Dystopian Books?

MonkeyNews · 25 Oct 2010 at 21:10

Am looking for any good dystopian books that you can recommend. My preference would be post-apocalyptic, but I'm open to all types of dystopia.

In addition, has anyone read Anthem by Ayn Rand, if so what did you make of it?

Ta

Vonhelmet · 25 Oct 2010 at 21:35

I Am Legend and Day of The Triffids are both very good. DoTT is one of my favourite books and one of the only books I've ever read that scared me.

mushroomsoup · 25 Oct 2010 at 21:50

Brave New World

semi-pro waster · 25 Oct 2010 at 22:47

A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley as mushroomsoup mentions or 1984 by George Orwell were the two that came most immediately to mind. John Wyndham's books as mentioned by vonhelmet are also pretty good.

Metatron · 25 Oct 2010 at 22:53

Twilight.

Kosmiche · 25 Oct 2010 at 22:55

The one with picnic in the name

Vonhelmet · 25 Oct 2010 at 22:56

Metatron said:
Twilight.

You better run, boy.

Rich_L · 25 Oct 2010 at 22:56

This Perfect Day by Ira Levin

Meridian · 25 Oct 2010 at 23:03

Eames said:
The one with picnic in the name

If you mean Roadside Picnic (the source for Stalker the film and STALKER the game) then it's good, but it's not a dystopia. Mind you, neither is I am legend or The day of the Triffids. Generally End-of-the-World and Post-Apocalypse books are different to dystopias, no matter the world that results. The must-reads are:

We
1984
Brave New World
Fahrenheit 451
A Clockwork Orange
Make Room! Make Room!
Stand on Zanzibar

M

Gilly · 25 Oct 2010 at 23:16

semi-pro waster said:
A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley as mushroomsoup mentions or 1984 by George Orwell were the two that came most immediately to mind. John Wyndham's books as mentioned by vonhelmet are also pretty good.

Agreed on these and Stand on Zanzibar.

Ahleckz · 25 Oct 2010 at 23:59

The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Nix · 26 Oct 2010 at 01:49

Ahleckz said:
The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

I would argue that The Road isn't really a dystopian novel.

semi-pro waster · 26 Oct 2010 at 07:10

Nix said:
I would argue that The Road isn't really a dystopian novel.

I'd argue it's not as good a book as the critical praise would have it either but that's another argument entirely.

Meridian · 26 Oct 2010 at 08:16

Nix said:
I would argue that The Road isn't really a dystopian novel.

You would be correct.

M

shorttricky · 26 Oct 2010 at 08:58

Handmaid's Tale? It's been years since I read it, but I seem to remember it's a dystopia.

Animal Farm too.

MonkeyNews · 26 Oct 2010 at 10:13

Thanks for the recommendations chaps, judging from above I'll be ordering 'Brave New World' and 'Stand on Zanzibar'.

Still interested in anyones views on Anthem by Ayn Rand?

Ahleckz · 26 Oct 2010 at 11:17

Nix said:
I would argue that The Road isn't really a dystopian novel.

Agreed, I was more suggesting it for the post-apocalyptic style he wants.

The Dread Pirate · 26 Oct 2010 at 11:20

The Chronicles of Obernewtyn ~ Isobelle Carmody

Frame352 · 26 Oct 2010 at 11:27

"Neuromancer" by William Gibson maybe?

Oh, and "The Children of Men" by PD James.

Thesaff · 28 Oct 2010 at 02:39

The Greg Mandel series by Peter F Hamilton