the hands of mankind’s inability to mature and embrace an educated future filled with open thinkers. It’s the 21st century and it’s time we act like it.
Shane:
Some of this list is on the mark, but some of it seems like you haven't done your homework. Neglecting to include Zemyatin's "We" is a bad oversight–it's one of the seminal dystopian novels of the 20th century, a huge influence on "Brave New World" and specifically mentioned by Orwell as one of his inspirations for "1984."
Leaving off Vonnegut's "Player Piano" and Koestler's book… I think it was "Darkness at Noon" are oversights as well….
What about Harry Harrison's "Make Room, Make Room"?
But you DO include "The Handmaids Tale," which is the most overrated, pretentious piece of crap spit out in the last 30 years.
And I don't view "The Time Machine" as dystopian per se. It's more a post-war devastation piece…. there's no real "society" there that Wells is using as an ugly mirror image of ours… oh, people have argued that in a loose sense that the relationship between the Morlocks and the Eloi *is* representative, in some ways, of modern society—but this isn't painted in a dystopian sense.
My thoughts exactly on Zamyatin’s “We.” As good as Fahrenheit 451 is, it did not do nearly as much for the dystopian genre as “We.” The toss-up for number 1 should be between “A Brave New World” and “We” because they were the earliest recognized dystopian novels and they were written, to the best of my knowledge, independently (Huxley wasn’t aware of Zamyatin’s work when writing BNW).
I just have a question about the description of 1984. It says it is an argument against far right governments… perhaps its just a confusion of terms on my part but: The government described in 1984 basis itself off of a concept called Ingsoc (English Socialism).. wouldn't that be a far left?
… just a question.
Very much agreed: 1984′s dystopia could just as easily describe SOCIALISM taken to its ultimate extreme as well as it could describe FASCISM. Both systems advocate governments that elevate the State at the expense of the individual. All strong centralized governments are potential Big Brothers, and “strong centralized government” is socialism’s raison d’etre.
Whats a book again?
Thanks so much for your thoughts and rnfteclioes Mr. Jim.Ia0appreciate this comment verya0much. We just had aa0friend, professor from Berkeley, visiting this weekend and we engaged in aa0long conversation (last night) on the problems with primary age/lower elementary kids watching the popular cable shows targeted for teens (i.e., icarly, phineas and Ferb, Shake it up), which are shaping and norming kid’s ideas of how siblings and friends, across genders, can and should behave. The influence it has in norming language like “butt head”, “wedgies”, idiot, stupid, etc. and the influence they have in norming teasing, cruel jokes, and the obsession of young (very young) boys on the older teenage girl, just to name aa0few, should be of concern to us as parents also. Antonio and Ia0were called to task– to sit and watch these shows for ourselves to determine if we think their content is appropriate for our young kids toa0watch.I think your invitation to research the content and appropriateness of this film can (and should) be extended to what our kids watch on TVa0also.Best,Rosalee(Kinan, Hyazna and Kuyuchik’s mom) p.s.Small fact:Violence on TV has increased by 75% from 1995–2005 (Kimmel, 2011).
I've gotten around to some of the books on this list and have enjoyed them all. I'll be sure to look into the ones I've not yet devoured.
I'm not entirely sure if it classifies strictly as dystopian, but the Wraeththu books are amazing. Has anyone else read them?
There isn’t really much vclienoe that would scare aa0lot of the elementary students. There is no ***** or nudity, that website doesn’t know what they are saying. Ia0am in the middle school and I’m in 8th grade. There is no way Ia0would have been able to see that movie if there was ***** and nudity in it. Ia0understand your concern but it’s not that bad once you see it. The book is way more inappropriate then thea0movie.
wow I love Stuff to do with Dystopian
lord of the flies was a gread read…i was forced to though by my 9th grade teacher!
*great* typo, sorry!
Great List Shane! My reading list is getting way too extensive.
Going to have to become a hermit to get caught up. Five more to add.
Wasn’t it Clive Owen and not Richard Gere in Children of Men?
Great list! I will definitely add a couple of these to my “must read” pile.
A small correction about #5… the film version of “Children of Men” stars Julian Moore and Clive Owen, not Richard Gere.
