Dystopian and Apocalyptic Literature

Description
This is my preset list of dystopian/utopian literature, which includes apocalyptic literature, for the purposes of this list. Feel free to vote up your recommendations and thumbs down books that are not worth reading. Keywords: dystopia, utopia, apocalypse, postapocalyptic
1
54,246 membres
1,006 critiques
4
2
82,449 membres
1,276 critiques
4.2
31 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, aulsmith, PDE, merrystar, sturlington, greydoll, BLBera, alex68, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, Jarandel, Aug3Zimm, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, nicoleop, SENSpence, pan0ramix, JoyKP, dianeham, zfak102, EvolvedMan, Vit.Z, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, Charon07, skid0612, midget84
Explications
sturlington: Classic political dystopia. Mass surveillance, propaganda, historical deletion, mind control, and extreme totalitarianism. Required reading.
3
54,173 membres
774 critiques
3.9
30 Members
ShelfMonkey, amz310783, ShellyS, PDE, merrystar, sturlington, thecoroner, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, Jarandel, Aug3Zimm, SonoranDreamer, cej1027, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Dreesie, nicoleop, pan0ramix, JoyKP, zfak102, EvolvedMan, klcallahan13, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, Charon07, skid0612, midget84
Explications
sturlington: Classic dystopia and counterpoint to 1984. Genetic engineering, mass consumerism, mind control, totalitarianism. Required reading.
4
60,380 membres
891 critiques
4
28 Members
BookWallah, amz310783, ShellyS, aulsmith, PDE, merrystar, sturlington, thecoroner, greydoll, BLBera, rretzler, Jarandel, Aug3Zimm, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, nicoleop, pan0ramix, JoyKP, zfak102, EvolvedMan, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, Charon07, skid0612
Explications
sturlington: Political/satirical allegory with animal characters. Propaganda and totalitarianism. Required reading.
5
42,651 membres
1,149 critiques
4.1
6
49,913 membres
748 critiques
½ 3.7
23 Members
BookWallah, ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, Fiamme, greydoll, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Dreesie, nicoleop, pan0ramix, JoyKP, zfak102, Andrew_Orange, allyrod113, Charon07, midget84
Explications
sturlington: Allegorical dystopia. Castaway boys on an uninhabited island regress to savagery.
7
40,427 membres
1,590 critiques
4.2
8
17,028 membres
538 critiques
3.9
9
4,627 membres
101 critiques
4.2
10
34,599 membres
1,407 critiques
4.1
19 Members
KimarieBee, amz310783, PDE, sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, rretzler, Jarandel, Her_Royal_Orangeness, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, kara.shamy, Verkruissen, megschristina, JoyKP, DavidCady, EvolvedMan, Rosenort, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic. A man and his son wander through a desolated landscape of ashes, eking out their survival from the little that's left remaining, while trying to get... well, nowhere in particular, really.
11
19,418 membres
476 critiques
4
18 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, PDE, sturlington, thecoroner, Fiamme, alex68, rretzler, Jarandel, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, JoyKP, dianeham, zfak102, EvolvedMan, ManWithAnAgenda, flemertown, izzy45
Explications
sturlington: Philosophical futuristic dystopia. Environmental degradation, androids, existentialism.
12
17,814 membres
341 critiques
½ 3.7
17 Members
ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, sturlington, thecoroner, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, cej1027, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Dreesie, JoyKP, ManWithAnAgenda, TheRealLouise, Charon07, izzy45
Explications
sturlington: Classic time travel novel. Far future dystopia in which humanity has de-evolved; also dying Earth. Required reading.
