What do you think when you hear about dystopias? Crisis of hopes, fatal mistakes, delusions of mankind. Indeed, dystopia, in its own way, is a prophetic genre. This is a warning, a prediction, a warning. The main message of such books is to come to your senses, humanity, before it is too late. We suggest that you experience the diversity of this popular genre and possibly add a few books to your personal reading list.

Modern

• Dave Eggers, The Orb. If you are disappointed in the movie version, do not rush to write off the “Sphere” from your accounts. This story is not a horror story about the future, but a story about our everyday life. One technology. Polar opinions. A mixture of horror and admiration. Globalization, mass publicity. The construction of walls from monitors between people. Does a 21st Century Man Have a Right to Privacy? Hopefully the author will direct you to the true path? Forget it! Inside the "Sphere" you are on your own

• David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas. A terrific attempt to describe Eternity. If you can understand all the intricacies of history and are not afraid to “drown” in the variety of plot lines, then, no doubt, you will realize that it was worth it. This book is about the struggle, the thirst for life, the inevitable vices, about what does not allow a person to give up and makes you act. This is a hymn to the force that overcomes space, time, the laws of common sense and logic. The power that makes us who we are. The story of a great search and great unification.

• Stephen King, The Running Man. Immerse yourself in the gloomy and cruel world of the future, where social inequality has reached its peak, and the entertainment industry is no longer limited by morality. Already scared? It will only get worse. Dynamic action, an excellent syllable and satire on the present. Immerse yourself in this ominous warning and find out what a person who has nothing to lose is capable of

20th century classic

• Aldous Huxley, “Oh Brave New World”. Reading anti-utopia, you expect that everything will go according to the usual scenario: we will be shown a bright and beautiful world of the future, which hides the terrible truth, and a hero who dared to challenge the existing order. You expect disappointment in the future, the moral "do not act like us." But ... This is not happening. You close the book, and in your head there remains one frightening question: "Or maybe it should be so?" More details ...

• George Orwell, 1984. The story of the origin of the protest, where the protagonist is not a desperate rebel, not afraid to lose everything, but an ordinary system screw for which to honestly write his thoughts is already a victory and a huge risk. Will you see the echoes of modernity in this new classic? Sure. But still, this book will shift the focus of your attention from system problems to personality problems. More details ...
• Ray Bradbury, "451 Fahrenheit." One of the most prophetic anti-utopias of the 20th century. A world in which people are preoccupied with pleasures and entertainments, where virtual relatives are preferred to their loved ones, and the media noise is so loud that it is difficult to hear your own thoughts. Doesn’t resemble anything? 451 Fahrenheit is a frightening example of how dystopia can become a reality.

Russian and Soviet

• Strugatsky brothers, “Inhabited Island”. The history of civilization, which once turned "wrong way." The action takes place in far space, but are the events of the book so far from earthly realities? Who knows ... Elegant and accurate satire on the USSR, which remains relevant in our days.

• Evgeny Zamyatin, "We." "Real literature can only be where it is not made by executive and complacent officials, but by madmen, hermits, heretics, dreamers, rebels, skeptics." A dystopia or a kind of confession of a creator constrained by a totalitarian state? You decide, dear reader. More details ...

• Andrey Platonov, Pit. A desperate search for answers to eternal questions: where are we going, why, why is the right path chosen. The book is a mixture of a philosophical reevaluation of the historical path of Russia and a harsh satire on collectivization. The history of national acceptance and humility, general dullness and hopelessness. And the path of one who decided: this is no longer possible. More details ...

Scientific

• Garbert Wells, War of the Worlds. Bordering science fiction, the novel warns of the fragility of civilization. Wells demonstrates how easily a stiff English gentleman can become a looter who has forgotten the laws of morality. How much does humanity cost if people forget about it so easily? You will certainly ask yourself after reading this.
• Victor Pelevin, Omon Ra. This is a novel about an alternative reality, which for some reason is believed more than in Russian history. The book describes the preparation of the Soviet cosmonaut to fly to the moon ... one way. After admission to the flight school, Omon Krivomazov was ordered to prepare to master space at the cost of life, because he would not have the opportunity to return to Earth. The USSR is trying to overtake the United States, sending its citizens to certain death, and only the main character manages to find out where the mysterious flight actually leads.

