Dystopian Books You'll Love

Dystopian literature is as diverse as it is prevalent. Some books tackle political and social issues head-on, while others create allegorical spaces for exploring themes such as acceptance, love, and family. Regardless of its subject matter, a dystopian book will always make you think—maybe even a little bit outside yourself. At Heisenbooks you can explore the futuristic worlds by purchasing a dystopian books. Here are books that will leave you feeling better about the future and your place in it.

"The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Atwood’s dystopian futurefantasy "The Handmaid’s Tale" has been praised as one of the best works of fiction of the past few decades and left readers feeling pessimistic about humanity’s future. Set in a totalitarian America in which women are subservient and have few rights, readers follow Offred (an American woman living in Gilead), who is punished after she rebels against her Commander and becomes one of “Handmaids.” In this world, women are ordered to abstain from all public expressiveness. They are also expected to be child-like and docile, and have little say in who they will marry or have children with.

"The Giver" by Lois Lowry

The first book in the Newbery-winning "The Giver" series, "The Giver" follows 12-year-old Reiner as he lives as a “giver,” collecting memories of the people who have come before him. When one of his neighbors confesses to having no memory of her birth family, Reiner is faced with the difficult decision of how to deal with the tragedy of it all. This book inspires empathy for all humans, with a focus on the importance of family and resilience.

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

"Ender's Game" is a novel about an alien being who crash-lands on Earth and is adopted by humans. When the humans launch an attack on the aliens, Ender is sent to fight them—and he does an amazing job of it. This book has been called "biography" by some, but it’s more like non-fiction because it shows us what life must have been like for Ender’s parents, the other humans on Earth, and the aliens they’re trying to kill.

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

"The Hunger Games" is a series of young adult dystopian novels by American author Collins, and the first two books in the series, "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire," were made into films. This book follows 13-year-old Katniss Everdeen and her struggle to survive in a world without adults. When the government asks young people to take up arms against each other in a competition to the death, it’s up to Katniss to choose who she’ll fight for and why.

"1984" by George Orwell

"1984" is a novel written by English author George Orwell, set in a dystopian future where the majority of people are "rawn" (a word that Orwell used in his book) and subjected to "thought control." This book challenges the values of our society, as well as our perceptions of truth and storytelling.

"Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

"Brave New World" is a book about the future, and how we'll get there. It follows the trials and challenges faced by a diverse group of characters as they try to survive in a world without humans. The book criticizes the ideals of progress andugenuity, instead positing that a cold, logical, and soulless society will emerge from the ruins of the post-apocalyptic world.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab 

A Darker Shade of Magic is a fantasy novel set in a land called Mistborn—which is basically an alternate history of the United States. Like many fantasy novels, A Darker Shade of Magic poses big questions: What if our history had been different? What if humans hadn’t discovered fire? What if things had turned out differently for the people of the Hum? And, of course, what if someone had discovered the magical nature of metal? These are all big, unexplored questions that Schwab raises in her novel, and they’re the driving force behind A Darker Shade of Magic. The story is also about family—in this case, the royal family of half-Elves, who are humanoid but have a more “human-like” sense of humor. If you like your fantasy with a human heart, this is a must-read. 

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