&nbsp

3/29/12

Top nine favorite Dystopian novels

dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystopia

- An imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dystopia

9. Dust City by Robert Paul Weston
Read the summary on goodreads.
Why?
Fairy tales and dystopian is my two favorite genres, and when they mix together. It makes for an intresting blend of fairy tales and the future that isn't so good. Dust City makes for an interesting read. Plus, it shows the kind of grim side of fairy tales that in the end still gets a happy ending.




8. Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld
Read the summary on goodreads.
Why?
It was one of the very first dystopian novels I've ever read. It showed me that anything can be hidden in the open, that a utopia may actually be a dystopia.
Plus it has cool technology that can actually go in your skin.  This is amazing because it means that you won’t have to forget anything ever again!
However, there's too much surgery in it, which thankfully doesn't describe the process. Though the MC changes a lot each time, she goes through a surgery.
Books:  Uglies, Pretties, Specials [original trilogy] Extra [added novel]

7. The Roar by Emma Clayton
Read the summary on goodreads.
Why?
It has a unique plot, which deals with children that are around twelve thirteen year olds. Who plays a game which in truth is training them for war. And they never figured it out, except for maybe some kids.
Plus there are some kids that develop these cool powers but have some kind of animal feature on them somewhere, like webbed hands/feet, wings, a tail etc. Who figures out that they're being trained for war, and the reason behind the war.
That's what got me interested in the whole book (not so much the second... kind of). It doesn't deal with fifteen+ years old teenagers. The romance in it wasn't the main point. Plus the characters and a monkey are fantastic, and I like their POV in the book.

6. Dark  Life by Kat Falls
Read the summary on goodreads
Why?
Another unique plot. The MC in this book actually lives in an undersea farm. And from the way he describes it, it sounds amazing. There’s also a mystery and surprise. As well as a possibility of what may happen in the future if Earth keeps on being the way it is.   Which is to say it may become overcrowded in the future and we have to resort to living underwater (and probably glowing a bit and having odd powers).   The characters are great and I like Gemma (who has never lived undersea) who is determined to find her brother even though he might have died. 

5. Legend by Marie Lu
Read the summary on goodreads
Why?
It has the classic Romeo and Juliet plot in it. With only a slight twist, it's not in Europe. It's in the future. Nor are both of them rich. And the lovers don't die. Though June wants to get revenge on Day, for killing her older brother. 
The characters are very well developed, all the way down to their blood types, even I don't know any of my characters' blood types. June and Day the two main characters are also very clear on what they want. Which is to help their family/ to get revenge on a dead family member. This shows that they care about their families very much. And I like that, because it doesn't show them as insane murders. Plus it's very sweet that they actually do care about their families and will do anything for them, even if it means risking their life. 
4. Blood Red Road by Moira Young
Read the summary on goodreads
Why?
This book is different from any other dystopian novel I've read. The book is grimier and harsher.  Not very utopian which in truth has been dystopian all along.   Which most dystopians seemed to be based on now days.  
I like how the main character, Saba, despises her sister but likes her twin brother and is willing to do anything for that sibling.  I also like how she starts to realize that she in truth likes her sister all along and is willing to do anything for her as well. 
However, what I most liked about the book is the accent. It has thousands of grammar and spelling mistakes   and it's all because that's how Saba talks. It isn't pitch perfect, which in truth, I like. It gives the book personality and makes us understand the character a bit more. 
I also like how the romance isn't the main point in the book. Which after a while of seeing romance as one of the most important things in some books, it can get quite annoying by now. 


3. Divergent by Veronica Roth
Read the summary on goodreads
Why?
I love how this time the whole government isn't corrupt. It's the person from the government that is. Who then fuels her faction to anger at another faction. And they're willing to do anything to bring anther faction down, including war. It was also interesting to see how one of the toughest factions acted. Jumping off moving trains (not at fast moving speeds though, everyone knows that's suicide or at least a high risk of injury), jumping however many ft just to get there, getting tattoos, etc. 
It also made me wonder which faction I would be good in. Plus the book is kind of gritty, considering that the main character, Beatrice, spent most of her time in the toughest faction, trying to get accepted. And I liked that, it brings more excitement to the book[s]. 

2. The Gone series by Michael Grant
Read the summary on goodreads
Why?
Michael Grant creates an amazing series, of kids under fourteen surviving on their own.  Everyone over fourteen is just suddenly gone one day.   And when the kids go investigate, they find themselves trapped under a giant dome, with no way out.  With limited amount of everything, they find themselves trying to survive. 
Some kids develop powers, which later on in the series cause some conflict between the ones that doesn't have power and the ones that has power.  They're also faced with an antagonist that feeds on nuclear rods. And it seems to have power on the people that have seen him. 
I just love this series. There's conflict, between the antagonist that eats nuclear rods, the private school peeps, and each other.  There are a couple of wars and decisions that rests on your very survival. 
Also, I love how the books alternate views so you see everyone's side in the story. 
Books: Gone, Hunger, Lies, Plague, Fear, Light (comes out in 2013)





1. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins 

Read the summary on goodreads
Why?
Kids being forced to kill other kids. Excitement from the Capitol people as they watch gruesome game. Horror and worry as you wonder if the tribute from your district is going to come home. This is what the Hunger Games is about. 
It's number one on my list. Why you may ask, well it's because of this. There's choices, choices that you'll regret later on, but you had to do it in order to survive. It's also because of the characters. They're very well developed, and it makes you want some of them to become realistic. Wait... they're already realistic, never mind then. 
Also it's a page turner, the books make you want to stay up way into the night just to see what happens next. 
Also I love how it's turned into eventually turns into a rebellion/war, all because of something Katniss did to keep her and Peeta alive. 
There's also a lot more I can say on it, but the rest I can't really describe into words. Other than that it's an amazing page turner, with well developed characters, and that it has become a movie. That I still haven't seen. -_-
Let's just say the Hunger Games trilogy is my favorite book/series of all time, and it deserves the first spot on my list. 
Books: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay

0 comments:

Post a Comment