A number of the best dystopian novels of all time seem oddly prescient these days. We certainly live in interesting times in 2023. With the world seemingly at odds with itself, climate change and war hitting headlines daily and economic downturns pretty much everywhere, it's all a little bleak.
But even though there are some eerie parallels between science-fiction and dystopian fiction and our present day situation, most of what we're experiencing right now isn't quite as bleak as what's going on in our best dystopian novels list. These books show what happens when everything, and we mean everything, goes very wrong.
UPDATE: The best-selling novel Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is a recent addition to our list and a firm favourite about dystopian lovers. It's also worth mentioning that it's been adapted into a hit TV show, which you can watch on Lionsgate+ (on Prime Video).
It may seem strange to read about worlds bleaker than ours is right now, but for hundreds of years we've been fascinated by great dystopian fiction. Speculating about a future that has taken a distinct turn for the worse is a mainstay of science fiction writing. There's no beautiful end point, only a joyless, dysfunctional dystopia. Some may find it comforting to explore worlds in a worse state than our own, others might find the futures explored in these novels terrifying because it only feels like a few small steps away.
We take a look at more than 20 of the best dystopian novels focusing on the darker side of life. And remember to vote for your favorites below.
Best dystopian novels
- The 30 Saddest Endings in Literature, revealed.
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