Best Dystopian Novels (Updated 2022)

Censorship by way of book-burning has been a theme throughout history. By limiting information access, dictators more easily controlled slaves and people. This is the main theme in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. In this book, readers follow a firefighter, Guy Montag, as he burns houses full of books. One night, Montag encounters a teenage girl who shares her idealism and liberated thoughts with Montag. Montag is stricken by her mind, and the duo quickly becomes friends. Throughout the book, we watch an internal transition in Montag as he realizes how powerful books actually are.

Fahrenheit 451 was the winner of the American Academy of Arts and Letters award as well as the winner of the Commonwealth Club of California’s Gold Medal. The messages and themes that are spread throughout the novel force readers to look at information and education in an inquisitive way. What happens when you burn books as a form of censorship? Or when society becomes uneducated? Are we easier to control?

Not only does Fahrenheit 451 tell a powerful story in itself, but it’s also historically significant and eye-opening. Some readers complain that the singular message in this novel lacks depth. But the overall content of this book is relevant and easy to digest. Ray Bradbury is a masterful storyteller with the ability to take readers into the depths of their own minds. He poses questions that revolve around education and the integrity of books, allowing readers to draw conclusions about the power of words. This book is both chilling and enlightening.

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In James Tiptree Jr’s The Girl Who was Plugged In, readers are taken to a futuristic society where everything is controlled by a capitalistic regime. While advertisements aren’t legal, influencers or celebrities are legal. And they are used to sell products. When the protagonistic, Philadelphia Burke attempts suicide, she is chosen to become a “remote operator.” This means that she’ll control the body of a woman who is designed to influence buyers. Delphi, the woman that Burke controls, was grown without a brain by a powerful corporation with one purpose: push the capitalistic agenda.

Originally published in 1973, this book was engaged in conversations around gender and objectification before they were mainstream topics. What is the ideal feminine figure like? Are beautiful bodies used to fit a particular agenda? What does negative gender embodiment look like? The Girl Who was Plugged In addresses this question full-force. It is a socially relevant window into topics that remain at the forefront of mental-health discussions today.

James Tiptree JR does a beautiful job of posing difficult questions to readers. His take on femininity and the depiction of it is inquisitive. With a unique plot to draw readers into a dystopian reality, Tiptree forces us to look into the grotesque side of humanity. Are we controlled by large corporations directly or indirectly? From what do we derive value? And if you were capable of shedding your own flesh to adopt another body, would you do it? James Tiptree JR poses these questions in his unsettling portrayal of the future.

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In The Giver, 12-year old Jonas lives in a town that’s isolated from all of the rest. This town takes great care in giving children their life-long role. Some children become Nurturers. Others become Educators. Jonas is given the shocking role of the Receiver of Memory. Jonas must receive all of history’s memories in order to guide the society more efficiently. The Giver begins to transfer memories to Jonas during their training when he begins to feel the pain and horror from history. And it isn’t long before Jonas discovers a terrible secret.

Lois Lowry does a beautiful job of intertwining a storyline that appears to be Utopian with one that’s actually a Dystopia. In The Giver, readers can expect to answer questions about themselves as they pertain to idealism and comfort. Is it necessary to live in a highly-structured and monitored society with little risk? What do you give up if you control a society this way?

The Giver was placed on a list of the most challenged books of the 1990s and with good reason. As a book that is written for kids but addresses very heavy themes, The Giver is both unsettling and important. It’s sneaky, clever and a quick read that causes even skeptical readers to pose important questions. By the end of the book, readers still have lots of unanswered questions at their feet. But Lowry continues this series with two more books in order to explore such questions in depth. This novel is a classic due to its hair-raising themes.

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This book takes place in the year 1984 after war and conflict have ravaged the planet. Airstrip One (which used to be the UK) is one of three totalitarian countries that rule the world. And a character by the name of Big Brother rules this region. Airstrip One is monitored by the party’s surveillance system. And anyone who doesn’t conform to the rules and regulations of this society is murdered, becoming an “unperson.” George Orwell’s 1984 is a literary masterpiece that takes readers down a winding path into the depths of our fears. What would it be like to be completely controlled by a totalitarian society? Can censorship benefit the world in some ways?

