In no particular order these are ten of my favourite dystopian reads for anyone new to the genre, or for anyone who loves dystopian fiction and hasn't made it to these titles yet. Series are included as one entry so that I can fit more in!
1. The Hunger Games (trilogy) by Suzanne Collins.
Gripping & dark, an absolute must for anyone who loves dystopia or a compelling read.
2. The Declaration (series) by Gemma Malley.
A fascinating series that explores the future of the world if death could be avoided.
3. Matched (series) by Ally Condie.
What if your life was planned, from your meals to your dreams? What if you dared to dream bigger?
4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
If love was a disease that could be cured, would you choose peace or passion?
5. Chaos Walking (series) by Patrick Ness
Heartbreaking. A series that blurs all of the lines between good and evil.
6. Genesis by Bernard Beckett
A wonderful look at dystopia by a fantastic New Zealand author.
7. Gone (series) by Michael Grant
Most kids love the idea of a world without parents. But the kids in the Fayz soon discover that running a society isn't as easy as it seems.
8. Feed by M.T. Anderson
Life would be so much easier if we could just plug the internet straight into our brains. Feed looks at what life would be like if that connection was disrupted.
9. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ok so this isn't YA, but I would recommend it to any advanced readers looking to expand their dystopian reading list.
10. Vulture's Gate by Kirsty Murray
This world isn't quite perfect, but shows the outcome of a rift in society when varying ideas of perfection clash.
And check out this fantastic article from the New Yorker - a fascinating look into the recent boom in YA dystopian fiction.
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2010/06/14/100614crat_atlarge_miller
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
The (Not So) Perfect Future
Utopia suggests an ideal society where the issues of the past have been eradicated and people live in health and harmony.
Dystopia explores the idea that, for a society like this to exist, it is necessary for an authoritarian body to decide what the problems are, and be responsible for their eradication, using any means necessary. Including anyone who gets in the way of the 'perfection'.
I love dystopian fiction. The level of reality in good dystopian novels is enough that the premise is not only plausible, but all too likely, and feeds the existing fears and paranoias of the reader.
"Delirium" by Lauren Oliver is a dystopian love story, set in a world where love has been identified as the main source of the pain and suffering than humans endure. So on the day of the eighteenth birthday of every person, they are given the 'cure' which will stop the delirium and allow them to live happy, safe and productive lives.
Lena Haloway has spent her life looking forward to the cure. Love has brought her family nothing but pain and humiliation. But as the day that she will be cured draws near, Lena finds herself rebelling against the system, and worst of all, falling in love.
"Delirium" is an incredibly addictive read. A central love story is a compelling trail through any story. Plenty of young readers are getting bored with vampire romance, but are still looking for something with a bit of edge, so the resurgence of dystopian fiction, with a touch of romance couldn't have come at a better time.
Lauren Oliver has stormed the YA scene. The smash 2009 release "Before I Fall" touched readers who had previously enjoyed books like "The Lovely Bones" or "Before I Die". She seems to have her pulse on what issues matter to her readers, and a knack of writing in a variety of genres, which guarantees that her audience won't get bored.
Lena is a wonderful character, because she is an unpredictable heroine. At first she is difficult to understand, as her eagerness to undertake a cure that will essentially sterilize her passion is probably alien to most readers. But that makes her choice to follow love all the more admirable and understandable. Her journey from the safety of her society and her family into the danger of the Wilds and her inevitable discovery of some painful truths is so human. It is a book that will make readers question their values, and just how great the risks that they would take to protect them.
Like Lena, love is a driving force behind Cassia, the lead character in Ally Condie's new novel, "Matched." Unlike Lena's society, Cassia lives in a Utopia that sees the values of love, and matches each citizen with their perfect partner. Citizens are monitored and their every move is predicted. They are fed, clothed, placed in jobs and relationships to achieve maximum success in their lives. On their 80th birthday, every person has their final banquet before dying at a healthy, respectable, predictable age.
Cassia has been dreaming of her match for as long as she can remember. When Officials first reveal the name of the boy that she will spend the rest of her life with, she is thrilled that everything has turned out so perfectly. But then unpredictable things start happening, and Cassia finds herself questioning the foundations of her whole society, and worse, questioning her own feelings.
"Matched" is the first book in a trilogy, and one that I feel will grow stronger as it continues. I wanted more fury and passion in Cassia earlier as she uncovers the lies and horror that her society is built on. The concept is strong though, and like all good dystopian fiction, make us question the sinister side to a government dictated society. Overall the characters had interesting reactions to the events that drive the novel which makes the overall outcome unpredictable. I imagine that book two and three have some pretty explosive surprises in store, and I think that readers will be thrilled to have a meaty new series to sink their teeth into.
If you want more dystopian fiction, keep your eye's peeled for my top 10 in YA Dystopia which I will pop up over the next few days.
Also to come, a review of Rebecca Stead's "First Light" and another of "7 Souls" by Barnabas Miller & Jordan Orlando.
Dystopia explores the idea that, for a society like this to exist, it is necessary for an authoritarian body to decide what the problems are, and be responsible for their eradication, using any means necessary. Including anyone who gets in the way of the 'perfection'.
I love dystopian fiction. The level of reality in good dystopian novels is enough that the premise is not only plausible, but all too likely, and feeds the existing fears and paranoias of the reader.
"Delirium" by Lauren Oliver is a dystopian love story, set in a world where love has been identified as the main source of the pain and suffering than humans endure. So on the day of the eighteenth birthday of every person, they are given the 'cure' which will stop the delirium and allow them to live happy, safe and productive lives.
