Fiction 101: Exploring Dystopian Worlds

A Journey Through Dystopian Fiction

by Shelby D., Evening Supervisor

Hi all and welcome back to Fiction 101! If you haven’t joined us before, Fiction 101 is where we talk about various genres and subgenres of Fiction (and sometimes non-fiction). I talk a little bit about the genre, and then end with some reading suggestions to go along with it. Check out some of our past Fiction 101 posts like last month’s horror post or September’s discussion of graphic novels. This month, we are going to talk about dystopian fiction!

To understand dystopian fiction, we should first talk about speculative fiction and science fiction. Though they are sometimes used interchangeably, speculative fiction is kind of what it sounds like — it imagines a world different from reality. This can include science fiction but it can also include fantasy. Science fiction can often fall under the umbrella of speculative fiction, but generally science fiction involves the introduction of new technologies or sciences. Dystopian fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction and can be considered science fiction as well — it explores a world where society has deteriorated. Often this is due to government control, sometimes it’s an environmental catastrophe. Climate dystopia is a specific subcategory of dystopian fiction that looks at a world ravaged by climate change. A cornerstone of dystopian fiction is The Giver by Lois Lowry, which a lot of us read in school. George Orwell and Margret Atwood are both very prominent dystopian authors. Fahrenheit 451 and Brave New World are two more titles a lot of people are familiar with in this genre.

Those are some great places to start reading dystopian fiction, but I’ll list a few more here!

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler is a powerful dystopian novel set in a near-future America plagued by social chaos, climate disasters, and economic collapse. Through the eyes of Lauren Olamina, a young woman with a vision for a new belief system called Earthseed, Butler explores themes of resilience, community, and the human drive for survival. Gripping and thought-provoking, this novel challenges readers to confront the fragility of society and imagine paths to a better future.

• The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa is a haunting tale set on an isolated island where everyday objects—and the memories tied to them—mysteriously vanish under the control of a shadowy force. As residents lose more parts of their world, one woman fights to preserve her memories and resist the erasure of her identity. With a quiet, surreal atmosphere, Ogawa’s novel explores the fragility of memory and the profound impact of loss.

• The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings

The Women Could Fly by Megan Giddings: In a world where women who don’t conform risk being accused of witchcraft, Jo is faced with the haunting disappearance of her mother, who left under mysterious circumstances. As Jo navigates societal expectations and her own desires, she uncovers secrets that challenge her understanding of freedom and identity. Giddings weaves a poignant story of resistance, magic, and the complexities of womanhood.

• Never Let Me Go by Kazua Ishigiro

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: Set in a hauntingly familiar world, this novel follows three friends from their idyllic childhood at a secluded boarding school to their unsettling fate as they uncover the purpose of their existence. Ishiguro’s elegant, poignant writing explores themes of memory, mortality, and the nature of love. Heartbreaking and thought-provoking, Never Let Me Go challenges readers to reflect on what it means to truly live.

• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin: In a world plagued by cataclysmic seismic events, Essun is a woman on a desperate mission to find her daughter while society crumbles around her. Jemisin crafts a unique fantasy where the power to control the earth itself comes with both devastating costs and intense prejudices. With intricate world-building and rich characters, this Hugo Award-winning novel kicks off a groundbreaking trilogy about survival, power, and resilience.

Thank you for joining us for this Fiction 101 about dystopian fiction! In December I’ll be talking about the genre: bildungsroman. Don’t know what that is? Tune in next month!