Satirical

• Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin, “The History of a City”. A satirical rethinking of the history of Russia, its main characters and events. Playing with details, puns and subtle irony will definitely make you smile. More details ...

• Mikhail Bulgakov, "Adam and Eve." The play tells about a man-made disaster and a small group of people who are forced to unite in a commune in order to survive. One of the first works of Russian classics, addressing the problem of the responsibility of science to humanity and the threat of world war. The original form and the corresponding content are what the Russian classic is really famous for.

• Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange. The story of the lost generation, already managed to get away from the ideals of the old leaders, but has not yet formed its values. The history of the search, wandering and the formation of personality in spite of the existing pressure. The book is not suitable for impressionable people, because the main character preaches ultra violence and imposes it on all the inhabitants of his city. Learn more

Social and political

• George Orwell, Animal Farm. Satire on the revolution, its fruits, leaders and followers. The book, without exaggeration, can be called the textbook “How to build totalitarianism?”. Each type of people in this system is assigned a label corresponding to the inhabitant of the barnyard. So the author simply and unpretentiously hints at the most significant consequence of tyranny - the degradation of a controlled society.

• Vladimir Nabokov, “Invitation to the Execution”. The big tragedy of a little man who dared to be not like everyone else. Psychological thriller and a journey into the depths of the soul doomed to death. This novel is dedicated to Nikolai Chernyshevsky, a Russian writer and revolutionary. However, this dedication is satirical in nature, because the author openly scoffs at his compatriot, using unpleasant facts from his biography. More details ...
• Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, "Snail on the slope." A funny and ironic story from the world of the absurd, but it becomes not so fun when you suddenly realize that the delirium that occurs in dystopia can easily meet you in real life. A static plot not characteristic of the brothers, a variety of dialogues and an unusual language make this book even more attractive and mysterious. It is written in large strokes and asks questions, the answers to which I want to seek with tripled strength.

Teenage

• Susan Collins, The Hunger Games. Allegory of a teenage rebellion against the world of adults who have long come to terms with their miserable fate. The story of growing up, re-evaluating values ​​and finding yourself. Want to know why Katnes Everdeen conquered so many hearts? Just start reading.

• William Golding, Lord of the Flies. Many dream of getting into a world where there are no rules, boring teachers and pestering parents. But is it so cool? "Lord of the Flies" will not give a direct answer, but will help to take a fresh look at the world and himself, to think about the value of the individual, freedom, humanism. You may not rethink your life, but the story of the children who built tyranny on blood and cruelty will accurately explain the patterns of development of our civilization. Learn more

• Lauren Oliver, Delirium. Love breaks a person from the inside, takes possession of his consciousness, takes away sleep, peace and balance. Love drives people crazy, pushes for madness and crime. It is not subject to logic, willpower, control. So maybe it's time to save humanity from this terrible disease?

Post Apocalypse and Cyberpunk

• Tatyana Tolstaya, “Kys”. The agony of mankind. A world of people who have invaluable cultural baggage of the past, but are unable to understand and comprehend it. Against the backdrop of a man-made disaster, there is complete corruption and disfigurement of the cultural heritage. The great ideas of freedom, humanism, morality turn into their full antipodes and become weapons in the hands of real villains. The story of what “civilization” really means.

• Carlton Mellick, The Satanburger. God did not die, they simply ceased to notice him. The value of the human soul has become so insignificant that people with a happy smile are ready to sell it for a burger. Already sounds crazy? Now get ready to see this world with the acid vision of an avid drug addict.

• Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033. An exciting and frightening adventure. The book does not let go even for a second. Story twists, chilling descriptions, pictures of post-apocalypse will make your heart beat more than once. The army of fans, the debate of critics and high sales speak for themselves. Believe me, after reading you will no longer be able to calmly descend into the subway.

Watch the video: Junkbooks. Favorite Post-Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction (November 2024).