As a haunting depiction of surveillance and censorship, 1984 is one of literature’s most favored dystopias. In fact, it received NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Award, attesting to the novel’s poignance and relevance. But this book also touches on themes like nationalism and futurology. Originally published in the UK, George Orwell does a beautiful job of leading readers through dystopian possibilities.

Is it a coincidence that Big Brother seems to resemble Joseph Stalin? Do the events that transpire in this book parallel any real historical events? And what made 1984 into a classic novel that can be found across high-school classrooms? 1984 is as haunting as it is masterful. And it forces readers to look into the depths of negative possibilities. Are we destined to end up in a society full of surveillance?

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A Christian radical group called “Sons of Jacob” takes over the United States after the president is assassinated. The resulting society is named “Gilead”. The shift in power resulted in newspaper censorship and the freezing of women’s bank accounts. Women, now, had to serve out their rightful roles for God. After environmental disasters destroyed much of the planet’s resources, women began facing fertility issues. In Gilead, having children becomes a requirement rather than a suggestion. In Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, readers are faced with one of the most well-known dystopias of all time. The unsettling events that transpire throughout the course of the novel leave us with heavy hearts.

The first version of The Handmaid’s Tale was published in 1985. This version was published in 1998. And a recent sequel, The Testaments, was released to give readers further insight into Gilead. Margaret Atwood’s brilliant portrayal of a radicalized Christian dictatorship has captivated readers’ attention for many years. It was eventually turned into an award-winning show on Hulu. And many of the book’s events have already occurred at some point during history. Riddled with concentration camps, censorship, and dictatorship, it’s difficult to think of a worse dystopia.

But, perhaps, what makes The Handmaid’s Tale most unsettling is that it’s prophetic in nature. Atwood was ahead of her time in her portrayal of Gilead. And the themes over which she glosses are thought-provoking and vital in nature. But this book is tough to stomach for many reasons. It certainly isn’t designed for the faint of heart.

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An unnamed cataclysmic event occurred on Earth, wiping nearly every life-form off of the planet. But a few remain. The Road by Cormac McCarthy follows a Father and a son as they make their way across North America in hopes of finding a better home. Prior to the event that wiped out so much life, the boy’s mother committed suicide out of desperation. And the desperation never seems to end. The boy’s Father develops a cough, hinting that he might be taken, too. And he teaches his son to use a gun on himself instead of letting cannibals take him. McCarthy’s dystopia is grotesque, unrelenting, and excruciating. But his poignant story-telling makes it possible to keep reading.

The Road won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, alluding to the book’s importance and literary relevance. In 2009, it was adapted into a film. LIterary and film critics alike hailed the book and movie for its heart-shattering plot. More than disturbing its readers, The Road tugs at our internal desperation. McCarthy revealed in an interview that some of the conversations that took place in his book actually took place between himself and his son.

This book doesn’t leave very much room for hope. So, if you’re hoping to find a dystopia that leaves readers with dreams of a better world, this book isn’t for you. And, at times, it’s extremely tough to read. But McCarthy leads readers to question the capacity of humanity. What would you do, given a series of impossible circumstances? If nearly all of Earth’s life were wiped out, how would you survive?

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In The Children of Men, human reproduction has come to a complete halt. The last race is populating the Earth. It’s 2021 in England when readers begin following the life and reflections of Theo Faren. The last race has completely lost interest in politics because the end of the race is near. This is how democracy is abolished, allowing Lyppiatt to manipulate society to benefit him. Faren is encouraged by his peers to challenge Lyppiatt in order to return to democracy.

P.D. James flips between Faren’s diary entries and present-day ponderings. And the switch involves transitions between first and third person. The Children of Men tells the plausible story of a society that’s near extinction. What would we do or behave as if the future of the planet didn’t matter? How long would it take for chaos to dominate the planet if its inhabitants lost the will to care? P.D. James poses alluring questions throughout her depiction of a dystopian world. This somber portrayal of character is both heart-wrenching and tough to swallow. But it takes readers down a thought-provoking road.

