New dystopian novels

Of Love and Dystopia

Directly from Ancient Greek, "dystopia" literally means bad, hard place, which might be the sort of thing that intrigues but might also be the sort of thing that makes you want to run screaming in the opposite direction. If you fall into the second category, maybe go check out one of our other book lists. But if you fall into the firstgo ahead and read on.

Created as a subversion of the peaceful utopia, coined by Thomas More, dystopia can be used to describe any sort of community thats undesirable, frightening, or just downright bad. Usually brought about by some sort of war, genocide, or natural disaster, dystopias reflect some of the fears we have about the world as it could be. Dystopian fictions give us a chance to explore these ideas froma safe distance of books and consider what implications they might have on our behavior in the real world. We can draw inspiration, caution, or courage from the protagonists we read about as we piece together a way to navigate the complicated fabrics of our own lives.

Diversity in Dystopia

There are all kinds of dystopian fiction subgenres out there, but one of the most popularand profitableis the young adult dystopia. Think The Hunger Games, Divergent, Mortal Instrumentsany sci-fi novel where teens fighting against a totalitarian regime and, more often than not, fall in love along the way. These have surged in popularity over the last decade, with major film companies like Lionsgate and 20th Century Fox getting into high-stakes bidding wars over adapting the next big hit. And while some later releases failed to live up to the hype of their source materialwere looking at you, Allegiantthe genre doesnt appear to be fizzling out any time soon.

The reasons for the popularity of YA Dystopia are varied. Theyre often a bit more digestible than your average dystopia and can be read at a faster pace, making them popular with teens and adults alike. For younger readers in the throes of puberty and high-school drama, they offer a chance to see themselves reflected in worlds as emotionally and politically turbulent as the one they feel theyre living in. They can be a bit trope-y at timesbe prepared for at least one tragic love trianglebut the weight of the stakes is tremendously real. And, whether or not youre a fan, one thing is clear: readers keep coming back for more.

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