13
11,801 membres
309 critiques
3.9
18 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, aulsmith, PDE, sturlington, Fiamme, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, Jarandel, gypsysmom, ahef1963, megschristina, pan0ramix, dianeham, EvolvedMan, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, Charon07,Her_Royal_Orangeness
Explications
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic theological novel. Six hundred years after the Simplification -- total nuclear annihilation -- a cloister of monks in Utah preserve the little that remains of the world's knowledge, and wonder whether mankind is perpetually doomed to destroy itself.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : I've tried to read this several times and just can't get past the monk wandering around in the desert digging holes. *yawn*
14
11,833 membres
785 critiques
4.1
15
64,868 membres
3,496 critiques
½ 4.3
21 Members
KimarieBee, amz310783, ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, eclecticdodo, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Dreesie, Verkruissen, megschristina, SENSpence, JoyKP, awarren1, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, flemertown, ,Her_Royal_Orangeness ,cej1027 ,Lucy_Skywalker ,DavidCady ,
Explications
sturlington: Televised survival contests. Post-apocalyptic future America. Probably the best of the recent YA dystopias.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : "We're in a battle for our lives so why don't we go in this cave and make out for awhile?" *eyeroll*
17
25,992 membres
389 critiques
4
16 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, sturlington, thecoroner, Fiamme, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Dreesie, megschristina, JoyKP, izzy45,Andrew_Orange
Explications
sturlington: Classic futuristic dystopia written in fictional dialect. Mind control, extreme violence. Required reading.
18
22,405 membres
301 critiques
4.1
19
10,777 membres
268 critiques
4.1
20
41,370 membres
1,051 critiques
½ 4.3
15 Members
BookWallah, aulsmith, merrystar, sturlington, Fiamme, rretzler, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Verkruissen, nicoleop, SENSpence, JoyKP, zfak102, EvolvedMan, awarren1,Her_Royal_Orangeness ,ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic military SF with dystopian themes. Child soldiers versus aliens. First in a series.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : Homophobic and misogynistic.
21
23,029 membres
941 critiques
3.8
22
13,897 membres
359 critiques
½ 3.7
23
8,514 membres
215 critiques
3.8
14 Members
ShellyS, merrystar, sturlington, thecoroner, BLBera, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, pan0ramix, EvolvedMan, Andrew_Orange, ManWithAnAgenda, izzy45, skid0612,Verkruissen
Explications
sturlington: Classic precursor to 1984. Required reading for serious fans of dystopian lit.
24
8,197 membres
239 critiques
4.1
13 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, Dilara86, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, Verkruissen, pan0ramix, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113, TheRealLouise
Explications
sturlington: Feminist dystopia. Society has completely collapsed, and a young woman is driven from her home after her neighborhood is burned and her family murdered. Despite the violence and hopelessness that surrounds her, she is determined to spread her spiritual message.
25
4,912 membres
177 critiques
3.9
13 Members
SylviaC, sturlington, cataloga, Fiamme, greydoll, alex68, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, ahef1963, DavidCady, EvolvedMan, Rosenort, Charon07
Explications
sturlington: Classic "pre-apocalyptic" novel. Nuclear devastation.
26
45,585 membres
1,747 critiques
3.9
27
16,724 membres
325 critiques
4
12 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, PDE, merrystar, SylviaC, sturlington, alex68, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, ahef1963, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Human colonization of Mars, during which there is a nuclear war on Earth.
28
7,508 membres
207 critiques
4
12 Members
ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, PDE, SylviaC, sturlington, Fiamme, greydoll, Bluewolf0411, Jarandel, gypsysmom, ahef1963, Dreesie
Explications
sturlington: Apocalyptic "cozy catastrophe". Blindness epidemic and man-eating plants.
29
6,688 membres
382 critiques
4.1
12 Members
merrystar, SylviaC, sturlington, eclecticdodo, rretzler, NateK, kara.shamy, Verkruissen, JoyKP, zfak102, awarren1, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Future subterranean totalitarian society. Post-apocalyptic--environmental destruction.
30
23,145 membres
380 critiques
3.9
11 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, alex68, rretzler, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Classic cyberpunk. Required reading.
31
14,151 membres
663 critiques
3.9
11 Members
ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, sturlington, Dilara86, rretzler, cej1027, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, Dreesie, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: YA dystopia. Conformity, personal appearance. First of a series.
32
9,450 membres
638 critiques
3.9
33
3,562 membres
154 critiques
3.9
34
20,255 membres
401 critiques
4.1
10 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, rretzler, gypsysmom, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: Cyberpunk (or post-cyberpunk).