It was simple, but I always loved The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Did anyone read Synners by Pat Cadigan?
great list! I’ve read 6 of the 10, with 1984, Brave New World and Time Machine as my favorites.
how about Animal Farm? Dystopia from a different point of view.
My definite favorite was the classic 1984. However, even though not literature but a comic, V for Vendetta impressed me as well.
Forest Gump is the scarriest! I hope nixon never becomes president!
Great list! I remember reading Lord of the Flies in high school…all I can say is poor Piggy!
I have read the top 3 and agree with #1, it truly has the best writing.
The perfect thing about Brave New World is that there is really nothing wrong with it. Everyone is happy and the only purpose of the government is to keep everyone happy. Racism, crime, poorness, genetic disease, old age, filth, and selfishness are all gone. Even those who do not conform can live out their lives is full happiness on islands around the world.
Fantastic List! Has anybody here ever read ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ by Neil Postman? Its not a novel by sorts because its not a fictional story, its more of an academic commentary. If you liked the books on this list, especially 451 and A Brave New World I would definitely check it out.
One of my favorite dystopian books I read was Curious George: The story of a world were men can to only wear yellow and big hats plus they have monkeys for servents.
Out of the books mentioned, I’ve only ever read The Long Walk, which I think is much better than The Running Man.
…And I’ve read The Running Man. ooop.
Oh – interestingly, Huxley also wrote a book called the Island which is a utopian novel. I have it beside my bed but stopped reading it when I bought a new copy of Atlas Shrugged which I am now reading again. Who is John Galt?
so we got top dystopian films last week, now dystopian novels? someone needs to cheer up a bit!
Great list! The one I’m really surprised isn’t on here is Stephen King’s “The Stand”. Scared the crap out of me the first time I read it and every time since.
Clive Owen is in Children of Men, not Richard Gere.
Besides that, this list is great!
I try really hard to complain about the lists, but this is starting to get frustrating.
Whats with lack of Philip K. Dick in these lists?
First most influential sci-fi writers and now this.
Please, at least give this fantastic writer some credit.
He kinda knew a thing or two about science fiction and dystopian novels with ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep’, ‘Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said’, the novella ‘Minority Report’, ‘Ubik’, ‘The Man in the High Castle’, and so and so forth. Any of these are great examples of a dystopian novel.
*Flame resistent pants on*
This Perfect Day should have made the list. I’m also astonished that you put BNW at #1 for “best writing.” On the contrary, of the dozens of dystopian novels I’ve read BNW has some of the worst, least engaging writing of all of them.
I agree. This Perfect Day is a thousand times better than BNW. So is 1984! I've read thousands of books, and I couldn't even get through BNW whatsoever.
@romerozombie:
I loved the Long Walk as well, but I think th Running Man is a better representation of a dystopian society. The Long Walk focuses less on the dystopian society itself, but more on the boys themselves and how they took the greatest chance to survive within this society.
The Long Walk is fairly mum on the world outside of this boy’s heads besides a breif rundown in the begininng. Which I think makes the book more effective as it forces you to wonder what state the world would have to be in if there was a very popular game where 99 TEENAGE boys die (a hundreth if you also take in the death of one’s humanity and connection to the world). Its all good fun.
The Running Man goes into much greater detail into how that society is a dystopia. Such as how the “Games” control the people and their lives. How people find enjoyment in watching people with bad hearts and cripples continuosly run on treadmills for bucks. About what drives people to put themselves through that. It presents the problems in that society without posing questions.
If any of that made sense, let me know.
I’m glad The Long Walk was mentioned. Everyone should read that book, it was really unnverving, creepy and just plain scary.
D Holmes: feel free to send in a list – I accept and often publish submitted lists – then you don’t need to be frustrated any longer!
Oh – and check this out:
http://listverse.com/literature/top-15-great-science-fiction-books/
Dick is number 11 – we haven’t ignored him completely
@islanderbst
Or maybe hug.
Perhaps someone didn’t get enough attention as a child?
I think “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” should have gotten an honorable mention, at least. It’s truly tragic and beautiful at the same time.
@jfrater
I remember that list from a way back, but I find it a crime to not include him in either of the previous lists (crime in MY world, at least. Which has zero influence).