Lena Haloway has spent her life looking forward to the cure. Love has brought her family nothing but pain and humiliation. But as the day that she will be cured draws near, Lena finds herself rebelling against the system, and worst of all, falling in love.
"Delirium" is an incredibly addictive read. A central love story is a compelling trail through any story. Plenty of young readers are getting bored with vampire romance, but are still looking for something with a bit of edge, so the resurgence of dystopian fiction, with a touch of romance couldn't have come at a better time.
Lauren Oliver has stormed the YA scene. The smash 2009 release "Before I Fall" touched readers who had previously enjoyed books like "The Lovely Bones" or "Before I Die". She seems to have her pulse on what issues matter to her readers, and a knack of writing in a variety of genres, which guarantees that her audience won't get bored.
Lena is a wonderful character, because she is an unpredictable heroine. At first she is difficult to understand, as her eagerness to undertake a cure that will essentially sterilize her passion is probably alien to most readers. But that makes her choice to follow love all the more admirable and understandable. Her journey from the safety of her society and her family into the danger of the Wilds and her inevitable discovery of some painful truths is so human. It is a book that will make readers question their values, and just how great the risks that they would take to protect them.
Like Lena, love is a driving force behind Cassia, the lead character in Ally Condie's new novel, "Matched." Unlike Lena's society, Cassia lives in a Utopia that sees the values of love, and matches each citizen with their perfect partner. Citizens are monitored and their every move is predicted. They are fed, clothed, placed in jobs and relationships to achieve maximum success in their lives. On their 80th birthday, every person has their final banquet before dying at a healthy, respectable, predictable age.
Cassia has been dreaming of her match for as long as she can remember. When Officials first reveal the name of the boy that she will spend the rest of her life with, she is thrilled that everything has turned out so perfectly. But then unpredictable things start happening, and Cassia finds herself questioning the foundations of her whole society, and worse, questioning her own feelings.
"Matched" is the first book in a trilogy, and one that I feel will grow stronger as it continues. I wanted more fury and passion in Cassia earlier as she uncovers the lies and horror that her society is built on. The concept is strong though, and like all good dystopian fiction, make us question the sinister side to a government dictated society. Overall the characters had interesting reactions to the events that drive the novel which makes the overall outcome unpredictable. I imagine that book two and three have some pretty explosive surprises in store, and I think that readers will be thrilled to have a meaty new series to sink their teeth into.
If you want more dystopian fiction, keep your eye's peeled for my top 10 in YA Dystopia which I will pop up over the next few days.
Also to come, a review of Rebecca Stead's "First Light" and another of "7 Souls" by Barnabas Miller & Jordan Orlando.
Monday, March 7, 2011
A long time coming
Oh it has been a long time coming, this post.
So much has happened in the last few months that I have barely had time to catch my breath. And I'm afraid, for now, that I'm going to have to put a halt on my writing project with Jack, although I will hopefully come back to it in future.
The short version is that I left my full time job to become a freelance writer. And it has been whirlwind! I have been incredibly lucky to have been flat out with work from day one. I have written teachers notes, articles for publishers websites & co-written a series of junior readers with the lovely Lucy. Said series is being looked over by some wonderful people as we speak and I'm very excited to get their feedback.
I have also been recreating A Thousand Words - the festival that I founded in 2009 with the support and backing of The Little Bookroom. You can check out more on that over at www.athousandwordsfestival.com.au, but it is very exciting. I have a new group of wonderful board members who have dropped everything to help make the second year of this event even bigger and better than the first. We also have a mailing list, a monthly newsletter filled with news, reviews and industry info, and a fantastic group of speakers to see us through our TWO DAY 2011 event!! That's right, two days! I'm giddy.
And of course reading, reading, reading. Which is no good if I don't bother uploading any book thoughts for you to read. So from now on, I promise a review or book thought every fortnight. And if that's not enough, then sign up to the A Thousand Words mailing list, because there will be plenty more in there!
Ciao for now - review coming on Ally Condie's "Matched", Lauren Oliver's "Delerium" and my thoughts on the not so perfect dystopia.
So much has happened in the last few months that I have barely had time to catch my breath. And I'm afraid, for now, that I'm going to have to put a halt on my writing project with Jack, although I will hopefully come back to it in future.
The short version is that I left my full time job to become a freelance writer. And it has been whirlwind! I have been incredibly lucky to have been flat out with work from day one. I have written teachers notes, articles for publishers websites & co-written a series of junior readers with the lovely Lucy. Said series is being looked over by some wonderful people as we speak and I'm very excited to get their feedback.
I have also been recreating A Thousand Words - the festival that I founded in 2009 with the support and backing of The Little Bookroom. You can check out more on that over at www.athousandwordsfestival.com.au, but it is very exciting. I have a new group of wonderful board members who have dropped everything to help make the second year of this event even bigger and better than the first. We also have a mailing list, a monthly newsletter filled with news, reviews and industry info, and a fantastic group of speakers to see us through our TWO DAY 2011 event!! That's right, two days! I'm giddy.
And of course reading, reading, reading. Which is no good if I don't bother uploading any book thoughts for you to read. So from now on, I promise a review or book thought every fortnight. And if that's not enough, then sign up to the A Thousand Words mailing list, because there will be plenty more in there!
Ciao for now - review coming on Ally Condie's "Matched", Lauren Oliver's "Delerium" and my thoughts on the not so perfect dystopia.
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