35
10,240 membres
232 critiques
3.9
11 Members
ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, Bluewolf0411, rretzler, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, pan0ramix, EvolvedMan, ManWithAnAgenda,aulsmith
Explications
aulsmith : Clarke didn't mean this to be dystopian, just a sad evolutionary farewell.
sturlington: False utopia. Alien invasion, transhumanism.
36
3,589 membres
168 critiques
3.8
37
7,331 membres
363 critiques
3.9
38
5,819 membres
201 critiques
½ 3.6
9 Members
sturlington, Fiamme, BLBera, rretzler, ahef1963, JoyKP, DavidCady, zfak102, ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia/apocalyptic novel. Male infertility, human extinction, dictatorship. Christian allegory.
39
3,087 membres
92 critiques
½ 3.6
9 Members
sturlington, thecoroner, alex68, rretzler, ahef1963, Dreesie, JoyKP, ManWithAnAgenda, flemertown
Explications
sturlington: Feminist dystopia in which suburban housewives are replaced with robot versions of themselves by their husbands.
40
25,561 membres
1,441 critiques
4
10 Members
KimarieBee, Fiamme, BLBera, rretzler, ahef1963, Dreesie, SENSpence, JoyKP, awarren1, allyrod113,sturlington ,DavidCady
Explications
sturlington : YA dystopia. Conformity, totalitarianism. First of a trilogy.
41
13,102 membres
391 critiques
4.1
8 Members
sturlington, thecoroner, BLBera, alex68, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda, Charon07
Explications
sturlington: Apocalyptic allegory. Blindness epidemic, extreme regression of civilization.
42
4,807 membres
255 critiques
½ 3.7
8 Members
sturlington, BLBera, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, pan0ramix, pieperp
Explications
sturlington: Feminist dystopia in which women gain the power to kill with electrical shocks. Reverse gender roles.
43
4,779 membres
122 critiques
3.9
8 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, PDE, SylviaC, sturlington, greydoll, gypsysmom, ahef1963
Explications
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic dystopia. Evolution of humanity, development of telepathic powers, theological themes. YA audience.
44
3,603 membres
96 critiques
4.1
8 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, BLBera, Dilara86, Her_Royal_Orangeness, gypsysmom, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Sequel to Parable of the Sower.
45
1,039 membres
106 critiques
½ 3.7
8 Members
sturlington, BLBera, rretzler, Her_Royal_Orangeness, Dreesie, dianeham, ManWithAnAgenda, pieperp
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Organ harvesting, euthanasia of the aged and non-productive members of society.
46
34,962 membres
794 critiques
½ 4.3
7 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Comic apocalyptic novel that takes the biblical rapture as its premise.
47
19,239 membres
494 critiques
½ 4.3
8 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, Fiamme, rretzler, ahef1963, NateK, Dreesie, ManWithAnAgenda,cej1027
Explications
sturlington: Alternate history with superheroes. Dystopian and apocalyptic themes.
48
18,583 membres
1,284 critiques
4.1
8 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, rretzler, Dreesie, Verkruissen, dianeham, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,Rosenort
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia: overcrowding and escape to virtual reality. Video game-like narrative.
49
17,784 membres
684 critiques
4.1
8 Members
PDE, sturlington, BLBera, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, Dreesie, allyrod113, midget84,
Explications
sturlington: This novel takes place in many different time periods, one of which is a mega-corporation dystopia with cloning, and another is a post-apocalyptic scenario featuring a fictional dialect.
50
15,588 membres
715 critiques
4
51
13,727 membres
769 critiques
4.2
8 Members
sturlington, Bluewolf0411, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, kara.shamy, JoyKP, allyrod113, flemertown,ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: Time travel and alternate history. Dystopia is only at the very end, as a result of changes to the timestream.
52
11,717 membres
454 critiques
3.8
8 Members
sturlington, cataloga, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, kara.shamy, JoyKP, awarren1, allyrod113,ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: A mysterious dome encloses a small town and civilization regresses quickly. Strong apocalyptic themes.
