10 Dystopian Novels with a Modern-day Warning

Neal Shusterman, 2017

This trilogy must be read as one book, otherwise, the themes are incomplete, in my opinion. Having read each book back to back, cover to cover, the story of death and humanity’s incapability of dealing with it in wholesome fashions is brilliantly articulated by Shusterman. As I have personally delved into the dystopian genre due to my own creative endeavors, I always like to see another author’s take on the genre. Not only does this world extrapolate the possibilities of death being conquered, but it battles with the question of how involved should technology be in our lives, to what end do we worship this technology, and what are the warning signs that lead to our complacency?

Ray Bradbury, 1968

Life is full of hypocrisy and contradictions, and it is hubris that gives people the “moral obligation” to “protect others” from misinformation, utilizing arbitrary utilizing weapons of propaganda. History is knowledge, and if knowledge is power, if one controls history, they have access to unfettered power—they can shape both culture and politics simultaneously. Bradbury understood this simple fact when he wrote Fahrenheit 451. Fear is the go-to tool of manipulation for propagandists and activist politicians, and mindless consumption and desensitized interactions lead to mass control. If you distort the lines of history, you can shape public perception for any agenda and objective. While technology has allowed for the mediums to vary, censorship is not a new idea or tactic of controlling political narratives. Yes, humanity is full of hypocrisy, but that is truly the wonder in it because opposition allows for pure truth to be revealed.

Ayn Rand, 2003

Atlas Shrugged has been propped up as an iconic piece of conservative literature for decades. The rise of Communism in Russia heavily influenced her work as her distaste for the collectivist ideology. Although the United States opposed Communism during the Cold War era, Marxism still had strong support among American intellects, academics, sophists, and any who favored both the expansion of the welfare state and increased regulation of free enterprise and private industry. The story revolves around the struggles of innovative industrialists like Dagny Taggart and Hank Rearden, who fight against government interference and societal decay. As society's most productive individuals start disappearing mysteriously, leaving behind a world in chaos, Dagny embarks on a quest to unravel the truth behind their disappearance, leading to a profound exploration of individualism, capitalism, and the pursuit of one's own happiness amidst societal pressures. Rand's narrative serves as a powerful defense of individual rights, rational self-interest, and the importance of free-market capitalism.

George Orwell, 2021

This is probably the most referenced dystopian novel, which is why I didn’t put it first. That being said, it is the most referenced because it is the most obvious as to the fear of the power of government. George Orwell had a genuine mistrust of government and other authoritative organizations simply through his observation of the Spanish Civil War. Orwell feared those who would ban books, concealing the truth from us. In 1984 people were controlled by the government’s pain and fear, aka Big Brother, and is depicted through the experience of a Winston Smith and his lover Julia. This fear of an iron fist is something society runs into on a daily basis in the information age. Not only do people self-censor, but Big Tech is silencing and canceling opposition and politicians and CEOs are constant threats of becoming tyrants as they grasp for their slice of control.

Margaret Atwood, 2011

In Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, the United States has been replaced by the totalitarian Republic of Gilead, where women have been stripped of their rights and assigned rigid societal roles. Offred, the protagonist, is a Handmaid forced to bear children for the elite ruling class. Through her eyes, we witness the oppressive regime's control over every aspect of women's lives, from their bodies to their thoughts. Readers navigate this bleak world through Offred’s experiences, both past and present. While Atwood ultimately feared that theology and religion would be humanity’s downfall due to misogynistic constructs, I don’t think she predicted the dogmatic worship of government we have today. From the women’s bodies being used as political instruments and language as a tool of power to the causes of complacency and complicity, the deeply religious thematic elements in The Handmaid’s Tale are clear.

Neal Shusterman, 2009

Here is another from the author, Neal Shusterman. With the topic of Roe V. Wade in the United States, the chasm between pro-life and pro-choice has grown even more, and in a novel that is solely about a great compromise between the two ideologies, Shusterman’s dystopian saga could not be more relevant. Ultimately, Shusterman seems to have great worry about society’s lack of value for human life, taking the choice away from those whose lives are being debated over. Unwind is a classic study on the intertwining of personal choice and the value of human life. Who owns our bodies? Do we? Does someone else? Does the government? Does anyone but the individual have the right to determine the value of their life? Because of society’s proximity to abortion, this storyline seems extreme and disturbing. However, The Unwind Dystology is no more extreme and disturbing than other classic dystopian novels such as 1984 and Brave New World.

Ernest Cline, 2011

This here is a captivating dystopian adventure set in a future where society spends much of its time immersed in a virtual reality world called the OASIS. With its blend of nostalgic pop culture references, thrilling action sequences, and thought-provoking themes about technology and society, Ready Player One is a gripping homage to 1980s geek culture and a compelling exploration of the human connection in an increasingly digital world. When the creator of the OASIS, James Halliday, dies, he leaves behind a quest: whoever can solve his intricate puzzles and challenges within the virtual world will inherit his vast fortune and control of the OASIS itself. The story follows Wade Watts, a teenager living in the impoverished stacks of Columbus, Ohio, who becomes embroiled in the hunt for Halliday's Easter egg. As Wade delves deeper into the quest, he finds himself in a high-stakes race against powerful corporations and ruthless competitors, all while discovering the importance of friendship, courage, and the real-world consequences of virtual escapism.