The Pesthouse by Jim Crace! Bleak, hopeful, exciting, original. I love it and it inspired the play I’m working on at the moment. (I think we should do more sci-fi/dystopias/big world building on stage - theatre doesn’t get to see much of this!)
Perhaps it is not exactly apocalyptic. Fahrenheit 451 is a favorite. The similarities to current society are disturbing, in my opinion. Highly recommend giving it a read.
I've come to realize this might be my favorite genre. I love seeing society fall apart, is that weird? I named Station Eleven as my book of the century, but I also loved Wanderers, The Stand, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Passage Trilogy is an all time favorite. Really want to read Oryx and Crake and Parable of the Sower. Will have to check out California I hadn't heard of that one!!
I consider these books to be excellent dystopian works among those I have read: "The Road" by Cormac Mccarthy, "1984" by George Orwell and in the recent years "The Circle" by Dave Eggers
I can't believe no one mentioned Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. So brilliant and funny and awful and great. I guess there was a miniseries which I didn't see... but the book is a must-read!
P.D. James - The Children of Men and more recently a more lighthearted read, The Every by Dave Eggers (sequel to The Circle). Of the dystopian books that strike to the core of the current moment, I would have to say Exogenesis by Peco Gaskovski (my husband). It has been described as Blade Runner meets the Benedict Option, and part 1984, part Brave New World.
This isn't a genre I read very often but one which I really enjoyed was Last One At The Party by Bethany Clifton. It's got some (quite dark) humour but it's a great read and stayed with me for a long time afterwards. It doesn't feel super literary but it raises some great questions without ever feeling overly philosophical even though, under the entertainment, it is.
I read Lights Out in Lincolnwood by Geoff Rodkey earlier this year and I enjoyed the different perspective. It wasn't the story of a prepper or focused on that aspect of things but rather how it would affect a typical suburban family.
The Pesthouse by Jim Crace! Bleak, hopeful, exciting, original. I love it and it inspired the play I’m working on at the moment. (I think we should do more sci-fi/dystopias/big world building on stage - theatre doesn’t get to see much of this!)
Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." It's one of my all-time favorite books.
Agreed! "Carry the fire!"
This is not my go-to genre so I haven’t read many, but one I really enjoyed was Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel.
Great book! Loved loved loved it.
Perhaps it is not exactly apocalyptic. Fahrenheit 451 is a favorite. The similarities to current society are disturbing, in my opinion. Highly recommend giving it a read.
Great one. I've re-read it in the last year and it definitely holds up.
Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel, and The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
I've come to realize this might be my favorite genre. I love seeing society fall apart, is that weird? I named Station Eleven as my book of the century, but I also loved Wanderers, The Stand, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Passage Trilogy is an all time favorite. Really want to read Oryx and Crake and Parable of the Sower. Will have to check out California I hadn't heard of that one!!
I'm with ya!
I consider these books to be excellent dystopian works among those I have read: "The Road" by Cormac Mccarthy, "1984" by George Orwell and in the recent years "The Circle" by Dave Eggers
Love all of those! Eggers' "The Circle" and "The Every" aren't mentioned nearly enough in these convos. Great additions.
A Canticle for Liebowitz
It's high on my list!
The Passage by Justin Cronin is the one that immediately jumps to mind. Such an epic story.
Yes, great one! I've read it a couple of times.
I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger
Worthy of re-reading because of the hope it shows we can have in trying times.
Oh awesome, it's on my shelf and waiting for me!
I can't believe no one mentioned Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. So brilliant and funny and awful and great. I guess there was a miniseries which I didn't see... but the book is a must-read!
Yes, that's a great one!
Watch the series!
One of my favorite books of any genre is The Road. Another dystopian favorite is That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis.
Great picks.
P.D. James - The Children of Men and more recently a more lighthearted read, The Every by Dave Eggers (sequel to The Circle). Of the dystopian books that strike to the core of the current moment, I would have to say Exogenesis by Peco Gaskovski (my husband). It has been described as Blade Runner meets the Benedict Option, and part 1984, part Brave New World.
+1 to all of these! I'll have to give Peco's book a read sometime soon. :)
The Giver and Hunger Games!!
Excellent picks. I love the entire Giver Quartet.
The Giver is so good.
This isn't a genre I read very often but one which I really enjoyed was Last One At The Party by Bethany Clifton. It's got some (quite dark) humour but it's a great read and stayed with me for a long time afterwards. It doesn't feel super literary but it raises some great questions without ever feeling overly philosophical even though, under the entertainment, it is.
Thanks for the rec, I'll add it to my list. :)
I read Lights Out in Lincolnwood by Geoff Rodkey earlier this year and I enjoyed the different perspective. It wasn't the story of a prepper or focused on that aspect of things but rather how it would affect a typical suburban family.
Alas Babylon is one of my favorites.