53
6,249 membres
304 critiques
½ 3.7
8 Members
aulsmith, sturlington, rretzler, Jarandel, gypsysmom, Lucy_Skywalker, kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda,Her_Royal_Orangeness
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic biopunk dystopia. Climate change and genetic engineering.
Her_Royal_Orangeness : RapeX1000. *shudder*
54
4,176 membres
92 critiques
½ 3.7
8 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, merrystar, sturlington, greydoll, rretzler, megschristina, TheRealLouise,DavidCady
Explications
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic. When the end of America comes, what is the one thing that can bring us back from the brink of complete anarchy? That's right: the U.S. Postal Service.
55
3,458 membres
129 critiques
4
7 Members
ShellyS, aulsmith, sturlington, Dilara86, Her_Royal_Orangeness, pan0ramix, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Far future following an apocalypse; first contact with advanced alien species. First in a trilogy.
56
2,622 membres
70 critiques
½ 3.5
7 Members
sturlington, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, Dreesie, ManWithAnAgenda, TheRealLouise, midget84
Explications
sturlington: A utopian all-female society.
57
1,790 membres
66 critiques
3.8
7 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, dianeham, EvolvedMan, pieperp
Explications
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic novel. Cloning, loss of individuality.
58
1,540 membres
49 critiques
3.9
7 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, dianeham, allyrod113, TheRealLouise
Explications
sturlington: Feminist post-apocalyptic fiction. Regression of civilization, return to the wilderness.
59
18,509 membres
310 critiques
3.8
6 Members
ShelfMonkey, sturlington, alex68, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963
Explications
sturlington: Martian invasion with a strong apocalyptic tone.
60
5,615 membres
398 critiques
4
61
5,231 membres
119 critiques
4
6 Members
youthfulzombie, ShelfMonkey, sallypursell, sturlington, BlueHeaven1969, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Survival contests. One of The Bachman Books.
62
4,974 membres
144 critiques
4
6 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, Bluewolf0411, EvolvedMan, Rosenort, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Classic post-nuclear war apocalyptic fiction. The residents of a small Florida town, having been alerted just prior to an all-out nuclear war, must struggle with the vagaries of small-town politics after the apocalypse.
63
3,976 membres
260 critiques
3.9
6 Members
SylviaC, sturlington, rretzler, cej1027, ahef1963, Charon07
Explications
sturlington: One by one, use of different letters of the alphabet is outlawed in a fictional island country.
64
2,610 membres
151 critiques
½ 3.3
6 Members
sturlington, BLBera, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom, Dreesie, TheRealLouise
Explications
sturlington: Satirical dystopia in which people volunteer to live in a closed community where they must spend every other month in prison.
65
2,199 membres
57 critiques
½ 3.5
6 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan, TheRealLouise, Charon07
Explications
sturlington: Feminist spec fiction set in 4 alternate universes, two of which could be considered dystopias.
66
2,171 membres
56 critiques
4
6 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom
Explications
sturlington: Feminist false utopia. Post-apocalyptic matriarchal society.
67
1,824 membres
95 critiques
3.8
6 Members
hipdeep, sturlington, BLBera, gypsysmom, awarren1, pieperp
Explications
sturlington: Climate change leads to drought, collapse, and violent clashes over water in the Southwest.
68
1,557 membres
118 critiques
½ 3.5
69
6 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, gypsysmom, kara.shamy, ManWithAnAgenda, pieperp
Explications
sturlington: Collection of three novels. Two are set on alien planets. One is far-future post-apocalyptic Earth following an alien invasion.
70
22,934 membres
495 critiques
3.8
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, sturlington, SonoranDreamer, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic alternate universe. Mix of western, horror and science fiction. First in a series.
71
9,523 membres
282 critiques
3.8
6 Members
Dilara86, cej1027, ahef1963, Dreesie, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington
Explications
sturlington : Sequel to Uglies.
72
9,447 membres
253 critiques
4
5 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia; perpetual war.
73
8,342 membres
88 critiques
3.8
74
8,136 membres
365 critiques
4.2
75
7,315 membres
55 critiques
3.8
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, sturlington, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Sequel to Count Zero.