I’ve considered sending in a list of that type, but I don’t want to be redundant.
I do have a couple of presidental lists in the pipeline. I can promise that they will create some interesting debates.
D Holmes: great! Political lists are always interesting – I look forward to it.
There are some excellent books on this list, and after seeing the Running man film with Arnold, I have always wanted to read the book.
Was Huxley half responsible for triggering Timothy Leary’s obsession with conscious expanding drugs? Just wondering, I could be wrong
Pretty much all of the Bachman books (A collection of Stephen King’s pseudonym). The collection of his first four is now out of print but they have released them all as separate books: Roadwork, Running Man, Long Walk, Rage (unfortunately not reprinted at SK’s request).
awesome list
Great list, but one problem I feel – I didn’t see A Clockwork Orange anywhere. Why? – If that isn’t distopyia i don’t know what is.
Teedyman: It is interesting you should say that – a lot of people complained about the inclusion of Clockwork Orange on the top 10 dystopian movies list. And to be honest, I think that Burgess wrote other books that were far more dystopian than Clockwork Orange – The Wanting Seed for example – perhaps his greatest work. A quote from the book:
Sadly missing:
A Clockwork Orange
Animal Farm
Dick’s short stories
V for Vendetta graphic novels
Sin City graphic novels (fairly dystopian IMO)
I also consider Moore’s Utopia a form of the dystopian genre in that when it compares to reality it cannot exist. I got into a debate w/ a professor about that.
Mein Kampf has it’s own dystopic undertones with a non-Nazi view from the reader, but I don’t know if that’d count.
I also agree w/ Mandi about The Stand.
Handmaid’s Tale is brilliant, I love Atwood’s stuff. So many excellent books on this list! Though I have to agree with Teedyman, A Clockwork Orange would have been a good addition. I’m not sure of your exact criteria, however, so I’ll assume you have your reasons.
And it has been mentioned a couple times, but I’ll throw in another vote for Richard Gere not being in Children of Men… Can we edit it to Clive?
jfrater: glad to hear it.
Argh! (Re the Richard Gere error) – I have fixed it.
I had to read the Crysalids in school… and I HATED it. Maybe I was too young at the time, but it was probably the worst book I was ever assigned.
I honestly wasn’t sure what Dystopian menat until I read this list. I instantly started wondering if The Chrysalids was going to be on here.
The Chrysalids was one of my favourite novels from school. I read it occasionally now to remind myself of the themes. It seems to be a love it or hate it type of book (see post #46) but I thought it was great.
Thank you for including it!
lord of the flies is a good book. i had to read it on my because my school banned it. why, i still dont know. but id have to agree with a few of the comments ive seen animal farm deserves a place on this list.
I agree with what you said DHolmes, and that’s why I think The Long Walk its better – there’s more humanity in it, and the ambiguity of their situation, not knowing all the ins-and-outs of their dystopian is more harrowing, I think.
*dystopian society
It’s hard to say whether Lord of the Flies is, in fact, a dystopian novel. The inspiration for the novel stems from the idea of a “state of nature”, a state existing prior or apart from society. There is no society in Lord of the Flies and the story’s plot revolves around the absence of regular society’s influence on the boys. If a dystopia is defined as a SOCIETY in which misery or negative conditions prevail then I don’t think Lord of the Flies applies.
It’s that thing with just words and letter where people read and use imagination, I think.
I’ve read both f451 and 1984 n IMO I believe that 1984 should be above f451….no valid reason only because I liked it more and it seems to have more of a lasting effect than f451.
Brave new world is my next book (ap reading list) hopefully it is as good as every1 says
World War Z
The Stand
These are my favorite dystopian novels.
Brilliant list!
Though I haven’t read most of them, I would agree with most everything but the chrysalids. Something about that book I just couldn’t enjoy…
Brave new World as number one just fits perfectly, though.
The problem with calling “Brave New World” dysutopian is that…well, the population is happy. Albeit, they are happy because they are conditioned to be happy, but still, they’re happy. Very few are disatisfied.
Not saying that I’d want to live in that world though.
Good list – I look forward to these kind of lists!
Excellent list! I love utopian/dystopian novels, although there are many on this list that I have not read. Thanks for the leisure material suggestions. =)