Dystopian novels

Vexr

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Cheers fellas, looks like there's plenty of recommendations to keep me busy. Just finished the Iron Heel so will get cracking soon. I think I read Fahrenheit 451 and A Clockwork Orange a very long time ago and largely forgotten them, so may have to re-visit them after I've read some new titles.
 

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tom_nieto said:
I’m amazed it’s taken 20 replies to mention the Handmaid’s Tale. Seriously bleak and incredibly written. One of my favourites (after 1984).
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I have 700 books in my library I've tried the hmt 3x always give up one of the few books I cannot finish..

Inverted world, battle field earth, loved the 15 lived of Harry.. (as someone mentioned already).. So many books I struggle to name them . Dan Simmons illium and olympus.. Most of mine are horror, scifi, end of the world, alien ... Trying to keep on ops track arthur Clarkes the city and the stars... Cannot think of the names of many more...
 

Vexr

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Orionaut said:
Depends really on what you mean by "Dystopia"

Edward Bellamies "Looking Backward " (Probably the most influential book that nobody has ever heard of!) is described as a Utopian dream of the future.

But actually, I think Bellemies world would be a truely horrible one to actually live in.

Like my Dad always used to describe working for <Large-Multinational-Corperation> "It is a plush lined Mousetrap!"

On the surface it looks wonderful, but underneath, the brutal level of social conformity and lack of individual freedom that would be required to make it work would be intolerable.

Kind of like the way China is going! :/
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I'm about half way though this one. I got tired of bleakness and wanted to read something utopian rather than dystopian, and the last 'utopian' novel I read was Walden II, which was based on some rural meritocratic-50s-psychology ideal that involved Brave New World style orphanage upbringings for the young (with free range orgies for teens) and farm work for the adults. Aka it was a pretty naff idea of a utopia but probably gave the author a reasonable hard on.

I've not yet finished Looking Backward, but I'm surprised you found it objectionable. It's getting a bit dry to read, but then it is about 120 years old. It otherwise seems to illustrate a reasonable and plausible basis for society, more so than any of the other few 'Utopian' stab in the dark books I've read.
 

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Vexr said:
I've not yet finished Looking Backward, but I'm surprised you found it objectionable. It's getting a bit dry to read, but then it is about 120 years old. It otherwise seems to illustrate a reasonable and plausible basis for society, more so than any of the other few 'Utopian' stab in the dark books I've read.
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Looking Backward was never regarded as a great piece of literature, so it can be hard to read in places. the "Sci-Fi" aspects of it was simply a mechanism to allow Bellamy a canvas on which to paint his utopian ideas. (My copy being a 1946 version is a bit dry too, but for different reasons, I doubt I will be able to read it again because the paper is falling to bits :( ) Though it is interesting how well he predicted the developments of various technologies.

As I said, like most utopian ideas, the structure is like Logans Run/Brave new World/Whatever, a small group of people "Who know best" decide what the perfect society is and everybody else has to like it. For those that do its great. For those that dont it is the ninth circle of hell!

This is where socialistic utopias inevitably fall down. They only work in an environment where you have a population that is completely complaint and with no expectation of any freedom of thought or action outside the role that is assigned to them by their betters. Some people of course are happy with that, but many are not. And what happens to those that do not wish to "Get with the Program"??

The Gulag inevitably awaits!

:(
 

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Orionaut said:
Looking Backward was never regarded as a great piece of literature, so it can be hard to read in places. the "Sci-Fi" aspects of it was simply a mechanism to allow Bellamy a canvas on which to paint his utopian ideas. (My copy being a 1946 version is a bit dry too, but for different reasons, I doubt I will be able to read it again because the paper is falling to bits :( ) Though it is interesting how well he predicted the developments of various technologies.

As I said, like most utopian ideas, the structure is like Logans Run/Brave new World/Whatever, a small group of people "Who know best" decide what the perfect society is and everybody else has to like it. For those that do its great. For those that dont it is the ninth circle of hell!

This is where socialistic utopias inevitably fall down. They only work in an environment where you have a population that is completely complaint and with no expectation of any freedom of thought or action outside the role that is assigned to them by their betters. Some people of course are happy with that, but many are not. And what happens to those that do not wish to "Get with the Program"??

The Gulag inevitably awaits!

:(
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I'm sure more will be revealed as I get through the book, and I must admit the punishment of those who don't do their duty sounds a bit harsh (imprisonment and bread and water until they decide to get with the program). On the other hand, sounds like everyone only works an average of about 20 hours per week and gets to retire at ~45 on the equivalent of full pay, or duck out at 35 or so at half pay (can't quite recall the specifics). On the basis of those extremely generous terms, anyone who decides not to go to work when they're able really is a jerk who probably deserves a stint in prison.

I wonder if this novel was used as inspiration for Star Trek to some extent. Seems there's a 'soft' military-like hierarchy and incentivisation system in the absence of a monetary one. Either way, sounds pretty good so far to me, though only in the context of the short hours and early retirement. If the system illustrated in this novel was 40+ hours per week and retirement at 65+, I can see that being an unpleasant experience.
 

zxh800

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The Stand by Stephen King was interesting. It's about the world being overtaken by a plague that can't be cured. The descent of civilisation into ruin is excellent. Although the book does get a bit trippy as it goes on...
 

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zxh800 said:
The Stand by Stephen King was interesting. It's about the world being overtaken by a plague that can't be cured. The descent of civilisation into ruin is excellent. Although the book does get a bit trippy as it goes on...
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Actually King's a good shout.

Try the following Bachmann books ( King's pseudonym for while )

The Long Walk

The Running Man ( yes the film with Arnie is based on this but the book is far superior )
 
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