Doubleday / WIRED At this point in world history, diving into the rich world of fictional dystopia seems like an exercise in masochism. But this selection of the best dystopian novels will remind you that no matter how bad things seem in the real world, at least we’re not being coerced into fighting to the death for entertainment. For more inspiration, try our guides to the best sci-fi books and the best fantasy books and series. Show
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner (1968)Winner of the Hugo Award in 1969, Stand on Zanzibar concerns itself with the consequences of overpopulation, depicting a world in which a huge corporation is attempting to take over the management of a fictional African country to speed up its development. It’s crammed with prescient ideas and predictions, though it’s still very much a product of 1960s anxieties, such as increasing commercialisation, eugenics and racial tensions. Several chapters are devoted purely to world-building, such as quotations from the The Hipcrime Vocab – a book by a fictional in-world sociologist – adding a rich level of context. Buy on Amazon Children of Men by P.D. James (1992)In Children of Men, humanity has become infertile and the United Kingdom has descended into an autocratic nation governed by a self-appointed Warden and council. Immigrants are exploited and the elderly are a burden, often forced to commit suicide at the age of 60. The book tells the story of the struggle between the ruling government and a dissent group who are demanding reform. It was adapted into an award-winning film by Alfonso Cuarón that changes elements of the story considerably, making the novel an interesting read for fans of the film. Buy on Amazon Battle Royale by Koushun Takami (1999)Battle Royale has a good case to be one of the most influential dystopian novels of modern times, influencing as it has The Hunger Games and by extension one of the most popular video games ever made in Fortnite. Set in a fictional authoritarian Japanese state that arose from an alternative history where Japan was victorious in World War II, Battle Royale sees 50 high-school children kidnapped and sent to an island to fight to the death – where they wear explosive collars to ensure their obedience. Published in Japanese in 1999, it wasn’t translated into English until 2003 – three years after the outstanding film adaptation of the same name. Buy on Amazon Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949)George Orwell’s classic permeates so much of modern culture that even a first read feels instantly familiar. It follows Winston Smith, who lives in a version of Britain that has been subsumed into Oceania, one of three totalitarian super-states engaged in a state of perpetual war. He lives under the constant watch of Big Brother, the leader of the ruling Party, via a telescreen that can see into almost every corner of his home. In an era of smart speakers and facial recognition, it feels more relevant than ever. Buy on Amazon Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)On the face of it, the society described in Brave New World is a utopia – but that illusion soon disintegrates. Huxley predicts genetic modification, and advances in reproduction and psychology that usher in an elite society and a social hierarchy based on intelligence, where citizens are kept placated through the consumption of a drug called soma. But people from outside the cities who still live, give birth and age the old way are viewed as savages – the book follows the clash between these two worlds through the eyes of psychologist Bernard Marx. Buy on Amazon The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)The television adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale has made red cloaks and white cowls familiar to millions – the book is narrower in scope, but intensely powerful. It follows Offred, whose real name is never revealed in the book, and her life in Gilead – a twisted but increasingly plausible version of American where women are oppressed by a government of religious fundamentalists who seized power in a coup. A sequel, The Testaments, picks up the story fifteen years later. Buy on Amazon The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006)Bleak, breathless and beautiful, Pulitzer prize-winner The Road grabs you from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. The story follows a nameless man and his son on a journey across post-apocalyptic America – in a world where cultural norms are fading fast. But the way it’s told that with you – McCarthy’s sparse style, familiar from Blood Meridian and No Country For Old Men – is perfect for a simple tale that’s about civilisation and humanity stripped down to the bones. Buy on Amazon Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)When it was written, Ray Bradbury’s masterpiece tapped into very real concerns about censorship at the height of McCarthyism. It tells the story of Guy Montag – a ‘fireman’ employed to burn the possessions of people who read outlawed books, but who – like Nineteen Eighty-Four’s Winston Smith – slowly has his eyes opened. The book’s depiction of the near future predicts everything from in-ear headphones to 24-hour cash machines. Buy on Amazon The Wall by John Lanchester (2019)In the near-future, the seas are rising, and Britain has walled itself off – to keep the waters, and the people out. But the Wall needs people to man it, and so the country’s youth are drafted in for long stints peering out to sea as Defenders on the lookout for dangerous Others. It’s about the environment and immigration – but also the disconnect between the young and old. A tale for our times. Buy on Amazon Vox by Christina Dalcher (2018)There are echoes of The Handmaid’s Tale and Naomi Alderman’s The Power in this chilling story about a world where women are limited to 100 words per day by a utterance-counting bracelet that shocks them if they go over the limit. It’s not as artfully done as Atwood’s classic of the genre, but it’s certainly entertaining – a screen adaptation is inevitable. Buy on Amazon A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (1962)Written by Anthony Burgess in just three weeks, A Clockwork Orange follows 15-year-old Alex and his ultra-violent teenage gang – inspired by societal anxieties about the youth culture of the 1960s. Unlike the famous Stanley Kubrick movie adaptation, which was based on the American edition of the book that had the final chapter removed, the full version of the book ends on a happy, optimistic note. Buy on Amazon When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we earn a small affiliate commission. This does not impact the products we recommend. More great stories from WIRED 🍔 World-class chef rates the best vegan burgers in the UK 😡 TikTok is fuelling India's deadly hate speech epidemic 🍫 The foods you'll really need to stockpile for no-deal Brexit ♻️ The truth behind the UK's biggest recycling myths 🤷🏼 How is the internet still obsessed with Myers-Briggs? 📧 Get the best tech deals and gadget news in your inbox
 The best dystopian novels aren't escapes to other worlds. Rather, they're reflections of our world—and what could happen in the future. Steeped in cultural criticism and endlessly entertaining, these tales often serve as a warning of what can happen if our worst impulses are left unchecked. The modern dystopia craze is marked by YA books like The Hunger Games, though dystopian novels have been popular for far longer (see: George Orwell's 1984). By now, there are dystopian scenarios for all audiences, from middle-school students to adults seeking an entire modern series like N.K. Jemisin's The Broken Earth trilogy. Then, there are seminal books, like Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale or P.D. James's Children of Men, which have been turned into movies and TV shows. Our list of the best dystopian novels offers some escapism, but also, just as crucially, a resistance blueprint for when things go sideways. Here are 38 books to start with when your mind wants to wander to some dark places.
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By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Dystopian novels are set in speculative versions of our world — some apocalyptic, others plagued by disease or violence— that imagine society in devastating social and political futures. A subgenre of science fiction, dystopian novels explore the nightmarish alternatives for humanity with gripping action, epic heroes, and often terrifyingly believable scenarios. To gather these recommendations, I turned to bestseller lists on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookshop, so whether you're looking for a dystopian classic or a newly imagined futuristic read, you can find a great dystopian novel in this list. The 22 best dystopian novels to read in 2021: |
