Top Five Tuesday- Dystopian Novels

A new Top Five Tuesday, the prompts are created by Bionic Book Worm. I love dystopian fiction! It’s probably going to be the genre I end up writing (if I ever get around to it!) I realised while making this list though that I have barely read any dystopian novels so I’ve got some from my TBR list.

1. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

This series is brilliant, war broke out many years ago and has left America sparsely populated. The remaining citizens have been split into Districts. They each have a main trade and they all give their supplies to the Capitol. The people of the outer districts live in poverty, they once tried to rebel and take back their freedom but the Capitol won and obliterated District Thirteen. Since then, every year as punishment the districts must sacrifice one girl and boy to fight to the death in an Arena made and controlled by the Capitol. Such a chilling premise, children killing one another just to win their ‘freedom’. Except as we find out over the series even the winners aren’t free from the Capitol’s clutches.

2. The Power by Naomi Alderman

This book starts out as a feminist dream world but ends up proving that power corrupts everyone no matter their gender. Overnight teenage girls discover they have a power that no one else does. They can create electric currents through their hands. They can burn, shock and seriously injure others, they can also awaken this power in other women. The book follows different young people during this shift in dynamic. The book is so cleverly done, in the first half I was so happy to see a matriarchy taking shape but in the second half I was so shook to see how some women of this fictional world were using their power, just like men have done for hundreds of years. It’s definately worth a read.

3. 1984 by George Orwell

I can’t believe I haven’t read this book yet especially when it is more apt than ever. Published in 1949, it’s set in a bleak future, a world where everyone is being watched constantly, everyone has to stay in line, keep to the rules or risk severe punishment. I really need to read this as soon as possible!

 

 

 

4. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

This is also on my TBR list, aliens have invaded Earth in waves. Not much of humanity is left, no survivors trust each other as the aliens can disguise themselves as one of us. Cassie is all alone trying to find her brother, until she meets Evan and together they try to survive. This looks interesting, I love a good alien invasion!

 

 

 

5. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

I haven’t read the book yet but I have been watching the show. It’s seriously terrifying because it’s so believable. When birth rates deplete massively worldwide, panic breaks out. Most of the world gets over it but in the USA, a religious cult takes over. They round up any mothers and force them to have children with the repulsive cult leaders. They call them Handmaids. Other countries tried to help but have failed. I find it difficult to watch most of the episodes so goodness knows what it’ll be like reading the book, but I definitely still want to read it!

 

What are some of your favourite dystopian stories?