If you are a fan of science fiction novels, you might have noticed how some of the story settings are set in an apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic world when humanity is experiencing a period of oppression, turmoil, poverty, or near destruction despite the advancement in technology.
This theme which is a popular theme in science fiction novels is known as dystopia which is defined by questia.com, as “a society characterized by poverty, squalor or oppression,” and is the opposite of utopia which talks about a perfect and idealistic world.
In the last few decades, dystopian-themed novels have seen a rise in popularity and some have even been made into films. Here is a list of some of the most popular books that you can add to your sci-fi collection
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In 1984, Orwell paints a society that has lost its freedom as it is being closely watched by a leader only known as “Big Brother,” and the quest for freedom of those who dream of reforming the society filled with oppression.
The book 1984 introduced the concept of “telescreen” which is defined by cliffsnotes.com as “a TV that observes those who are watching it,” as well as a tri-megastate world known as Eastasia, Eurasia, and Oceania, which consists of countries such as China, Russia, United States, and the United Kingdom
Hunger Games
The first book of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games which has already been made into a film is probably to blame for the popularity of dystopian-themed novels in recent
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Similar to Hunger Games, Divergent is also set in a post-apocalyptic world. The story revolves around a society which is divided into five factions representing virtues such as honesty, selflessness, peacefulness, intelligence, and bravery. This book talks about a futuristic society that values structure over family ties. However, as the story unravels, the protagonist, as well as the readers, will go on a journey to discover what actually lies behind the facade of this seemingly perfect society.
The Giver
The Giver is the first installment in The Giver Quartet series. This book is one of the early works of author Lois Lowry published in 1993. The Giver is set in an ideal futuristic world where peace is maintained by putting the society is in a state of “sameness.”
In the story, factors which can cause prejudice, pain, and fear such as memories of war, color, and emotions have been eliminated from a person’s mind using a technology that causes the community to live in sameness. These memories have been entrusted to a single person known as the Receiver who holds all these memories from the past to prevent the society from going back to a state of chaos.
Brave New