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
54,749 membres
1,011 critiques
4
2
83,122 membres
1,286 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
54,520 membres
778 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
60,913 membres
886 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
42,988 membres
1,155 critiques
4.1
6
50,280 membres
740 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
40,751 membres
1,591 critiques
4.2
8
17,104 membres
539 critiques
3.9
9
4,687 membres
101 critiques
4.2
10
34,885 membres
1,405 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
19,584 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
17,942 membres
340 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
11,889 membres
314 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
12,044 membres
783 critiques
4.1
15
65,564 membres
3,499 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
26,132 membres
387 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
22,572 membres
299 critiques
4.1
19
10,873 membres
264 critiques
4.1
20
41,577 membres
1,052 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
23,214 membres
939 critiques
3.8
22
13,986 membres
361 critiques
½ 3.7
23
8,590 membres
219 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
8,267 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
4,939 membres
178 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
46,131 membres
1,751 critiques
3.9
27
16,852 membres
323 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
7,550 membres
208 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
6,757 membres
381 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
23,305 membres
377 critiques
3.9
11 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, alex68, rretzler, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Classic cyberpunk. Required reading.
31
14,278 membres
661 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
9,494 membres
640 critiques
3.9
33
3,605 membres
154 critiques
3.9
34
20,321 membres
401 critiques
4.1
10 Members
hipdeep, ShelfMonkey, KimarieBee, ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, rretzler, gypsysmom, ahef1963, ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: Cyberpunk (or post-cyberpunk).
35
10,315 membres
231 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
3,624 membres
167 critiques
3.8
37
7,366 membres
362 critiques
3.9
38
5,857 membres
202 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
3,104 membres
91 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
25,885 membres
1,442 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
13,203 membres
394 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
4,881 membres
253 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
4,806 membres
123 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
3,669 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
1,041 membres
107 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
35,265 membres
795 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
19,346 membres
484 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
18,847 membres
1,285 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
17,894 membres
681 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
15,694 membres
716 critiques
4
51
13,805 membres
771 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
11,846 membres
453 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
6,281 membres
302 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
4,196 membres
91 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
3,489 membres
128 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
2,636 membres
68 critiques
½ 3.5
7 Members
sturlington, rretzler, SonoranDreamer, Dreesie, ManWithAnAgenda, TheRealLouise, midget84
Explications
sturlington: A utopian all-female society.
57
1,800 membres
66 critiques
3.8
7 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, dianeham, EvolvedMan, pieperp
Explications
sturlington: Post-apocalyptic novel. Cloning, loss of individuality.
58
1,549 membres
48 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
18,722 membres
311 critiques
3.8
6 Members
ShelfMonkey, sturlington, alex68, gypsysmom, nagasravika.bodapati, ahef1963
Explications
sturlington: Martian invasion with a strong apocalyptic tone.
60
5,630 membres
396 critiques
4
61
5,280 membres
117 critiques
4
6 Members
youthfulzombie, ShelfMonkey, sallypursell, sturlington, BlueHeaven1969, allyrod113
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Survival contests. One of The Bachman Books.
62
5,007 membres
145 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
4,011 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
2,619 membres
151 critiques
½ 3.4
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
2,212 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
2,175 membres
56 critiques
4
6 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, Fiamme, Her_Royal_Orangeness, SonoranDreamer, gypsysmom
Explications
sturlington: Feminist false utopia. Post-apocalyptic matriarchal society.
67
1,836 membres
94 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
1,581 membres
119 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
23,063 membres
501 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
9,587 membres
283 critiques
3.8
6 Members
Dilara86, cej1027, ahef1963, Dreesie, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington
Explications
sturlington : Sequel to Uglies.
72
9,520 membres
254 critiques
4
5 Members
ShellyS, sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia; perpetual war.
73
8,414 membres
88 critiques
3.8
74
8,287 membres
362 critiques
4.2
75
7,359 membres
54 critiques
3.8
5 Members
ShelfMonkey, ShellyS, sturlington, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Sequel to Count Zero.
76
6,394 membres
109 critiques
3.9
5 Members
KimarieBee, sturlington, gypsysmom, AlWheeler, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Alien civilization that experiences cyclical apocalypses.
77
6,371 membres
224 critiques
4.1
5 Members
sturlington, rretzler, ahef1963, kara.shamy, Verkruissen
Explications
sturlington: Sequel to The Handmaid's Tale
78
5,994 membres
421 critiques
½ 3.4
5 Members
sallypursell, sturlington, BLBera, allyrod113, skid0612
Explications
sturlington: Technological dystopia. Social networks, loss of privacy, corporate culture.
79
5,423 membres
401 critiques
4
80
5,205 membres
431 critiques
3.8
5 Members
sturlington, rretzler, kara.shamy, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda
Explications
sturlington: YA dystopia. Technology implants.
81
4,883 membres
193 critiques
4
82
4,342 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
3,340 membres
255 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
2,936 membres
224 critiques
3.9
85
2,598 membres
50 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
2,137 membres
186 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
1,596 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
1,156 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
437 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
16,791 membres
782 critiques
3.8
91
10,638 membres
188 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
9,131 membres
106 critiques
3.8
93
9,042 membres
146 critiques
4
5 Members
ShellyS, PDE, sturlington, NateK, JoyKP,ShelfMonkey
Explications
sturlington: Short stories, several of which have apocalyptic and dystopian themes.
94
8,237 membres
223 critiques
3.8
5 Members
Dilara86, cej1027, ahef1963, awarren1, ManWithAnAgenda,sturlington
Explications
sturlington : Sequel to Pretties.
95
6,898 membres
82 critiques
½ 3.7
96
6,623 membres
196 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
5,072 membres
289 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
4,695 membres
102 critiques
3.9
4 Members
sturlington, rretzler, gypsysmom, EvolvedMan
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Overcrowding, scarcity of natural resources.
99
4,392 membres
71 critiques
3.9
4 Members
PDE, sallypursell, sturlington, nagasravika.bodapati
Explications
sturlington: Futuristic dystopia. Environmental degradation of Earth. Miserable Martian colonies.
100
4,128 membres
266 critiques
4.1