76
6,367 membres
109 critiques
3.9
5 Members
KimarieBee, sturlington, gypsysmom, AlWheeler, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Alien civilization that experiences cyclical apocalypses.
77
6,269 membres
225 critiques
4.1
5 Members
sturlington, rretzler, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Verkruissen
Explications
sturlington: Sequel to The Handmaid's Tale
78
5,939 membres
422 critiques
½ 3.4
5 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, BLBera, allyrod113, skid0612
Explications
sturlington: Technological dystopia. Social networks, loss of privacy, corporate culture.
79
5,378 membres
406 critiques
4
80
5,173 membres
434 critiques
3.8
5 Members
sturlington, rretzler, kara.shamy, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: YA dystopia. Technology implants.
81
4,850 membres
191 critiques
4
82
4,328 membres
70 critiques
3.9
5 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, Bluewolf0411, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: A comet has slammed into the Earth, destroying all governing structures, and within weeks all of the survivors have reverted to feudalism, cannibalism and worse. Fun times.
83
3,289 membres
257 critiques
3.8
5 Members
INTPLibrarian, sallypursell, sturlington, nagasravika.bodapati, Verkruissen
Explications
sturlington: People start seeing something that causes them to go violently insane.
84
2,913 membres
221 critiques
3.9
85
2,587 membres
52 critiques
3.9
5 Members
sturlington, greydoll, BLBera, allyrod113, Charon07
Explications
sturlington: A future anarchist utopia presented in contrast with present-day and (briefly) an alternate future dystopia.
86
2,126 membres
185 critiques
3.8
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, sturlington, BLBera, rretzler, gypsysmom
Explications
sturlington: Pre-apocalyptic. Imminent meteor impact causes social collapse. First in a trilogy.
87
1,589 membres
114 critiques
3.9
5 Members
aulsmith, sallypursell, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom
Explications
sturlington: WWII alternate history in which England goes fascist. First in a trilogy.
88
1,133 membres
61 critiques
½ 3.7
5 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, BLBera, kara.shamy, Verkruissen
Explications
sturlington: Near-future feminist dystopia in which abortion has been outlawed.
89
436 membres
17 critiques
3.8
5 Members
sturlington, Her_Royal_Orangeness, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan, pieperp
Explications
sturlington: Post-nuclear war. Once the apocalypse is over with, two women survive on a farm on the Oregon coast while trying to preserve the remainder of mankind's knowledge and sparring with the ultra-Christian religious cult down the beach.
90
16,535 membres
780 critiques
3.8
91
10,561 membres
190 critiques
4.2
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, eclecticdodo, rretzler, ManWithAnAgenda, TheRealLouise,sturlington
Explications
sturlington : Probably not going to read this since I saw the movie.
92
8,965 membres
144 critiques
4
5 Members
ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, NateK, JoyKP,ShelfMonkey
Explications
sturlington: Short stories, several of which have apocalyptic and dystopian themes.
93
8,861 membres
106 critiques
3.8
94
8,184 membres
222 critiques
3.8
5 Members
Dilara86, cej1027, ahef1963, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington
Explications
sturlington : Sequel to Pretties.
95
6,859 membres
81 critiques
½ 3.7
96
6,573 membres
197 critiques
4
6 Members
PDE, sturlington, rretzler, kara.shamy, EvolvedMan, ManWithAnAgenda,Lucy_Skywalker ,skid0612
Explications
sturlington: Alternate realities include dystopian and apocalyptic possibilities.
Lucy_Skywalker : a great book, indeed, but it's not really a dystopia
97
5,017 membres
290 critiques
3.8
4 Members
PDE, sturlington, kara.shamy, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: The last section takes place in a dystopian post-climate change world.
98
4,673 membres
101 critiques
3.9
4 Members
sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Overcrowding, scarcity of natural resources.
99
4,370 membres
73 critiques
3.9
4 Members
PDE, sallypursell, sturlington, nagasravika.bodapati
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Environmental degradation of Earth. Miserable Martian colonies.
100
4,117 membres
266 critiques
4.1