Part governmental dystopia and part reproductive dystopia, this story is unique and chilling. Compared to competitive books, it offers perspectives that are unlike any others. And it’s captivating throughout the whole book. Will Theo Faren help to change the course of history? Is humanity doomed to extinction? Is a dystopia like this one likely to materialize in real-life? P.D. James aims to answer these questions as she leads us through the riveting chapters of her book.

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The Power by Naomi Alderman depicts a matriarchal society where women have the ability to protect themselves with electricity. But they can also use their electric abilities to attack, murder, and control men. Long-ago, this world was patriarchal, allowing men to organize the planet. But women’s rise to power depicts a very different reality. Alderman blends science-fiction with dystopian themes in order to depict a unique world.

The Power was named one of the best books of 2017 by the New York Times. In Alderman’s 4th novel, her storytelling skills are developed and poignant. This book is an essential piece of literature for feminists. Alderman provides perspectives about women’s potential. She provides a good premise with plenty of nuances. For example, not all women have the same type of power. And they each choose to use it in different ways.

This book suggests, however, that women would corrupt society if empowered. And many of the characters are vengeful and manipulative for no reason. This futuristic portrayal of society is captivating, invigorating, and exciting. With plenty of controversial themes, it’s likely that readers will have something to say about the plot. Would women dominate the world in a vengeful way if they came to power? Do matriarchs have strengths? Is taking a corrupt society back to the stone age an appropriate solution? Alderman aims to answer questions like these in her depiction of a matriarchal society. With plenty of character development and positive tension, The Power offers an alluring dystopian book option for nearly anyone.

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With over 12 novels behind her, Louise Erdrich is a masterful storyteller with a knack for entertainment. As a veteran creator, Erdrich is infamous for taking readers along journeys that are both unsettling and curious. The Future Home of the Living God is a perfect example. This novel is a dystopian tale that turns evolution backward. After a cataclysmic event takes place, a woman gives birth to primitive children. Cedar, the protagonist of this book, is also pregnant. And she worries about the future of her unborn child. Society is in shambles and rumor has it that pregnant women are being imprisoned by a controlling government. Cedar just wants to keep her baby safe. But society is making it difficult.

The Future Home of the Living God was labeled as a New York Times Notable Book for its cultural significance. Published in 2018, it’s a recent dystopia that incorporates timeless themes. Louise Erdrich is known for her dedication to Native American tribes, and she often incorporates native culture in her books. In The Future Home of the Living God, Cedar seeks her birth mother during these uncertain times to find that her mother is an Ojibwe woman. As Cedar learns about her family’s history, the world is worsening.

Louise Erdrich tells a thrilling and suspenseful story. But her cultural incorporations are what makes her novels so unique. As a depiction of a broken down social order, this novel creates a world in which progress seems impossible. Some readers complain that the storyline is disjointed and underdeveloped. Nonetheless, Erdrich does a beautiful job of joining her inquisitive thoughts with an unsettling plot.

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Adolf Hitler once claimed that he would design a “thousand-year Reich.” His vision was to claim global power. Swastika Night by Katharine Burdekin depicts what the world might have looked like if he had succeeded. This book was originally printed in 1937 which made it a futuristic novel. Since World War II hadn’t yet broken out, people of the time worried that Hitler might, in fact, get his “thousand-year Reich.” And Swastika Night depicts this potential world. In this novel, women have lost their beauty, inhabiting the planet with shaved heads. Their only role is to reproduce, and they are treated like animals. Hitler is seen as a God. And those who revere his vision depict him as a long-haired blue-eyed man. The protagonist, Alfred, takes a pilgrimage to visit Germany’s holy sites of Hitlerism. Alfred’s journey reveals what fascism and Hitlerism could do to the planet.

Katharine Burdekin originally wrote under the pseudonym “Murray Constantine” to protect herself from unsettling times. In Swastika Night, she does a beautiful job of channeling her internal fears into a realistic world. Her world hints at many of the themes that George Orwell’s 1984 addresses. And the vision of women that she has is a haunting precursor to Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale.

Swastika Night is thought-provoking. Its depiction of a divided world is particularly relevant now. But some readers complain that the plot is somewhat meandering. Instead of leading readers down an action-filled road, this book causes us to consider what might’ve happened if history had been written differently.

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